(Minghui.org)
Greetings, Master!Greetings, fellow practitioners!
On the occasion of the 22nd Minghui China Fa Conference, I would like to share my cultivation process of overcoming the interference of thought karma during this past summer vacation, along with several small breakthroughs that followed, as a report to Master and also to share with fellow practitioners.
Master told us:
“There is another kind of powerful karma that greatly affects cultivators—it is called thought karma.” (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun)
In 2016, I was still a new practitioner. Lacking a deep understanding of the principles of the Fa, and with righteous thoughts not strong enough, I was unable to withstand the sudden family tribulations and upheavals that befell me. Human thoughts, notions, and sentiments gained control, and my mind became filled with random thoughts and distractions every day. I generated a lot of negative karma from thoughts of fame, profit, and sentiment, leading to a state of mental fog and general heaviness.
Gradually, I began to experience a tightness, swelling and pain on the left side of my head. At its worst, the discomfort spread to my left cheek and neck, accompanied by a constant cracking sound inside my left temple. I never took these symptoms seriously until this year, when it severely hindered my ability to accomplish the three things. Only then did I realize that the interference from karmic obstacles cannot be ignored—its impact on a cultivator is truly immense.
This interference appeared as a constant restlessness, making me unable to sit still for even a minute during righteous thoughts, my mind churning like a stormy sea. When focusing on the character “elimination,” the left side of my head started to feel constricted and tight—as if something were gripping it tightly. It becomes so distressing that I lost all desire to send righteous thoughts.
During Fa study, I often experienced intense interference. While reading, random and irrelevant thoughts distracted me, unknowingly pulling my attention away. As a result, the Fa didn’t sink in, and soon I felt sleepy. For years, I gained little insight from studying the Fa. Gradually, I couldn’t even complete one lecture of Zhuan Falun in a day, relying solely on memorization to retain any teachings.
While doing the exercises, especially doing the Holding the Wheel stance for an hour or when meditating, I couldn’t stay still for more than a few minutes—my mind wandered wildly. Slowly, frustration set in, and many times I couldn’t persist through the entire exercise.
To break through this barrier, I recited the section “Your Main Consciousness Should Dominate” countless times—while walking, before sleep, during free moments, and before studying the Fa. It helped somewhat, but didn’t solve the problem fundamentally. Reciting the section on “A Clear and Clean Mind” would bring temporary relief, only for the issue to resurface after a few days.
Master told us:
“In other words, the fundamental reason for one’s being unable to achieve tranquility is not an issue of techniques, but that your mind and heart are not clean.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)
I’ve recited this passage for so many years, and I’ve always believed that “impure” (not clean) refers to the “stillness” of entering tranquility, but actually it refers to the “impureness” of one’s own thoughts and mind.
This summer break, I’ve mostly been on my own, so with plenty of time on my hands, I’ve decided to dig deep and make solid breakthroughs.
From the moment I open my eyes in the morning until I fall asleep at night, I keep a close eye on my thoughts, immediately rejecting any improper ideas. I kept reciting the Fa “Your Main Consciousness Should Dominate,” “Your Mind Must Be Righteous,” (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun) and also,
“I’m Li Hongzhi’s disciple, I don’t want other arrangements or acknowledge them”—then they won’t dare to do that. So it can all be resolved. When you can really do that, not just saying it but putting it into action, Master will definitely stand up for you.” (Teachings Given on Lantern Festival Day, 2003)
While doing the exercises, I started off quite calm. Soon, a thought struck me: “What certificate do I still need for my professional title? I’ll figure out a way to get one this year.” I then quickly seized that thought, refusing to let interference take hold. Simultaneously, I looked inward—this was the attachment to fame and profit that I needed to purge. I silently recited Master’s teachings.
Soon, another thought intruded: “When autumn clothes come out, I’ll buy a pair of sweatpants to match that old top I have.” I swiftly seized and eliminated this—it was the desire for clothing, the love of beauty, the need to show off. I continued silently reciting Master’s teachings.
After a while, thoughts like “what to do for the nephews,” “how to renovate the house,” and “who said what about me” surfaced, stirring unease. Recalling how my in-laws and ex-husband had treated me before, I still felt furious. But I caught and cleared these thoughts promptly. Simultaneously, I looked inward to identify attachments to family ties, resentment, the desire for comfort, and the wish to live an ordinary, comfortable life. Then I silently recited Master’s teachings. I persisted like this for several days, and the effect was quite good—my head became free of those incorrect states.
In the past, when I studied the Fa, I thought I grasped some principles, and I would relate them to my own experiences and let my imagination run with them. However, my thoughts often drifted off track. In reality, I was being disturbed by my own thought karma.
Now I deliberately slow myself down, reading each sentence carefully, without seeking any special insight, just absorbing the surface meaning. Whenever a thought intrudes, I put the book down, promptly clear the thought away, and look within to find my own attachments.
After several attempts, I could read the Fa in quiet stillness. My mind became clear and bright. Sitting cross-legged, my body and mind felt deeply at ease. Occasionally, I would see a small blue light flicker once or twice on the pages. Sometimes, a sentence or several lines of the Fa would stand out distinctly, and I would note the page number.
After finishing each lecture of Zhuan Falun, I would repeatedly read, memorize, and write down the few sentences of the Fa that stood out to me. I bought erasable pens and wrote them down several times. I reviewed these transcribed Fa sentences and realized they all provided guidance on how to improve my xinxing (heart and mind nature). I am truly grateful to Master for enlightening this unworthy disciple and saving me.
A few days later, I noticed I was able to calm my mind with righteous thoughts more frequently—sometimes reaching tranquility as soon as I sat down. The periods of stillness during Exercise Two—Holding the Wheel—and meditation, grew longer. My restlessness disappeared, and I once again experienced the profound state of cultivation I had felt at the start of my practice. I couldn’t help but marvel: only when the heart is truly “pure” can it achieve “stillness.”
I live in the northern region, where a type of wormwood grass blooms from mid-July to mid-September each year. This annual event triggers allergic rhinitis in many people. Common symptoms include an itchy nose, frequent sneezing, and excessive nasal discharge; itchy eyes, throat, and ear canals; and skin that becomes red and irritated when scratched. In severe cases, individuals may experience severe congestion, asthma, and difficulty breathing. Currently, there is no known medical cure for this condition, which often worsens over time.
I developed these symptoms during the summer of 2011, but they improved after taking medication. In 2012, after I began practicing Falun Dafa, these symptoms reappeared. I knew this was the elimination of karma, so I didn’t consider treating it with medicine again.
Yet for over a decade now, the symptoms have returned annually without fail, seemingly growing more severe each time, and have even manifested several times as the illusion of severe asthma attacks.
In the early years of my practice, I believed it was karma elimination. Later, I thought it was interference from the old forces, so I tried sending forth righteous thoughts to negate it, but with little effect. Even applying the principles of Master’s Fa, I couldn’t find the root of the problem or resolve it. I felt confused and helpless, even growing anxious and fearful every time this season arrived.
Others might not understand, but the itching was unbearable, and the constant runny nose was very bothersome. Especially when studying the Fa and doing the exercises, I would stop many times to wipe my nose, which was disrespectful to Master and the Fa, and disrupted the rhythm of the exercises. Moreover, I used two or three packs of tissues every day and had to carry them with me at all times. Sometimes I would forget to bring a rubbish bag when I went out and had to search everywhere for a trash can to toss my used tissues, which was really troublesome.
This year the symptoms reappeared, and I felt somewhat discouraged. But during several days of intensive cultivation to break through thought karma, I inadvertently discovered that as long as I remained calm, no symptoms appeared—everything was normal. The moment ordinary thoughts arose, my nose would start itching. After reciting the Fa and calming down, everything returned to normal.
One morning while doing the exercises, my mind just wouldn’t settle. I started sneezing nonstop and wiping my nose. A fellow practitioner reminded me to use righteous thoughts to negate and reject these disturbances. I focused on clearing each thought and notion, gradually returning to normal.
Although this disturbance has not entirely disappeared, it now appears mainly when I wake up in the morning. There are still aspects where I need to improve. From now on, I must pay attention to each thought and notion. I sincerely regret my lack of insight, having neglected genuine cultivation of my heart and nature all these years, missing countless opportunities for growth. This unexpected breakthrough has dispelled my negativity and strengthened my resolve: I must eliminate karma and allow no more interference.
Because of my fear, pride, and anxieties, I used to only talk about Dafa and the persecution to acquaintances or while shopping, and I could only talk to a few people a year. This summer, I wanted to break through that barrier and talk to strangers about Falun Dafa and the persecution. But how do I start a conversation with strangers? What topics should we talk about?
When I had this wish, Master helped me by showing me many people in my community and neighboring communities suffering from the effects of strokes. They were young and old, men and women, and it was truly pitiful to see them struggling to move around. I began by discussing disease prevention and health maintenance, with a focus on the elderly.
On my first day out, I spoke with ten people, all of whom acknowledged the truth about Falun Dafa. I also persuaded seven people to renounce their memberships in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its youth affiliates, the Communist Youth League, and Young Pioneers. Three other people I spoke to had never joined any CCP organizations.
I knew this was Master encouraging me, and I gained great confidence. After that, I was able to persuade people to quit the CCP every day. The more I spoke, the more fluent I became, and the more I wanted to speak. During this process, I also cultivated away many human attachments, just as Master described, like a cultivator wandering the world. Here are a few stories to share:
I Run into Relative of Ex-in-laws
Once, I met a woman who turned out to be the cousin of my ex-mother-in-law—a relative I had never met before my cultivation journey. Prior to cultivation, I suffered from more than ten illnesses, struggled with infertility, and faced many challenges that ultimately led to the breakup of my marriage. After I began cultivation, I was persecuted by the CCP. During that period, my in-laws harbored strong prejudice against me, looked down on me, and even seemed to take pleasure in my difficulties.
This time, upon meeting my ex-mother-in-law’s relative, I hesitated to share the truth, worrying that she might gossip about me behind my back. I realized this was my attachment to reputation. After speaking a little, I said goodbye to my aunt and was about to leave, but she insisted on walking with me, so our conversation continued.
She inquired about my divorce and everyday family matters. As I weighed whether to share the truth with her, I steered the conversation toward my past health struggles. I mentioned that for over a decade now, I hadn’t taken a single pill. Neither COVID nor the vaccines affected me. She remarked, “You look so much better now.”
With our parting imminent, if I didn’t speak the truth now, Auntie would miss her chance to hear about Dafa. How rare it is for her to encounter a Falun Dafa practitioner! If not now, then when? So I steeled my resolve: setting aside my pride meant saving a life. With a peaceful heart and kind tone, I said to her, “Auntie, it’s no small thing that we’ve met today. I hope you stay healthy and safe in these troubled times. Let me tell you about a free way to protect yourself...”
When I spoke about the corruption of the Chinese Communist Party, she agreed wholeheartedly and showed understanding toward Falun Dafa. She even remarked that those who practice it are educated people. In the end, she withdrew from the CCP organizations using her real name. I repeatedly urged her to remember, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” She said several times, “I’ll remember, I’ll remember!” Truly, I am grateful to our compassionate and great Master. I almost missed saving a predestined sentient being.
Reflections on People’s Name
In two days, I encountered three individuals who renounced the CCP and related organizations with their real names. Seeing names starting with “Xiu,” which is homophonic to “cultivation,” I realized Master was enlightening me to “cultivate” myself. Since they all used their real names, it meant I must cultivate genuinely—not just superficially—or else it would become a mere “show.”
Being Aware of My Attachments
One evening, I shared the truth with four individuals who were hard of hearing. When speaking the truth, I had to raise my voice and exercise patience. As I spoke, I kept an eye out for anyone nearby, knowing that I needed to cultivate this fear away. At the same time, I still harbored a desire to meddle, and a curiosity for gossip. During that time, there had been some minor turmoil at work regarding colleagues’ professional title evaluations, and I kept wanting to pry into the details.
Compassion Strengthened Me
Once, a middle-aged man approached me and started talking. After chatting with him for a while, I realized his intentions were not pure. He said he was divorced and offered me 2,000 yuan a month to be his girlfriend. I didn’t want to clarify the truth anymore and was prepared to leave.
Yet I felt pity for this man, so I gathered my courage and decided to speak to him. I said, “I’m sorry, I’m a Buddhist believer and cannot engage in such improper behavior. Lust is the root of all evil. I advise you not to do such things either. It’s better to build a normal family.” He sighed regretfully, “Ah, I ran into a Buddhist believer. Which Buddha do you follow?” So I told him about Dafa. When he heard me mention Falun Dafa, he said, “I know it—it’s good!” He used an alias to withdraw from the evil CCP organization.
Aware the Weight of My Responsibility
During that time, the majority of people who learned the truth and chose to leave the Communist Party were in their seventies and eighties. They included retired government officials, former employees of state-funded institutions, village cadres, and village representatives. Many of them were also Party members. Witnessing this deeply moved me and made me appreciate Master's boundless compassion and greatness.
Twenty-six years ago, when the CCP began persecuting Falun Dafa, these individuals were in their forties and fifties. Over the years, despite enduring countless hardships and tribulations, Master has never abandoned them, continually offering opportunities for redemption. Meanwhile, I feel deep regret for my own limited understanding and strong human attachments, which prevented me from sharing the truth earlier with those closest to me. During the years of the CCP virus (COVID-19) pandemic, more than a thousand people have passed away in this area alone—a truly profound loss.
Before I began sharing the truth, my intentions were still somewhat selfish—I was focused on achieving breakthroughs in my own cultivation and personal advancement, measuring success by the number of people I could personally reach. But once I started this journey, the true weight of my responsibility became clear. If I limited myself to sharing only with the elderly, and only in one-on-one settings, how could I ever hope to reach everyone? What about the groups gathered to dance, play cards, chat, or record TikTok videos?
How could I save them? My heart feels heavy. It seems I must cultivate even more diligently—cultivating stronger righteous thoughts and greater compassion, eliminating filthy human attachments and distorted notions—to save as many sentient beings as possible.
The summer vacation flew by in the blink of an eye, and these are a few small breakthroughs I made during my break. The compassionate guidance and enlightenment from Master constantly supports me. I am deeply grateful to Master! I also thank my fellow practitioners for studying the Fa with me, sharing insights, and waking me up for morning exercise practice.
(Selected submission for the 22nd China Fa Conference on Minghui.org)