(Minghui.org) Greetings, respected Master! Greetings, fellow practitioners!
Writing About My Experiences Led to a Breakthrough
I had practiced Falun Dafa for 13 years before the 2008 Australia Fa Conference was held, but I’d never written a cultivation experience paper. After one activity, a veteran practitioner I knew well said, “You’ve been through so much in your cultivation and done so many things. You really should write about your experiences.”
I replied, “I’ve never written one before and don’t know how.” She kindly offered to help me, and I agreed.
At the time, however, I didn’t recognize the mentality of complacency behind my reaction. I thought that, since I had always been active and capable in different projects, I was already doing well, so it didn’t really matter whether I wrote anything or not. I even felt pleased that someone noticed my efforts and was willing to write about me, assuming the sharing would surely praise me.
Over the phone, I described my cultivation experiences to the practitioner helping me. I mentioned that, as a coordinator in one project, I had recently had serious conflicts with other coordinators. Although I outwardly spoke about looking within, I didn’t realize that there was still a tone of complaint in my words—and even a desire to show off.
During a challenging period in that project, I’d phoned a veteran practitioner I was close to, hoping for some encouragement. I told her about the challenges I faced and how hard it was to be understood. Unexpectedly, she said bluntly, “You’re just fighting for fame and gain.” I was shocked. I had called her seeking comfort and support, but she pointed out my attachment.
I began to seriously reflect on whether I truly had an attachment to fame and gain. Why had my conflicts with fellow coordinators lasted for so long? Why couldn’t we cooperate harmoniously? Although I realized I was competitive, I couldn’t truly let it go and often felt uneasy. Her frank reply struck deeply, making me realize that my attachment to fame and gain must have been quite obvious—visible to others even when I didn’t admit it.
I recounted this incident to the practitioner helping me write the sharing, but I still hadn’t let go of my grievances. Looking back now, my entire narration was filled with the mentality of showing off. I thought that, having cultivated for many years, having done so much, and served as a coordinator in several projects, I was quite capable. I wanted to vent my frustrations so that others would understand the difficulties I faced in my coordination work. A few days later, that practitioner sent me the first draft. When I read it, I was astonished. The entire piece was written from the perspective of looking inward. It didn’t include the parts that displayed my achievements or expressed my frustrations.
Instead, it quoted Master’s teachings on cultivating the heart. As I carefully studied the draft and compared it with the Fa, I began to recall my thoughts and feelings during that conversation, and I suddenly saw my many attachments. One was a strong desire to show off. I saw myself as the main coordinator, believing that my opinions carried more weight and that I didn’t need to consider others’ feelings. I also realized that I looked down on one practitioner who supported us with technical skills, even though I hadn’t expressed it verbally.
As I continued writing my sharing, one by one, scenes from the past resurfaced: all the times when cooperation with other coordinators hadn’t gone smoothly. When I compared myself with the Fa, I could clearly see the instability and negativity in my heart. These negative states had undoubtedly affected the coordination and development of our projects. A cultivator’s mindset is crucial; when I thought I was always right and blamed others for not understanding me, those attachments created obstacles. During the month or so that I spent writing that sharing, I repeatedly reflected on these experiences. Through this process, I gradually realized that the key to genuine improvement in cultivation is to unconditionally look inward.
I knew clearly that the practitioner helping me could only see my righteous and positive side. But for me, writing that first sharing brought about a breakthrough in my understanding of the Fa principles. It was a major turning point after 13 years of cultivation. I truly came to understand the principle of looking inward, and I let go of much resentment and impatience. I began to consider matters from others’ perspectives, becoming more tolerant and understanding. Gradually, I found it easier to avoid arguments.
When different opinions arose, I would simply express my thoughts clearly once, without insisting that others accept them. If others disagreed, I no longer felt the need to argue or defend myself. In calm moments, I was able to remain unaffected by emotions, free from anxiety and overthinking. These changes all came because that practitioner helped me write that sharing. It reminded me that I should not neglect writing about my cultivation experiences.
Looking back, even though I had cultivated for 13 years, I still hadn’t truly understood even the most basic principle of looking inward. I’d stumbled along without taking full responsibility for my own cultivation, and, in doing so, I hadn’t lived up to the truth-clarification work entrusted to me. If I had taken writing sharings seriously earlier, I would have been able to cooperate with fellow practitioners much better, and we could have avoided unnecessary friction, enabling our truth-clarification projects to achieve even greater results.
At first, I used to worry that writing about specific experiences might negatively affect the fellow practitioners involved. But during that first writing process, that concern also faded away.
According to the Fa, I must unconditionally look within and then I can find my own problems, whether it’s being attached to my own views, speaking harshly, or harboring resentment and contempt despite outward calm. True improvement in cultivation comes only from changing the heart. From then on, I let go of my fear that writing sharings might offend others.
A Better Understanding of the Fa
When I wrote about my experiences and compared them with the Fa, it became easy to see my attachments. Even when I appeared calm and agreeable on the surface, writing revealed my subtle, deep-rooted dissatisfaction. I could see my inner resistance, my murmuring complaints about others, and my attempts to justify myself. These reflections made me realize that, without addressing these inner thoughts, any apparent “forbearance” is only superficial.
I once wrote about cultivation experiences within my family and among friends. Comparing these situations with the Fa, I discovered my arrogance and pride, which was often accompanied by strong negative emotions. By writing about it, I was able to examine these matters in depth and find the root of my attachments. I also learned from the Fa the correct principles for letting go.
For example, my wife bought an expensive musical instrument for our child. I thought it was unnecessary, that our child would not be able to use it for at least five years. I tried to keep her from purchasing it, but she did anyway. I was extremely angry, and the negative emotion weighed on me heavily. I tried to let it go, but I wasn’t truly able to. I even complained to my wife, calculating how much interest could have been saved or earned in five years, thinking she was being careless. My wife said, “You’re just focused on a small amount of money. How do you know what things will cost in five years?” She was right. Looking back now, I see how inflation has indeed made her point valid.
When I wrote about this incident in my sharing, I reflected deeply: Why did I allow myself to feel upset over something that harmed no one? The root of the attachment lay in my upbringing: As the youngest child in the family, my siblings often indulged me, and I developed a self-important and domineering temperament. My wife’s intention, however, was pure and thoughtful — she simply wanted to prepare for our child’s cultivation environment in advance.
I had studied Master’s teachings many times, yet whenever sudden tests of my xinxing popped up—especially conflicts with family members who also cultivate—for the sake of maintaining harmony, I held my temper. On the surface it looked like I endured well, but inside, I was often tormented. I could not truly analyze the matter according to the Fa; it was only forced endurance, and even I sometimes thought I was doing well. By writing sharings about cultivation experiences with family and friends, I learned to truly understand the principle of forbearance. I realized that it is not just about enduring past conflicts or recalling incidents I thought I already “handled well” over the years. True forbearance is calm, without resentment, and not clinging to old grievances.
No matter how unreasonable other people may seem, I realized that all conflicts are arranged by Master to help us eliminate attachments and improve our xinxing. Family members and others around me are essential elements in my cultivation environment, helping me refine my heart and complete my cultivation. When I truly looked within and changed my mindset, I was sincerely grateful to them.
After writing that sharing, my home environment gradually became harmonious. My child’s cultivation also became more stable, and my relationship with my wife improved. Even family members in China, who had once been misled by the Chinese Communist Party, began to change. Previously, calls to my family were often unpleasant; they would criticize me, saying things like, “Why do you still believe in that?” After my heart softened, their attitudes also changed. Now when I call, they greet me warmly. They even offer encouragement and support when they hear about truth-clarification projects. Our relationship became not only harmonious but mutually supportive. Even financially, when I faced difficulties, they offered to help. I understood clearly that all of this was Master’s compassionate arrangement.
I learned to see the goodness in others. Even ordinary people are remarkable beings, and as long as the truth is clarified to them, they might even become an enlightened being. In the past, I was unable to overcome my strong likes and dislikes of certain people, because I was influenced by long-term exposure to communist Party culture. My heart has now developed a measure of compassion, and my ingrained attitudes have gradually changed. My mind feels light, my thinking clear, and my truth-clarification work became more effective.
Writing About My Cultivation Helps Me Cultivate Like I Did When I First Began
Cultivation has never been an easy path. Before I began writing sharings, I often avoided facing conflicts or my attachments. I simply refused to think about them. I felt it was too hard, or I took detours to bypass the issues. This kind of attitude easily led to exhaustion, laxity, and a desire to take breaks from cultivation. By writing about my cultivation experiences, I’ve been able to see and confront my attachments on a regular basis. This helps me progress steadily on my cultivation path. I now understand that cultivation involves encountering numerous challenges of varying difficulty, all of which we must understand and pass by truly looking within.
As long as I am willing to face these challenges, Master assists me in overcoming them and improving. Writing sharings is therefore an excellent way to continually refine and correct one’s cultivation. I have come to realize that writing a cultivation sharing once a year is extremely necessary. Moreover, the process of writing leaves a lasting impression. It requires time and effort, and naturally serves as a reminder in the years ahead to cultivate diligently.
I also understand that group Fa study, practicing the exercises together, and Fa conferences are the basic forms of our cultivation.
Fa conferences are not only about listening to the experiences of others. Every practitioner should contribute to the event, helping it to achieve perfection. Although writing about our experiences can be demanding, enduring hardship is also part of cultivation and extremely beneficial. Writing also improves one’s ability to describe one’s experiences clearly.
Reflecting on past writing experiences, I’ve learned that each time I write a sharing, my understanding of the Fa deepens, and that helps me approach cultivation more earnestly and prevents me from becoming lazy. Maintaining an active attitude toward writing about my experiences also allows me to feel Master’s compassionate guidance and enhances my cultivation. I gain clarity on Fa principles quickly and effectively. I have now made it a point to write a cultivation sharing every year. This is not to have an opportunity to speak publicly but to take responsibility for my own cultivation.
These are a few experiences and insights I’ve had at my current stage of cultivation. If there is anything not in line with the Fa, please help correct me.
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!
(Selected submission presented at the 2025 Australia Fa Conference)
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