(Minghui.org)

Greetings, Master!Greetings, fellow practitioners!

This is my fourth time attending a Fa conference in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Every time I’ve sat down to share my thoughts, I’ve found myself speechless and completely disoriented until I’ve finally managed to write something at the last minute. Looking inward, I realized that this hesitation stems from laziness – an expression of the pursuit of comfort. I tend to focus on tasks I find easy and postpone anything more challenging. I've also noticed that when it comes to fulfilling the three things, I often prefer to stay within my comfort zone and follow routine procedures. When faced with tasks I'm less comfortable with or dislike, I find various excuses to put them off.

Throughout my 28 years of cultivation, I have largely relied on the care and support of my parents and fellow practitioners. I’ve rarely made independent decisions and developed a habit of avoiding deep reflection or analysis. However, after starting my own family and having a child, my responsibilities and challenges have multiplied. I must balance cultivation with family life, while also taking on the task of mentoring a young Falun Dafa practitioner. I’ve gradually realized that perhaps Master cleverly turned the tables to guide me on my cultivation path. Through this process, I will eliminate various human idiosyncrasies and diligently carry out the three things.

Changing My Cultivation State

My husband, an ordinary person with a PhD in chemistry, was heavily influenced by atheism and scientific thinking. Although he supported my cultivation, he remained skeptical of some of the extraordinary phenomena in the Fa. When I told him the true circumstances, I often hit a wall and found it difficult to convince him or change his views. Initially, I had the idea that after marriage, I could gradually lead him to Falun Dafa cultivation. However, once I actually left my parents and moved abroad with my husband to live alone, I realized that this idea was difficult to put into practice.

My husband is a kind, traditional man. He is very family-oriented and considerate of me, helping me with housework after work and cooking on weekends. From our engagement until after our marriage, I always nurtured our relationship with deep affection. This emotional bond created a deep rift within me. When doing the three things, I recognized myself as a Falun Dafa practitioner, using the Fa to judge situations, maintaining my xinxing, and seeking solutions to all matters within myself. However, when I was with my husband, I reverted to being an ordinary person and gave in to the distorted human emotions of love. When things didn’t go my way, I would have minor fits of anger and chase after worldly romance and happiness – a state completely inappropriate for a Falun Dafa cultivator. I often felt restless inside but didn’t know how to change my state. In fact, it was precisely this attachment to human affection and feelings that had prevented my husband from approaching the Fa.

When compassionate Master saw that I wasn’t making progress, he repeatedly arranged for fellow practitioners to enlighten me. I realized that I first needed to achieve a breakthrough in my Fa study and ensure both the quantity and quality of my daily Fa study. Shortly after I expressed this wish, a fellow practitioner approached me and asked if I would read Zhuan Falun with her every morning. I was deeply grateful for Master’s thoughtful arrangement. I gradually began to find inner peace.

Initially, the distractions were enormous. As soon as I got up in the morning, my child would wake up. Since the child was still quite small, he would either cry loudly or demand to be picked up and carried. To avoid disturbing the other practitioner, I held him in my arms almost the entire time during the first few days while I read one lecture. Gradually, my son got used to it. I also frequently explained to him how important it was for mommy to study the Fa daily, and the child seemed to understand. This allowed me to finally overcome the hurdle of studying the Fa in the mornings, at least to some extent.

As for the exercises, I’ve repeatedly failed. When I’m not practicing with a group, I’ve found it extremely difficult to remain consistent in the long run. Master has often enlightened me through subtle signs: I automatically wake up around five in the morning or am awakened by the child turning over. Sometimes I hear practice music in my ears, even though no one is playing it nearby. Or I dream that someone wakes me up, or my husband hits me on the leg, just so I wake up startled. But to my shame, I must confess that I remained indifferent under the influence of complacency. After persevering with early morning practice for a while, I inevitably became lazy again. As soon as I slacked off, for even a single day, I found it difficult to get up that early again the next day.

This deeply troubled me. How was it that I could not maintain the unwavering perseverance and the fundamental discipline of a cultivator—studying the Fa and practicing the exercises?

I recall a student asking Master:

“Student: Perseverance and willpower are inherent and predestined. My willpower is weak. When I bear down and make up my mind to try hard, I can do well for a few days, but not long. I’m very frustrated by this, and I don’t know what my problem is. I tried hard to study the Fa and memorize the Fa, but saw no improvement. Is it because the thinking of improving my willpower through studying the Fa is a form of pursuit, or is it because I haven’t studied the Fa enough? If the fundamental reason is that I don’t treasure myself, is there still any hope for me?

“Master: If it’s a Dafa disciple who cultivates himself very well and who manages to rationally understand what Dafa is, he will surely work at it with considerable effort and not let up when it comes to this. On the other hand, those who are not diligent are likewise studying the Fa, and they know that the Fa is very good, but their thinking is not grounded in the Fa and they don’t have ample righteous thoughts. So, naturally their understanding is not high; that is, they can’t truly understand the preciousness of the Fa. That’s why they’re not all that motivated.” (Teachings at the Conference in Los Angeles)

I realized that I hadn’t yet truly grasped “the preciousness of the Fa.” Although I had obtained the Fa in childhood, I remained somewhat lost in the vast dye vat of ordinary human society. Particularly influenced by Party culture and atheism, I often forgot my origins and my mission. Unable to maintain rational, sincere thoughts at all times among ordinary people, I was easily swayed and dragged down by human emotions.

Later, under Master’s guidance, I found a fellow practitioner who joined me every evening for online practice. Although there were occasional interruptions, our mutual encouragement proved extremely effective. It was very helpful for us to spur each other on, learn the Fa together, and practice the exercises. Unbeknownst to me, my family environment also changed.

Cultivating Beyond Emotions During Family Trials

As my personal cultivation progressed, I gradually recognized my tendency to go to extremes in balancing cultivation and family life. Initially, I gave absolute priority to my family, justifying this by claiming I was cultivating myself as much as possible while conforming to the state of ordinary people. This excuse stemmed from convenience, and thus I didn’t prioritize cultivation.

After realizing this, I swung to the other extreme. I filled my days with a lot of work, often working late into the night. I neglected housework and had little time to talk to my husband. He often remarked sarcastically, “Even though I work, you’re busier than I am.” Because I focused exclusively on my Fa validation projects without prioritizing my husband’s interactions or daily communication, he complained every time I wanted to go out to validate the Fa or asked him to look after our child for an extended period. I didn’t have time for him or our son.

During a particularly busy project period, my husband played with our son in the evenings and on weekends when he was home, while I worked on the computer. One weekend after I finished a project, I attended a Falun Dafa event. When I got home, my husband began giving me the silent treatment. His answers were short, his expression blank, and his irritation palpable. I constantly reminded myself to look inward, maintain composure, and embody the compassion expected of a Falun Dafa practitioner. Outwardly, I avoided mirroring his coldness and actively showed interest in him. Inwardly, however, I felt restless, tired, and deeply troubled. I was suffering because he couldn’t understand and support my efforts like my fellow practitioners did, and I felt completely isolated. That evening, I started an open conversation and learned that his allergic rhinitis, exacerbated by a heavy workload, had recently led to poor sleep, frequent daytime headaches, and constant physical exhaustion. He asked me again if I could quit my media job to take on my responsibilities at home and focus on childcare.

I think my husband’s reactions must have stemmed from issues in my own behavior. I didn’t agree to his request but simply promised to manage my time better to ease his burden.

I began to reflect: If I were truly forced to choose between cultivation and my husband, what would I choose? The answer was undoubtedly cultivation, without hesitation. Since Master intended for us to reach perfection through cultivation among ordinary people, there must be a path we can follow. My failure to follow this path well certainly stemmed from unrecognized attachments and insufficient Fa study. Why, then, did I constantly oscillate between extremes and fail to reconcile the three things with normal family life? I saw this impure, greedy heart within me. My aim with the three things was to create a relaxed, harmonious family environment to gain my husband’s understanding and support. This was exploiting the Fa; my heart was impure. I also saw my intense craving for fame, and indifference or anger from others, still agitated me intensely. And there was my emotional attachment to and dependence on my husband, forgetting that the righteous thoughts and actions of a Dafa practitioner come first.

Therefore, I resolved to eliminate these negative attachments and to stop tirelessly working for fame, gain, and affection. I had to adhere to Master’s Fa standards and regard my husband as any other living being. This marital bond in this life exists solely for the sake of Fa. If one cannot conform to Dafa, one will not be able to have a future. I cannot allow him to drag me down; my main consciousness must remain vigilant. At the same time, I must send forth righteous thoughts against these human attachments and interference and deny all the old forces’ arrangements. I realized that my cultivation had previously not been solid enough; I had not grasped the seriousness of cultivation. While striving to attain the boundless radiance of Buddhas, Daos, and gods, I was simultaneously indulging in the fleeting pleasures of this physical existence, a mere speck of dust in the cosmic trash can. I needed to be mindful of every thought and intention and not let myself be influenced by human attachments. Doing the three things correctly is undoubtedly the right thing to do. My motivation and mindset had been misplaced.

Since then, I’ve been striving to overcome my laziness in small ways in my daily life. Housework can be done gradually instead of allowing it to pile up. I keep my home as tidy as possible or clean while our child is at school. In the evenings, I prepare delicious meals, taking my husband’s preferences into account, instead of rushing through tasks. While ensuring my Fa study and practice, as well as my project commitments, I spend more time having genuine and heartfelt conversations with my husband. I’ve also become calmer and am no longer so easily influenced by him. When he’s struggling or unwell, I no longer react as emotionally as I used to. Instead, I’ve realized that people face various difficulties due to their karma, and that he is not as fortunate as I am to be a Falun Dafa practitioner. I feel sorry for him. I strive to guide him with insights from the Fa, while my inner self remains untouched by him. In everyday matters, I try to uphold the Fa’s requirement of ensuring the three things while maintaining a harmonious family life.

When my intentions were properly aligned, my husband gradually relaxed and even took the initiative to participate in childcare and housework. He no longer complains about my dedication to Fa validation and often works with me. On weekends, when I take our child to practice or study sessions, he prepares meals at home. When he sees me reading the Fa online, he helps with washing and dressing the child. When he hears our son recite several verses from Hong Yin flawlessly, he is truly amazed by the child’s progress.

Character Building Through Mentoring a Young Fellow Practitioner

My son is now three years old. He behaves remarkably well and rarely cried before his first birthday, even though he demanded a lot of my attention. I understand that children born into families of Falun Dafa practitioners have an extraordinary origin and undoubtedly came because of the Fa. I feel responsible for properly guiding him in cultivation. However, my own cultivation state was not sufficiently stable in the past. I was unable to properly balance cultivation and childcare, so I frequently interrupted my Fa study and practice. For a long time, I was unable to establish a regular daily routine. Occasionally, fellow practitioners would come to me to share their experiences on how to properly guide young practitioners. They would also point out some of my shortcomings, such as being too lenient or not adhering to principles. However, I did not appreciate the enlightenment that Master was imparting to me through fellow practitioners. Driven by a desire for fame, vanity, and jealousy, I couldn’t calmly accept their advice. Outwardly, I accepted it, but inwardly I often felt resistance, even that I was being unfairly treated, because I believed they didn’t understand my difficulties. After all, every child has a different personality and has a different developmental path – I couldn’t simply imitate others.

As I studied the Fa later, I recognized my jealousy, my aversion to criticism, and my craving for approval. These attachments also masked my desire for comfort and my laziness. I used my child as an excuse for my own lack of care. When others pointed out my shortcomings, I often justified myself by saying how exhausted I was from caring for my child or how much his noise disturbed my practice. I couldn’t find regular time to study the Fa, do the exercises, or send righteous thoughts. So, I blamed my son again because he was still young and had irregular sleep patterns. My child is here to cultivate alongside me; this shouldn’t be an obstacle. Why couldn’t I be steadfast and take responsibility? When I decided to change my mindset, my son fully cooperated. Only then did I realize that it was my own thoughts that had been hindering my progress all along, and I had wasted so much time.

I began reciting Hong Yin poems with my son and reading the Fa beside him. Whenever possible, I played recordings of Master Li’s lectures. Sometimes I also let him listen to young practitioners on Minghui Radio sharing their experiences with traditional cultural stories on the Gan Jing World platform. When evening practice time arrived, I no longer agonized over how to rock him to sleep first. Instead, I simply said to him, “Mommy is going to practice now. Would you please lie down next to me to sleep?” He would always nod in agreement, then toss and turn for a while before finally falling asleep. Lately, he sometimes prefers to practice with me instead of sleeping. I then play Master’s instructional video and practice with him. The first time he did the standing exercises with me, it lasted almost 20 minutes. That was a great encouragement for me, reminding me not to give up but to persevere with my daily practice.

I have always prioritized raising my child, but this process has revealed many of my own attachments. For example, if he suddenly starts screaming in public, I become very anxious and stop him angrily because I’m convinced that others are judging me with disapproving looks, which highlights my fragile self-esteem. Between the ages of one and a half and three, children develop strong self-confidence. A simple “no” is no longer enough; instead, you have to use various arguments to convince them. This challenged my desire for ease and often left me exhausted. Although I’m not very talkative by nature, I now expend a lot of energy and words every day explaining things to him. If he doesn’t listen or thinks about something for too long, I get discouraged.

After careful self-reflection, I realized I was harboring dependency and a sense of entitlement. I believed that any problems that arose would be corrected by Dafa, as long as my child diligently worked to cultivate in the Fa. I felt my role was simply to guide him on the path of cultivation and leave all other matters to Master’s direction. On the surface, this idea seems reasonable, but it masks a cunning dependency and expectation—as if I didn’t have to exert myself and my child could be cleaned like clothes in a washing machine. This, too, was a form of extreme thinking. Master repeatedly emphasized the importance of raising children correctly. I cannot evade my responsibility by leaving everything to Master; this is a path I must walk well.

I began to change my mindset and truly take responsibility for my son’s future. I began explaining to him, in simple, easily understandable terms, my understanding of cause and effect, good and evil, and how to improve one’s xinxing. Although he listened with a mixture of understanding and confusion, he quickly connected these lessons to real-life situations and applied them to his subsequent actions. I was impressed by how remarkably perceptive children can be.

Once, a friend he often played with refused to leave our house and cried incessantly. My son comforted the child and began reciting the poem “Tempering the Will” in Hong Yin. The child stared in wide-eyed wonder when he finished reciting, and when his mother saw his earnest yet childlike expression, she was deeply moved.

Raising children is also a process of continuously refining one’s own xinxing. I should research and discover the path that suits me best, rather than blindly adopting the methods of others. I should compare myself to the valuable experiences of other practitioners and look inward to find out where I still lack something and why I haven’t yet reached the requirements of Dafa at my level. I shouldn’t just learn superficially without improving my xinxing, as that would only have the opposite effect.

Sometimes I’ve noticed that my child was also undergoing xinxing tests. For example, when he really craved something to eat, it was often sold out. Or when he was very happy, he would suddenly collapse. He wanted to meet other young practitioners during group Fa study or group exercises to play with them, but often there weren’t any other children present.

My heart used to ache for my son, and I couldn’t really bear the fact that such a young child already had to suppress his joy and desire for food. I later realized that I was viewing him from a human perspective, instead of seeing him as a young fellow practitioner. In fact, the earlier the foundations of cultivation are laid, the better. Furthermore, the knowing side of a child understands everything. What I should do is awaken his Buddha-nature in a wise and acceptable way in everyday life, and not allow or encourage his demonic tendencies.

I’ve also noticed that when I explain the Fa principles to my child, I reconsider the meaning and practice of cultivation. When I explain the superficial meaning of Master’s poems, I realize multiple and deeper meanings within them.

I am deeply ashamed that I don’t constantly keep the seriousness of cultivation in mind and have wasted a lot of valuable time. Extending the time for Fa rectification also allows me more opportunities to pursue my own path. Master also guides me to mature in my cultivation.

I will strive to guide the young fellow practitioner well and work diligently with him in cultivating his faith, relinquishing human attachments more quickly, and using every opportunity to save more sentient beings.

I am so grateful to compassionate Master for his salvation and protection!

Many thanks to the fellow practitioners for their selfless sharing and support!

Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!

(Selected submission presented at the 2025 Swiss German-speaking Fa Conference)