(Minghui.org) My classmate told me about Falun Dafa in 1997. I went to appeal for Dafa in Beijing in late 1999 and I was sent to a forced labor camp. Because I did not study the Fa (teachings) well, I drifted along with society’s downward current and I became an ordinary person.
When this classmate and I went to another classmate’s funeral in 2020, she said, “You see how a person can die in an instant. Human life is so short. Twenty years have passed, but you’re missing the opportunity to cultivate. How many more opportunities will we have? Please resume practicing and catch up. The other practitioners all hope to see you. Master hasn’t given up on you.”
I Resume Practicing
I thought: Was I just going to waste my life in this filthy world this way? My husband had had an operation. He couldn’t do anything and was too weak to walk. Soon afterwards, my father-in-law became paralyzed, and my mother-in-law fractured her spine. I took care of the two elderly people day and night and I was exhausted. But I realized: I am a Dafa practitioner who came for the Fa. I cannot follow the path arranged by the old forces. I need to follow Master. I want to cultivate myself and be a true practitioner.
I took out all my Dafa books after I got home. I arranged all Master’s lectures in other countries in chronological order and read them carefully from the very beginning. I realized that 20 years had passed, but I was just an ordinary person. I read Zhuan Falun, but my mind was preoccupied with other things, such as, I needed to go grocery shopping soon; I had to wash my father-in-law’s underpants, as he could not control his bowel movements; I had to clean the house, mop the floor, and do other chores. When I read the Fa and did the exercises I did not feel myself improving. I could not calm down while I read the Fa. I was puzzled, and I did not know how to cultivate.
At the end of last year, I visited a practitioner’s home where other practitioner came to read the Fa. She said, “Don’t study the Fa at home by yourself. Come to my house to study the Fa in the evenings!”
I responded, “My parents-in-law go to bed early. I need to help them undress and put them to bed.”
She replied, “Come whenever you have time. The afternoon is fine too, I’ll study the Fa with you.” Her kindness and selflessness touched me, and I really had no reason to refuse. While I agreed verbally, I was worried about my husband and in-laws. Sure enough, when I got home and told them my thoughts, they were all unhappy. My Fa study was delayed for three more days. I told Master, “I must go to study the Fa. Please help me.”
The first day I attended the Fa-study group, the other practitioners shared their thoughts. They talked about how they used the Fa to examine themselves, where they hadn’t done well, where they didn’t conform to the Fa, and how they tried to strictly demand of themselves to do well.
After I left the Fa-study group, I thought of Master’s Fa,
“You should always maintain a compassionate and calm heart. Then, when you run into a problem, you will be able to do well because it gives you some room as a buffer. You should always be benevolent and kind to others and consider others when doing anything. Whenever you encounter a problem, you should first consider whether others can put up with this matter or if it will hurt anyone. In doing so, there will not be any problems.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)
My mind suddenly became clear, like a lost child finding his way home, and I was no longer confused.
My husband said with a stern face as soon as I stepped in the house, “There’s a paralyzed elderly person at home, and you still have time to go out?”
I remained unmoved and calmly replied, “I’ve been taking care of both of them for the past few years, and I do all the housework as well. I just go out for a short while each day to study the Fa.”
“What’s there to study?” he asked. “Just do it at home.”
I said, “Today is the first day I’ve studied the Fa with other practitioners, and I immediately see the gap between myself and them. Their every word and action is in accordance with the requirements of Dafa. They think of others first, and their hearts are pure and kind. I want to follow Master’s requirements and be a selfless Dafa practitioner.” He looked at me, seemingly understanding.
The next day, I was washing my father-in-law’s pants when I heard my mother-in-law angrily shout, “Help your dad go to the toilet!”
I immediately became alert, thinking, “I need to look inward. What did I do wrong to upset her?” Then I smiled and said, “Mom, don’t be angry. If I did something wrong, just tell me, and I’ll change and not upset you again. I need to constantly look inward according to the standards of a cultivator.” She smiled.
I used to argue with my mother-in-law often over trivial matters—I became self-righteous and I argued even when I was wrong. When my xinxing improved, I learned to look inward. One night, I had a dream. There was a large ditch, about one meter wide and deep. A large rock was in it. In order to cross the ditch, I had to step on that rock. When I woke up, I realized Master was enlightening me, telling me I needed to step on solid places to cultivate.
My Family Notices My Positive Changes
One day, I spilled some soup when I put the dish on the table. I told my husband, “I’m so sorry. I was careless. I’ll be more careful next time.” He stared at me, stunned for a moment, and responded, “I’ve never heard you admit your mistakes or say you’re sorry in all these years.”
I replied, “It’s Dafa that changed me.”
That day was very cold and windy, but he insisted on driving me to Fa-study. He said, “You should cultivate hard. Our whole family will benefit.” I told him that we are all beneficiaries of Dafa, and are all Master’s family.
I kept elevating my xinxing while I studied the Fa and shared experiences with other practitioners. My home is my cultivation environment, and my family are the sentient beings that I need to help Master save. They are helping me become mature and are paving my way. They are my stepping stones. I have to compare my each and every thought with the Fa and cultivate earnestly and solidly.
My father-in-law asked to read Zhuan Falun after seeing my changes. My mother-in-law had practiced Falun Dafa before the persecution began on July 20, 1999, but gave it up afterwards. I often shared my experiences with her after I came home from the Fa study group. She has resumed practicing.
During the Chinese New Year holiday, my step-daughter came to visit. She said that my mother-in-law often told her on the phone that my changes have been dramatic. I no longer irritate her and I often apologize. My step-daughter said, “My husband’s family and relatives all know about you. They say a daughter-in-law like you is remarkable, taking care of two elderly people without any complaint, and you even help them use the toilet. Nowadays such daughters-in-law are rare.” I told her that according to Master and the Fa’s requirements, what I have done is not enough. I need to do more. She said I did very well and she would get her copy of Zhuan Falun out and read it. I had a dream at night, in which I took an airplane and flew up to the sky.
I changed my human notions through studying the Fa in the Fa study group. I no longer think about things using human notions, and I’m often alert and quickly catch any improper thought and correct it. My heart is calm when I study the Fa and I can understand the Fa rationally. I saw the manifestation of the Fa at my level. Golden Falun often circle in front of me. Master is encouraging me. I finally know how to cultivate. I thank Master for saving me. And thank you, fellow practitioners, for your help.
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Category: Improving Oneself
