(Minghui.org) During the 23rd annual Austrian Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference held in St. Pölten on June 28, fifteen practitioners talked about their cultivation stories. Although each story was different, a common theme in all the talks was how the practitioners benefited from Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance as well as doing the five sets of exercises. They also shared that they are very thankful to Master Li, Falun Dafa’s founder.
The 23rd annual Austrian Falun Dafa Experience-Sharing Conference took place at St. Pölten on June 28, 2025.
Learning to Stop Complaining
Christina described how she learned the Falun Dafa teachings, looked inward to improve her xinxing, and let go of resentment.
“I recently realized that complaining is an attachment that is very misleading. This is because it creates an illusion in which you feel your resentment is justified. It could suppress your true self and send such thoughts into your mind as: ‘the situation is indeed difficult,’ ‘it is so frustrating,’ or, ‘others just do not understand me,’” she explained.
Shortly after becoming a young mother earlier this year, Christina participated in several Dafa projects. Although she received lots of support from her husband, who is not a practitioner, Christina still felt intense pressure. Because she constantly traveled between the hotel and the project location, she had little time to study the Fa (teachings). Two practitioners in the projects who were familiar with the operation also left for various reasons. Faced with challenges, plus lack of manpower, Christina complained more and more. Although she handled the pressure with righteous thoughts the first day, her feelings of resentment pulled her situation and the project status downward day after day.
Then Christina realized that a Falun Dafa practitioner should cultivate compassion, which is different from resentment. “Plus, compassion is indispensable in fulfilling our vow of assisting Master in saving sentient beings,” she said. “What’s happening on the surface may not matter much because it is our compassion from Dafa that touches people.” Yet, even after the project was completed, Christina still felt some resentment.
Realizing that such a state wasn’t right, she began to look within. “Why does everything appear to be so difficult?” she wondered. “Something isn’t right and I have to change.”
Looking back, Christina understood that she had tried to forebear and cultivate herself amid the adversities, but her resentment continued. “I’ve now realized that resentment should not have existed in the first place because it isn’t part of me,” she said. “The further I looked inward, the more I realized that resentment is dirty and negative. It is rooted in selfishness and is the opposite of compassion. In fact, going along with resentment is disrespecting Master Li and Dafa.”
When she had these understandings, Christina is no longer deceived by the illusion of the situation. Instead, she became clear on her new understanding and has tried to overcome resentment. She is also grateful to Master Li for this cultivation opportunity.
Stepping out of Our Comfort Zone
Simon also discussed his experience of participating in a Dafa project. From application to familiarization with the project, he realized many times that he had to step out of his comfort zone. “I faced bigger challenges at every step, but they were still manageable. This experience made me uncomfortable sometimes. But I also know that only by going through this process will I become better.”
Simon was very nervous the first day of the project. With faith in Master, however, he was able to concentrate on each step to complete the task. During the process, he noticed he tended to handle things based on his personal preference. He later remembered something another practitioner said: When encountering difficulties we should look inward and remind ourselves that we are doing this project not for ourselves.
Looking back, Simon also noticed that sentimentality he had towards certain details of the project prevented him from doing things better. After completing the task, Simon received two kinds of feedback. One person harshly criticized him while another highly praised him. “I realized that both types of feedback are tests for me. They also reminded me of my strengths and weaknesses. They are opportunities to check whether I can remain undisturbed when facing criticism or praise.”
Witnessing Dafa’s Miracles
Before Nguyen began practicing Falun Dafa three years ago, she had numerous illnesses. In her sharing, she described several miracles she experienced and how she fulfilled her mission as a Falun Dafa practitioner.
One of Nguyen’s friends was having financial difficulty and wanted to borrow money to open a clothing store. Someone warned Nguyen not to lend her the money since she might not be able to pay her back. At that time, Nguyen was not a Falun Dafa practitioner, but she felt she needed to help her friend. Although that friend promised to repay the money after two years, five years passed and Nguyen was not repaid. Seeing the friend giving no plausible explanation, Nguyen sent her a message. But that friend still made excuses instead of paying the money.
Not long after that, Nguyen started to practice Falun Dafa. “I came to understand that this might be a karmic debt; she gave me de (virtue) by refusing to pay me the money. In any case, I should take this lightly. So I called her, asking if everything was all right, without mentioning the money. Later on, I totally forgot about the money.”
Several months later, that friend repaid the money in full. From this experience, Nguyen realized that once we let go of the attachment to material interest, the situation will change.
Nguyen shared how her restaurant is a good place for her to tell people about Falun Dafa. She often talks to people about the practice and gives them informational materials. She also participates in activities to introduce Falun Dafa.
Once, Nguyen planned to go to the Chinese Embassy to expose the persecution in China. Her husband, who is not practitioner, said she should not go because there was a thunderstorm warning. Looking within, Nguyen remembered she had a phobia about thunderstorms and she realized that this could be an opportunity to eliminate it. So she decided to go. “As soon as I stepped out of the door, the rain stopped and the sky cleared up. It felt like a miracle. From this, I understood that once we have righteous thoughts, Master helps us.”
Nguyen is very thankful to Master Li for these experiences. She said that she will continue to remain diligent and fulfill her mission as a Dafa practitioner.
Another common theme in each presentation was the practitioners’ resolve to continue looking within to improve themselves, to participate in Dafa projects well, and to introduce Falun Dafa to more people.
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
