(Minghui.org) I would like to report my cultivation experiences over the past two years to our compassionate Master and to fellow practitioners who have walked hand-in-hand with me.
Two years ago, I started going to do truth clarification at the Portsmouth Square truth clarification site in San Francisco. This site has been operating for many years. Many practitioners, mostly elderly, have come here over the years to clarify the truth. We distribute truth-clarification materials and clarify the truth to tourists from all over the world. We also collect signatures, asking tourists and visitors to sign our petition to the House of Representatives and the Senate, asking for the U.S. Government’s help to stop the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners.
I obtained the Fa in the United States and came to San Francisco from out of state eight years ago. Participating in face-to-face truth clarification is exactly what I had longed for. Just a few days after I joined the effort, an elderly woman disrupted the truth-clarification site. This woman, who was deeply poisoned by the evil CCP, was wielding a cane. I was with several practitioners in a car preparing to return to South Bay, when two practitioners sitting on our left were struck on the arms by the woman. We weren't frightened; we immediately recorded video of the incident with the woman and called the police. The local police issued a three-month restraining order against this woman to prevent any further incidents. We later heard that the restraining order had been lifted, and she hasn't caused any more trouble.
After this incident, local police frequently drove by to check on us and were very friendly. Practitioners in San Francisco have been delivering the English Epoch Times newspapers to the local police station. Practitioners went to the police station and other relevant agencies to clarify the truth about Falun Gong. We all worked together, doing what Dafa disciples should do. Despite the assault incident, the environment at the truth-clarification site has become much better since. This is likely due to practitioners' improved xinxing changing the environment. It’s true that appearances are shaped by the mind, and circumstances change with one’s thoughts.
On our way to San Francisco, fellow practitioners sent forth righteous thoughts and recited Hong Yin together in the car. On the way back, we shared our cultivation experiences and improved together. Some practitioners from far away came to do the exercises at the site, while some practitioners who deliver the Epoch Times newspapers came to join us after their deliveries. We collected signatures from those who were willing to quit the CCP and shared our experiences in truth-clarification and cultivation, all of which helped me identify my shortcomings and gaps in my cultivation.
As Dafa disciples, we shouldn’t be afraid of things. Whenever something happens, it’s a good opportunity to clarify the truth and validate the Fa. We should simply be positive and optimistic, comprehensively accomplishing the three things, saving sentient beings, and fulfilling our prehistoric vows.
With the coordination of the Dafa association and the participation of fellow practitioners, the truth-clarification site later gradually produced more beautiful display boards and more comprehensive truth-clarification materials. The small table displaying truth-clarification materials has been replaced by a larger one. As soon as visitors enter the small square, they can see a dazzling display of truth clarification materials about Dafa and the persecution. After seeing these materials and practitioners’ continuous efforts to clarify the truth, more and more visitors have come to understand the truth, withdraw from the CCP, and sign our petitions. Some Chinese who had initially showed some resistance have become less resistant, and some have even come to learn the exercises.
Next, I’d like to share with fellow practitioners some touching and inspiring stories we’ve experienced at the truth-clarification site over the past two years.
At the entrance of the square, practitioners distributed truth clarification materials. In the center of the small square, we had Dafa truth-clarification display boards. Practitioners have been doing the exercises and collecting signatures next to the display boards. We have collected signatures in English, Chinese, Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese.
Many visitors accepted our materials, learned the truth, and signed the petition.
A San Francisco resident signed the petition and said she often passes by the small square and has seen Falun Gong practitioners doing their exercises. She said everyone should follow Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. The CCP’s practice of imprisoning people and harvesting their organs is horrific. No one should have their organs harvested while they are alive. She said that she supports Falun Gong; Falun Gong is great.
After signing the petition, a European tourist said, “The persecution of Falun Gong in China, especially the CCP’s crimes of live organ harvesting, is disgusting. We must let more people know about the CCP’s evil deeds and stop the persecution.”
A Western woman said, “Hearing about the CCP’s practice of live organ harvesting, I cannot remain silent.” She repeatedly thanked us for our persistence and for holding the event. She was moved by our anti-persecution efforts and said the CCP should fall.
A Western woman took a flyer and signed the petition without hesitation. She explained the situation to the children next to her and asked her two children and her brother’s children to sign the petition as well. The children then solemnly added their signatures. Other people who came to the square together also signed the petition together.
After reading the petition, a Western tourist immediately signed the petition. We thanked him. He said he should thank us. He was genuinely shocked by the CCP’s persecution and said, “What you’re doing is very important. I’m proud of your actions.” He hoped the persecution of Falun Gong would end soon.
My family and I came to the United States in 1995, and I was fortunate to obtain the Fa here in 2001. Master’s teachings lifted the fog from my life, and I understood the meaning of life. I felt like a lost child who had found the way home.
I’ve been timid and cowardly since my childhood. I was afraid of meeting people, and I was often cowardly and evasive when interacting with others. I was often bullied. When others stole my things, I never dared to resist or refuse, and I didn’t dare to say no. I secretly felt heartbroken and trapped in a state of fear.
In the early days of my cultivation, I mistook unconditional obedience, cowardice, and fear for forbearance. The inescapable necessity of social interaction made me endure many things with pain and grievance. I wanted to speak up, but I couldn’t. I mistakenly equated cowardice with forbearance. On the surface, I seemed to be forbearing everything, but in reality while facing injustice I felt resentment and sadness, and my endurance was truly painful. After practicing Falun Dafa, with Master’s compassionate care, I finally made it through.
Perhaps due to my timid and cowardly personality, I experienced the elderly woman assaulting practitioners at Portsmouth Square right after I started going there and had heard that San Francisco was a communist stronghold. I felt fearful. I knew this fear was wrong. I’m a Falun Dafa disciple, and Master is by my side. I shouldn’t be afraid. But until I got rid of the fear, I remained afraid, feeling enveloped by a field of fear. Whenever I had time, I made sure to check Minghui.org. I’ve seen many practitioners sharing their experiences with fear, which has been very inspiring. Recite the Fa! Reciting the Fa will quickly strengthen one’s righteous thoughts. That’s when I began reciting Master’s Fa, reciting it daily.
I thought, “It is Gods validating the Fa.” I am a God, so how could I be afraid of people? Dafa disciples must use righteous thoughts in all situations and should not be swayed by human thoughts or human desires. We must transcend human understandings and not be deceived by the false appearance of fear. I should also let go of my ego. Cultivators cultivate kindness, selflessness, and altruism. Dafa disciples clarifying the truth and saving people is the most righteous thing, and it is what Master has instructed us to do. Dafa disciples are solely under Master’s care.
I think that while on the surface it was this elderly woman causing trouble, she was manipulated by the Chinese Consulate behind the scenes, and in other dimensions she was being manipulated by the old forces. We completely negate all arrangements of the old forces, and do the three things well. Dafa disciples are divine beings who have come to earth with Master to rectify the Fa. It’s our mission to assist Master in saving people. Master’s Fashen are always watching over disciples. Master doesn’t acknowledge the persecution of Dafa disciples, and neither do we Dafa disciples. Dafa disciples who follow “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” to be good people, and even better people, shouldn’t be persecuted. I gradually emerged from the encirclement of fear.
I believe that the people around me are all waiting for Dafa to save them. My mission is to assist Master in Fa-rectification and save sentient beings. They are Master’s loved ones, and they are also my loved ones. I must embrace a compassionate heart and save these people. Every life is waiting to be saved. All negative reactions are caused by the evil behind the scenes. Sending forth righteous thoughts will have an effect. By maintaining righteous thoughts regularly, sending forth righteous thoughts frequently, and keeping your mind on the Fa the power of Dafa will surely manifest. Everything Master arranges for me is the best. Everything I encounter is good, and it’s all Master’s well-organized arrangements for my cultivation and improvement. I must diligently look within myself, identify my human attachments, such as fear, and then eliminate them.
During my time at Portsmouth Square, I’ve eliminated many human attachments. For example, the attachment of zealotry often surfaces. As soon as I make a little progress, this attachment emerges. This attachment is very bad and can be exploited by demons. When the attachment of zealotry arises, I immediately seize it and say, “I don’t want you. I’ll destroy you.” In the early stages of cultivation, I was easily influenced by these attachments. Now, I’m not. As soon as they arise, I instantly seize and eliminate them. I use the principles of Dafa to judge right from wrong in every thought. I constantly cultivate away all kinds of negative thoughts, gradually reducing my human attachments and thought karma, allowing my true self to dominate. I now feel that I’ve eliminated much of my human attachments. I’m not easily moved by anything and am more tolerant of others.
In cultivation, as long as we can look within and identify attachments, sever them, and reject them, Master will remove them. It’s Master who’s helping us. We simply have this desire and it has been strengthened by our righteous thoughts. As the saying goes,
“Cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one’s master.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
I’ve been practicing for more than 20 years, and in recent years I’ve become even more aware of the importance of eliminating attachments. Master repeatedly emphasizes in his teachings that we must let go of attachments. Only by eliminating these selfish, self-centered attachments can we develop compassion.
After eliminating fear, my cowardice diminished significantly. I’ve become brave, resolute, and dignified. Many negative factors have been eliminated. I understand that this is Master’s blessing. Master is at work, helping his disciples succeed, and Master is always by our sides. I’m grateful to Master and bow to him in gratitude.
I often kneel before Master’s image whenever I have time, asking for Master’s blessing to help me better empathize with the suffering of sentient beings and to cultivate greater tolerance and compassion. I also send forth righteous thoughts toward myself, letting go of all selfish and self-centered life factors within my life system that were formed in the old universe to unconditionally assimilate to the universal Dafa of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance,” achieving Master’s requirement of selflessness and altruism—the standards for beings in the new universe.
I encountered a problem of making a choice between two options. Either a fellow practitioner could come to my home to handle it, which would save me time and trouble. Or the other option was to take some time to handle it myself. I then thought that I needed to consider fellow practitioners, because coming to my home would take up the practitioner’s time, and the practitioner was very busy, so I should resolve and handle the problem myself. I chose the latter option. That evening, while meditating, I entered a deep, quiet space. It was very quiet, my mind was empty, and everything in the human world seemed far away from me. I also felt very tranquil during the standing exercises.
The next morning, I experienced the state of opening the great heavenly circuit again. I felt separated from the world, unmoved by anything happening around me. I quietly observed the world, and my righteous thoughts were strong when I did the three things. At the time, I was reciting the Fa with fellow practitioners, and I felt Master push me into a divine state. This lasted for four days, allowing me to experience this state of being separated from this surface dimension.
I’ve been practicing for more than 20 years, but I’ve never clearly felt the separation of the side that had completed cultivation. A year ago, I began to feel the wonderful state of compassion rising, and my realm elevated after Master removed the attachments from my body. However, once the side that had completed cultivation was separated, I felt like just yesterday I was in such a wonderful state, but today I’ve fallen from divine to human. It was as if I had lost my memory of cultivation. Human emotions surged up, and that stable state was gone. I felt like human substances were covering me up again, and I felt very weak. I decided the only way was to study the Fa diligently. Whenever I had time, I would recite, listen to, read, and copy the Fa. Dafa continuously purged and melted away the corrupted human qualities in me. I soon felt as if I had woken up again. The corrupted qualities in my body disappeared, my heart felt open, and I felt more capable. I knew that Dafa had helped me restore my righteous thoughts, and my divine side had awakened again.
As I study the Fa, reading Zhuan Falun thoroughly, I have taken it to heart, and I’ve gained a clearer understanding of some Fa principles. I’ve been able to reflect on my own experiences while studying, and studying the Fa has given me energy. I’ve sent forth righteous thoughts more often, slept less, and have improved my physical strength. Facing sentient beings, I smile compassionately and tell them the truth about Dafa. Wholeheartedly for others, I understand that people are truly waiting for us to save them. Those who can withdraw from the CCP should do so immediately, and those who can sign the petitions should sign them. I tell people to remember the nine-character mantra, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”
The above are some of my recent cultivation experiences. Thank you compassionate and great Master, and thank you fellow practitioners. If any of my sharing was not in line with the Fa, please point it out with compassion.
(Selected article presented at the 2025 San Francisco Fa Conference)