(Minghui.org) I found Falun Dafa in 1994, but did not truly start practicing until 1996. Over the past 30 years, Master Li has always kindly protected me, both in my personal cultivation and in my cultivation during the Fa-rectification period, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution, and has helped me pull through to today.
I would like to share some stories from the early days of my cultivation that validate the wonderfulness of Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) and show the immense compassion of our Master.
Master Guided Me to Take Up Dafa Practice
I was working at a school at the time, and the daughter of our school’s director of studies was a veteran Dafa practitioner who introduced the practice to her mom. The director and I had worked together for many years and got along very well. Knowing that I liked qigong, she showed me Master’s first book, Falun Gong.
I read the book and some articles about practitioners regaining their health through practicing Falun Gong, which demonstrated the miraculous power of the practice. However, due to my poor enlightenment quality, even though I knew Falun Dafa was an exceptionally good practice, I didn’t take it up at that time.
In June 1994, the director of studies attended Master’s Fa-lectures in Jinan. When she returned, I noticed a strong light above her head. She was only away for ten days, yet there was such a big change in other dimensions. I thought, “Falun Dafa is really extraordinary.”
I asked the director if she had brought back any lecture notes, and she answered, “No.” I said to her, “If Master Li writes anything in the future, please share it with me. I would like to read all his writings as soon as they are available.”
Because of this wish, in the years that followed, I was always able to read Master’s new articles and Fa-teachings as soon as they were published, except when I was in labor camps or prison.
A while later, the director showed me Master’s second book. I thought I already understood what it said. Then I realized that although I didn’t know anything about cultivation before I read Falun Gong, when I readthe book earlier, the Fa principles Master explained in it were already deeply rooted in my mind.
At the beginning of 1995, by chance, I bought a copy of Zhuan Falunat a small bookshop near a park. After reading the book, I became clearer about some things in life I had been confused about. However, due to my poor enlightenment quality, I put the book in a suitcase, thinking I would read it again later.
Towards the end of 1995, two teachers at my school began practicing Falun Dafa and recommended it to me. They also gave me a copy of a new Dafa book, Zhuan Falun (Volume II).
During the New Year break, while I was on duty one day, I read the new book.I then realized that the time had come. I firmly believed that I was a Falun Dafa practitioner, and have been all along!
My Family and Relatives Take Up the Practice, One After Another
A few days later, a colleague told me that videos of Master’s lectures were being shown near my home, and that she had already watched the first one. I knew it was a precious opportunity and really wanted to see them.
Then I thought, I have already learned the fundamental principles of the practice and obtained the Fa. Even though I really want to watch the videos, my son is only two years old, and either my wife or I has to stay home to take care of him. I’d better let my wife watch the lectures so she can obtain the Fa as well.
My wife was very happy and went to watch the second lecture as soon as she quickly finished her dinner that evening.
She was very excited when she came home, saying that Falun Dafa is truly good. While watching the lecture, she sat in the full lotus position for a few minutes, like others, and took in everything Master said. She told my mom about it, and the next day, they went together to watch the third lecture.
On the following day, when a neighbor came to collect the water bill, my mom told her about Falun Dafa, and the neighbor went to watch the fourth lecture as well. On the fourth day, a friend came to see her, so she told her friend about it, and they watched the video of Lecture Five in the evening. They all happily started practicing Dafa, one after another, in four days.
My wife was overjoyed and completely immersed herself in the Fa. She was able to sit in the full lotus position very quickly and could maintain it for over an hour with ease. I was very happy for her, thinking she was listening to Master teaching the Fa, and I must support her. Whatever she can do, I can do, too.
As I was thinking this way, Master strengthened me. Later, I too could sit in the full lotus position for an hour while doing the fifth exercise.
Since then, my whole family has started practicing Falun Dafa. Later, my sister-in-law, my younger sister and her husband, my elder aunt, and my uncle’s wife all took up the practice one after another. As a result, our entire family has been blessed.
Two Things that Touched Me Deeply
After watching the videos, we joined a Fa-study group and did the exercises at the practice site. My wife and I had to take turns doing these things. Two things left a deep impression on me when I first went to the practice site.
One was the practice site’s purity and the wonderful atmosphere. The assistant was very kind and warm-hearted, and Aunty Zeng (alias), who was helping the newcomers, was also very kind and patient. She was very firm in her faith in Dafa, and remained so even after the CCP began persecuting Falun Dafa.
Every morning, she was the first to arrive at the practice site with a tape recorder and the last to leave. My mom, my wife, and I all like to help others, and we often asked Aunty Zeng if we could buy some batteries or give her money to cover the cost, but she always said, “No, no, there is no need. We have plenty of batteries to use, but thank you for your kindness.”
The last time I saw her was a few years ago. I gave her a few copies of Dafa periodicals. She was already in her 90s then and was still clarifying the truth to save people. Aunty Zeng passed away two years ago. She was truly a respected veteran practitioner.
The veteran practitioners’ righteousness and kindness left a very deep impression on us newcomers. Later, when we became veteran practitioners, we brought the music player and felt very happy inside.
The second moment that touched me deeply occurred during the second exercise. It was winter, and the evenings were very cold. At times, while I was holding the wheel (the second exercise), I felt as if my forearms were frozen. I couldn’t move them, and I felt a slight stabbing pain.
Then I felt that karma was being reduced bit by bit, and instead of feeling increasingly colder, my forearms began to gradually warm up. The “frozen” area shrank until it was reduced to my palms, then my fingers, then my fingertips, and then it disappeared altogether.
Instantly, I felt very relaxed and warm. I realized it was a karma-reducing process, as Master explained earlier in his Fa-teaching. It was a truly amazing and beautiful phenomenon.
In the last twenty-odd years, whenever I was doing the second exercise, no matter how long it took, I’ve never stopped halfway through.
Master Is Always Beside Us
In February 1996, I visited the director of studies at her home. I thought that because her daughter had attended Master’s Fa-lectures and participated in many of Master’s activities to spread the Fa, she had become rather close to him. I wanted to meet Master through the daughter.
The director of studies was very happy to see me, but said that her daughter had just left and would not be back for a while. I felt a bit disappointed, but when she told me that her daughter had given her Master’s new articles, I became very happy again and felt the trip was worthwhile.
She showed me Master’s new articles, six in total, dated from November 1995 to January 1996. I couldn’t wait to read them and was especially touched by two of them: “For Whom do You Practice Cultivation?” and “When the Fa is Right.” After I read all six articles, I felt I had been cleansed once more and my heart was filled with righteous thoughts.
Master said in “Seeking Discipleship with Teacher,”
“Dafa is being spread far and wide. Those who hear about it are looking for it. Those who have obtained it are delighted with it. The number of cultivators is increasing daily and becoming countless.”(Essentials for Further Advancement)
It was so true! My own family had the same experiences and feelings. Then I read further,
“Nonetheless, most of the self-learners have the intention of formally seeking discipleship with Teacher, for they are concerned that they might not have received the genuine teachings if they have not seen Teacher in person. This is actually due to a shallow understanding of the Fa.”
I was shocked, thinking, Isn’t Master talking about me? Master knew I would come to see the director today and knew what I wanted to do and what I was thinking. It was incredible! Master clearly knew what was on my mind and answered all my questions without seeing me in person. Master has taken me as his disciple and has long been taking care of me. With this understanding, I couldn’t help but feel extremely happy.
From studying “Seeking Discipleship with Teacher,” I gained a much clearer understanding of spreading the Fa, solid cultivation, and the importance of repeatedly studying the Fa. I became more clear-headed and soon memorized the article, which I have remembered for 30 years—even when I was unlawfully detained in brainwashing centers, forced labor camps, and prison.
I feel Master is always by our side and has protected us with immense compassion over these years. Thank you, Master.
What happened at the director’s place in February 1996 was a miraculous experience for me, in which I felt I had truly seen Master even though I had not seen him in person. It was amazing!
Conclusion
Recalling those early experiences, my heart is filled with purity and wonder. In those years, my heart was focused on Dafa, and apart from daily work and life, I spent all my spare time on Fa study, assimilating to Dafa, and spreading the Fa—I always felt pressed for time.
In comparison, my cultivation state these days is not as good as it was in the early years. In a more relaxed environment, I have slacked off in my cultivation. I will re-establish my cultivation to where it was when I first started, let go of all my human attachments, step out of humanness, and walk toward Godhood, so I can fulfill my mission, assist Master in saving more sentient beings, and return to my true home with Master.
When I recall those beautiful experiences from the past, I feel extremely grateful for Master’s compassionate protection over the years. Also, I hope that more fellow practitioners and people around the world will cherish the precious opportunities Master has given us, cultivate our hearts, and act with kindness to embrace a beautiful and bright future.
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