(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa in 2016. Here I will share some of my cultivation experiences.

Correcting Every Thought According to Falun Dafa

Years ago, I wanted to put up Shen Yun posters, but because I had no experience, I couldn’t find a practitioner willing to team up with me. I told myself that once I found another practitioner willing to work with me, I would cooperate unconditionally, like a young monk. Soon after, a practitioner from our district, Alin (pseudonym), said she would work with me.

At our first meeting to work together, Alin provided a detailed list of instructions, stating she would be the main speaker while I sent righteous thoughts behind her. I must not have any negative thoughts when she was talking about Shen Yun; I must avoid being distracted by any food we encountered while outside; and so on.

At first, I was taken aback, but then I remembered my vow to cooperate unconditionally, like a young monk. I took it as an assignment from Master Li. So I agreed to her conditions.

While hanging posters with Alin, I paid close attention to my thoughts and tried to eliminate any negative ones I had about her.

For example, when I was walking ahead of Alin, pushing her cart, she suddenly called out to me, saying we couldn’t take that path because the ground was dirty. So I turned around and took the route she specified.

At first, I thought it didn’t really matter which path we took. Then I realized that my thought was a complaint. I immediately corrected my thinking: “Alin has already worked hard to promote Shen Yun along the way; if the cart stays clean, she won’t have to spend time cleaning it after she returns home.”

Another time, Alin was about to hang a poster when she suddenly turned to me and asked, “Where should I put this?”

I pointed to a wall beside a door. To my surprise, she replied, “Why don’t you think the way I do? You need to cooperate with me.”

I immediately thought, “How am I supposed to know what you are thinking?”

I quickly realized that this was also a complaint. I adjusted my mindset and said to her, “You are right. I should be more cooperative.”

And so, I repeatedly adjusted my view of Alin throughout everything we did.

A few weeks later, when we met again, I was surprised to find her incredibly endearing. I had previously forced myself to follow her instructions, but now I was more than willing to do whatever she asked.

At the time, I wasn’t quite sure why this had happened. I thought it might be because I’d been cultivating well during that period.

Looking back, I realized I wasn’t truly cultivating because I didn’t evaluate myself according to the Fa or work hard to improve my xinxing. Instead, I was merely maintaining a superficial peace.

When Alin asked me to take another route, I didn’t think about why she said that. Now I realize that my motivation for participating in the postering was wrong. I simply wanted to use the opportunity as a stepping stone to advance in my cultivation, to reach consummation, and avoid being eliminated. I was not focused on saving sentient beings but on saving myself.

Once, after telling me not to be late, Alin ended up being late herself. On the surface, she was in the wrong, but from a cultivation perspective, it was actually my fault because I arrived early to avoid criticism—my motivation was self-protection. Before leaving, I didn’t even check whether my family needed any help. I was thinking only of myself. Meanwhile, Alin was late because an emergency had arisen in her family, and she had been helping them.

I then realized that this practitioner, whom I had regarded as difficult to work with, was actually kind and wonderful. Master had arranged for me to work with her so I could see a real cultivator and reflect on my behavior. Master was trying to show me that I had taken a wrong path. I hadn’t yet realized it.

Sincerely Saving People

I was in Hong Kong when the pandemic broke out in Wuhan. I heard rumors that people returning to Taiwan from abroad would be required to quarantine.

Some practitioners believed that this was due to interference from evil forces; we should not acknowledge it but continue to go out as usual and do the three things. Others believed we should obey the law and avoid causing resentment among ordinary people.

I was deeply committed to saving people, so I decided to go out as usual.

One morning, while I was reading Zhuan Falun with the group, I received a call from an investigator: “I just went to your home and rang the doorbell; why wasn’t anyone there?” I immediately rode my bike home, but by the time I arrived, the investigator had left.

I tried to calm myself and send righteous thoughts, but various thoughts distracted me. A surge of anger suddenly welled up, and I couldn’t keep sending righteous thoughts. I felt as though a wave of resentment had taken hold of me: I am saving people and clarifying the truth; why didn’t Master protect me?

When the investigator returned, I didn’t want to answer any questions. He copied my motorcycle license plate number, and I later received a fine of more than 10,000 New Taiwan dollars (about $316 US dollars). I felt this was perhaps a consequence of not handling the situation well.

When I looked back, I realized that my purpose in sending righteous thoughts was wrong. I thought of eliminating evil’s interference with “me;” my goal was for Master to protect “me” and keep me from being arrested. I was being selfish and wasn’t acting in accordance with the Fa, so my righteous thoughts were weak. If I had truly let go of my own safety and well-being and sincerely cared for all sentient beings, the power of kindness and compassion may have helped me overcome the difficulties.

I remember an experience in Hong Kong. An elderly gentleman was sitting on a bench, with a couple and their child seated next to him. The gentleman looked very kind, and I wanted to help him quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. I naturally thought, “It would be great if that couple would leave.” The next second, the couple got up and left. I was then able to clarify the truth to the gentleman and help him quit the CCP.

Master said, “... cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while transforming gong is done by one’s master.” (Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun)

I believe that as long as our thoughts are righteous and our actions are truly aimed at saving sentient beings, Master will turn our virtue into gong.

Helping People Experience the Beauty of Dafa in Their Daily Lives

One afternoon on Jeju Island, South Korea, while eating at a fast-food restaurant, I noticed a father and son from mainland China at the table across from me finishing their meal. The father wanted to take the leftovers, but restaurants in Korea don’t provide containers. He seemed unsure how to carry the food.

I remembered I had a small plastic bag in my purse, so I walked over and handed it to him. At first, he hesitated, but soon he smiled, thanked me, and accepted it.

I returned to my seat and wondered if I should talk with him about Falun Dafa. When he was ready to leave, I went over and said, “Hello, sir. I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. If you have a moment, please feel free to come across the street to take a look at our display boards.”

He smiled and nodded. I took the opportunity to ask him, “Would you like me to give you a pseudonym to help you withdraw from the Communist Party?” He agreed, pressed his palms together, and thanked me.

Although I didn’t tell him much about Falun Dafa, I believe my small act of kindness helped him lower his guard and sense its goodness.

I reflected on my previous approach to clarifying the truth. My purpose had been self-improvement and self-perfection. I was always in a hurry because I believed that the more I talked about the truth, the more people would hear it and the better I was validating the Fa. I didn’t give much thought to whether people could accept it or what they were thinking.

I devoted a great deal of time to telling my family, friends, and ordinary people about the beauty of Dafa, believing they would naturally accept it once they learned about it and understood.

But it does not work that way. Imagine if parents constantly nagged their children about being filial; the children would not necessarily take it to heart. Instead, they might find it annoying and even develop a negative response. But if parents fulfill their own responsibilities and take good care of their children, the children will naturally come to understand what it means to be filial.

Now, I believe that as long as we cultivate our character well and sincerely treat people with kindness, they will naturally sense the goodness of Dafa. If people around me don’t see the goodness of Dafa because my cultivation isn’t solid enough, I might unintentionally hinder their chances of being saved.

Conclusion

I once heard a practitioner share her insights on Jeju Island, and it deeply moved me. The gist was that we should humble ourselves and, like the sea, embrace all rivers.

In the past, I thought I was doing well in my cultivation. However, when conflicts arose, I often didn’t listen to other practitioners’ advice, nor did I truly look inward; thus, I missed many opportunities to improve myself.

I am sharing these shortcomings with everyone in the hope that we can learn from them and improve together. Thank you, Master and all practitioners.

Category: Cultivation Insights