Presented at the 2008 Western US Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference (Los Angeles)
Greetings, respected Master.
Greetings, fellow practitioners.
I know that many children of Dafa disciples are originally from a high level. Destiny brings us together, and it is our responsibility to educate our children well. I would like to share with you my cultivation path, which I travel alongside my daughter, and our experiences in being diligent together.
My seven-year-old daughter, Yu-ming, and I have been cultivating together for the past seven years. I remember when she was only 4 days old, my husband and I brought her to the Fa study group. When she was just one month old she went with us to the practice site. She has always been quiet, and would not cry or make a noise. When she was four months old she flew with us from the US to Geneva for a truth-clarification activity. When she was nine months old she joined us in the SOS walk. She's always nice and everyone adores this lovely little disciple.
As my daughter grew older, I let her listen to Master's lectures and Dafa music. When she was three years old I began to teach her to memorize Lunyu and Hong Yin. I often explained concepts to her with words she would understand, such as: "Even though you are a child, you are also a practitioner," "The standard upon you is stricter." For instance, "Do not waste food, because one rice grain represents a mountain in another dimension," "Cherish it," "When you are not happy do not stare at people with unkind manners, or look at people from the corner of your eyes." "Do not get angry easily." "Be sure to share with others," and so on.
Of course, she is a child after all. Sometimes she would be stubborn or disobey. There are also times when I could not control my own temper and got angry with her. Later on, whenever I looked within I realized it was because of my own attachments or notions. I also tried to suppress my own evil nature. I learned that when I was not being diligent in studying the Fa, or doing the three things, I could not teach her well. And yet, to educate this little Dafa disciple is part of my cultivation path. Therefore, I study the Fa with her first thing in the morning every day. I lead her in reading Zhuan Falun. I select some Chinese characters from Zhuan Falun and teach her how to write. Now during our Fa study, she can also follow along with us in reading. With the increased frequency in studying the Fa, she now better understands what I request or demand from her, as well as the Fa I try to explain.
When Yu-ming was five years old, right before the start of preschool, the teacher provided each child with a one-meter-long piece of cardboard. The teacher asked the parents to help the child sketch themselves, including the particular characteristics of the child such as the face, the hair style, and the clothes. I felt this was a great opportunity to clarify the truth. Yu-ming and I made the face as close as to what Yu-ming's eyes, nose, and mouth really look like. It was so vivid, just like a lovely, pure and quiet little girl. We put the clothes on for the paper doll. Right in front of the clothes we wrote "Zhen, Shan, Ren" in both Chinese and English. The words were in bright colors and clear print. Lastly, the paper doll was holding a little lotus flower with a "Falun Dafa is good" bookmark. The teacher hung the paper doll right in the middle of the school hallway for a year. It was bright and shiny.
One week into school the teacher once again handed out a board for a self-introduction project. There were many questions to be answered and plenty of space for photos. For the question, "What do you like?" Yu-ming and I wrote down, "To practice Falun Gong," for the question, "Why do you like it?" the answer was "Because I am a little Dafa disciple." For the question, "What is it that you are thankful for?" the answer was "I am thankful because Falun Dafa teaches me to understand the universal principle, Zhen, Shan, and Ren." For the question, "Your favorite books?" the answer was, "My favorite books are Zhuan Falun and Hong Yin." We also searched the photo albums for the photos where Yu-ming participates in Dafa activities, such as Yu-ming sitting on a lotus float while she practiced the sitting meditation and sending forth righteous thoughts. As for the space for parents' photo, we put the one with Yu-ming's father in the lion dance and where I played a celestial maiden. Meanwhile, I prepared some materials about Dafa and truth-clarification information for the teacher. I also helped Yu-ming to explain the content of the board to her classmates.
There was also show-and-tell time every week where the students get to share whatever they want with their classmates in front of the class. I suggested to Yu-ming that she introduce her Falun badge, her favorite lotus flower, and information about Dafa. Additionally, I recommended that Yu-ming read a poem from Hong Yin in both English and Chinese. Before reading, Yu-ming would explain the essence of the poem to the class. After reading, during the question session, both her teacher and the students have responded that those poems are wonderful. Later, I also reminded Yu-ming to share about the five sets of exercises. Each time, before the exercise, Yu-ming would introduce the fact that Falun Gong is a good practice that cultivates "Truth, Compassion and Tolerance." Since the initial exercise session, the teacher has asked the class to learn together, and the teacher learns along with the class. The students expressed that they like these movements and the teacher also agreed that she felt very good and relaxed with the exercise. Once, Yu-ming played her accordion and sang the song, "Falun Dafa is good," and everyone enjoyed it.
To celebrate Valentine's Day, the teacher asked the students to make cards for the class and the teachers. Yu-ming and I prepared beautiful cards and on each card we had written the Chinese characters, "Zhen, Shan, Ren." We wanted everyone at school to hold the universal principles deep in their minds. Among all the activities at school, each is a precious opportunity for Yu-ming to spread Dafa. Yu-ming has done that to bring the beauty of Dafa to her school.
Yu-ming is now seven years old and she's learned more about the Fa principles. The two of us, as fellow practitioners, compare in our studies and compare in our cultivation. We advance together in Dafa. Of course, Yu-ming and I frequently have differences in our paths. I often unknowingly treat her as a mom would, with so-called "authority." Later I realized the many negative impacts of this kind of authority. During the course of cultivation I discovered many negative sides of myself that I had previously been unaware of. Sometimes I would be too loud due to a lack of compassion, or carry too many notions, or overly anxious due to a lack of tolerance.
Since I take care of dropping Yu-ming off at school and picking her up after school, I have gotten to know her teachers and other parents very well. At the beginning, I did not take the initiative to say "Hi" to people. Later, I realized that this is a bad habit of mine that needs to be changed. To spread the Fa and to save sentient beings I started to greet people, talk to the teachers and other parents, and use every opportunity to introduce them to Dafa and provide them with relevant materials. Often, there are teachers and parents who have a great interest, and we will have a conversation for a longer time where I'll be able to provide them with an informational DVD, a book, magazine, newspaper, and exercise tape so that they get to learn more about Dafa. Of course, there are also people who don't understand, have doubts, or refuse to talk about Dafa by politely saying they have already seen this information. The majority of them are Chinese.
In preparation of a "Traditional Culture Exchange" event sponsored by the school, I discussed with a coordinator about incorporating the exercises and our show into the event. Meanwhile, I provided her with many essential pieces of information about the beauty of Dafa and the facts about the persecution. Our conversation went smoothly and naturally. I brought up the NTDTV show with the theme of traditional Chinese culture, as well as the origin and purpose of the show. Through several exchanges, she understood and accepted our show. However, a few days later, another Chinese coordinator of the traditional culture exchange event called. She mentioned that she volunteered in many aspects for the event, she knew about Falun Gong, she had no particular preference, but would not agree to our participation in the event. We talked for a long time on the phone. At first, I was a little agitated realizing that this was the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) extending its evil influence overseas and poisoning both the people and the school. I then realized immediately that once I became agitated the effect of our conversation turned negative, and she became reluctant. I thought "This is the time to clarify the truth and I should let her know the beauty of Dafa."
Therefore I immediately apologized to her. I explained to her the reason why I was upset and I became more considerate. She calmed down right away. We agreed to meet in a coffee shop. Because she's from Shanghai, I asked another practitioner who's also from Shanghai to go with me. We offered her many materials and brought a laptop for her to see more information. After a more than two-hour-long conversation she learned the truth of Falun Gong, but also indicated that to be considerate of other parents who might not be comfortable about the subject, she asked us to think again whether or not to perform this year. She said that if we insisted, she might have to withdraw as a volunteer because of the pressure, and then the event might be at risk. She was sincere and calm. To avoid such a thing happening, we did not insist. However, she also mentioned that it would be OK for Yu-ming to perform since she is a student of the school.
After the event, this coordinator hosted a party at her home to thank those who volunteered in the event. Both Yu-ming and I were invited. Yu-ming received a thank-you letter and a certificate. During the party, I had the opportunity to tell everyone at the table the facts about Falun Gong. Everyone was surprised at the persecution. They seemed to understand a lot more. Everyone accepted the materials we had brought. Many of them even left their telephone numbers and indicated their interest in learning the exercises. The coordinator apologized to me later, and I responded that I too made mistakes. After this incident I felt that I still had not tried my best to fulfill my responsibility. I also learned that we cannot do things simply in order to get what we want. What's most important is to effectively clarify the truth and save sentient beings. After all, there are so many Chinese people deeply poisoned by the CCP that await salvation.
Today, I have shared a little about the cultivation path of my daughter Yu-ming, and our experience in truth-clarification. As for other aspects in cultivation, there are many attachments, and there are many areas in which I have not done so well. I need to face them honestly too, so I can improve. At this most critical time to save sentient beings I will hurry up and follow Master along the path.
These are my personal understandings at my present cultivation level. Please kindly correct any shortcomings.
Thank you, Master!
Thank you, fellow practitioners.