(Clearwisdom.net) Greetings, Master! Hello, fellow practitioners!
I would like to share with you my cultivation experiences.
Master wrote in Essentials for Further Advancement II:
“Dafa disciples are magnificent because you are here at the same time as the period of Master’s Fa-rectification and are able to safeguard and uphold Dafa.”
I understand that, as a Fa-rectification period Dafa disciple, it is my sacred duty to safeguard and validate Dafa.
I have been helping produce truth-clarifying materials and have done some coordination work in the past. Throughout my cultivation, I made a consistent effort to study the Fa. I know that Fa-study is a basic requirement for cultivation, and only by conducting ourselves according to Dafa's standards are we truly cultivating and able to have our wisdom opened so we can save people through Dafa projects. Therefore, I study the Fa with a calm mind all the time, even during the busiest times at the material center; I always feel embraced by Dafa’s powerful energy. Even in the coldest winter, I have a warm and comfortable feeling, and I always wish to study more. When I am fully focused on the Fa, my wisdom is opened and different levels of the Fa's principles are revealed to me.
One day while studying the Fa, I suddenly felt that I should go to a practitioner’s home, so I went straight away. The practitioner was so happy to see me. He said, “I have been expecting you,” and told me he had written an article that exposed local persecution cases, and asked me to forward it to the Minghui website (Chinese version of Clearwisdom).
In addition to studying Zhuan Falun, I also repeatedly read Master’s new lectures. Master always addresses specific issues in His lectures, and I try my best to gain a thorough understanding of the Fa, and to acquire a clear view of Master’s expectations. With the Fa in my heart, I can accomplish the most pressing tasks. I make sure to read all of Master’s lectures every so often. After frequent and high quality Fa study, I can feel myself continuously assimilating to the Fa and relinquishing human attachments. I do my best to do as Master asks and keep pace with Fa-rectification.
Treasure Predestined Relations with Practitioners
The words “fellow practitioner” carries a very special meaning. I have a special feeling about predestined relationships between practitioners, and treat practitioners with utmost sincerity.
One day I had an appointment with a practitioner. That afternoon the weather was bad with heavy rain and I could not find a bus, so I had to ride my bicycle. The 30-km trip would take me three hours. I did not think much about it, and just kept peddling my bike so I could arrive on time.
Shortly after I set out, a bus approached me from behind. I waved at the driver but did not expect anything. However, the bus stopped, and the driver stepped outside to wait for me. It turned out that he was an acquaintance. He said, “I had no idea it was you waving at me. How could I not stop in such a heavy downpour?” I got on the bus and arrived at the destination ahead of time.
However, the practitioner did not show up. I waited for a few more hours, until it got dark, but still he did not come. I had no bad feeling towards him. Although we did not accomplish our task that day, I felt very solid in my personal cultivation. I know if every one of us can keep his or her promises, we will have fewer conflicts and our efforts as one-body to save people will be more effective.
Truly Believing in Master and Dafa
Since 2001, I have been working on a materials printing project, and I've encountered two major tests. One was, “Do I believe and trust one hundred percent in Master and Dafa?” Two, “Can I relinquish the attachment to life and death, validate the Fa, and save sentient beings?”
I have never wavered in my faith in Master and Dafa. Sometimes when I did not understand certain Dafa principles, I knew it was because I had not yet reached that level. I know that after I improve my understanding, things will become clear. No matter how great the pressure is, I have always maintained my solid faith in Dafa. With Master's compassionate care and by being resolute, I've passed many tests.
At the beginning of the CCP persecution, I was still a new practitioner, and I was prepared to fight a hard battle at all costs. After spending more time on Fa study, my righteous thoughts became stronger, and I could feel my other attachments and fear diminishing. Master said:
“If a cultivator can truly let go of [the fear of] death, then that death will forever be far removed from you. But this isn't something you can will to happen--it's a point that you cultivate to in the Fa, one at which you become that kind of being.” ("Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York”)
After countless tests and tribulations, I have gradually relinquished the concept of death, and I no longer worry about being persecuted. I am able to deny the old forces and the evil. As I continually assimilate to Dafa, I can feel my level continually ascending. One day a police official knocked on my door. I refused to answer and spent a long time sending forth righteous thoughts. The official left and never came back. Of course I do not just send forth righteous thoughts when something happens. I treat sending forth righteous thoughts as an important part of my daily life. Master told us:
“When human thinking gains the upper hand, that person heads toward humanness; when divine thinking and a person's righteous thoughts gain the upper hand, he heads toward godhood.” (“Teaching the Fa in San Francisco, 2005”)
If we mix Dafa principles with human notions, we may place our notions above Dafa, and we may be inadvertently validating ourselves. How can we experience divine revelation if we think about and handle Dafa things with an ordinary human mentality? Only when we strive to change our human notions with righteous thoughts and have faith in Master and Dafa can we truly assimilate to the Fa and experience miracles.
When our hearts are pure, seemingly difficult things are accomplished easily. One day I planned to visit a practitioner who was recently released from police detention. According to fellow practitioners, this practitioner’s family strictly limited her activities and kept other practitioners from seeing her. I thought, “I will follow Master’s arrangement.” Without any notions, I simply knocked on her door. She opened the door and told me that her husband was asleep. Thirty minutes later when we had finished talking, her husband was still asleep.
Treating Hardship as Joy
Master told us:
“Did you know that in order to save you the Buddha once begged for food among everyday people? Today, I once again make the door wide open, and teach this Dafa to save you. I have never felt bitter for the numerous hardships I have suffered. Then what do you have that still can’t be abandoned? Can you bring to heaven the things deep down inside that you cannot let go of?” (“True Cultivation” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
I never had the privilege of seeing Master in person since I became a practitioner in the spring of 1998. But Master’s image is always in my heart. Master has endured countless hardships for us and came to this world to offer every sentient being salvation. He has endured so much karma for us. By comparison, the hardship we encounter in our cultivation is nothing.
Throughout my cultivation, whenever I have difficulty passing tribulations, I recall Master’s words, and I instantly feel better. If I were to fear hardship, stop following Master, and let my attachments to fame, money, and sentimentality ruin my cultivation, that would be tragic.
One afternoon I went to get materials for our printing center. The supply store was at least 30 km away. I tied three boxes on my bicycle rack and set out towards home. After a couple of kilometers, I got tired. My bike felt like something was pulling it from behind. After 10 km, I was exhausted. It was already dark, and I was still more than 15 km away from home.
I knew I should not slow down, but my legs really hurt. Since the materials were to be used to clarify the truth and save people, I realized it might be interference or a cultivation test and decided to treat my pain as a good thing. I reminded myself to refuse to acknowledge any evil interference. After a while, my leg pain vanished. Around 2 km from home, my bike suddenly felt very light, as if someone was pushing me from behind. The energy pushed me all the way home. Once again, I experienced Master’s words: “When it’s difficult to endure, you can endure it. When it’s impossible to do, you can do it.” (Zhuan Falun)
Having a Compassionate Heart
One evening I attended a meeting at an elderly female practitioner’s house. The meeting did not end until midnight. I decided to stay at a hotel, but the practitioner asked me to stay at her house for the night.
However, a few days later, the elderly lady told another practitioner, “Why didn’t you ask him (meaning me) to leave the other day? I had to make arrangements for him to stay at my house.” After I heard this, I felt pained. But I quickly realized that I should not have any negative thoughts about fellow practitioners. I did not resent her for what she said, and I never brought this topic up with her. I remembered that Master taught us to always be considerate of others, and having to accommodate me might cause others hardship. Sometimes at night, I walked several kilometers to my hotel, but I never felt resentful about it.
Very late one night, the lobby of the hotel I went to was closed. I knocked on the door but no one answered. I turned around and began walking to the next town. When I arrived at the next hotel, I saw a man standing in the doorway. It turned out to be the hotel owner, and it seemed that he was waiting for me.
Many nights, I walked alone down the street, looking at the sky. I told myself that I would not disappoint Master: I would strive to become a true Dafa disciple who could break through all barriers, eliminate all evil elements, and save sentient beings.
Master’s Encouragement
At one point, I went to a fellow practitioner's house to work on a project with him. I usually went to his home after dark and left before dawn. One night, the practitioner said he was experiencing some interference, and he felt uneasy. He asked me to leave earlier than usual the following morning. I was surprised, because it meant I would have to wait for more than an hour for the bus. I felt uncomfortable at his request, but I soon calmed down. Master taught us to listen to others' opinions and regard everything positively. I decided to leave earlier as he suggested, and, instead of taking the bus, I would ride my bicycle.
I had a dream that night in which, although I circled around a building over and over, I simply could not find the stairs. Once I entered the building, I found the stairs and began walking up. After I woke up, I knew it was Master's hint that it time for me to improve my xinxing.
The next morning at 4 a.m., I left on my bike. I rode in the chilly winter morning, wearing only a thin coat. I felt the cold breeze. I thought, “What's so bad about cold weather? I should use every opportunity and all kinds of environments to improve my cultivation. Master should not worry about me.” Soon, I did not mind the cold wind and instead felt joy.
After about 20 kilometers, I saw a billboard that read, “There are a thousand roads waiting for you to travel on.” I knew this was Master’s encouragement, telling me to keep steadfast on my cultivation path.
Miracles Happen When Saving People
Whenever I go to the remote countryside to distribute Dafa flyers, because I remind myself that I'm doing the most righteous thing, I'm able to focus on saving people and don't allow anything to interfere with me.
I've experienced miracles three times. These miracles reminded me that nothing is more important than saving people.
One afternoon the sky was clear as I bicycled to distribute flyers in a village. Suddenly it became cloudy and a strong wind began blowing, but I rode on without hesitation. Soon, the wind stopped, and it began to rain. I told the rain god: “You can wet my clothes, but not my flyers!” I was on a very sandy dirt road. In some sections the sand was so deep that I had to walk and push my bike. There had been a long drought in this area, and the road was usually dusty and hard to navigate. But as the rain fell, the surface hardened, and I was able to ride my bike easily.
One day I was going to another location to distribute flyers. At 5:00 a.m., I heard thunder. I thought, “I do not want any rain now; nothing can affect my efforts to save people.” Soon the thunder stopped.
On another day I was going to a third location to distribute flyers. It had rained all night, and the next morning it was still drizzling lightly. I asked Master to help stop the rain, and, indeed, it stopped instantly. That day I stopped at more than ten villages, and between 5 and 10 a.m., I distributed all the materials I had brought. After 10 a.m., the rain resumed, and it kept raining until midnight. But the five hours of good weather let me accomplish what I needed to do: it allowed people to find and read the flyers so they could be saved. I knew that Master stopped the rain to encourage me to fulfill my mission.
In “Broad and Immense” in Essentials for Further Advancement, Master wrote:
“Its broad and immense, profound inner meaning can only manifest itself to, and be experienced and understood by, practitioners who are at different levels of true cultivation. Only then can one truly see what the Fa is.”
As long as we truly believe in Master and Dafa and follow Master’s requirements, the beauty and sacredness of Dafa will be revealed to us. I will treasure our limited time left and strive to not let Master down! Let us be responsible to our sacred title: Dafa Disciple.
Thank you, Master. Thank you, fellow practitioners.
