(Minghui.org) My name is Andrea, and I am 47 years old. I obtained the Fa in 2008. After practicing Falun Dafa, I've understood the meaning of life. My life has changed so much.
I started to participate in the local project to clarify the truth and spread the Fa in Prato several years ago. Because other practitioners were busy with other projects, I began to be in charge. After my initial enthusiasm waned, I gradually understood I should do well what I should do. I continued to organize events once every month. I met much hardship in the course of doing this.
When I would arrive at the scheduled events, I always felt a kind of intense pressure on my head. Sometimes, I felt the environment was suffocating. During some events, I distributed Falun Gong materials alone. Few Chinese people accepted the materials. Sometimes, I met Chinese people who understood Italian, but it seemed what I said had no power. Sometimes, they backed away from me when I did the exercises. This left me feeling frustrated. There was often interference in my thinking. I soon understood that this state was not righteous, and that I was responsible for the environment. I knew that I had to study the Fa more, clear my thoughts, and face challenges with righteous thoughts and righteous actions. I searched inwards and found my personal cultivation lacking. If my personal cultivation did not meet the standard, how could I do well the three things Master requires?
Master said in "20th Anniversary Fa Teaching:"
“But, the standard for cultivation during the Fa-rectification is strict, and so is the standard that post-renewal divine beings are to meet, for these are the standards and requirements of the new cosmos. Beings that have not been rectified by the Fa will, on the other hand, use the principles of the old cosmos to go about things, and use those to evaluate Dafa disciples. They will only feel okay with it when you meet the standards that they acknowledge; only then will they let you progress upwards free of interference; and only then will they think that you are qualified to save them.”
“But that said, however hard it may be, however much interference or difficulty may be introduced by a being prior to saving him, Dafa disciples do have ways forward.”
“It is a path that has to meet the requirements, and only that way will the sentient beings of the cosmos admire you and not be able to interfere; will your path be free of problems; and will your journey go smoothly.”
I exerted much effort and tried to catch up to the course of Fa-rectification, truly cultivate, upgrade my xinxing, and get rid of my attachments. I understood I can be a true cultivator only by walking a righteous path. I passed many xinxing tests on the course of walking this path. One of them was very difficult.
Passing a test
One day, we went to clarify the truth in Prato's Chinatown. I closed my eyes and demonstrated the exercises. A Chinese practitioner distributed Falun Gong materials and clarified the facts. I suddenly heard the Chinese practitioner raise his voice. I did not pay much attention to it at first, I just wondered why he did it. Then I heard a loud sound. I opened my eyes and saw the table on which we put the Falun Gong materials was overturned. All the materials were scattered on the ground. I was very upset.
There was definitely a reason behind what happened. We clarify the truth to save people with compassion. Maybe we should not try to force others to listen to us or accept our materials. I did not have time to think more, because the situation got worse. I saw the Chinese practitioner was a bit scared. About a dozen Chinese surrounded us. They all stared at me, seemingly saying, “What do you want to do? We just want to see what you do.” At that time, I really wanted to strike back like an ordinary person. However, it was such a clear test, and I knew I should follow the standards of a cultivator. It was a chance for me to improve my xinxing.
Master said:
“Yet we are still cultivating and still have some last ordinary human attachments. When a problem arises, we have to examine ourselves first to see whether things are right or wrong on our part. If we determine that it is interference or damaging, when we deal with the specific problem we should try our best to be calm and kind to those people who are at the surface, because when the evil uses people, they usually aren’t aware of it themselves (although the people who are used are usually either people whose thoughts are bad or people who have bad thoughts arising). As for the interference by evil in other dimensions, we must seriously eradicate it with righteous thoughts.” (“Fa-Rectification and Cultivation” from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I approached the person who had overturned the table. I told him calmly but firmly that he should keep calm and that what he did was wrong. He finally did calm down, and the situation was diffused. I started to pick up the scattered materials.
I looked up and saw a group of Chinese kids standing in front of me. A boy picked up a copy of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and approached me. It seemed that he wanted to give it to me, but he suddenly threw it on the ground. I could not believe it. It was not the end. I froze, and my heart hurt. My eyes filled with tears. The boy picked up another and was about to throw it, too, but a girl stopped him. She gestured to him, telling him not to do it anymore. And she started to pick up the materials and give them to me with a smile. The boy followed her and started to pick up the materials. All the kids started to help me pick them up. It was very touching. Everyone present was moved. There was no hostility or challenge in their eyes. There was no doubt nor puzzle. They understood in that moment: “Falun Dafa is good, Falun Dafa is good.” I will never forget that day.
Things turn around
Chinese people are willing to accept Falun Gong materials now. They've come and taken brochures by themselves many times. Some kids come over and get some for their parents. Compared to the past, many more materials are being distributed.
I gradually felt I became more stable in cultivation. I felt I should go to Chinatown to clarify the truth every week, set up a practice site, and help more people to obtain the Fa. I found a park in Chinatown. I thank Master for giving me a chance to catch up.
At present, ten to fifteen people practice the exercises regularly at the site. Many Chinese passersby were curious to see so many people practicing Falun Gong. There were only two or three people at the beginning. Three of the new practitioners are martial arts teachers. They had invited me to their fitness center to teach the exercises and clarify the truth. They began to read Zhuan Falun and come to the park to practice the exercises after that.
I want to set up a Fa-study group besides the practice site.
A few days ago, a girl came to our practice site. She said that she saw many Chinese people holding Falun Dafa flyers in their hands during the Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown. I knew some Chinese people practiced Falun Gong exercises at home. I invited them to the park to practice the exercises with us. However, they said they did not dare but preferred to practice at home. I sincerely hope that they can break away from the fear exerted by the CCP, step forward, and cultivate with dignity.
I feel confident in the future. I thank compassionate Master for giving me a chance to become a Falun Dafa disciple.
