(Minghui.org) I was very fortunate to attend Master's Fa-teaching classes in 1993. I had no idea what cultivation was and went to the classes out of curiosity. I fell asleep from time to time as Master adjusted our bodies during the teaching sessions. I'd like to relate some of what I remember from the early days of my cultivation in honor of the 20 th anniversary of Master teaching the Fa in Qiqihar.
At the end of the classes, I remembered: One must pay attention to moral cultivation and be a good person according to the principle of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance”; De (virtue) is a white substance gained from doing good deeds; karma is a dark substance acquired from doing bad things; when someone is bullying or causing you pain and suffering, he is actually giving you de.
Challenging Tribulations as I Begin Cultivation
I worked as an accountant for our factory. In 1991, I had a conversation with the new boss, who indicated that he was going to promote me to head the finance office. We had a project in Fujian Province at the time, and he asked me to go there to verify the accounts; I was to take up the position as head of finance upon my return. My son was only ten at the time, so I didn't want to go, but the new boss wouldn't change his plans. I went reluctantly.
The boss came to Fujian for an inspection around New Year's time. He had a chat with me and said, “Most women don't have their hearts in the right place. They are inconsistent and change their minds the moment they see something new. You'd better follow me, as I'm your superior.”
I disagreed, “You think that way because you are shortsighted. Most women behave properly, and besides, one righteous mind can subdue one hundred evils.”
He got really mad and said, “I'll smash your rice bowl!” (I can fire you!) I replied defiantly, “What can you do if I don't commit any wrongdoing?” He returned to the home factory, and found another accountant to replace me in the finance office, then transferred me to another department, then to a workshop.
I was now responsible for the accounts of five departments, while others took care of only one department. He claimed: “She is capable, so let her do more.” When it came to receiving bonuses, the main finance office denied mine because I belonged to other departments – which also claimed that they couldn't give me a bonus because I was from the main office. I didn't want to be bothered with these financial issues, so I said, “Don't worry about it. Forget about giving me a bonus.”
I knew that the boss was responsible for their actions. I don't usually fight with others, so I didn't get angry with him at the time, but thought: “I'll remember this, and if you push me too far, I'll fight with you to the end!”
I started practicing Falun Dafa at that time, and was suddenly enlightened by the principle of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance”. I then thought that enduring the bitterness of the situation would be enough to dissolve the grudges.
However, that wasn't the end of it. When the time for a salary increase arrived, the boss acknowledged that I performed very well and deserved a salary increase, but priority should be given to those who weren't that good. My position on the salary increase list was then lowered.
My account reports won the company's first prize, but the money was divided between the staff in the finance office so I didn't receive any. It was very difficult for me to take more abuse, and I felt grossly wronged.
I was in the second floor workshop office one day at lunch. I opened the window during a severe storm, and facing the wind and rain thought: “I'm a cultivator. I must conduct myself according to the principle of 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance'. Let the rain wash any impurities in my soul so that I won't feel bothered anymore.” I felt a lot better after that, as if those things had no effect on me. The rain stopped and the sky cleared. It was so blue, dotted with white clouds that looked like lotus flowers, and made everyone feel relaxed and joyful.
Just then, a white cloud in the shape of a lotus flower drifted towards me, then stopped in front of the window. A crystal-clear giant Buddha appeared from behind the cloud, like the foretold future Buddha Maitreya. He was floating gently and smiling at me. It was so unexpected and I was absolutely stunned! I covered my eyes with my hands, thinking: “Are my eyes playing tricks on me?
I took another look, and the giant Buddha was still smiling at me. I turned around, feeling a bit scared. I couldn't help but turn around again and the giant Buddha was still smiling at me. I didn't know what to do and said in my heart: You may go now, I'm a bit scared. The white cloud moved slowly and blocked the giant Buddha, then drifted away into the distance.
Later, Master's books were published one after another. I understood that Master was showing me that Buddhas and Gods do exist. I was determined to cultivate in Dafa.
Cultivation is an Extremely Serious Matter
In the summer of 1994, a colleague was doing some other cultivation practice and demonstrated some supernormal abilities. One day, he told me that his father had stomach cancer and was coming to Harbin for an operation. He asked me to feel in my heart: “I'll help you” each time I thought of his name. I didn't study the Fa much at that time and had a shallow understanding of the Fa principles. I thought that he wasn't asking for much, and also that I was worthy of his respect for this request. Besides, I was curious, so I agreed to do it without hesitation.
One night, I woke up unexpectedly and remembered what the colleague had asked me to do. I thought: “I'll help you”, and thus invited tribulations. Suddenly, I felt cold all over, and my throat became very sore and dry. I couldn't open my eyes and felt as if I'd been taken to a space filled with black rolling clouds.
I realized the seriousness of the matter, and if not careful, I could be destroyed. I remembered Master and shouted: “Master, help me!” All of a sudden, Master's image sitting on a lotus flower appeared in front of me, shining with dazzling splendor. Master sent three fireballs from his right palm towards the top of my head. A warm current ran through my body from top to bottom. I immediately returned back to normal and all the symptoms disappeared.
I felt regret and ashamed that I'd treated cultivation as a trifling matter. I had only cultivated for a short time, yet felt that I was being treated so special - but still gave Master so much trouble.
“You Really Have the Capacity to Endure”
In 1995, my husband and I resigned from our jobs and started our own company. In May the next year, his elder sister-in-law died in a car accident, leaving behind an 18 year-old son, who was unemployed at the time. I took pity on him and thought that since he had nothing to do, he could get some training and skills from his uncle, and eventually set up a small company of his own.
He had a bad temper, but I thought he'd understand that I was doing this for his benefit. I taught him the relevant skills, such as banking issues, how to write checks and took him to the bank for some hands-on experience. We also provided good meals for him. He came to our company daily and I treated him as family.
However, he thought that I was quite naive. One day when there was no one at home, he stole my keys and made a spare set for himself. Later, he stole ten blank checks and all our household appliances then sold them to a pawnshop. However, the shop kept his receipt. He also failed to withdraw any money from the bank since he didn't fill out the checks properly.
After we discovered his actions, we thought that he was still young and didn't really know what he was doing, so we didn't report the theft. Our company staff said: “He is treating you so badly and you have suffered such a loss. Why are you still peaceful and still smile at him?” I replied, “I practice Falun Dafa. We believe in 'Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance'. I treat him with kindness; he will understand one day.” My staff laughed: “You've become so naive.”
Believing that we couldn't do anything about him, so our nephew went out of control. Our company was housed in a two-floor building with a warehouse on the ground floor. One night he hid in the warehouse, waited until late, then came out and removed the safety valves of the gas supply. He took money, technology items, mobile phones and some expensive clothes then threw them out of the window.
Suddenly, my husband sat up. He picked up a flashlight and woke me. He said, “Get up quick. Someone's in the house!” We heard a loud noise outside, then everything went quiet. I was still half asleep and couldn't see any strangers in the house. After awhile, I got up and took a look in each room. My son was fast asleep, so perhaps my husband just had a dream about someone in the house? I went back to sleep. The next morning, my husband picked up his trousers and discovered some items were missing. His new leather jacket was gone. He was very upset and thought that our nephew stole them.
The staff began arriving for work and told us that they saw our nephew selling mobile phones near the Telecommunication Building. My husband was really annoyed. I comforted him and went downstairs to make breakfast. I turned on the gas cooker, then heard a strange noise and saw that the safety valves had been removed. I knew immediately that Master used my husband to wake me and scare off our nephew. Otherwise, he would have set the building on fire. Master saved my whole family!
Although our nephew was only 18, he attracted attention from police as he was selling expensive stuff and was caught in the end. Although he had done very bad things, he didn't cause any real harm to me or others, and he really needed more care. Furthermore, none of us was perfect, and Master didn't give up on us, so I went to the police station to bail him out. I told the police that it was a family matter, and I wouldn't press charges.
The police were very surprised, saying, “He has done such bad things to you, yet you still protect him?” I said, “I practice Falun Dafa. Actually, this gives me an opportunity to improve myself. I act according to the principle of 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance' and will endure what is hard for others to endure.” They all laughed and said, “You are too kind. Falun Dafa practitioners do indeed have the capacity to endure.” I said, “I'll take him back and we'll educate him at home.” My husband, his elder brother and my father-in-law were all very touched by this.
That night as I was about to fall asleep, my brain felt like fireworks were exploding inside. It was such a wonderful feeling. I knew that I'd done the right thing and Master was encouraging me.
The Lotus Flower on the Back Cover of Zhuan Falun
After 2000, some practitioners I knew were illegally arrested, one after another. I was not very clearheaded about certain issues at the time; my parents were persecuted during the “Cultural Revolution”, and I developed fear and was not diligent in cultivation. As a result, sickness karma started to appear and I showed symptoms of a back disorder, gall stones and restricted blood flow to the heart.
On the night of December 27, 2008, I dreamed that I'd gone to a supermarket. Someone blocked my way, so I erected my right palm to send righteous thoughts. He grabbed my hand and I couldn't move. In desperation I spit at his face. He cried out as his nose, eyes, arms and legs fell apart and I flew away. The next day, a practitioner came to my house and I told her about my dream. She said, “You are so slack in your cultivation and yet you can still disintegrate a demon. Master is really kind to you! Master doesn't want to leave any Dafa practitioner behind. You must try to be more diligent!” We then studied the Fa together.
Two days later, I was taking a walk when I tripped and fell. I wanted to get up, but couldn't move. A man nearby shouted, “You had a bad fall. Can you get up? Shall I call the emergency number for you?” I replied, “I'm fine. I can get up!” I thought, “I'm a Dafa practitioner and have Master's protection. I'm fine. I can get up! Up! Up!” I indeed got up. I was a bit sore from hitting the ground, but not injured. Furthermore, my back problem disappeared! I felt so ashamed. Master saved me once again, a not-very-diligent disciple.
One night in the spring of 2010, I saw a big road in my dream. There were very thick trees with beautiful flowers along the roadside. It was a truly beautiful scene! I saw a lady putting a flower pot on the ground with two beautiful flowers in it. I walked over and asked what kind of flowers they were. She said they were lotus flowers and gave me two flower buds, one big, one small. The next day, a practitioner came to my place again and I told her about my dream. She said, “You are still talking about flower buds. Others' flowers are already blooming!” I was very surprised by her comment. She showed me her copy of Zhuan Falun. Indeed, the lotus flower on the back cover was wide open. I looked at my own book and saw the flower bud was opened only a little. I held the book tight to my chest and felt deep regret for not being diligent.
Afterwards, I began to read the book more and started doing the exercises regularly. I also clarified the facts to a small circle of people and my family. Compared with other practitioners, I was still far behind.
I went out of town to visit my son's family on June 21, 2010. I tripped and fell on the way and broke four bones in my foot. I was in a lot of pain, then remembered the repeated hints Master had given me and the encouragement from fellow practitioners. I was only after a comfortable life and wasn't diligent in cultivation. I wasted so much time.
Another practitioner heard about my injury and came to look after me every morning. From that point on, I started to be diligent in cultivation and went back to the state of mind a Dafa practitioner should have. I recovered completely a month later. People were surprised to see me recover so quickly and asked me how I did it. I told them about magic of Falun Dafa, and they wanted to practice too.
A Test of Courage
I bumped into one of our neighbors who used to work with my husband. She asked: “How did you recover so quickly from your injuries?” I simply replied, “I practice Falun Dafa.” She looked at me suspiciously then left to catch the bus. I ran into her again while waiting for a bus and we started chatting. While on the bus, suddenly, she said loudly, “You Falun Dafa practitioners, if you want to practice you can do it at home. You shouldn't paste anti-party stickers everywhere. I have a relative who practiced Falun Dafa. She was arrested and wrote some sort of a statement and doesn't practice anymore.” She had an ugly expression on her face while she was saying all this, staring at me, her lips curled in disdain, and her head shaking slightly.
I was surprised by what she was doing; I wanted to save her, but she wanted to harm me. I thought she was testing me so I decided to see who was more brave. I said loudly, “Your relative suffered persecution. She is so old and must have endured many beatings and couldn't take any more. Do you know how many practitioners have been beaten to death? Falun Dafa is about 'Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.' They were beaten to death just for being good people!” She replied, “You also committed self-immolation.” I clarified, “The self-immolation was a hoax, it was acted and had nothing to do with Falun Dafa. There are so many people practicing Falun Dafa, the authorities were afraid of losing control so they slandered it. My colleague's husband was beaten to death by the police. As he was dying, the police called his family. The police knocked out all his teeth during the beatings. My colleague took legal action against the police and she was almost arrested too.”
The whole bus was quiet while I was talking. After we got off, my neighbor said she would come to learn Falun Dafa from me one day.
Master's Boundless Grace
Master said,
“When your character improves, your body really changes. When your character improves, the matter in your body definitely changes.” (Zhuan Falun)
I had a bad fall a long time ago when I was in primary school. The fall chipped one of my front teeth and also affected the growth of my other teeth, so I ended up with my front teeth protruding a bit. One day my husband said, “Your teeth are straighter than before.” I took a look in the mirror and was surprised to find my teeth nice and straight. I asked, “How could this happen?” “Your teacher fixed them for you.”
My husband is not a practitioner, so I asked him to recite: “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” He did and as a result, his gallstone disappeared and his heart disease was also cured. Each time I clarified the truth to relatives and friends, he supported me with evidence: “We're very healthy and don't need any medications. See, her teeth were also fixed.” Everyone was surprised. “We count ourselves lucky if we don't lose any teeth at our age, but her chipped tooth has grown back. Dafa is miraculous!”
Master has constantly dropped me hints for so many years, taking pains to look after me and has endured much suffering due to my slackness in cultivation and the karma incurred as a result. Master has been helping me and harmonizing me in Dafa. Now, together with other fellow practitioners, I'm doing the three things and constantly improving myself. One day I had a dream in which I was walking on a big road. A few road workers appeared and asked me to take another newly built, even broader uphill road. As soon as I stepped on the road, my feet took off from the ground and I started sliding forward fast. I heard the sound of wind passing my ears - it was such a wonderful feeling. I woke up and knew that Master was encouraging me to go faster on the path toward divine beings.
Thank you, great and revered Master for your boundless grace. I will be more diligent on the path of cultivation.
Category: Improving Oneself
