(Minghui.org) More than three thousand Falun Gong practitioners from around the world attended the 2014 San Francisco Falun Gong Experience Sharing Conference on October 16, 2014. Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, lectured for more than two hours at the conference. Afterwards, several practitioners shared their feelings and insights.
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Key
Degr Svab from the Czech Republic
"At a certain moment during his lecture, I felt as if Master Li spoke directly to me. It was a tremendous encouragement," said Degr Svab from the Czech Republic. "I feel I'm confident and clear on what I will do and how to improve in my cultivation. This is what I'll take away from the conference."
Mr. Svab began practicing Falun Gong about ten years ago. "I reached the lowest point in my life then, and I had no idea what to do, so I began reading something about martial arts. My sister said she could give me a book to learn to do sitting meditation, and thus I obtained the book Zhuan Falun."
"When I read the book, it seemed I already knew that what's written in the book is real. It's profound, but I could learn it," he recalled. "I suddenly realized a month later that many things in my life had been far away from the standard Master Li talks about in the book. I felt I must live up to the standard."
Mr. Svab said he believes that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are high and profound principles, and that he will never be able to comprehend them thoroughly. "For me, it is a key. If I can keep these principles in mind, no matter what problem I encounter and what decision I need to make, if I follow these principles to gauge things and myself, I can always find a solution," he said.
Learning the Language to Inform Chinese of Falun Gong and Persecution
Dima Suchin from Germany
"I cherish the opportunity to attend a large-scale conference. I can always learn a lot from other practitioners," said Dima Suchin from Germany. "Master Li talked seriously about cultivation this time. I understand that every one of us should be responsible for what we do. Doing the three things well is indeed very important. I can't slack off and seek comfort. Instead, I should truly advance on the path of cultivation."
Dima began practicing Falun Gong in 2006. He said that to him, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance means "telling the truth, being an upright person, thinking of others in doing all things, being calm no matter how others treat us, and that one can't do whatever he wants."
"I think people in mainland China should take a good look at Falun Gong and ignore the lies concocted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)," he continued, "You can see that people in more than 100 countries are practicing Falun Gong. Practitioners have created many wonderful things, like the Divine Land Marching Band. I hope people can approach and get to know Falun Gong instead of letting the CCP tell them what Falun Gong is about. They should judge for themselves."
In order to do better in helping Chinese people learn about Falun Gong and the Chinese regime's persecution of the practice, he took some time to learn Chinese. He reflected, "I think Falun Gong is profound Chinese culture. It has changed my life for the better. I love Chinese people, and I'm happy to meet them. I hope to have a better connection with them, so I need to learn Chinese."
He finally said in Chinese, "Hello, Chinese people, I'm Dima, I'm from Germany. I cultivate Falun Gong, and Falun Gong is great."
"Falun Gong Teaches Me to Look Within"
Zhi Jing traveled from Ottawa said that she passed a test on her journey to attend this conference. She arrived late at the airport on October 14 and missed her flight. She reasoned that she couldn't board the plane that day because she still had a test to pass in cultivation.
She said she looked within after returning home and found many attachments that she had not abandoned for a long time, such as resentment, being unable to balance work and cultivation, and others. Many factors contributed to her missing her plane that day. She said she also realized that it would be real improvement if when encountering a conflict, she can have compassion, does not complain about others, and takes it lightly.
"I attended the conference and listened to Master Li's lecture, I felt I was engrossed in it. I understand I should treat any tests and tribulations in cultivation with righteous thoughts. I need to improve in many aspects Master Li mentioned in his lecture. I've benefited a lot," Zhi added.
