(Minghui.org) I was approached to edit experience sharing articles for a Falun Dafa conference in 2012. At first I was filled with indignation and just put the request aside. I thought, “How could I ever find time to do that?"
If my memory serves me right, I hadn't reached a stable cultivation state at that time. I preferred organizing Falun Dafa information booths, distributing newspapers, talking to Chinese tourists at Interlaken tourist sites, and being involved with the promotion of Shen Yun Performing Arts. Studying the Fa and doing the exercises were not my first priority.
However, I held great respect for the Minghui website from the beginning of my cultivation in 2000, and I was quite interested in reading experience sharing articles from fellow practitioners. Most of all, I was quite taken by Chinese practitioners' sharing articles.
Learning to Edit
Two years ago I began to edit articles, and it has been quite a challenge to become proficient at this. I try to understand the author's intent when I edit an article, which is very time-consuming. When I first started, it sometimes took me from six to eight hours to edit just one article.
When I couldn't quite understand the author's intent, I asked a Chinese practitioner for assistance. She was very helpful in explaining her understanding of the particular issue. She also explained the Chinese way of thinking and behaving. This helped me get a better grip on Chinese practitioners' situations.
It took some time for me to understand how much I could change or delete in an article. There was one article by a Chinese practitioner that was rather upsetting. And it didn't help that the translator had done a rather choppy job.
It took me many hours, but I felt that I had done a decent job and that it read quite well. But, when I saw the final edited version, I noticed that many of my corrections had been changed back to the translator's wording.
I was baffled and wondered if the old forces had taken advantage of my self-satisfaction and happiness. I thought I had learned my lesson and didn't edit much in the next article. Lo and behold, the article was returned to me, and I was told to do a more comprehensive editing job.
Improving in Cultivation
There was one experience sharing article that helped me improve greatly in my understanding of cultivation. I was deeply touched by the authors' steadfastness in their belief in Master and their great effort to secure the release from a detention center of a fellow practitioner who was near death. The two practitioners sat for an entire night in front of Master's photo and recited Lunyu, overcoming immense demonic interference.
This taught me the importance of reciting Lunyu. Going forward it helped me overcome difficult situations, recognize attachments, pass tests, and develop greater forbearance and compassion towards my fellow practitioners.
We can learn from all the articles that cross our desks. We can learn, improve, and advance in our knowledge. Also, my understanding of the Fa has made great strides forward in recent years. Mainly, I have learned to be guided by the Fa in everything I do.
I have been able to improve vastly in doing the three things Master has asked of his cultivators, and I truly appreciate the help and support from fellow practitioners.
Category: Improving Oneself
