(Minghui.org) I am a veteran Falun Gong practitioner who started to practice in July 1996.
I Wanted to Learn to Use a Computer
In July 2000, I went to Beijing to appeal for justice for Falun Gong. After I came home, the local police kept harassing me. I was forced to leave my hometown and stay at my child’s home. After a while, I thought that just studying the Fa and practicing the exercises but not going out to clarify the truth to save people wasn't quite right. I did not have any informational materials to hand out, so I wasn't sure what to do.
I thought I could go back to my hometown but I heard that practitioners there also had no materials and had to get them from other areas. If I didn’t have any materials, did that mean that I had to stop saving people? I began writing some things by hand, such as “Falun Dafa is Good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good,” “Falun Dafa is righteous,” and other phrases. I made several copies and handed them out.
One day in 2003, I met a fellow practitioner who worked downtown. He asked for some truth-clarification materials and magazines, but I didn't have enough with me. Then I got an idea: It would be great if I had a computer and could log onto the Internet, download and print materials. If I could do this, then the materials supply problem for our area would be solved.
But on the other hand, even if I had a computer, I still would need to learn how to use it. Before I bought a computer, I asked my children: “Would you like to teach your Mom to use a computer?” My children immediately said: “You're in your 70s. What do you want to do that for? Computers are high tech stuff. You don't even know the alphabet so how could you to learn something so complicated and technical? Also, logging onto the Minghui website may cause trouble. If you are reported, then you may have trouble.”
Although my children said this, I did not give up. I recalled Master’s words.
Master said: “If you can commit your mind, no difficulties can stop you. I would say that there is not a problem.” (Lecture Four in Zhuan Falun)
I was determined, so I spent 2,600 yuan to buy a second-hand computer. I tried for half a day but could not even open the lid. I was so depressed. Was it so hard? I asked myself: You are walking on the cultivation path, if you meet with any difficulties, you should not draw back. Aren't you a Dafa disciple? I resolved: I must learn to use the computer.
Just Believe i n Master and Dafa
When I really wanted to learn to use the computer, the difficulties and interference became big. My attachments also flared up and I thought: Maybe what my children said was right? I'm so old – can I learn to use high tech stuff? When I thought about it, I became depressed. Who would teach me? My children refused to teach me, so I had to find someone else. Later, I asked my grandson to teach me to use the mouse and how to open and close the computer. In order to log onto the Internet, download and print, I had to ask for help from people in my hometown.
Carrying my computer, I took a bus, then a train and still needed to walk a long way. Finally I found the fellow practitioner. He said, “Okay, I'll teach you.” However, when I really tried to learn, it was so hard. That mouse was not in my control and the printer was the same as well. Putting paper into the printer was supposed to be the easiest part, but I could not put the materials in the right direction. As a result, one side was facing up and the other side was facing down. The fellow practitioner showed me three times but I still failed to understand it. He became impatient and told me with an unhappy face: “You just not getting it. Others learn after doing it only once. But I have shown you four times and you still can't learn. I suggest that you stop trying. It's too troublesome to teach you!”
I thought to myself that no matter what he said, I wouldn't let it affect me. I had already decided to learn. So I said, “No matter how long it takes, how hard it is or whatever kind of difficulties and interference I face, I must learn.” He was convinced and kept showing me how. I carried my computer back 5 or 6 times. Finally I knew basic things, such as how to log onto the website, and how to download and print materials.
But I had not yet learned how to fix the computer’s problem. I met a practitioner who was also staying in my hometown and taught a computer class at a school. I realized that Master must have arranged for him to meet me in case I needed technical help. However, he did not want to teach me at first. One day I invited him to come to my house and told him that I wanted to learn to use the computer. He looked at me with a surprised expression and said, “You're already in your 70s. Can you learn the computer? The persecution is so rampant. You should avoid it.” It seemed like he didn't want to teach me. Later I searched inside: I was too rushed and I did not send forth righteous thoughts and also did not ask Master for help.
Later, my printer suddenly was out of order and did not print anything all. I thought that I must find that practitioner. I sent righteous thoughts and then went to his house. I told him repeatedly that I had learned to use a computer not for others but to assist Master and save people, fulfilling my vow. Together we read Lecture Four in Zhuan Falun and with Master’s help, we both improved our xinxing. He agreed to teach me. However, the learning process was not smooth at all.
One day, I turned on my computer but could not open the file, no matter how hard I tried. I went to his house, but he wasn't home. I waited until 12:00 p.m. He wasn't happy to see me. I asked him to check my problem. He was reluctant to check it for a while. He opened the file but did not tell me how and just said one sentence, “Take it home, it's fine now.” I went home and thought: Why did he behave like this today? Later I learned that his family members did not want him to teach me, afraid that his school leader knew about it and that it would bring him trouble.
I looked inward and realized I shouldn't blame him. I'd gone to him many times – perhaps I was bothering him. I realized that I shouldn't always rely on others. I should walk my own path, study the Fa a lot, study technical skills and Master would help me. Once, while printing the Minghui Weekly, the paper got stuck in the printer. I took out big chunks of paper, but a small piece was still left inside. After trying hard for a long time, I failed to take it out. What should I do? Ask the fellow practitioner? He was busy and may not come. I thought about asking Master to help me take out that bit of little paper. Immediately I heard a sound. I opened the lid and saw the last piece. I used small tweezers to take it out.
In order to improve the quality of the materials, I bought a color printer. The first time I used it, the new printer gave off a very irritating vapor. The odor made me cough hard and I was out of breath. My face turned red and I felt like I would die. I thought it was interference, so I sent forth strong righteous thoughts: “No matter what kind of interference you use to persecute me and stop me, it's all useless. I don't accept you. It's all fake.” I also asked for Master’s help. Soon I was back to normal and the coughing stopped.
My small truth-clarification materials site was soon producing all kinds of materials: Shen Yun DVDs and covers, Dafa materials and Master’s lectures to meet fellow practitioners' needs. My site came through many difficulties, interference and persecution. The products made by my site evolved from handwritten notices, copies, laser printing, black and white to color printing.
During my more than ten years of cultivation, not only have I benefited a lot, but also more than ten of my family members had good things happen to them. Now all my family members believe in Dafa and know the truth. Some read Zhuan Falun and some have started to cultivate. I still have many shortcomings. Some tribulations were hard to pass but some I passed. The lessons I gained were very big.
From now on, I will use the limited time left to study the Fa well, practice the exercises, and do the three things that Dafa disciples ought to do. I want to assist Master to rectify the Fa, fulfill my vow and follow Master to return home. Please point out anything improper.
Thank you Master and fellow practitioners! Heshi.
