(Minghui.org) My eighteen-year cultivation journey is like a book scroll rolling out in front of me, every word of which was imbued with Master’s care. I am going to share with you some of my cultivation experiences, through which I have witnessed Master’s boundless compassion.
Obtaining the Fa and Enlightening
Since childhood, I wondered where I came from and where I would go after death. I searched for an answer but failed to find one in our atheist society. I felt very lost.
Seemingly by chance, I came across the books Falun Gong and Zhuan Falun. My mind opened up after reading them and I was overwhelmed and deeply moved by the profound Fa principles. My every cell was filled with joy. I determined that I would cultivate Falun Dafa. This thought has kept me going for eighteen years. No matter how big the tribulations and hardships have been, I overcame them with no regrets.
I was a university student before the persecution started in 1999. Since Dafa was not allowed to be practiced and spread at my university after the first rumblings of the persecution began in 1996, I seldom went to the group exercise practice site. Without the group Fa study and cultivation environment, I barely read Falun Dafa books. I knew that this was interference from demons, yet I was not able to break through it and did not manage to study the Fa and practice the exercises every day, which pained my heart. I tried to go home as often as I could so that I could go to the practice site to study the Fa and do the exercises with other practitioners in my hometown.
Clarifying the Truth and Validating the Fa at a University Campus
I was the top student in my department during my four years at the university, despite the persecution of Falun Dafa. Although I was deprived of every award because I was a Dafa practitioner, most of my teachers and classmates acknowledged Falun Dafa and me. One assistant teacher in my department said at a gathering of his previous classmates that the best student in our department was a Falun Gong practitioner. It was not easy for him to acknowledge Falun Dafa in such an adverse environment.
At the end of my thesis defense, my department head told the teachers and classmates that my thesis would be a model essay for my department. Falun Dafa gave me wisdom. I devoted myself wholeheartedly to Falun Dafa projects while writing my thesis. I finished the final draft of my thesis within such a short time that it would have been impossible for an ordinary person to achieve.
Every day I arranged a certain period of time for distributing truth-clarifying materials. I also told people the facts about Falun Gong face to face. I had fear, but I knew I must let go of my self and let people know the facts of the persecution of Falun Gong and clear their bad thoughts about Falun Dafa to enable them to have a good future. We should cherish other people. When I was filled with compassion and righteous thoughts, the substance of fear disappeared.
Distributing Truth-Clarifying Materials to Save Sentient Beings
There are different requirements for Falun Dafa practitioners at different phases in the Fa-rectification period. For each phase, there is the question of whether Falun Dafa practitioners can step forward or not. I understand that when we step forward, we are stepping out of human notions and getting rid of the human shell. I was detained at a detention center for five years due to my attachments to reputation, doing things, showing off and lust. When I was released and back with other practitioners, I felt that the Fa-rectification process was charging forward rapidly. Practitioners distributed Shen Yun Performing Arts DVDs face to face to save sentient beings.
I took ten Shen Yun DVDs with me for distribution to start with, but I didn’t hand out even one copy after walking around for quite some time. I calmed myself down and asked myself what had stopped me and why. I had been clarifying the truth to people face to face even when I was at the detention center. So what hindered me from giving DVDs to people face to face? Looking inward, I found it was the attachment to reputation that stopped me. I worried that people wouldn’t accept Shen Yun DVDs and I would lose face. I had to rectify that ridiculous human notion. If people didn’t accept the DVDs, I had to ask myself first: had I treated this being with a pure compassionate thought? Had I had any impure thoughts? If people happily accepted the DVDs and thanked me again and again, I had to ask myself whether I were overjoyed. If I was, that showed I had the heart of validating myself.
My wife and I formed a group and went out to clarify the truth to people every day. She had several years of truth-clarifying experience. For years, she stepped out every day, rain or shine. She managed to help dozens of people make the three withdrawals every day. So far she had helped over ten thousand people quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). I walked beside her and listened to how she clarified the truth and persuaded people to make the three withdrawals, while I sent forth righteous thoughts. I read articles regarding this on the Minghui website. When I thought I had fully prepared myself, I went out to tell people the facts about Falun Dafa again. After several days of practice, I was able to clarify the truth to people face to face on my own. We went out in groups and cooperated with each other, trying not to miss any predestined sentient beings.
Every night I prepared Shen Yun DVDs and DVDs of Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and other materials for the next day. Before I left home, I asked Master to strengthen my righteous thoughts and send predestined people to me.
I had interference before I left home every morning. I either didn’t want to go out or wanted to stop for a break. This was the attachment of seeking comfort. I knew those selfish notions were not really me and I had to rectify them, so I set a time for departing from home and never delayed it, regardless of how I felt. As soon as I stepped out the door, all the interference disappeared and I was bathed in the joy of saving sentient beings. Every day I sent forth righteous thoughts to clear my own deviated elements and outside interference. Gradually the interference became less and less.
When I told people the facts about Falun Gong, I never argued with them. I just tried to open up their kind thoughts with compassion. One day another practitioner and I were telling a passer-by about Falun Gong. The practitioner talked to her for a long time but she didn’t accept it and talked irrationally. Then I went and talked to her while the other practitioner stepped aside and sent forth righteous thoughts. I said to her, “Listening to you, I find that you have a distinct advantage.” Her eyes shone. I continued, “You are open-minded and frank, and dare to express your own views.” She seemed to acknowledge my words. Then I tried to clear the obstacles that kept her from learning the truth. Finally she accepted the facts and withdrew from the CCP.
I have come across many people with a righteous mindset. One day I met a person who practiced Buddhism. She worked in a government department and was a CCP member. I told her the facts about Falun Gong and about the three withdrawals. She held back her tears and said to me, “Do you know you are saving me? Thank you very much!”
One day I came across a truck driver. He got excited when he heard the words “Falun Gong” and said, “I know Falun Dafa practitioners are marvelous!” He had come to know some practitioners when he was in prison. When we said good-bye to him on the side of the road, he raised his arm and shouted “Falun Dafa is good!” and saw us off with his eyes until we were far away.
One day I clarified the truth to a sales assistant. She readily accepted the DVD containing software to break through the CCP's Internet blockade and a Falun Dafa amulet. She thanked us sincerely and said, “I heard of Falun Gong when I was in middle school. I know in my heart that you people are remarkable.”
I have witnessed Master's boundless compassion in every step of validating the Fa. No matter what happens, as long as I have the heart of cultivation, Master looks after me. Even if I failed some tests, as long as I had the heart to cultivate, Master protected me compassionately.
Making Pre-recorded Phone Calls to Save Sentient Beings
Master has extended the end of Fa-rectification again and again with his immense suffering. I feel the urgency to save people. Falun Dafa practitioners are rescuing people from the old forces' hands in this special historic period. The old forces are destroying people. With other practitioners' help, I started clarifying the truth using my mobile phone.
I discovered that the best time to make pre-recorded phone calls were 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.. I made pre-recorded phone calls at a certain time every day. When my heart was pure or I had improved my xinxing, the results were good. If people didn't accept my calls, I looked within to see if I had xinxing problems.
When I just started this project, I asked Master in my heart to give me wisdom. Another practitioner showed me how to make a pre-recorded phone call once. I said to my mobile at home: “You are lucky to be my Fa tool in the Fa-rectification period. Please cooperate with me well to complete the task of saving sentient beings.” So far, my phone has been functioning well.
After a trial period, I found that the pre-recorded voice was too low and people could not hear it clearly. I asked Master to help me find a way to improve the quality. I came across a related article when I was searching the Internet. After many trials, I finally found a way to improve the voice quality.
The first several sentences of the recording were very important and determined whether people would continue listening. I tried quite a few voice files to find a good one. In order to let people know the facts in one file, I made an essential version which included articles on the three withdrawals, the Tiananmen Self Immolation incident and the worldwide spread of Falun Dafa. Though I was a beginner in this regard, I managed to complete the file smoothly with Master's help and with a pure heart. I also learned how to install the software for pre-recorded phone calls.
Many people expressed their admiration for Falun Dafa practitioners after hearing the pre-recorded phone calls. Some texted me back, saying that history would record our courageous deeds. Some thanked us for our dedication. I knew this was encouragement from Master. Sometimes if I didn't achieve good results, I knew it was a test for me. I shouldn't be moved by the old forces' arrangement; I had to save sentient beings wholeheartedly. Even if only one person came to know the truth, all my efforts were not in vain. I saw a sudden turn when I had passed the tests.
(to be continued)
