(Minghui.org) I'm a college teacher who began practicing Falun Dafa in April 2012. Both my body and mind have changed a lot during my one and a half years of cultivation.
Breaking Through Sleepiness and Fatigue
I felt sleepy whenever I studied the Fa, and felt very tired and drowsy when sending righteous thoughts. Master said:
"Don’t you feel sleepy as soon as you read the book, or become drowsy once you study the Fa? Let me tell you that those are gods at a level in this human dimension. If you can’t break through them, you remain a human. They aren’t intentionally doing anything to you—they treat everyone like that. That’s why people feel tired and sleepy. If you want to break away from being a human, you have to break through everything before you can make it. If you go along with them they’ll think you are just a human." (“Teaching the Fa at the Assistants’ Fa Conference in Changchun”)
Not long ago, I could not study the Fa for more than twenty minutes without getting sleepy. So I sent righteous thoughts intensively for two days. When I sent righteous thoughts the last time, my body felt so weak that I was not able to sit. I walked to the bed, and at that moment I remembered what Master said, "...things will turn around after reaching the extreme point." (Zhuan Falun)
I was determined not to fall asleep, even if I was tired. I continued to send righteous thoughts. Something inside me began to change. I felt that someone was crying and someone was laughing. I firmly sat upright and continued to send righteous thoughts. I focused on eliminating the elements which make me sleepy and the bad thoughts which caused my sleepiness.
After about five minutes, I felt that a lot of pressure had been lifted from me, and I suddenly felt very relaxed.
Clearing Away Persecution
I thought about how to best clarify the truth to my students. I organized several lectures on Chinese traditional culture.
Without realizing I was doing something inappropriate, I combined materials from the Fa with my own understanding into my class teaching in 2013.
I did my best to use my own words to explain the materials. Occasionally I had to use the original words from the Fa but I could not say Master's name in class. After three classes someone reported me. The school officials stopped my teaching and other administrative work, and demanded that I denounce Falun Gong in writing.
Faced with the threat of being persecuted, I looked for my own loopholes. I studied the Fa with a peaceful mind. When I read "How Should Falun Dafa Practitioners Spread the Practice?" in Zhuan Falun , I saw the big loophole in myself. I had been plagiarizing the Fa.
Master said,
"When you clarify the truth don't say high-level things; the main thing isn't to have people understand what the high-level, profound Fa is. Well, people who are particularly good are an exception, and you can tell them about it. But when you clarify the truth to an average person, just tell him that we're being persecuted and that we're only doing exercises and trying to be good people, and they'll be able to understand." (“Touring North America to Teach the Fa”)
During my three classes I had said too many high-level things to ordinary people.
Cultivation is very serious. With the help of other practitioners, I understood that this was a good opportunity to clarify the truth.
During the period when I could not teach, many colleagues, friends, and relatives came to visit me and tried to give me advice. I told them the facts about Falun Gong, and they understood. Some of them quit the CCP, some wanted to read Zhuan Falun , and some started to recite "Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good."
A week later I visited a school official in his office. He said that he had a good impression of my work before, but when I tried to clarify the truth to him, he shouted at me, pointed his finger at my face, and cursed me.
I did not feel anything bad. I asked him to remember, "Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good," if he found himself in a dangerous situation. He reported me to higher officials. When I received the phone call from a higher official who wanted to make an appointment with me, the only thought I had was that it was an opportunity to clarify the truth.
When I went to see him, I talked about Falun Gong for more than an hour. He understood and quit the CCP. At the end of our meeting, he asked me to write a report.
I quickly wrote something and showed him. He read it and said, “You didn't mention Falun Gong. Your case is related to Falun Gong. You should not avoid it.”
At that point I understood that Master was telling me through this person's mouth that I needed to talk about the main theme in order to clarify the truth. So I clearly wrote that Falun Gong was an extraordinary science.
Three weeks later I was allowed to resume my administrative work. The people who visited me before came to congratulate me. Although it was only three weeks, in my heart I made a choice. I experienced,
"Remove your human thoughts and evil will naturally die out" (“Don’t Be Sad,” from Hong Yin Vol. II)
Saving People at a Trade Conference
I was invited to a trade conference in June 2013, and was asked to give a 20-minute speech. I immediately realized that this was a good opportunity to introduce Shen Yun.
With Master's help, I maintained strong righteous thoughts. I spoke for about an hour, and the audience applauded several times during my speech. I promised the organizers that I would bring them some materials on traditional Chinese culture the next day.
The next morning I did the four standing exercises in the courtyard where I was staying. Some people saw me and came to watch. Some of them quit the CCP. I offered them Shen Yun DVDs, and nearly 200 discs were taken right away.
Whatever we encounter on the path of cultivation that Master arranged for us are good things. I keep looking inward and remember to save people using compassion and wisdom.
My understanding is limited. Please point out any shortcomings.