(Minghui.org) As a Dafa practitioner, I have experienced many trials and tribulations during my 16 years of cultivation, but I remain steadfast in my faith in Dafa and Master.
Whenever I have had a difficult time, Master always guided me in both my waking life and dreams. I feel so safe under his compassionate care. My cultivation has been a process of finding my loopholes so that I can deny the old forces' arrangements. When I matured in my cultivation, I found the true meaning of life. I treasure this precious opportunity.
“With one person practicing, the whole family benefits.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference in Australia” in April 2002)
I was raised by my nanny, who was very kind, so I learned to be considerate of others.
When I married, however, I felt that things were unfair between my husband and me. I not only had to work, but I also had to be responsible for all the household chores. I was exhausted all the time. By the time I was 30, I had all kinds of health problems.
A colleague attempted to comfort me and said I would have rewards in the future. I didn't understand and replied, “I am having a really hard time. Why would I have any rewards?” Now I understand it is because I practice Falun Dafa and understand that being a good person is what's most important. Dafa helps purify my body and mind, and eliminates my ailments. I am always full of energy. So, regardless of how life appears to be treating me, I behave based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
My husband is a senior engineer. He is introverted and used to have a bad temper. He was also very arrogant and did not know how to care about other people. He has practiced other forms of qigong, but began to improve in many ways after I began cultivation in Dafa.
He suffered from chronic bronchitis before I started practicing. But it vanished magically. I also witnessed his bad temper disappear. As Master said:
“We teach salvation of both ourselves and others, as well as of all beings. Thus, Falun can save oneself by turning inward and save others by turning outward. While turning outward, it gives off energy and can benefit others. This way, within your energy-covering field others will benefit, and they may feel very comfortable. Whether you are on the street walking, in the workplace, or at home, you can have this effect on others. People within your field may unintentionally have their illnesses healed since this field can rectify all abnormal conditions. (Lecture Three in Zhuan Falun)
He saw how busy I was with work and household chores, but still had plenty of energy. He said sincerely, “You have fewer wrinkles, and you are now calm in any situation. Since you cultivate in Dafa, can we still be a family when we reach the heavens?”
I was once arrested by police from the evil 610 Office and detained in a brainwashing center. My husband approached the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) secretary of my company and said, “She is a good person. Why do you persecute her? This is causing huge pressure for our family; I can't bear it any more. You have to release her. I haven't paid CCP membership dues for a year, so that means I have withdrawn from the CCP automatically. Do not contact me for any meetings and do not send me any CCP books or magazines. I am officially withdrawing from CCP membership starting today.”
My family members are all sentient beings who have come for Dafa. I helped them to quit the Party. My son told me that he had a dream in which someone was pouring warm, clear water over him. I told him it was good thing, that it meant the impure things within him were being washed away. After that, he became very supportive, and whenever I was persecuted, he helped me.
I work to get rid of my human notions. As a Dafa practitioner, I must eliminate all human attachments and have a positive influence on my relatives. I help them to witness Dafa's immense compassion. I now find that the more I understand the deeper meanings of Dafa's principles, and the more righteous my behavior becomes, the more they change for the better.
Seeing Through the Illusions
There were a few incidents that appeared to interfere with my distributing the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party in my community. So I sent forth righteous thoughts to strengthen my resolve to clarify the truth.
On one occasion, two headlights from cars parked on the opposite side of my building were shining on me. I was not scared. I believed that if this was meant to persecute me, it should be eliminated. If not, the lights should be turned off. The lights immediately went off.
The second time, I walked outside and discovered a big guy watching me beside the intersection near my building. He watched me very intently, but I was not scared and immediately sent forth righteous thoughts. He quickly left.
Another time I noticed someone in the window of the office building across the street turn on the lights and make a phone call. He also appeared to be watching me closely. I sent righteous thoughts, knowing in my heart that this was another illusion. Master said:
“If you are a true practitioner, our Falun will safeguard you. I am rooted in the universe. If anyone can harm you, he or she would be able to harm me. Put simply, that person would be able to harm this universe.” (Lecture One in Zhuan Falun)
As long as I keep up righteous thoughts, I know Master will protect me.
Finally, a group of five of us went to send righteous thoughts outside a local brainwashing center. We saw a police officer on a motorcycle taking pictures of us. I immediately told the others to send righteous thoughts and held a young practitioner's hand and said, “This is illusion. We are now sending righteous thoughts.” The officer left within five minutes.
Getting Rid of My Attachment to Fear When Clarifying the Truth to Police
In February 2000, two practitioners and I went to the Beijing appeals office to clarify the truth and detained by Beijing policemen. I was so scared that my legs were shaking. I asked myself, "What's going on? Can I clarify the truth with this level of xinxing?" With this thought a sudden calm came over me.
On August 20, 2000, Master's article “Eliminate Your Last Attachment(s)” was published, and I had a copy of it in my wallet. I thought he could not know it. But when I got home, he took my wallet away. Master said:
“Should you have fear,it will seize upon youIf thoughts are righteous,evil will collapse”(“What’s to Fear?” from Hong YinII)
In order to get rid of this fear and strengthen my righteous thoughts, I studied the Fa a lot and recited Master's article:
“If a cultivator can let go of the thought of life and death under any circumstance, evil is sure to be afraid of him. If every student is able to do this, evil will of itself no longer exist. All of you are already aware of the principle of mutual-generation and mutual-inhibition. If you are not afraid, the factor that would make you afraid will cease to exist.” (“Eliminate Your Last Attachment(s)” in Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Gradually, my righteous thoughts replaced the fear attachment, and my cultivation environment changed for the better.
Tangible Benefits from Helping People to Quit the Party
After the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published, I started to distribute copies to my relatives and classmates. Later, I delivered them to apartments. I often checked to see if there was someone not picking up the book. If someone returned the book after reading it, I took it back.
I normally delivered the books on the east side one week and the west side the next. I clarified the truth face-to-face when possible and also cooperated with other practitioners very well. This is a good procedure to follow.
I would ask the people if they had seen the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. They told me that nearly every family had one and would often ask me where they could go to withdraw from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. I said, “I can help you.” It went well.
Some political officers quit. A senior engineer said he was doing great and also experienced health improvements after he did. He declared, "Falun Dafa is great! Please help my son withdraw from the CCP." I said, “You cannot decide for him. He has to make his own decision." He agreed, “Yes, I will encourage him to do it.”
The CCP has forced residents to sign “family guarantee cards” to renounce Falun Dafa. So practitioners are responsible for clarifying the facts to the public and helping them to understand that the CCP is truly repressing basic human rights.
When the “guarantee cards” were sent to our residential building, I got several and destroyed them immediately. Other practitioners sent righteous thoughts for me while I sought out the officer who had sent them. He asked, “Why are you here?”
I said, “I have to tell you honestly that you are doing a really bad thing. Did you know many people have destroyed these cards because they understand the truth about the persecution? You need to consider yourself and your family. Good deeds bring good rewards, but bad deeds meet with retribution." I recited Master's poem:
“People, do not choose the wrong direction,Curry favor with the wicked regime, and you’ll be duped by demons. ” (“To Choose”)
He listened quietly. Then, I went downstairs to clarify the truth to the other officers. In tears I said, “I truly come to tell you the truth for your own best interest.” I then repeated Master's poem.
My righteous thoughts were very strong, and the room fell silent. Afterward, the first officer ended up hearing from my neighbor that I was a really nice person. He now always says hello and no longer behaves badly.
Cooperating with Each Other and Remaining Diligent
The evil brainwashing centers were opened again last year in our community. Two practitioners were detained there, and I heard they were not local. Our group discussed what factors might have been involved in these centers starting up again. We looked inward and decided this did not happen by accident. We needed to improve our own cultivation states.
Several years ago, a number of local practitioners were detained in brainwashing centers for extended periods. We knew all about that place, but seemed ineffective at eliminating the evil elements supporting it.
But this time, we first investigated the whereabouts of the center. We used the Internet to find a detailed route there. More practitioners went to send righteous thoughts nearby. Some of us posted truth clarifying materials around the brainwashing center. The evil power was greatly reduced, and the center was soon closed.
Even the relatives of the detained practitioners said, “That is great! The posters were even pasted on the main door of the brainwashing center.” This was also an opportunity for us to improve together. We all did what Dafa practitioners should do. Some out-of-town practitioners had also heard about this and worked with us to rescue the practitioners. We acted as one body.
The Effects of Eliminating Attachments to Fame, Self-Interest, and Emotion
I have worked for many years to eliminate my attachments to fame, self-interest, and emotion. One day, the neighbor downstairs knocked on my door and said his washroom was leaking because of us. He asked us to find someone to fix it. I replied calmly that it might be more convenient for him to find someone, but would gladly pay the bill. He agreed. Later, I thought it might be that I owed him a karmic debt, and it was an opportunity to get rid of my attachment to self-interest. I was not argumentative or unbalanced and successfully passed this small test.
Another day, my old neighbor was moving and scratched my daughter-in-law's car. They paid us around 200 dollars. That night I discussed with my husband the fact that they had financial difficulties and had to sell their house. We had a good relationship with them. I knew I should consider others first. So, I found their new address and returned the money. She was very touched and said, “Falun Dafa is great! Please help us quit the Party.”
I was illegally detained for ten months, and during that time, my husband took all our savings and retirement money and bought bonds. But he did not earn any dividends. When I was released, he told me he had been extremely depressed and exhausted and would pay me back my money.
I was not angry and did not complain. I just asked him to remember this lesson.Master said in Zhuan Falun:
“It is said in religion that regardless of how much money you have or how high your position ranks, it is good for only a few decades.” (Lecture Four)
“...as a practitioner should follow the course of nature. If something is yours, you will not lose it. If something is not yours, you will not have it even if you fight for it.” (Lecture Seven)
My daughter married and moved out. But my son was unemployed and still lived with us, even after marrying and having a child. He did not do any housework and played mahjong often. They stayed with us for over 10 years. My husband then moved to my daughter's home, so I took on the financial burden and quickly used up my retirement savings.
I sometimes thought to myself, "You guys won't move out, so I will move out." Sometimes, I felt I could not bear it any longer and was really angry. I studied the Fa a lot, but when my son and daughter-in-law said hurtful things, I could not get rid of my attachment. I treated them as just my son and daughter-in-law, but not as sentient beings.
As I was able to look inward to get rid of my self-centered notions and emotional attachments, I was then able to offer help and corrected them when needed. Over time, I noticed great changes in myself and every member of my family.
I feel so grateful to be a Dafa practitioner in the Fa-rectification period. I know Master protects me whenever I have a test or difficult time. I even know Master helped me to write this sharing article. We must continue to cultivate diligently, do the three things well, and improve ourselves to show appreciation for Master's benevolence.
