(Minghui.org) I would like to share some of my cultivation experiences from the past 20 years. I began practicing Falun Dafa at the beginning of 1996 when the main book of the teachings, Zhuan Falun, became available in Australia. I liked to do the exercises. I knew it was important to study the Fa, but every time I read more than ten pages, I got sleepy. I didn't know what to do. In 1999 Master taught the Fa in New Zealand, and I asked what I should do. Master replied that I should study the Fa more. Since that day, I have studied one lecture every day. Starting in 2005, I began to study two lectures, and sometimes I memorized the Fa. I have memorized Zhuan Falun twice.
I regard Fa study as part of my daily life. I understand that only when I study the Fa well can I have the wisdom and ability to save more people. I'll be able to handle difficult situations with compassion and have righteous thoughts to break through tribulations and the old forces' interference.
Master said,
“That is because the Fa is the foundation; it is what’s fundamental for Dafa disciples; it is what ensures everything; and it is the avenue by which a human being journeys toward godhood.” (“To the Australia Fa Conference,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress Vol. III)
Master also said,
“Read the book more and any problem can be resolved.” (Lecture at the First Conference in North America)
“This book is almighty, omnipotent.”(Lecture at the First Conference in North America)
With the guidance of the Fa and Master’s protection, I have walked my cultivation path to this day. Master has helped me resolve grudges with benevolence and eliminated my karma. This is a precious opportunity. I will not let Master down.
Saving People Is My Mission
About ten years ago when I was reading the Minghui website, I noticed the four Chinese characters, “saving sentient beings.” In the following weeks I felt I had no human thoughts and my heart was filled with benevolence. The energy field around me was huge. I felt sad when I thought about how many people had not yet been saved. I knew saving people was my mission, my prehistoric oath, and what Master expected of me. I told myself that I must do it well.
I decided that I must go out to talk to people. I began going to the places where many Chinese people shopped. It wasn’t easy. Sometimes when I finished work, it was already late and I was exhausted. Sometimes I asked myself if it was okay to skip going. My answer always was, “No, I must go.” If I didn’t go because of some excuse today, or because of another excuse the next day, it would not be possible to do it. When I went to clarify the truth I always felt a warm current flow throughout my body and my tiredness was gone. I am grateful to Master for his strengthening me!
The winters are cold in Canberra. My face hurt from the wind, and it was hard to stand outside. I told myself that I must hand out all the materials I prepared. On weekends, I usually went to the Chinese Embassy to do the three things. No matter if it was the cold winter, the heat of summer, or raining, I participated. I enlightened that it made a great difference if practitioners held the banners.
Saving More People
On the way from Canberra to Sydney one day, I noticed a bus full of Chinese tourists had stopped so they could get off the bus and take a break. I told the other practitioners in my car that we should talk to them. I explained to the tourists the importance of quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Almost all of them quit except for two people who said they would think about it. While I talked with them, I felt my energy field was very powerful and what I said could penetrate and touch the deepest parts of their souls. I knew that because I had the heart to save people and Master was strengthening me and helping me.
One evening while I was clarifying the truth in a Chinese neighborhood, a Chinese lady came over and said, “You helped me quit the Youth League last time. After I went home, I told my husband. He said he wanted to quit, too. Please help him quit the Youth League.” She added, “What you're doing is very meaningful. Thank you.” Many Westerners have been supportive and encouraging. But this was the first time a Chinese person said this. I felt greatly encouraged.
One day a large van stopped in front of the Chinese Embassy. Usually when tourists see us, they get on their bus in a hurry to get away from us. When I noticed this van, the tourists were already getting back on. By the time I crossed the street they could have left. I thought, “No matter what, I must get over there and give them the opportunity.” When I reached the van, the driver opened his window, took the materials, and said, “Please help us quit the CCP. There are seven of us in the van. The Party has become so corrupt. Why not quit?” I helped all of them quit the CCP with pseudonyms.
During the recent Parliament, practitioners were asked to submit petitions to the Australian government. I helped to collect signatures. When a young woman asked to sign, I told her that the petition would be submitted to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister. She said, “I know about this. The last time I flew to the U.S., the person sitting next to me told me about the persecution.” After she signed her name, I told her about the documentary film Letter from Masanjia that would be screened soon. She said that she would definitely go see it.
Impressed by her awareness, I couldn’t help thinking what a good job the practitioner who talked to her did. Practitioners around the world have been disseminating the information and have indeed played a significant role in saving people.
Promoting Shen Yun to Save People
When I became involved in promoting Shen Yun, I didn't know how to begin. I thought that one particular elderly practitioner wouldn’t be able to do much. But she kept visiting the shops, and every week she sold about 10 tickets. I realized that she was doing very well. I started to promote Shen Yun like that, too. I visited shops, handed out flyers, and put up posters. I did my best to tell people how beautiful Shen Yun is. Many told me that they would buy their own tickets. I sold about 200 tickets. I'm not very smart when it comes to ordinary things. I'm not good at dealing with people and I'm not a salesperson. But I came to understand that, as long as we have pure hearts, Master will help us.
As Master says,
“When disciples have ample righteous thoughtsMaster has the power to turn back the tide” (“Master-Disciple Bond,” Hong Yin, Volume II)
I have been promoting Shen Yun for over ten years. My understanding is that Shen Yun saves people, but the old forces interfere. So it takes a lot of effort and hardship to sell each ticket. It's very important to promote Shen Yun in a professional way, as it reflects on Shen Yun’s brand. On the other hand, the ability to promote Shen Yun depends on the cultivation state of the practitioner who promotes it. Sometimes when I was in a good state, I was able to convince over 30 or even 40 people to go see the show. Later, I saw them leave the theater filled with joy and happiness. Sometimes, I was only able to convince a few people to go. My cultivation state influenced the outcome. Every day before I went out, I studied two lectures in Zhuan Falun, sent forth righteous thoughts, and did the exercises. I wanted to be in my best and purest state in order to save sentient beings.
The last two months before the show, we had a booth inside a shopping mall to promote Shen Yun. After a practitioner working fulltime in sales left for another country, promoting the show in the mall became difficult. I told myself that I had to fill this vacancy.
So I changed my job and spent two months working fulltime to promote Shen Yun. There were quite a few shopping centers. One of them was very remote and the ticket sales there were not good. No one wanted to go there. Neither did I. But I thought that, if I refused, it would be difficult for the coordinator. Sometimes the coordinator told me to choose between two shopping centers. I just thanked him for his kindness and went to the remote one.
With the progress of Fa-rectification, there is no need for as many people to be involved in promoting Shen Yun. I reminded myself that there are still many projects for saving people that we need to do steadfastly. I will listen to Master and do whatever Master asks me to do and accomplish what Master wants. Master said,
“Validate the Fa with rationality, clarify the truth with wisdom, spread the Fa and save people with mercy...” (“Rationality,” Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Following the Cultivation Path Arranged by Master
There were few practitioners in Canberra, so the ongoing peaceful protest in front of the Chinese Embassy was carried out by practitioners from Sydney. I joined this project in early 2005. We left Sydney early Saturday morning and returned on Sunday evening. Three years later, the coordinator asked if I could stay in Canberra. I said I would stay for a while—I ended up staying for ten years! However, in my heart, I kept thinking about returning to Sydney. I felt there were many truth-clarification projects that I could help with and the group Fa study there was very beneficial for me and helped elevate my xinxing. I thought I had to be responsible for my cultivation. I could give up the comparatively comfortable living environment and bear the financial loss. I should go back to Sydney, which is a better place for cultivation.
At the beginning of this year, I helped promote Shen Yun in Sydney and stayed there for almost two months. It felt very good, as if I had returned home. I thought of staying in Sydney after the Shen Yun promotion was finished. I had to go back to Canberra. On the way there, a practitioner called and asked if I’d made up mind to move back to Sydney. I replied, “Yes, but I still need to ask Master.” I had to spend a couple of weeks in Canberra to take care of some things. If, during this time, Master didn’t give me any hint, then I was determined to leave Canberra.
When I returned to Canberra, I didn’t want to attend the group Fa study, as in my heart I had already left. On Sunday, I went to a crossroads to clarify the truth. The moment I stood there, I thought, “This is where I should clarify the truth.” I felt a minor shock and a current of energy went through me. I felt as if a shell had been removed from me, and my body was tall and huge. I felt joyful. I knew Master was strengthening me and giving me a hint. I must stay in Canberra to save sentient beings well and fulfill my mission.
In the past I thought it was virtuous to keep a low profile and that it was good to be an introvert. So I seldom spoke up when we talked about our experiences after group Fa study. I thought it was up to the coordinator whether the cultivation environment was good. Now I realize that I am part of it and that I have the responsibility to cooperate with the coordinator in Canberra and other practitioners and fulfill the three things Master asks us to do. We must improve together, and we must keep pace with the progress of Fa-rectification.
Thank you, Master. Thank you, fellow practitioners.
(Presented at the 2019 Australia Fa Conference)
