(Minghui.org) I am 77 this year, and I obtained Dafa in 1997. Over the past 21 years, Master has been looking after me, and my life has been transformed and assimilated to the Fa.
Learning the Fa by Heart
Master Li Hongzhi said:
“As a Dafa disciple, no matter what the situation or what the circumstances, you have to study the Fa, and you can't neglect your own assimilation and improvement; you can't forget to study the Fa.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Boston,” Collected Fa Teachings Vol. II)
I understood from Master’s teachings that only by truly studying the Fa with our hearts and truly dissolving into the Fa are we able to take the righteous path of cultivation, firmly believe in the Fa when we encounter tests, and not become distracted in this chaotic world.
Throughout my cultivation, I have made Fa study my top daily priority. Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, no matter how busy and exhausted I might be, I have not let a day pass without studying the Fa.
I would remind myself not to study the Fa superficially. No matter how much I study, I need to learn it by heart.
In the past few years, I felt that I was very familiar with the Fa, and as a result I sometimes became distracted. Recently a fellow practitioner shared his experience of memorizing the Fa in Minghui Weekly, and it really touched me.
After reading that, I changed my preconceived notion of being elderly and having a bad memory. In addition to studying three lectures of the Fa every day, I started to memorize it.
After finishing the five exercises and sending forth righteous thoughts at midnight, I would spend two more hours memorizing the Fa. I would not feel sleepy, my mind was extremely clear, and every word of the Fa went into my heart.
I have now finished memorizing Zhuan Falun four times, and the feeling is incredible.
Comprehending the Principles, Truly Cultivating Myself
Through memorizing the Fa, more of the Fa was revealed to me, which substantially improved my enlightenment quality and xinxing and changed the stubborn notions I had formed in everyday life.
My mind became peaceful and pure. I learned to look inward when something came up and resolved a long-term conflict with two fellow practitioners.
A practitioner named Lotus, who is about ten years younger than me, is the coordinator in our region. Over the last few years, I noticed that, in the way she talked or specific things she did, seemed dismissive of me.
Her disrespect made me very uncomfortable and created a gap between us, to the point that I would try to find an excuse to avoid dealing with her.
I knew this was not right, but I didn’t feel that I had done anything wrong. Through memorizing the Fa, I understood that, since the day we started cultivating, Master changed our path of life to a path of cultivation.
Nothing happens by chance. Everything happens to improve our cultivation and xinxing.
The principles of human life are the reverse of the principles of cultivation. That means we need to assess things with the Fa instead of with human notions.
After understanding these principles, my heart suddenly became light. The way Lotus treated me was not as bad as I thought.
On the contrary, she was trying to help improve my cultivation. I found that I had attachments to fame and jealousy and that I was especially attached to resentment, which had accompanied me through most of my life.
My family was classified as “low class” by the Chinese Communist Party. During my years in school and work, I felt that people looked down upon me.
My self-abasement then generated resentment. I hated that society was unfair and that people were snobbish, and I hated not being able to be successful or famous.
Later, I unintentionally brought this resentment into cultivation and always felt others treated me unfairly.
The Fa opened my heart, and I saw that it was my own problem—not my fellow practitioner’s problem. When I thought about Lotus again, my heart was calm.
When we met again, I saw that she had a friendly expression on her face.
I thanked her from my heart for helping me realize my problems and helping me improve in my cultivation. We are now able to work together.
A few years ago, another practitioner named Maria was arrested, and shortly after that, I was arrested. The police revealed that Maria had betrayed me.
At first, I didn't believe it. I thought the police were intentionally trying to pit us against each other.
Later, the police showed me her confession statement: she had told the police all the things we had done together.
At that moment, I felt I was in a dream. I would never betray anyone, even before I started cultivation.
After that, my attitude toward Maria completely changed. I looked down on her and resented her bitterly.
I heard later that she also betrayed other practitioners and that these practitioners suffered serious hardship, which made me hate her even more. All my thoughts about her were negative.
Through Fa study, I realized that this persecution was imposed by the old forces and that Master does not acknowledge it. That means that we need to deny it all. Maria is also a victim who still has human attachments.
Under the enormous pressure of the persecution, it was her human notions and attachments that misled her. I should not have negative thoughts about her.
Instead, I should be more understanding and compassionate toward her. On the other hand, I wouldn’t have been involved if my xinxing didn't need improvement.
The Fa opened my heart and broadened my mind. Once again, I realized I still had the attachments of resentment and looking down on others and the Party culture of "either love or hate."
I got rid of those things with righteous thoughts, and Master helped me remove them little by little—I don't hate Maria anymore.
When I saw her again, I greeted her with a sincere smile. I am grateful to Master for changing me from a tough, narrow-minded woman into a kind, broadminded, and thoughtful person.
Cultivating Myself Through Clarifying the Truth
Through years of clarifying the truth, I have realized that the reason Master asks us to clarify the truth to save people is to help us succeed in our cultivation.
In this complicated social environment, among all kinds of people, we are like many cultivators in the past who wandered around in society. During the process of clarifying the truth, many of my human notions and attachments have been unknowingly removed, especially the attachments to fear, differentiation, saving face, complaining of unfairness, resentment, etc.
With fewer attachments, I can do a better job in clarifying the truth.
No Negative Thoughts
Last fall, I was clarifying the truth in front of a big department store and met a well-dressed man about 50 years old. I said to him, “Hello. I would like to share something with you and hope you can accept it.”
He responded with a serious look, “What do you want?” I said, “I want to tell you to remember that Falun Dafa is good! This is the Buddha Fa. Don't listen to the lies on TV.”
He said, “I am an undercover policeman.”
I said, “Undercover police officers also need to know the truth. Life is precious, and we must cherish our lives.”
When he said he was going to report me, I was unmoved and calmly said to him, “You can't do that, it wouldn’t be good for you to do! Understand the truth, cut your ties with the Party, and save your own life.
“You and I don’t know each other, but only heaven, you, and I will know if you quit the CCP. Others won’t know, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
While I was talking, he suddenly said, “A police car is coming.” I was not moved and calmly said, “ I will give you a nickname so you can quit the CCP. Is that okay?”
He immediately agreed. After he left, my mind was a bit unstable.
I quickly recognized the attachment of fear and sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate it.
Being Compassionate to People Who Reject the Truth about Dafa
Last winter, I ran into a young man in his 20s. That was the third time I had met him.
The first time, I told him the facts about Dafa but he didn’t say anything. While I was talking, he kicked my leg three times and left.
The second time I talked to him was at a big shopping mall.
He didn't say anything, but he didn’t seem hostile. I thought maybe he would be willing to listen to me this time, so I started telling him the facts.
He didn’t say a word, but suddenly spat twice on my chest, then turned around and left.
The third time I met him on a bridge. I didn't think about anything but clarifying the truth to him.
I had just said a few words when he said to me in a loud voice, “Why don't you die? Go to hell!”
He said it twice, then turned around and walked away. Looking at the back of this young man, I had no bad thoughts about him.
I just felt pity for him. I hope that he can meet another practitioner so that he can be saved.
Category: Improving Oneself
