(Minghui.org) I have practiced Falun Dafa for 12 years. Through numerous obstacles and tests during that time, Master Li Hongzhi (Falun Dafa's founder) has always been protecting and guiding me. I am so grateful to Master and Dafa!
I would like to share some of my cultivation experiences with fellow practitioners.
Cultivation During Family Conflicts
Family is a good environment for cultivation. People usually do not fake or pretend much at home.
When I first learned Dafa, I thought that I must introduce the practice to my parents as well. They were both elderly and in relatively poor health. I thought that learning Dafa would help free them from illness. Consequently, my purpose was not righteous.
Due to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) propaganda defaming Dafa, and the influence of atheism, my parents did not believe what I said. With my strong human notions and the communist party’s cultural influence, I tried to convince my parents to practice Dafa. I had no patience toward them and did not put myself in their shoes.
When my father disagreed with me, I felt resentment. I wanted them both to listen to me, and when they did not, I intentionally showed them my unhappiness. As a result, my father often cursed at me. My sisters would tell me that I was not being good to our parents and advised me to let them live the life they wanted.
One day, without consulting my mother, I changed the card inside her audio player from her favorite songs to some recordings about traditional culture. When she told my father what I did, my father called my older sister that night to complain about me.
At the time, I did not know how to look inward. I felt wronged, believing I was doing them good. I had not cultivated my character. As a result, the old forces took advantage of my personal deficiencies and persecuted me physically.
Through studying the Fa, discussing my situation with fellow practitioners, and reading sharing articles on the Minghui website, I gradually realized that I was wrong and began to look inward.
Master Li has told us: “While working, your tone of voice, your kindheartedness, and your reasoning can change a person’s heart, whereas commands never could!” (“Clearheadedness”, Essentials for Further Advancement)
Master also said:
“Forbearance is the key to improving one’s xinxing. To endure with anger, grievance, or tears is the forbearance of an everyday person who is attached to his concerns. To endure completely without anger or grievance is the forbearance of a cultivator. ” (“What is Forbearance (Ren)? ”, Essentials for Further Advancement)
A short time later, I visited my parents over a weekend. I made dumplings for them in their favorite flavors. Though my anger and resentment towards them would surface from time to time, I was able to control myself and looked inward. I also learned to send righteous thoughts in an effort to eliminate any disturbances from other dimensions. Gradually, my mind became calmer. Master absolved me of the bad matter tied to my resentment.
I learned to look inward and consider others first in my family environment. As a result, my relationship with my siblings improved as well.
As a cultivator, I need to be better than an ordinary person. The people around me are here for my cultivation. They are here to pave the road for me. I should be grateful to them.
Nowadays, my family members all know that Falun Dafa is good.
Cultivating My Speech
I used to be a very opinionated person. I liked to give my opinions on almost everything and always felt that my thoughts were correct. I also often spoke with a sarcastic tone. There was no compassion in the way I talked and approached things. I was troubled by this and would ask myself why I could not be more compassionate and kind.
Once I was listening to a program about divine culture. It talked about the three “sinful karmas” in ancient China: killing, adultery, and speech karma. Most people with morals understand implicitly that the first two were bad. However, many do not pay attention to the third, speech karma, namely that one may hurt another person with something said, even if it is done unintentionally.
The story of Yu Congzhou goes that he was arrogant and often spoke with sarcasm, laughing at others. God had recorded 2,470 instances of his speech karma. Once the number reached 3,000, he would die. In addition, his descendants would become beggars, because his speech karma had disturbed the harmony of heaven and earth.
This story in particular was a wake-up call to me. In China, divine culture has been replaced by the communist party’s culture. I grew up in a culture which encouraged a fighting mentality. Having spent more than 40 years in this environment, I had become naturally arrogant, selfish, and wanted to defeat others.
Even after I began to cultivate Dafa, my longtime bad habits were all still there, including looking down on others, selfishness, and a fighting mentality.
I listened to this story dozens of times, paying particular attention to the cultivation of my speech. I would remind myself to control my emotions and not hurt other people. Sometimes I would say bad things out of habit, but I would immediately apologize.
Master told us:
“You should always maintain a compassionate and calm heart. Then, when you run into a problem, you will be able to do well because it gives you some room as a buffer. You should always be benevolent and kind to others and consider others when doing anything. Whenever you encounter a problem, you should first consider whether others can put up with this matter or if it will hurt anyone. In doing so, there will not be any problems. Therefore, in cultivation you should follow a higher and higher standard for yourself.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)
I am a Dafa disciple. I measure myself with the standard of the Fa. I have learned to keep a compassionate heart and a calm mind when interacting with people. I finally am able to feel an inner peace, which is wonderful.
Identifying CCP Culture
“Over the last several decades, the gradual and at times imperceptible indoctrination and influence of the evil CCP’s Party culture has made the Chinese people’s disposition warped, including that of some Dafa disciples, making them think about things in extreme ways—to the point that their thinking is completely different from that of people abroad or of people in ancient, traditional China. Mainland China has well over a billion people, and through gradual indoctrination their minds have become deviant without their knowing it. They think that everyone is the same, that there’s nothing unusual [about their thinking], and that that’s just how people are. But that is not true!” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2014 San Francisco Fa Conference”)
Master's words woke me up. I understood from this that my behavior has been full of the communist party’s cultural influence, including traits such as arrogance, suspicion, denial of everything, a lack of traditional morality, lack of self-restraint, and selfishness.
In particular, having a fighting mentality was a bad habit of mine. I always looked at other people's mistakes first while never admitting to fault of my own. When facing things, my first thought was naturally to protect myself, thinking about how I could avoid getting hurt, being taken advantage of, or finding myself in trouble. I was like that even after a few years of practicing cultivation. Luckily, Master did not give up on me, and I persistently started to force myself to look inward more.
A tailor once failed to make cloth in the style I requested. Anger surged inside me, but I forced myself to look inward. “Do not look at other's mistakes. Look within!” I told myself.
I felt a whooshing sensation, as if some decayed, bad matter had been taken away from my body by Master. My anger immediately disappeared, and my body felt extremely comfortable.
Dafa let me find kindness in other human beings, explore the roots of divine culture, and see the truth in life.
Saving Sentient Beings
Master has said: “Compassion can harmonize Heaven and Earth, ushering in springRighteous thoughts can save the people in this world” (“The Fa Rectifies the Cosmos”, Hong Yin Vol. II)
Through studying the Fa, I understand that we Dafa disciples have made vows and followed Master to descend to this human world. We are here to help save sentient beings during the Fa-Rectification period. Master has taught us the Dafa of the universe.
Since the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners began in 1999, Master kept reminding us: “You should do well the three things Dafa disciples need to do, and everything is encompassed in them.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2003 Atlanta Fa Conference”)
For a time, I did not do the three things well. Sometimes, I felt sleepy when studying the Fa, and I was often distracted and unfocused when sending righteous thoughts. I was doing these things as a formality, and as a result, I had wasted a lot of time!
After reading several sharing articles about sending righteous thoughts on the Minghui website, I reminded myself to be focused and believe in my own power.
Master has said: “There are many supernatural beings here in this human world, and each is capable of solving issues related to mankind. ” (“What is a Dafa Disciple”)
Although I cannot see it, I believe that I have the power. I intensified my clarity in sending righteous thoughts, even while walking, riding the bus, or at work.
One day, as I was printing truth-clarification materials, I wanted to listen to a traditional culture program. Before I did anything, the program turned on by itself!
“I have acquired superpowers!” I was excited. Then I immediately remembered I should not have the attachment of zealotry. My abilities have been given to me by Master. They are for me to help Him during the Fa-Rectification period, not for me to show off in human society. I had found my right position in relation to Master and Dafa.
Master has said:
“For a Dafa disciple, cultivation is first priority. That’s because if you fail to cultivate well, you will not be able to accomplish what you are to do; and if you fail to cultivate well, your power to save sentient beings will not be that great. ” (“Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa - Fa Teaching Given at the 2011 Washington DC Metro Area Fa Conference”)
Only when I cultivate well can I fulfill my duty and save more sentient beings.
During this special time, gods and humans coexist on this planet earth. We Dafa disciples are redeeming our vows: From our involvement in Shen Yun, Minghui, New Tang Dynasty TV, the Epoch Times, to our handing out truth-clarification pamphlets, and compiling lists of people who have withdrawn from the CCP.
We cultivate in this giant “temple,” the entire human world. The terror the CCP has created cannot stop Dafa disciples from saving people. We have our Master and we have Dafa: “The Fa will be with you when your thoughts are righteous” (“Fa Teaching Given in Manhattan”)
In fact, it is merciful Master who has always been saving sentient beings: “Cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one’s master. ” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
I will follow Master diligently, cultivate myself well, and save more people.
Category: Improving Oneself
