(Minghui.org) Greetings, Master! Greetings, fellow practitioners! I’d like to share with you my experiences this year of balancing work and studies. Like most practitioners, I discovered that when I do the three things well (study the Fa, send forth righteous thought, and clarify the truth), not only does everything go smoothly in my everyday life, but I accomplish more with half the effort.
Last fall I began a new academic journey. The workload was quite heavy, and because of this, several students decided to suspend their studies. Despite the challenges, I still tried my best to arrange time to participate in truth-clarification projects such as collecting signatures on petitions on Saturdays. I asked myself, “If I did not go out to collect signatures for this hour, would I really work on something at home?” My answer was no, because I tended to waste time.
After arriving at the square, I first send forth righteous thoughts. Then, following other practitioners’ example, I politely approach passersby. I excuse myself for interrupting them and then explain what we are doing, why we are doing it, the content of the petition, and so on. When I notice people sitting around the square, I walk up to them. Most people are very kind, listen politely, and sign the petition.
When I talk about the CCP’s (Chinese Communist Party) cover-up of the pandemic, about Hong Kong, the CCP’s forced labor camps, and organ harvesting from illegally detained Falun Dafa practitioners in China, they are sympathetic and sign the petition. Some of them know about the CCP’s evildoing but most do not.
At first I said little to the people who did not sign. I simply thanked them and walked away. But after I continued talking to one person who did not initially sign, the person eventually did after I said more. I felt that I should not be moved by people’s surface reactions. I realized that I had a heart of fear and competition.
When I went back to the square, I reminded myself to maintain righteous thoughts and that I needed to melt into the Fa. When my state is good, and with Master’s help, I can collect four pages of signatures. Even though I know that this did not happen because of my own ability, I still need to remind myself not to become overly zealous. After someone signs the petition, I should not become complacent. Instead, I should focus on having compassion and sincerely clarifying the truth.
Apart from my studies and Dafa-validation activities, I have other, ordinary responsibilities. Sometimes, I feel that I can only guarantee the most basic commitment in that regard. When I discussed how to organize an extracurricular activity with my classmate, she asked when I would be available. I told her that I was too busy during that week because I had two exams the following week and the week after that I had another exam. I realized that I wouldn’t be available for several months—in fact, I had no time at all.
My classmate helped me think about the notion of time. She surprised me when she said, “Yes, but we are always busy.” She is very competent and has already graduated from law school. That surprised me. She did not feel any burden, even though she was in charge of many things at the same time. I was accustomed to only focusing on one thing at a time.
As for other things, I did not even want to think about them. But it seemed that the kind of multitasking we seem to have to do now did not bother her at all. If we repeatedly put off the things we ought to do because we are “always busy,” then they will never get done.
My understanding is that being busy is a common state. After a while we get used to it, and we will become less sensitive to it. To put it simply, being busy all the time is becoming the new normal. When we reach that state, won’t we have more time for more projects?
After working an entire day, another practitioner and I took a break. While we were chatting she said, “We’re sneaking a break from busy work.” Perhaps that’s the answer: We need to do things in between “busy work.” Then we can switch to another task. The switch can be thought of as a break.
I’m a member of the local Tian Guo Marching Band. In January 2020, the band set up a morning Fa-study group. We read one lecture of Zhuan Falun starting at 5 a.m., then we do the exercises for an hour. At first, it consisted of mostly young practitioners. At its peak, more than a dozen young practitioners participated. When practitioners could not get up, others called them. Everyone learned from and compared with each other on the Fa, which made for a very good cultivation environment. I benefited very much from this. I tried to recite the Fa in the morning but I didn’t keep it up. So when the coordinator suggested studying the Fa together in the morning, I happily agreed.
Practitioners have put so much effort into maintaining this environment. For example, to make it easy for everyone, practitioners play the music for sending forth righteous thoughts on the Internet, and after Fa-study, the exercise music is played. An older practitioner assumed the responsibility of calling young practitioners so they could wake up and participate. The original small group was soon joined by dozens of practitioners. It was very inspiring.
I am very grateful for other practitioners’ efforts, because I did not participate in the morning group study for several months during the summer. When school started again in the fall, I basically gave up the idea of participating in morning Fa-study. For several days, practitioners called me in the morning. At first, I felt both ashamed and impatient. I thought, “I did not ask to be called so early in the morning!” But at the same time I knew my state of cultivation was not as good as before—in fact I could not guarantee that I would read one lecture of Zhuan Falun per day, let alone do the exercises.
Being in such a state, I did not realize that I had the attachment to comfort and the desire to stay in bed longer. However, our benevolent Master did not give up on me and repeatedly gave me opportunities to pick myself up. Eventually, when the practitioner called, I got up. I felt uncomfortable at first, but afterward it was as if my heart and body were purified!
The interfering substance that made me feel sleepy was gone. After that day, I came back to the team for morning group study. This elderly practitioner has participated in the RTC truth-clarification platform for a long time, and I am so grateful that she did not give up on me!
One day another practitioner and I discussed how to encourage more young practitioners to go out to clarify the truth. When she suggested I call them, I was reluctant. The truth is, I was worried about losing face or that others would feel I was bothersome. I didn’t want them to refuse me. I was afraid they would react negatively even though my intention was good.
She said, “For our morning Fa study, some people finally picked up after I called them several times, but you’re really easy to wake up.” I knew that I was diligent about reading the Fa early in the morning all thanks to other practitioners’ help. I benefited from other practitioners’ help quite a few times, so, shouldn’t I also do the best I could to help others?
I finally understood and I started to contact the young practitioners I studied the Fa with before. During the process, I constantly eliminated my attachment to reputation and self-importance. I was learning to be humble, to think more of others, to not complain, and to not be condescending. I was surprised when, instead of being annoyed, some practitioners thanked me for calling them. I’d never had this experience before.
I thought that those young practitioners who had been away for a long time would come out more if they got to meet with other practitioners in a social setting, so I suggested organizing a BBQ in a park.
I realized this was using human sentimentality to get practitioners to validate the Fa. It didn’t seem right, but I didn’t have any other ideas. When the coordinator suggested not having the picnic but instead gathering people together to validate the Fa and clarify the truth, I was worried about young practitioners’ reactions. However, when I mentioned this, almost everyone agreed. They felt it was more appropriate and meaningful. Their righteous thoughts greatly encouraged me and I felt very lucky to cultivate in such a good environment.
That day, over 12 young practitioners did the exercises together for the first time at the local truth-clarification spot. We collected signatures and clarified the truth. Their ages ranged from their early teens to their early 30s. Some of them collected signatures for the first time, and they overcame many obstacles by stepping out of their comfort zones. One little practitioner took a clipboard and approached pedestrians all by herself. Her purity touched many people and me, too. It reminded me to make more effort to truly cultivate myself.
Elderly practitioners also quietly helped by preparing food after the activity in order to encourage us to do better and truly come together. The coordinator said the energy field when these young practitioners did the exercises together was very strong. Passersbys' eyes were all focused on us. Many people stopped and took photos and signed the petition. After the young practitioners left, some non-practitioners started to imitate their exercise movements. It was very impressive. Thanks to the practitioners’ selfless contribution and compassion, and most of all thanks to Master’s wonderful arrangement, I was given this priceless opportunity to improve myself!
I’ve recently begun to feel lonely in this new city and I tried to use an ordinary person’s method to eliminate the feeling. With Master’s help and by sharing with practitioners, I realized that I could not solve a cultivation problem with ordinary people’s means.
Master said,
“As a living being, why do you no longer have the excitement you had when you initially obtained Dafa, pride in having obtained this Dafa, and the feeling that you have something that others cannot get? Are you not diligent anymore? Is that it?” (Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York)
Why was I not diligent anymore? Where did that state of excitement I had when I initially begin practicing go? In the beginning, I really could overcome any trial. I was very diligent in removing attachments and overcoming difficulties with righteous thoughts. Immediately afterward I felt reborn and I knew my cultivation had improved. Gradually, I began to fear suffering. I just wanted to pursue the ease and comfort of ordinary people—but how could that be the state of a practitioner?
When I realized this, I felt very ashamed. Even though the older practitioners often encouraged me by telling me that my state of cultivation was good (I felt they said this because I hadn’t been practicing for very long), I still felt I had a very long way to go.
I formed a habit when I was young. Whenever something I did was praised, I didn’t want to put any more effort into it. It was as if I didn’t want to put in any more effort once other people were satisfied with what I’d done. I felt working harder only earned the same praise, but twice the effort had to be put in. Even though I knew that this was wrong, I became accustomed to doing the minimum. I knew that, in cultivation, there are no limits to how much we can improve, but I felt that the sacrifice required was limitless as well.
I was afraid to endure suffering, so I only wanted to stay at my current level. When I started practicing, I had a sense of urgency. I thought that if I didn’t catch up now, I wouldn’t have enough time in the future. I was afraid of being left behind, so I was very diligent.
However, when I saw fellow practitioners I knew exhibiting behavior below the Fa’s requirements, I was surprised—but I also lowered my standards. Gradually, my sense of urgency diminished and I moved further away from my original state.
When I discussed Minghui’s article, “The Importance of Not Ignoring Incorrect Exercise Movements/Postures” with fellow practitioners, I was puzzled and asked, “Didn’t Master mention not needing to be “...as if coming out of one mold.”? (“Fa Teaching at the 2016 New York Fa Conference”)
The practitioner replied that this was Master’s compassion but that Master also said,
“A process has to be allowed for. But you shouldn’t take this as license to approach practice in a casual and leisurely way. You need to be strict with yourself even if we allow for gradual progress.” (The Fourth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
I suddenly realized that Master used that practitioner’s mouth to help me wake up and that I should not slack off. Because Dafa cultivation is limitless, I should not take Master’s Fa out of context, think that I’ve met the requirements if I did the minimum that Master said, and stop advancing with diligence. Something Master said often comes to mind: “I told him to try going higher.” (The Second Talk, Zhuan Falun)
As a young practitioner, I should also strive to go higher. Now that I’ve identified my attachments of complacency, comfort, and liking to listen to others’ praise, I want to use this opportunity to expose them.
Master said,
“Why do you feel lonely? If you go do things to save sentient beings and things that a Dafa disciple is supposed to do, you definitely won't feel that way. If you were studying the Fa and diligently cultivating, could you feel that way? Only when you are not diligent will you have the leisure to mull over those ordinary human feelings, right?” (Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York)
It's true. Doing what a Dafa disciple should do is my wish. Pursuing and enjoying what ordinary people long for is not what I want. As a child, I often feared I would be lost in the crowd when I walked with my mother. I would say to her, “Mom, hold my hand tight.”
Now I say, “Master, please hold my hand tight! I want to go home with you!”
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners.
(Presented at the 2021 Canada Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference)