South African Practitioner: Compassion Grew Through Practicing Falun Dafa

(Minghui.org) Since I began to genuinely practice Falun Dafa and take the Falun Dafa cultivation practice seriously, I’ve felt my mindset gradually moving away from worldly concerns. Falun Dafa has helped me understand what true, unconditional kindness is. I’m very grateful to Master Li Hongzhi for selflessly sharing his teachings with the world.

Master said,

“Think about it, everyone: What kind of matter is it to teach qigong toward high levels? Isn’t this offering salvation to humankind?” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)

Falun Dafa has been constantly shaping me into who I am. By truly cultivating, I’ve experienced being purified. One by one, I’ve been letting go of material desires and human notions, and instead, have developed a more compassionate heart. My view of life has changed a lot. I’ve learned to let go of attachments and fully trust in Master Li’s guidance.

When I face tests or challenges, I’ve learned to look inward and correct myself according to the core principles of Falun Dafa: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

I’ve come to realize that as a practitioner, I shouldn’t try to change others. The real change has to start from within.

A few days ago, I was standing in my living room when a burglar suddenly broke into my home. He was surprised to see me standing there. Clearly, he hadn’t expected anyone to be inside.

He immediately started apologizing and making excuses. I could see fear in his eyes. He probably thought I would react with anger or try to retaliate. But instead, I responded with kindness and compassion. I simply smiled at him warmly and gently told him to calm down.

I asked him for his name, and he said it was David. Then I took the time to learn more about him. I gave him some food and directed him to a nearby shelter where he could find meals, a place to stay, clothing, and possibly a job opportunity.

I felt a bit regretful that I didn’t have any Dafa materials with me to share, and since he didn’t have internet access, I couldn’t guide him to the Falun Dafa website either.

Sensing my concern, Master helped open my mind and understand that the kindness and compassion I had shown him had already laid the foundation for him to one day accept Falun Dafa. That night, I no longer worried about him and slept peacefully. I knew he was already in good hands, and Master would take care of him.

Since I began to practice Falun Dafa, I’ve had opportunities to share the truth about the practice with others every day. Sometimes I join online video chat rooms to talk about Falun Dafa, and at other times I speak to people I meet at work or in other settings.

When I hear someone mock Falun Dafa, I take the chance to gently and kindly explain the facts. Many times, their attitudes change after hearing the truth. A few people have even thanked me for sharing the information. I always remind them to thank Master, not me, as I don’t deserve any credit.

There are times when I wake up at night to do the exercises or send forth righteous thoughts. In the beginning, it was hard to let go of my attachment to comfort and sleep. But now, I get up willingly and do it without hesitation.

Being able to learn and practice Falun Dafa is a rare and precious opportunity. I truly cherish it. I believe we should make the most of every chance to cultivate and improve our character. I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can offer you some encouragement too.

These are just a few understandings at my current level. I’m deeply grateful to Master for his immense compassion.