Give Up Attachments and Melt Into the Fa

My obtaining of the Fa in the summer of 1996 was a matter of great importance to me in my whole life. The first time I read Zhuan Falun, I realized that I have finally found the orthodox Law which I have been looking for all along. Amazed by its profoundness and immensity, I can hardly spell out my feelings and excitement. For years, my unanswered questions regarding universe, life, and human beings are answered. To me, it's like light at the end of the tunnel and that blind can see. My interest in the cultivation practice dates back years ago, at that time I have read many books on Buddhism, Taoism, science and philosophy. I have tried very hard to look for masters of orthodox Law and still couldn't find the right way of practice cultivation. Today, Master Li has given cultivators a ladder to heaven by presenting the Falun Dafa in front of us. He also takes us as his disciples. Master Li says: "As long as you can practice cultivation and are able to continue cultivation practice steadily, I will take you as my disciple". Master Li not only gives us preaching on Dafa, he takes us as his disciples. These give me more confidence and determination.

Give up my favorite and concentrate on one cultivation system I fell in love with martial arts when I was a child. During the cultural revolution, I was made acquaintance with a locked-up martial arts professor who later became my graduate mentor. After I became his disciple, I started martial arts practice persistently for more than 10 years. Then I completed some physical training courses and became a graduate student in martial arts. I have decided that the practice and research on internal arts as my life-long career. Having the famous and China's earliest martial arts professor as my mentor, I learned traditional gong fu from him and made great progress. I have won titles in the city, provincial and national levels. My mentor would like to train me as his successor and introduced me to his sworn-brother, a martial arts master at higher levels. He would teach me internal arts as well as many other martial arts, such as walking Tai Chi boxing, Mi-hun palms, Youshen Bagua palms, lightning swords, unknown to outsiders. I have been deeply involved in practicing these martial arts for more than 10 years. At the same time, I did some scientific research on martial arts, Qi Gong and supernormal capabilities and wrote some essays and books. Because of these researches, I was chosen as associate professor in martial arts. I was already attached to martial arts, and this time I was attached to fame. I had developed deep affection for Tai Chi, ba-gua and other internal arts. The relationships between my two teachers and me were like father to son. My internal arts teacher had mastered supreme level of gong fu. Once he was challenged by a national champion of martial arts, but he couldn't even touch my teacher's body. Before my teacher passed away, he was to pass down to me some lineage gong fu which had been handed down secretly from master to disciple (he wouldn't even pass them to his own sons who were also martial arts fans). As I was not able to get to his side at his last moment, he had to take the gong fu with him. It made me feel sorry for a long time. I was wondering what kind of gong fu he would have left for me. So I was determined to look for a master at still higher levels. But would there be such a master in this world?

Although I have been contaminated in the ordinary people's society, my dream of practicing cultivation does not die. During my research on human body science, the demonstration of existence of causation and reincarnation using double blind test method strengthened my aspiration to make advancement. Today, much to my surprise, I have obtained Falun Dafa. And I have further learned that the real energy potency is increased through the upgrade of Xin Xing. We will practice cultivation of the highest characteristics of the universe - truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance. The chance to come across this kind of Dafa and Master is really one in a billion. Now I have obtained Falun Dafa, which is the only way that can enable a person to advance to higher levels. The first test I faced with is whether I would give up internal arts that I have been so enthusiastic about for years.

In Zhuan Falun, Master said:"You will have to concentrate on one single system of cultivation practice. No matter how you practice cultivation, you can not mix it with other things". I finally understand what is no-second system. Master Li also told us that if you practice Falun Dafa, and at the same time you also practice Tai Chi or other forms of Qi Gong, then the Falun will deform. The Falun is more precious than our own lives, how can I do such kind of thing to it. I decided that I would not continue my practice of Tai Chi.

But it is not just that easy for me to give up Tai Chi after over 30 years of hard practice, especially my teachers had high hopes on me. One thing is clear to me, Master Li has supreme level of gong fu, and Falun Dafa is the kind of Orthodox Law which is superior to all the cultivating methods from ancient times. What else can I not give up? A practitioner would just have to give up attachments, such as fame, personal interests and passions. If I do not give up those attachments, I would have lost the one-in-a-billion opportunity to practice cultivation of Falun Dafa and regret for the rest of my life.

Master Li said in his scripture No Leakage: "Forbearance includes give up. To be able to give up is an advancement in cultivation practice". I decided to give up practicing Tai Chi and other internal arts and to concentrate on the cultivation practice of Falun Dafa.

The next test came immediately: do I still have to teach Tai Chi? Before my two teachers passed away in their nineties, they asked me to pass down the gong fu that they had taught me. I make a living by teaching Tai Chi and other forms of martial arts. My living would have become a problem if I stop teaching. I thought it might be OK if I only teach others, and not practicing by myself. I finally had a chance to ask Master Li about this. And Master Li replied my question with grand mercy. I was very uncomfortable about it. As a cultivator, I must take Fa as my teacher. In Zhuan Falun, Master Li said:" Cultivation Practice is a serious matter, one must practice only one cultivation system". So, I stopped my classes of Tai Chi Boxing and Tai Chi Sword and asked them to practice Falun Gong.

Several years ago, I started teaching Qi Gong and Tai Chi at Traditional Chinese Medical School. After I obtained Falun Dafa, I have turned the Qi Gong class into teaching Falun Dafa. I have also changed Tai Chi class to Shaolin Boxing teaching, so that students who have learned Falun Dafa could concentrate on practicing only one cultivation system. (Some students can feel the spinning of the Falun, so I don't want their Falun deformed) Some people showed their concerns and were afraid that I might lose my job because of this. I remembered Master's saying:"As a cultivator, you have to be able to afford to lose, to give up ordinary people's attachments and desires. If you can't do it all at once, you can gradually reach that level." I am already very slow to do that. How can I practice cultivation if I can't give up these attachments, I thought. Students all love the changes of practicing Long Boxing and Shaolin Boxing. They went to school authorities asking for permission to start these two courses. Just as Master Li said:"If you can really do it, you will find that while you are trying to find the way, after passing the shady willows and there will be bright flowers and villages ahead of you."

Determined to practice cultivation and upgrade Xinxing My family members were ready to immigrate to the United States when I obtained Dafa. At that time, I made a living by working in a drug store. My boss was trying to take advantage of this situation and said to me:" Since your wife and daughter will come here, you should join us by investing in our store. When your wife comes, she can also work here and make more money." Thinking that this might be a good opportunity, I asked her how much I need to invest. The amount she told me was just the total savings of my two years' hard work - over $10,000. I gave her the money without knowing that it's a trap. Later, I couldn't get my money back and I don't own a piece of the store. When my family members came, I was really at a loss as to what to do. I was badly in need of money for my daughter's tuition. My wife couldn't find a job and my old car always gave me trouble. I told my boss that I was not here to do business but to use my hard-earned money for my family's coming. My boss said she had no money to give to me and then she wouldn't even admit that she got money from me. Master said: "You will run into various kinds of tribulations. How can you practice cultivation without tribulations? How can you upgrade your Xinxing if there is no conflict of interest and interference to your minds? That's impossible. You can only make advancement through the experience of tribulations." Thinking about this, I decided not to argue with her any more. At this time, my car broke down and need a new engine. In Los Angeles, you need to have a car to go to work or to school. But I don't have a car that I can drive to work. My wife was looking for a job and my daughter was planning to go to school. I felt sorry for them. I tried again to talk to my boss about our difficulties, but she wouldn't listen. My friends offered their advises and suggestions trying to help me get my money back. But I remembered Master Li's preaching:"Genuine cultivation practice is to cultivate your mind, which is called the cultivation of Xinxing. For example, in the conflict of interest between one another, we should care less about the various personal feelings and desires. How can you increase your energy potency if you fight for your personal interest? You will become an ordinary person. So you have to pay attention to cultivate Xinxing to enhence your energy potency and to advance to higher levels." Thinking of Master's preaching, I understand that the purpose of our cultivation practice is to the salvation of all sufferings. As for ordinary people, we don't bring anything with us when we were born and we can't take anything away with us when we pass away. I firmly believe in Falun Dafa. I believe that the future of my life has been well arranged by Master Li. Master Li said:" To the great enlightened, human lives are not meant to be humans, but to return to the origin. They think that the more you suffer, the better you are. In so doing, you can pay back the karma quickly." We have accumulated so much karma in our lives, now is the time that we follow Master Li's preaching to upgrade Xinxing and pay back karma. This is a good opportunity for me. So I told my friends that I will not take their advice to try to take my money back. What I want is to upgrade my Xinxing and make advancement steadily.

Give up attachments and melt into Dafa I could understand Master Li's hints every time I faced with a test. Usually, test followed immediately after I get a little enlightened. Just as Master Li said in Zhuan Falun:"What is the criterion of a cultivator's successful completion of cultivation? You still have a long way to go. You still have to further your advancement." When I can meditate with both legs crossed for two hours, I felt some easiness. I thought I could have more time study Zhuan Falun and practice cultivation with the Christmas holiday just around the corner. Unexpectedly, the roof started leaking when it rained. Before the landlord left for Taipei, he asked for two months rent. I gave him more than what he had asked for. Knowing that the house has leaking problems, I asked him to have it fixed before his departure. But he left without having it fixed. Last year's storm in Los Angeles was almost record breaking. Whenever it rained, I had to worry about the leaking. Sometimes, I had to use a basin to hold the water from the leak. I couldn't concentrate on my meditation when it was raining. The landlord came back in spring. He promised to fix the roof and then left with the rent. Friends told me that I don't need to pay the rent in this situation. But, as a cultivator, I have to have tolerance and treat others kindly. I kindly asked him to fix the roof, otherwise his house would be ruined by the rain. He promised again but did not fix the roof. When I told the landlord that I was ready to move, he had the roof fixed immediately. Later, I found out that he had his own difficulties. Since I treat him kindly and introduced to him Falun Dafa, he said that Falun Dafa is really good and he learned a lot. From these experiences, I learned that you will have a test for every attachment you have. Master Li said:"The whole cultivation process is to get rid of attachments." Sometimes, the test is not that big but obvious. One will fail to pass the test if he doesn't have Dafa in his mind. Sometimes, the test is like life and death. I remembered Master Li's saying:" If you can put down life and death, then you will become god, otherwise, you are just a human." If we can put down life and death, what else we can not put down. Master Li said:"To a cultivator, any trouble you have in the ordinary people's society is a test to pass; every praise you receive is a test."

I will remember Master Li's preaching and take Dafa as my teacher in everything I do and everywhere I go. I will give up my attachments and melt into Dafa.

Li Youfu, Los Angeles

February 1999