I attained the Fa (Law, Great Way) in April 1996. At that time, I felt as though I had been wandering far from home for many years and that I suddenly found the way back. I swore that I would cultivate until consummation and return home with the Teacher. I cultivated well. No matter how many I encountered, I overcame all of my tribulations. Thus, I always thought that I had fairly good enlightenment quality.
July 22nd of last year, I did not step forward. I "cultivated" at home, calmly keeping up my Fa-study and exercise practice. I thought that those practitioners who had spoken out in newspapers and on television had severed themselves from Dafa. I regarded those who had "disclosed" Dafa and Master Li as former practitioners, or at least practitioners who had dropped down in levels. I actually hated them.
When some practitioners started going to Beijing to appeal and to uphold Dafa, I thought that it was a matter of them trying to make up their deficiencies: they had not passed the test of July 22 and were pursuing "make-up" tribulations and sufferings. I thought that Fa-rectification was solely in Teacher's hands, and since Fa is so enormous, our actions were not needed. Because of these erroneous thoughts, my progress in cultivation came to a halt.
Even after I read Teacher's article, "Towards Consummation," on the Minghui website, I still failed to examine myself thoroughly; I continued to believe in those fake articles I had previously received. I believed that the words of those practitioners who publicly appealed were just their own understanding, and the words were certainly not Teacher's Fa. I thought that cultivation for each practitioner was different and that cultivation should not be pigeonholed. I thought it perhaps wasn't in my cultivation path to step forward to publicly support Dafa. I regarded those practitioners who insisted on going to Beijing to uphold Dafa as having attachments.
When I read Teacher's "Serious Teachings" on September 26, it was as if wakening from a dream. I examined myself afresh and felt extremely ashamed and unqualified to be Teacher's disciple. Teacher said: "I feel sorry for those people who aren't able to step forward when facing the serious tests amidst the tribulations, and who use various excuses to disguise their fears..." Wasn't I one of those people? I was fearful because of my previous behavior and mindset. If it was not for Teacher's great compassion and patience--he waited and waited, would I still be on the road back home? I made up my mind to step forward in Beijing and validate Dafa. But as soon as I resolved to do this, a test came. Some practitioners said that now was the time to clarify the truth by distributing Dafa materials in one's hometown. It was the same as going to Beijing. I considered this shortcut, thinking that it was also validating Dafa. Then, on the night of National Day (October 1), I was shocked when I saw on TV that many Dafa practitioners were arrested in Beijing. I realized the disparity between those practitioners who had genuinely stepped forward and myself. I was then determined to truly get rid of all my excuses and break away from my human side.
On the morning of October 2, several practitioners and I bought tickets to Beijing, boarded the Beijing-bound train that night and thus took my first steps on the road to validating Dafa. I had a myriad of thoughts on the northbound train. Only at that time did I truly comprehend the greatness of those practitioners who went to Beijing to validate Dafa. Some of them had gone to Beijing many times and were arrested, detained and beaten. They had no fear when facing the choice of life and death. There were only Dafa and Teacher in their hearts. They had given up all human attachments including the attachment to their lives. My conceptions were changing and my heart was being purified.
In Beijing, we met a lot of Dafa practitioners from all over China and it was truly a heart-stirring moment. Some practitioners had come with family members from four generations. There were women over 90 years old, and 2-year old infants in their mother's arms. One young mother came with her two daughters. There were white-hair elders as well as strong, youthful people. Some came from cities while some came from the countryside. People from all over the country came to meet at Tiananmen Square. It is difficult for one to understand the mood at that moment if one was not personally there. I felt excited but also extremely shameful. What had I been doing during the past year? Why did I step forward for the first time only now? We were arrested on October 6th.
The deeds of Dafa practitioners facing arrest are simply awesome, truly earth-moving. In the face of evil, brutal onslaughts, they shouted, "Falun Dafa is good" and "Don't beat people." The diabolical police were unrelenting. Some practitioners were beaten to the point of lying on the ground, unable to move. Some were beaten in the face so that their eyelids were turned inside out. Some were bleeding from the head. In just one hour, over 600 practitioners were arrested. When they were driven to the detention center in police vans, they never ceased shouting, "Falun Dafa is good" and "Fa rectifies the universe". Countless pedestrians heard their voices.
Fellow practitioners who haven't stepped forward, if you don't go out in person to participate in validating Dafa, how can you comprehend the significance of that moment? How can you know the feeling of shaking heaven and earth? At that instant, you will truly feel that you are inside Dafa and that your mind is pure, without a bit of human conceptions.
Fellow practitioners who haven't stepped forward: steadfastly break away from the ordinary and do not delay your return home! Teacher said: "Those disciples who have been persecuted in the tribulations are waiting, amidst their suffering, for precisely these people! They're waiting for these people to break away from humanness." "I'm really worried for them. They have no idea how dangerous the situation is for their true beings!" Fellow practitioners who haven't stepped forward, what are you waiting for? Be sure not to cover up yourself with excuses anymore. Teacher and yourself know your thoughts the best. It comes down to which you put first: Dafa or yourself? Also, be sure not to say that you cannot understand the current situation; Fa has been made very clear about it. The only thing left is whether or not you are willing to step forward and/or capable of doing so.
We must "Follow Teacher closely, steadfastly cultivating Dafa." Teacher said in "Genuine Cultivation" that, "Whether you can abandon the everyday person's mindset is a fatal test on your way to becoming a truly extraordinary being. Every disciple of genuine cultivation must pass it, for it is the dividing line between a practitioner and an everyday person." Moreover, what about our compassion? Where is it? Right now, the weather is cold and the ground probably frozen. Those practitioners who are waiting for us in detainment centers face the constant tribulation of cold weather. They are suffering for us! Are our hearts really made of steel? Teacher is still waiting for us; we cannot disappoint our Teacher! It is not that Dafa needs us to do something, it is instead that we have the opportunity to follow Teacher back home. Only those who genuinely step forward from the ordinary can return to their true home.
Fellow practitioners who haven't stepped forward, if you are really able to step forward to validate Dafa, your heart will be relaxed, "One righteous mind can defeat one hundred evil minds," and you will be glad that you can step forward. I am extremely grateful to Teacher for giving me the opportunity to step forward from an ordinary person. Occasion knocks but once. Fellow practitioners, be sure not to miss the golden opportunity. Let us follow our Teacher and meet on our way back home!
Practitioners in Mainland China
November 27, 2000
