I'm from Germany. During the past year, we, a group of Chinese and German practitioners from different cities, have been maintaining a stall in a city in Germany, clarifying the truth about Falun Dafa to tourists from China and other countries. Some time ago, I developed a strong desire to write an experience-sharing article. However, at the same time, I was worried that I might not write it well. At the time, other practitioners had asked me to write such an article several times. I felt deep in my heart that, as a Dafa particle, I am closely linked to the Fa. In Zhuan Falun, I read, "When you are overcoming a real hardship or tribulation, you try it. When it is difficult to endure, try to endure it. When it looks impossible and is said to be impossible, give it a try and see if it is possible." (Lecture Nine) Now, I need to let go of my attachments, and tell you all about my experience during our Information Days and some of my personal experiences in cultivation.
During the past 11 months, I've been going to a city 60 kilometers from home three times a week to clarify the truth. I had been going with other practitioners, but recently I have been going on my own sometimes. Last year, a resident who often passed by our stall told us, "There are more Chinese people coming here this year than last year." We knew it couldn't have been accidental.
In the beginning, I had to overcome some obstacles. For instance, sometimes I couldn't give good answers to some of the questions people raised, and had to ask for help from other practitioners. The questions became more and more complicated. Then I remembered how Master told us to search within ourselves and improve our xinxing, and I then decided not to rely on other practitioners' help any more. Instead, I learned to put others first, and to think whether my actions would cause others inconvenience. I no longer entertain notions like "I don't know" or "I can't do it". Instead, I try to do the work well through my own effort. I know I must eliminate old notions. Now I'm doing better and better in my Dafa work. Tribulations came one after another, and the difficulties kept growing. In Zhuan Falun, Master said, "You say that you must be firm and sure-footed. With this determination, if you can indeed be firmly resolute at that point, you will naturally do well because your xinxing will have already improved."
During the past 11 months, I found that Dafa disciples sending forth righteous thoughts has made people more and more willing to accept the truth. When they knew the true situation, they couldn't understand why Falun Gong had been persecuted. They thought Falun Gong is very good, and wished us good luck and success. Many Chinese people also felt that the persecution in their country had brought themselves a lot of trouble. Once, a Chinese asked me in a very low voice, "Aren't you afraid to practice here? Is Falun Gong not banned here?"
There are a few words inscribed in the ground close to our stall: "This could be a place of historical importance." When one day a tourist read this out aloud, I suddenly realised the meaning behind these words. Just as Master said in His poems "Just a Play" and "The Big Stage", "The sky serves as curtain, the ground as stage", and "the stage was being set for the Fa".
One time, a Chinese person walked past our stall, and had a quick look at our display boards. He noticed what was written on the ground, and then read all the Chinese contents on our display boards carefully.
Fa-spreading and truth-clarification work tend to be particularly effective when we practice the exercises, because the serene and peaceful scene can touch people's hearts. One day, when I had just finished the fourth exercise, an elderly lady came up and told me that she had been deeply touched. She wanted to know more about Falun Dafa, and also would like to learn the exercises. While she was talking, tears came down her face.
Many Chinese people were also attracted by the peaceful and compassionate scene of us practicing Falun Dafa exercises. They came up to ask about the truth of Falun Gong, and also wanted to hear about my cultivation experiences as a Westerner. One day, at nightfall, when I was just about to go to the train station, a Chinese person came to our stall and had a good talk with me about Dafa, and he wished us success in clarifying the truth.
Some Chinese people thanked us, saying "Thank you for standing here!" "Good luck!" "I support you!" "Falun Dafa is very, very good", "Master Li is a great man." Some other Chinese people gave the thumbs-up sign to us. A Chinese told me, "I like Falun Dafa."
Sometimes, our Information Days are just like Master described in His poem "Dafa is Good" - "Falun Dafa is good, The colossal firmament illuminated by the Fa's light... Falun Dafa is good, Gradually entering the human realm..." I realized that my heart has opened up to the colossal firmament. Falun Dafa is Good!
Below are some personal experiences in my cultivation.
On a stormy Sunday, when I was walking towards the washroom after finishing the fifth exercise, my legs were still numb. Suddenly, a gust of wind came from behind and I almost fell down the stairs head over heels. Just at that moment, my legs suddenly became light and agile, and I managed to stand firm. I immediately realized that Master had protected me.
A year ago, I noticed there was always strong interference in the last few minutes of the fifth exercise music on my CD. I knew I must have something impure in my heart, and I thought about what that might be. However, I always used some routine excuses to avoid digging more deeply into it. Several days later, when I practiced the fifth exercise, I was troubled by anger with another person, and even shed tears over it. At that time, I remembered what Master said in Zhuan Falun, "In genuine cultivation practice one must cultivate one's own heart and inner self. One should search inside oneself rather than outside."
I realized my anger had been caused by sentimentality, and that if I were to cultivate towards higher levels, I would have to get rid of it. When the sitting meditation ended, I found that the interference was gone, and it has not returned for a while. However, a few weeks ago, the interference reappeared, and it was quite strong. It began during the fourth exercise, and lasted till the end of all the exercises. This was a manifestation of my failure to get up every morning to send forth righteous thoughts and my lack of tolerance. After that I made sure I did not miss the 5 a.m. righteous thoughts, and worked on my lack of tolerance. Now the music that comes from the CD has become pure and clear.
I have had another good experience. During the first year of my cultivation practice, when I read Lecture at the Assistants' Fa Conference in Changchun, I would feel sleepy while reading, and often dozed off. It is written, "(unofficial translation) I can tell you that--little would you imagine--many, many things are gods; you even speak about some of them frequently without realizing what they are. This universe is so vast. There are many things that humans aren't allowed to know. Don't you get sleepy? Don't you feel sleepy as soon as you read the book, or become drowsy once you study the Fa? Let me tell you that those are gods at a level in this human dimension. If you can't break through them, you remain a human. They aren't intentionally doing anything to you--they treat everyone like this. That's why people feel tired and sleepy. If you want to break away from being a human, you have to break through everything before you can make it. If you go along with them, they'll think you're just a human." I immediately sat straight up, and used strong will power to overcome my sleepiness. Suddenly, I felt something like an explosion in the middle of my head, and then heard beautiful music which sounded like golden bells.
I would like to end my sharing by citing Master's words in His article "Drive Out Interference" -- "Now you can see why I've often told you to read the book more, right?! The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts." Master has reminded us again and again to read the books more and study the Fa more. I always try to bear this in mind. Except in very unusual situations, I normally read one lecture of Zhuan Falun every day.
Thank you very much!
