(Clearwisdom.net) Since I started the practice of Falun Gong in 1997, I have enjoyed excellent health. Although I am in my 60's, my energy level is higher than that of many young people. However, due to limited Fa study and not letting go of fundamental attachments, I wrote a guarantee statement under the pressure of the evil authorities in July 1999. I hid Teacher Li's portrait and Dafa books.
I was confused, puzzled, and feeling very miserable. I cried many times. In October 2000, a fellow practitioner came home from out of town to give me some truth clarification materials. I read Teacher's article "the Knowing Heart," "Towards Consummation," "Eliminating Interference," etc. I suddenly realized that Teacher had not given up on me.
1. Following Teacher's Words and Immersing Myself in the Fa
Teacher Li said in many lectures that we should "study the Fa more," and "take the Fa as the teacher," because "The Fa can reveal all attachments; the Fa can eradicate all evil; the Fa can expose and dispel all lies; and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts." ("Eliminating Interference") Around the time when the persecution started, I was kind of lost because I did not study the Fa enough and was not clear about the Fa principles.
As practitioners, we should have faith in our Teacher. Only when we follow his teachings can we have righteous thoughts and righteous actions and no loopholes. I studied the Fa, recited it and immersed myself in it. I spent 84 days to recite Zhuan Falun once. I have recited over a hundred articles from Essentials for Further Advancement (1) and (2). I have recited poems in Hong Yin and Hong Yin II countless times.
With more Fa in my mind, I can measure myself up against the Fa in doing things. Thus I can avoid many obstacles in my cultivation. When I am walking, riding a bus or working, whenever I have a minute, I recite the Fa or send forth righteous thoughts. No evil elements can enter my field.
2. Clarify the Truth and Save Sentient Beings
Teacher taught us in "Let Go of Human Attachments and Save the World's People."
"For a Fa-rectification period Dafa disciple, personal liberation is not the goal of cultivation: when you came, saving sentient beings was your great aspiration, and that is the responsibility and mission history has bestowed upon you in Fa-rectification."
He also made it very clear that students should "validate the Fa with reason, clarify the truth with wisdom, and spread the Fa and offer people salvation with benevolence" ("Rationality").
For the past few years, I went out often with other practitioners to post flyers, hang banners and deliver truth clarification materials to thousands of families. Sometimes, it was pitch black when we were walking on winding and hilly country roads. In the summer, we were soaked with sweat and in the winter it was freezing cold, but we had no complaints. We never backed off, nor were we afraid. We used Teacher's words to spur ourselves on:
"Dafa is what you carry everywhere,
Zhen Shan Ren, rooted in the mind;
A great Arhat walks the earth,
Gods and demons fear with awe."
("Benevolent Might" from Hong Yin)
Many older people in the countryside where I live are illiterate. I teach them to say "Falun Dafa is good" and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good" in their hearts. Some have bad memories, so I teach them many times, until they can remember. Some people regain their health as a result. With young people who ride motorcycles or drive cars, I give them cards with the words "Falun Dafa is Good" printed on them, and persuade them to quit the CCP. Most of them accept gladly. When I see children playing on the street, I play with them and persuade them to quit the CCP organizations. It has a good effect. With the relatives that I haven't seen for many years, I take them gifts and truth clarifying materials. I am usually quite successful in persuading them to quit the CCP. I have persuaded over 100 people to quit the CCP so far. I am very glad for these people who have made the right choice.
3. Going to Beijing to Validate the Fa
In August 2004, many practitioners went to Beijing to send forth righteous thoughts. I wanted to do it too, but my fear surfaced. I was afraid that my family members who were not practitioners would interfere and that I might get lost in such a strange place. In the end, I could not go because I set up all these barriers for myself. This is really as what Teacher said,
"Cultivation is not difficult
The earthly heart is hard to discard
So many attachments - when to sever them
Everyone knows the sea of suffering has no shore
If the will is not firm
Barriers are like mountains
How to transcend the mortal world"
(Hong Yin II)
In October I again wanted to go to Beijing. This time, I learned from last time. I did not set up barriers for myself and instead I reinforced my own righteous thoughts: "I am a cultivator of Falun Dafa and 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.' I am a disciple of Falun Dafa. It's my mission to save sentient beings. Everything is in the control of my Teacher."
On October 27, I went to Beijing by myself. Along the way, I recited the Fa and sent forth righteous thoughts. On the second day, around 5:00 a.m., I arrived in Beijing. Although it was my first time in Beijing, I was very calm with no sense of loneliness, as if Teacher was beside me. As I walked along the street, I sent forth righteous thoughts and posted flyers in bus shelters, telephone booths and pedestrian areas.
When I was done posting flyers, I went to Tiananmen Square at around 6:30 a.m. I walked around the square and sent forth righteous thoughts. I came across three practitioners from Hebei Province. We walked into the entrance to the tower to send forth righteous thoughts, where we came across five practitioners from Sichuan Province. We were like old friends and held each other's hands firmly with tears in our eyes. No words could express how we felt at that moment. We had come from different places and met there. Nothing was accidental. "Predestined relationships spanning endless lifetimes; each connected by the thread of Dafa." ("The Difficult Path to Godhood") We then shared our experiences and sent forth righteous thoughts while doing the most sacred, most righteous and greatest things in the world. The nine of us had a picture taken under the police officers' noses in Tiananmen Square with our palms erect
"If you do not care and do not put them on your mind, with the master and the Fa here what is there to fear?" (Falun Dafa Lecture in Sydney)
Indeed, as long as we have strong righteous thoughts, master will give us the best.
"Cultivation is up to you, gong is up to the master." (Zhuan Falun)
I truly enlightened to the inner meaning of what Teacher said.
Please kindly point out anything incorrect.
