(Clearwisdom.net) My whole family was very fortunate to begin Dafa cultivation in March 2007.
Three years ago, my father suddenly and without warning died from a heart attack. I started to think deeply and realized how fragile human beings are. What is the true meaning of life? Where are we originally from? Where are we going after death? After my father's death, my mother and I read a lot of "Buddhist scriptures." We searched for answers in those books, but found nothing.
We then had an opportunity to get to know Falun Dafa during a special local event. We had heard of it on TV many years ago but did not pay attention, nor try to understand more about it. The local practitioners told us that practicing the exercises would improve our health. Many people have already benefited from the exercises and cured their illnesses. We thought doing the exercises was not a bad idea, so we made an appointment to learn.
Once we tried the exercises, we felt wonderful and relaxed; unlike other exercises that would make us feel tired or exhausted afterward. When our local practitioner lent us the book Zhuan Falun and suggested we stop reading other "Buddhist scriptures" to commit to one discipline, we started having doubts. This really impacted our decision to cultivate, because we had always been under the impression that reading "Buddhist scriptures" was the way to self-cultivation. I even considered giving up Falun Gong entirely. Fortunately, my husband said we should at least try to understand what Zhuan Falun is about before making any decisions. I agreed with him, thinking that I should at least find a reason for not practicing.
After reading Zhuan Falun for the first time, we were quite excited. Wasn't this what we had searched for, for a long time? We found all the answers to our questions in the book. It was like finding the "ladder to heaven." My mother even saw many Falun turning while she read the book. Since then, my family has committed to Falun Dafa, never putting Zhuan Falun down. Our only regret is not having known Dafa sooner and wasting so much valuable time.
My whole family is extremely fortunate to begin cultivation at the same time. We not only exercise together but also read and learn together. We encourage each other to wake up early in the morning and do the exercises together in our backyard. One morning after our exercises, we saw a long-legged crane flying down, checking us out before it flew off. We were so excited, because we had never seen a crane this close before.
One week after we began our practice, I had cold-like symptoms, such as a stuffy nose and a lot of mucus in my throat. I did not pay attention to it and continued doing the exercises every day. Each time at the conclusion of the second exercise, I had more and more mucus in my throat. I needed to stop my exercise and clear it out. Tissues were not sufficient. I had to let go of it in the toilet. I have never had a cold-like symptom like this. I did not think much and continued the exercises. This happened only during my morning exercises. I felt fine the rest of the day. This lasted for about three weeks and then stopped. About five weeks after beginning cultivation, my mother realized that an obvious lump on my neck had disappeared. A hyper-thyroid condition had caused this lump. Several years ago, a doctor had recommended surgery to correct the problem. I did not take her advice because if the surgery was unsuccessful and created a problem, there would be no one available to take care of my young children. Besides that, I was trying out traditional Chinese medicine, hoping I would not have to go under the knife. Nevertheless, none of these techniques completely cured my illness. My heart rate could reach 90~100 beats per minute, even if I lay down. I was always fatigued; my hands trembled and I had symptoms of heart palpitations. Now those symptoms have vanished and the thyroid lump on my neck has disappeared. I suddenly understood that Master had been purifying my body.
Furthermore, my husband's shoulder always ached at the end of the day after he finished his computer related work. Sometimes the pain was so severe he could not even lift his arms. He used to wait until we visited Taiwan to see a Chinese herbal doctor for treatment. However, following each treatment, his shoulder problem would resurface once he started working again. He had never found a complete cure. When he practiced cultivation and started doing the five exercises, his shoulder problem disappeared and has never come back. My mother also stopped taking her high blood pressure pills that she had to take for the last 15 years. All of us have benefited from the Fa and had regained our health.
My experience with Dafa does not stop here. My two sons, ages six and three, have benefited, too. They often fought or argued over a toy or little things. I tried many ways to discipline them but without success. One day I saw an article on the web, that reading Zhuan Falun to children is good for them. So I read to them and told them about the "white virtue" and dark karma. I also asked them to act in accord with "Truthfulness- Compassion-Forbearance." I initially doubted they would understand because they were so young, but I was wrong. One day one of them told me that his brother did not follow "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" and scolded him. He said he was not angry and instead said "thank you" to his brother for giving him the "white virtue." Neither one of them does bad things to the other. They became more peaceful. From time to time they will ask me to read Zhuan Falun to them, or let them listen to Master's audio lectures. They also turn on Dafa music by themselves before going to sleep at night.
Following the principles of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" really helps to prompt my children's good temperament and behavior. For example, I visited one of my relatives when I went to Taiwan this year. They are wealthy and have a ten-year-old daughter. They always gave her anything she wanted, so she became unrestrained and had a bad temper. She wouldn't listen to others' advice. Everyone felt she was difficult to be with. One day her 91-year-old grandma saw a pencil fall on the floor. The grandma wanted to help pick it up, but she lost her balance and fell on the floor. The girl laughed loudly and never thought of helping her grandma to stand up. If I were still my former self, I would have immediately berated her for her bad behavior. Since cultivating in Dafa, I have learned to calm down and think rationally. I decided to use the principles of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" to educate her. I started reading Zhuan Falun to her. Even though she did not say anything, I understood she actually listened and accepted it. In the past if there was anyone trying to instruct her she would always talk back and say, "You have no right to instruct me, because you are not my mother. Just leave me alone!" This time she not only listened quietly to what I read to her, but also visited me every day and asked for more reading. She started to change.
One time, she and my sons were fighting over two ears of corn. I asked them who wanted the corn. All three of them wanted to eat it. Just as I was debating with myself how to divide it evenly, I could not believe what she said, "They can have the corn. You don't have to give me any of it." I was so pleased to tell her that she really did follow "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." I asked her to remember these three words and place them deep inside her heart.
Dafa is so immense and unimaginable. It truly helps to prompt good behavior in children.
Although it has only been six months since my family started to practice cultivation, many experiences made us realize in depth the immenseness of Dafa and Master's kindness. We are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to obtain the Fa during this lifetime. We need to become more proactive to learn and practice. We will try to do our best with the three things Master requires and try to catch up. Please help us and point things out to us when we do wrong. Thank you!
