(Clearwisdom.net) I began Falun Dafa cultivation in 1998. I previously practiced other qigong methods because I had neurasthenia and other health problems. Because they were not effective, I eventually gave up on those methods.
How I Obtained the Fa
One day, I happened to see the book Zhuan Falun at my father's place. This book was given to my father by a relative. My father didn't respond to it much but I found the book very good after I read it. As a matter of fact, a person should act according to the Buddha Fa "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance." One who assimilates to the characteristic of the universe is one who has attained the Tao: it's just such a simple principle.
I tried to chant "Zhen, Shan, Ren" for as long as I had time. I then noticed that on my way to work, I could sit with a straight back on the motor-bike (in the past my back always became sore), and felt that the ride was light and easy. Upon reading further, Master said that karma can be eliminated through the suffering of crossing the legs. I made up my mind to bear the hardship and the pain, as paying ones own debts is a heavenly principle.
I can say that since I have formally started practicing the five sets of exercises, I have always been strict with myself and have always told myself to forbear a bit more to eliminate more karma. Before the persecution started, whenever it was time for group practice, I always tried to sit closer to the front row, as there were usually people surrounding and watching us, I would not give up no matter how painful and how sweaty I became, as long as the music was still playing. I did that in order to improve my ability to endure hardship, and also to show the public how practitioners are not afraid of hardship. During group study, I always sat straight with my legs crossed while reading, and listened to others attentively.
Some practitioners said in their sharings that Master endured a lot for Dafa disciples. I told Master in my heart that I must bear more hardship myself, so that Master would not have to endure so much. As a matter of fact though, because of my poor enlightenment quality, I took a detour on my cultivation path and Master still had to endure a lot for me. Here I would like to put my hands together and thank Master for his benevolent salvation.
I have been practicing all five sets of exercises every day (except one year when I was in the forced labor camp), and each time when I do the meditation exercise, I always endure heavy pain for fifteen minutes to more than half an hour, and the change in my appearance is quite obvious. Many people have gasped with admiration at how much younger I look compared to my actual age ( I am fifty-four years old), and my skin is fine and smooth. When some relatives and friends saw me after some time, they often marveled at how I looked younger than the last time they saw me. This has laid a good foundation for me to spread the Fa to relatives and friends. I usually start from this point then lead to the blessed dignity of the cultivation of Falun Buddha Fa. I then talk about the illegal and brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the wicked Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Many relatives and friends have happily quit the party and its afflicted organizations right away.
Displaying the Pure Compassion of Dafa to the World's People
Master told us in Zhuan Falun,
"In practicing cultivation in ordinary human society, we should respect parents and educate our children. Under all circumstances, we must be good and kind to others, not to mention to our family members. We should treat everyone in the same way. We must be good to our parents and children and be considerate of others in all respects. Such a heart is thus unselfish, and it is a heart of kindness and benevolence. Sentimentality is something of everyday people, and everyday people just live for it." (Zhuan Falun, 2000 translation version)
As a practitioner of Falun Dafa, I must be sincere to my relatives and friends, be kind to all people, build a good relationship with compassion, resolving all resentment with compassion.
After I started cultivation, I showed more filial obedience to my parents and cared more about my relatives and friends. The care is not just limited to the things I did for them from my heart or helping them with money; I often share with them my cultivation experiences, and tell them what Master has taught us to do, and how I have improved my physical and mental health through practicing Dafa. Several of my relatives and friends have began practicing Dafa, and started on their cultivation paths.
Before I started cultivation I often had discord with my cousin, but after becoming a Falun Gong practitioner I started talking to him. I also helped him when there were difficulties in his family, while actively clarifying the truth to them, and I helped my nephew quit the CCP's youth league. I really hope he will have a good future.
During those years that I was locked up, my relatives came to visit me and tried to rescue me. Many of them told the guards at the labor camps that I was a very good person, responsible to the family, and that the chief of the Judiciary Bureau had expressed admiration for me. This is our pure righteousness and compassion being revealed to the world, after we assimilated to the great Fa.
Cultivators have no enemies. When the evil people tried to persecute me, I always tried my best to advise them to be kind, and tell them that persecuting people is against the law, and especially against the heavenly principles: "Good will be rewarded with good, and evil with evil." I did not complain at all while talking to them, and only tried to show them the compassion of Dafa cultivators.
Letting Go of the Attachment to Profit
I am a business person. After starting cultivation, I always followed what Master said, "Trade fairly, and maintain a righteous mind." (Zhuan Falun, Lecture 4) One time, a client called me and told me that he had a few tons of goods, and he also quoted me a price. I added some profit for him and asked him to order the goods for me. I also asked him if I should put a deposit on it. He said "no need," and told me that he had ordered them for me. I believed him. A few months passed, the goods had still not arrived, and the price of these goods had risen quite a lot. Later, I found out that he had sold those goods to another dealer. Since I had the 'Fa" for guidance, I did not ask him about this issue, and let it go peacefully. Soon after that, he asked me to have a look at a list of goods, and I bought some goods from him. I still dealt with him very peacefully after that, and I actually made a very good deal with him and it was the most profitable deal since I started my business. This time I signed a contract and paid a deposit according to business regulations. All of this was just like Master said: "If something is yours, you will not lose it. If something is not yours, you will not have it even if you fight for it." (Zhuan Falun, Lecture 7)
Since I have considered money issues lightly, I have had sufficient funds for producing truth clarifying material during these few years. I think this is denying the financial persecution of Dafa disciples by the old forces.
Enlightening Each Other and Progressing Together
During cultivation in these past years, I have had frequent contact with fellow practitioners. Some practitioners, especially the elderly, due to educational and age reasons, have difficulties in handling electronic books, and mp3 players. I have always diligently helped them to purchase the items and download articles, and I have taught them how to use these tools. I tried to help as much as I could. Master told us to treasure the opportunity of being with fellow practitioners while cultivating and helping master with the Fa-rectification. Whenever I read good articles from the net that might help solve the problems in our local area, or read about cultivation experiences that might offer enlightenment, I downloaded and printed them, and passed them on to other practitioners, in order to help others and progress together.
While sharing with fellow practitioners, I found that every practitioner has his good aspects, and at the same time, still has limited understanding in certain areas because of human notions (I too have this problem), which they find hard to let go. Sometimes they find it hard to rectify and improve themselves even when they know they have an incorrect notion. When I see situations like this, I share what I have enlightened to or share good understandings from other practitioners, so we can improve together.
Clearwisdom.net suggested having material production sites everywhere. So I set up a material production site at home, helping practitioners send out "Solemn Declarations," and helping everyday people quit the CCP. There are many advantages in having family material production sites. First, materials can be produced on-time to keep up with the pace of Fa-rectification. Second, our time can be maximally utilized by balancing living, exercise, and making truth clarifying materials. Third, it can lead family members to participate and help make truth-clarifying materials. This helps them join in the tide of the Fa-rectification momentum and at the same time they can read the materials in a timely manner. Over the years, I've seen a few practitioners that had many tribulations with their family members, and though it may seem due to many different reasons, I always shared with practitioners about rectifying the energy field around themselves first. We should treat family members kindly, tell them to do the right thing from our hearts, and truly care for them. We should be compassionate toward sentient beings, as we are here to save them. So we should first start with our own families, it is very important to have understanding and support from our family members. During summer vacation the year before last, under Master's benevolent arrangement, I organized a small family Fa study class. Because of the understanding and support of my family members, I have been able to ask them to pass on the truth-clarifying materials to their families and relatives and help persuade others to quit the CCP. The result has been good.
I hope that I can enlighten on the righteous path, as this is of vital importance. Enlightening on the righteous path can prevent a cultivator from going to extremes, and enable one to be rational and calm, and be tolerant with the conflicts between cultivation, family and everyday work, thus reducing losses and maintaining a good image of Falun Dafa practitioners in society, and validating Dafa.
I currently start to eliminate my thought karma at 5:55 a.m., send righteous thoughts at 6:00 a.m. and then memorize the Fa. At 7:00 a.m. I send righteous thoughts again. Through memorizing the Fa, I am now able to understand the Fa much better than before, and I find it much easier to find the cause of my cultivation problems. Because Master has already taught us the Fa from the beginning, sometimes we get caught up in situations because we are used to judging things with our human mindsets instead of the Fa. Later, we remember that we need to look at it from within the Fa.
On my path of cultivation, I have walked unsteadily with trips and falls. Sometimes, when I look back at the detours I took, I see how I failed to truly believe in Master and the Fa. This persecution is actually a battle between good and evil which is being revealed in this human society.
Today's China is like a prison controlled by a totalitarian regime. Human notions, fear and the attachment of seeking comfort are also prisons. The issue is whether we can truly regard ourselves as cultivators and gods assisting Master with the Fa-rectification, and have righteous thoughts and righteous actions. "If thoughts are righteous, evil will collapse" ("What is to Fear" from Hongyin II), then our cultivation paths will become wider and wider. I know that I must walk the remaining path well, be strict with myself and purify myself, do the three things well and be Master's good disciple.
