(Clearwisdom.net) I am self-employed and rely on my limited skills to provide for a family of three. With my meager income, I have to support my son and daughter and pay for their college studies.
In May 1998, my neighbors joined me in practicing Falun Gong after they witnessed the great changes in me. I bought many books for new practitioners and taught them to practice the five sets of exercise movements.
During that period, I was very busy with my store business during the daytime. I couldn't find time to study the Fa and practice the exercises until 10:00 p.m. If I came across characters I didn't know while reading Zhuan Falun, I would ask my children. I read the book very very slowly; so, I could only read one or two paragraphs each day. I also learned by listening to Teacher's lectures. Gradually I read the book faster. When I felt sleepy while studying the Fa, I would take a cool shower, hang my braid onto the clothes-hanger or sit on the floor and cross my legs. If I still felt sleepy, I would kneel down to study the Fa and later practiced the exercises. I slept for only two to three hours every night. Before I went to bed, I asked Teacher, "Master, please wake me up at 5 o'clock in the morning." When it was five o'clock, it seemed that someone was really there pushing me up. During that time, I went to the practice site every morning to teach new practitioners the movements. If I still felt sleepy before going out, I would take a cold shower. Even though I didn't wear cotton clothes or gloves, I felt a warm wind while walking in cold winter mornings. Now I sleep only two hours a night and reserve that remaining precious time to study the Fa and practice the exercises. Even today, I still maintain this good habit.
One practitioner at my practice site noted that I asked others to join in the group Fa-study, but I didn't go there myself. I knelt down in front of Teacher's picture and said, "Master, I am busy in winter. I will join the Fa-study group in summer when my business slows down. Most of my free time I am listening to your lectures." I thought it would be great if I could find an easy job with more income, then I could spend more time spreading the Fa, studying the Fa and practicing the exercises! I was actually pursuing that thought, when the demon came.
The following day, a friend asked me if I would like to sell shoes in my store for a shoe factory. He said, "The more you sell, the more you can get out of it. If you can't sell them, you may just return them to the factory." I was very happy with this deal. I thought Teacher arranged it for me to earn money without any new investment. I couldn't wait to go to the shoe factory by bus. When I got off the bus, I was very careless and fell down. I transferred to another bus. When I got off that bus, I was very careful, but still I fell down. I felt pain in my legs. I rubbed my legs while wondering, what's wrong with my legs today? I still hadn't figured it out. Finally I arrived at the destination. After all the other passengers left, I got off the bus very carefully, but this time I fell down very hard and couldn't get up. A kind-hearted man who passed by tried to pull me up, but he couldn't move me at all. He said, "Why are you so heavy?" I said, "Please don't worry. I will stand up by myself." At that moment, I realized my mistake and said to Teacher, "Master, I have been wrong." I now have so little time to study the Fa. Moreover, I couldn't let go of my attachment to fortune. If I brought the shoes back and sold them in my store, I would have even less time to study the Fa. I shouldn't pursue this money. Teacher awakened me with this serious fall.
More and more people surrounded me. I told them loudly, "I am learning Falun Dafa. I am a Dafa practitioner. I promised to study the Fa and practice the exercises well. But I had an attachment to fortune, so I fell down three consecutive times. This is a warning to wake me." Then I told people my magical experience of obtaining the Fa and my great physical changes after practicing Falun Dafa. The man who tried to pull me up said, "Your story is really moving. Falun Gong is, indeed, magical! I will also practice Falun Gong when I get a chance."
I returned home immediately. From then on, I have been more diligent studying the Fa and practicing the exercises. I am reminded of this lesson by the scar on my left leg.
October 8, 2009
Category: Improving Oneself
