(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa with my grandpa, grandma, mother and older sister when I was young and have always been nurtured in a Falun Dafa environment. I am now thirteen.
I was too young to take up the practice when my family started to cultivate, but I do remember feeling very comfortable when they did the exercises, sent forth righteous thoughts, and studied the Fa.
I started to study Master's lectures by myself when I was eight years old. I had a fever and felt very uncomfortable at the time. My mother asked me seriously if I wanted to go to the hospital or study the Fa. I said I wanted to study the Fa!
The more I studied, the better I felt. When I went to bed and started to feel uncomfortable again, I got up and studied more Fa. It took a week for me to get better.
I started to learn the exercises but found it difficult to persist, so I kept reciting Master's poem:
Tempering the WillTo consummate yourself, reaping Buddhahood,Let joy be found in hardship.Physical pains count little as suffering,Indeed, cultivating mind is hardest.(Hong Yin, Translated Version A)
Determined in my cultivation, I could feel my body become healthier and my xinxing improved.
I was allowed to have a smartphone when I started fifth grade. I liked to chat with my friends on WeChat and spent hours playing on there.
This resulted in my having less time to do homework and study the Fa. I even lied to my mother when she asked me what I was up to. I selfishly thought I was able to conceal my misdeeds, but Master said,
“My fashen in another dimension knows everything on your mind.” (Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun)
Master saw my bad ways and arranged for my mother to correct me, but I did not heed my mother’s words and even quarreled with her.
However, Master never gave up on me and always gave me hints. Each time I was on my cellphone pimples would appear on my face.
I am very concerned about my looks, and was constantly looking at myself in the mirror. I knew this was an attachment to lust.
I forced myself not to play on my cellphone and tried hard to get rid of my attachment to lust.
I started to wake up every morning to practice the exercises with my grandma and mother. Not long after, most of my pimples disappeared. My mood began to change and I became happy with life.
The Minghui website published the article in 2018 titled “What All Dafa Disciples Must Know.” It mentioned the importance for practitioners to remove several apps, such as WeChat and Tencent QQ, from our cellphones.
I didn't pay attention to the article at the time because I wasn't using my phone much, but after I entered junior high school I noticed other students quickly becoming friends with each other because of a common interest in talking about cellphones and video games.
I was upset and complained, “I don’t have Tencent QQ.” My classmates suggested that I download it but I knew that it wasn't right for practitioners to do.
I often cried because I wasn’t able to fit in with my classmates, and I became jealous when my classmates were talking with their new school friends.
After calming down I saw that my attachments to jealousy were very strong. I also realized that I was being selfish. All I cared about was how people looked at me and I never took the initiative to make friends. I could never see my own shortcomings and would blame everything on others.
As a cultivator, shouldn’t we always consider others first? We need to be compassionate; so why can’t I make friends?
Master said,
“If this sentimentality is not relinquished, you will be unable to practice cultivation.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)
Looking deeper, I thought about how I wished to be recognized and not forgotten. This is a very strong attachment of vanity. How can I upgrade my level with so many attachments?
So I finally started get rid of my attachments, and gradually made more friends. This was Master’s way of encouraging me.
Looking back at my cultivation these past years, I am remorseful for not being diligent enough. However, Master is very compassionate and has never given up on me.
From now on, I will abide by Dafa’s standards and improve myself until I reach Consummation and follow Master home.