(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa in April 2019. Prior to that, I had three years experience of working in the film and TV industry in China, which almost caused me to lose confidence in life. Dafa helped me regain an optimistic and positive attitude.
I was trained as a makeup artist, and the people and friends around me worked in the TV and film industry in China. The competition is fierce, and many people did unethical things to further their careers. Most people smoked, drank alcohol, gambled, and even took drugs. If you didn't follow suit you would be ostracized, talked about, and considered “different.”
I couldn't bear this kind of environment, so I quit my job. I felt depressed and lost motivation. My depression became so serious that I needed to take medicine every day to help me sleep. I liked to stay in a dark room alone, and painted to pass the time.
A friend introduced me to a man last March, who later became my husband. Two days after we met, he told me that he followed a faith. My parents believe in Buddhism and taught me that “Good will be rewarded, and evil with meet with retribution.”
I believe that people of faith are kind. He began telling me about ancient Chinese history and traditional culture, the origins of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the CCP’s bloody history. He then told me about the persecution of Falun Dafa, and the self-immolation hoax on Tiananmen Square. Eventually, he told me that he was a Falun Dafa practitioner.
He read me some short articles from Essentials for Further Advancement. I thought they were very good and felt that I had learned some truths about life. He recommended that I read the book Zhuan Falun.
I had a dream that night, where Zhuan Falun appeared in front of me. The book was huge, shining, and extremely sacred. I was so tiny in front of the book. After waking up, I realized that I had been shrouded by the CCP’s lies for so many years.
The CCP’s propaganda caused me to have many misunderstandings about Dafa. But after reading the Dafa books I started to practice Falun Dafa.
I felt very relaxed after reading a lecture of Zhuan Falun every day. I understood that the book was teaching people to be good according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
I never thought that it would completely change my life. I discarded the medicine that I used to help me sleep, and I now sleep exceptionally well every night. I developed a positive attitude, and became motivated and more optimistic.
I wanted to let more people know about Falun Dafa, and help them see through the CCP’s lies. I am particularly grateful that in this chaotic world, Master gave me the chance to cultivate in Dafa.
After many setbacks, I finally left China and moved to Canada. I was fortunate to participate in the New Century Film truth-clarification project with my husband, and played the role of a Dafa disciple in the latest movie. This experience gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to be a “Dafa disciple.”
In the movie, a deadly plague enveloped a city in China. Only Dafa disciples didn't fear the terrible virus or harassment from the police. They delivered a life-saving recipe to people who were infected and relatives who felt desperate, which was: Quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations, and recite the words, “Falun Dafa is good, and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”
In one scene, sentient beings followed Dafa disciples to recite the above-mentioned phrases over and over again. I was particularly moved during this part, and tears filled my eyes.
Dafa disciples have been doing things like this for 21 years without seeking monetary rewards. They just give of themselves. What kind of strong will and strength is needed to persevere for 21 years? I was completely moved by such perseverance.
I find that there are so many pure and kind people among Dafa disciples. It is the pure land on earth that I have always sought to find. Regarding the practitioners with whom I work on this film project, I have noticed that there are no cold looks, no talking behind other people's backs, and no currying favor to better oneself. Instead, there is an enthusiasm that I have never seen before, and a family-like warmth. Everyone looks inward for his/her own shortcomings, and strives to eliminate those bad habits. I finally opened my long-closed heart and felt truly happy.
When I didn’t know how to act in the movie, fellow practitioners tirelessly showed me what to do, using patience and encouragement that I never experienced in China. Recalling the film industry back there, insults, bullying, making excuses, and shifting blame were part of the course, and are still clear in my mind.
That kind of torment is in sharp contrast with my current environment. Here, everyone has a common goal: Making the movie better, never complaining about working hard, and achieving the best results. Everyone on set, whether he/she has a leading role or a supporting role, participates voluntarily. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I really wouldn’t believe that such an environment could exist.
Thank you Master for giving me so many wonderful experiences. I will cherish this opportunity, walk the path of cultivation well, use my skills to validate Dafa, and do what I can to let more people know that “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”