(Minghui.org) “A star in the sky, a man on earth.” As a child, I was convinced that there was some indescribable link between heaven and earth, and the heavens would favor a kind and soft-hearted person.
One afternoon in the summer of 1998, I saw a copy of Zhuan Falun, the main text of Falun Dafa, at home. Looking at the photo of its founder, Master Li Hongzhi, I felt an inexplicable feeling of reverence and couldn’t help but press my hands together with Heshi. I was still in elementary school, and did not pursue the practice.
The seeds of Dafa were rooted in my heart after that day. I followed my family to practice Dafa, and even though I did not study the Fa and exercises as regularly as the adults, I firmly believed in Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
Soon after, many amazing phenomena appeared. Every night when I went to bed, as soon as I closed my eyes, I could hear the sound of a propeller spinning, and when I opened my eyes, the sound and feelings would disappear, and reappear when I closed my eyes. I didn’t realize till later that it was the spinning of the Falun.
When the communist regime announced it would eradicate Falun Dafa, in July 1999, I went with my family to the city government to appeal. We were met with police violence and shoved around. I tried my best to protect my grandparents.
Despite my taking up Dafa earlier, I didn’t have a solid understanding of how serious or precious the opportunity is to practice Dafa. In the following ten years, my focus turned to my studies and how to find a good job. I became attached to the modern world and worked hard to pursue material gain. I eventually became physically and mentally exhausted.
When I occasionally studied the Fa, I came across the following paragraph.
Master told us:
“The people in this world today, including most of those in the different social classes, don’t know what they came to this world for, and busy themselves striving to make a career. This is especially true for those who’ve had a taste of success. They are so pleased with themselves, forgetting who they are. And when they think that they’re really good at some things, they get completely carried away; and if they feel that their lives are not so great, they are filled with anger and resentment towards the world. But that is not what your being needs, in fact. You mustn’t get so caught up in such things. What is important, instead, is to recover your true self.” (“What a Dafa Disciple Is,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume XI)
I decided to resume practicing Dafa and purify myself. With solid cultivation, I let go of my attachments to fame, fortune, and sentimentality. I could finally break through these worldly bonds and truly be a diligent practitioner!
Because I did not want to suffer pain, I was slow to double cross my legs while meditating. One day, I grit my teeth and persevered for thirty minutes, and suddenly, I saw the Goddess of Mercy sitting on a cloud right in front of me, giving me a thumbs up. I was excited and since then I have been able to do the double lotus.
One day, while holding the wheel during the second exercise, I suddenly entered a state of “tranquility,” as if a spotlight on a stage was shining on me. I was a young Taoist boy wearing a black shirt, boots, and white pants with my hair pulled back in a bun.
There were four great vajras armed with weapons, sweeping all sides majestically. Two dragons were hovering above my head, and they revealed their sharp claws in a battle-ready stance. At that moment, there was nothing around me, no sound, no distractions, empty silence, just me practicing under the spotlight.
I was content, with no worries of the world, only simple and pure cultivation. During that period, I laid a foundation to find the original self that came down to obtain Fa. The loss and gain in the human dimension seemed so distant from me.
I studied Fa teachings daily, and the principles of Dafa continued to sweep away the dust that clouded my mind.
Since I was a young, I often felt like a child who is lovingly looked after and protected by Master. Dafa rectifies many of my modern notions and behaviors.
In traditional societies, men are masculine and polite, and women are modest and gentle. Clothing, speech, and behavior are all within the bounds of tradition. I used to follow social trends and take something ugly as cool and acceptable, but now I realize that today’s distortions and extremes are lowering people's standards.
Before I attained Dafa, I was timid and cowardly, and I went to extremes in my behavior, valuing fame, fortune, and gain, and suffered from petty losses. After I began practicing Dafa, Master granted me wisdom, courage, and a purified heart.
May the grace of Dafa spread worldwide; may the world cherish this eternal opportunity; may all things be rectified and people turn righteous and kind.
Thank you, Master!