Ph.D. Student at Harvard University: Falun Dafa Ended My Confusion and Struggles

(Minghui.org) Anh Cao is a Ph.D. student at Harvard University. He comes from Vietnam and was raised in a supportive family environment. He has excelled academically since childhood and was admired and envied by those around him.

He came to North America for his undergrad and obtained a degree in biomedical sciences. Anh then cleared various hurdles and was successfully admitted to Harvard University. He embarked on his research career at one of the world’s top academic institutions, and his future seemed promising.

Sinking into Fame and Fortune, Unable to Find the Meaning of Life

Fate played a trick on Anh. After entering Harvard, he discovered that everyone around him was exceptionally talented and driven to excel academically. The competition among them was intense, and the pressure was overwhelming. Everyone was vying for fame and fortune, and no one seemed genuinely happy. Students who were of average performance wanted recognition and to surpass others, while those at the top feared losing their status and couldn’t rest easy. “No one, no one around me was truly happy,” Anh said.

Anh began to place importance on gains and losses in this environment. His relentless pursuit for recognition caused him to forget his original intention for doing scientific research, and he could no longer experience the joy of research. He gradually started feeling a type of creative drought and couldn’t make progress in his research. This caused him immense pain. Having grown up receiving praise and applause, he had become accustomed to being held in high regard by others and couldn’t accept circumstances where he felt inferior.

Anh attempted various methods to break out of this predicament, but nothing worked. His life became a mess and lost its meaning. Anh spent several years confused and suffering.

Finding Falun Dafa and Discovering Hope

A turning point came in his life unexpectedly, just when Anh was on the verge of despair. Anh went to watch a Shen Yun performance in 2019 and saw the light of hope in life. Looking back now, Anh can still vividly recall the scene that really moved him. “I was impressed with the first act. The divine follow the Creator to come to earth to accomplish their mission,” he said.

This sacred scene was imprinted deeply in his mind. He eagerly went to watch Shen Yun perform again after the pandemic in 2022. “I kept crying, because it’s just so beautiful, so meaningful,” Anh recalled.

A song in the performance had lyrics that conveyed an idea that people had gone through so much and had lost themselves in this world. “I could feel the words so deeply,” Anh said. He approached a Falun Dafa practitioner to learn more about Falun Dafa after watching the show.

“I knew Dafa was good,” Anh said. “But I felt like I didn’t deserve to be a Dafa disciple.” Anh said he felt that while pursuing fame and fortune in the past he didn’t behave well, but at the same time he felt that Falun Dafa was so good. With infinite reverence for Master and with Falun Dafa in his heart, he constantly sought more information about it.

Anh stayed up all night on the eve of World Falun Dafa Day last year. “I knew May 13 was Master’s birthday. So I waited until midnight. I knelt down, and then prayed to Master, ‘Master, please give me a chance to cultivate. Even if I cannot cultivate, if possible, please let me be a good person. I don’t want to be lost.’ After that, Anh started avidly reading Falun Dafa books and began going to Falun Dafa practice sites to learn the exercises.

Falun Dafa Opened His Wisdom

As Anh studied Falun Dafa more deeply, he joyfully discovered that he could do his academic research again. “I finally understood that before I did research for a selfish reason,” he said. Through studying Falun Dafa, he understood how to be a good person. He said he has found the meaning of life, and it is like he has a second life. Although he has only practiced Falun Dafa for a year, Anh feels that he has undergone tremendous changes. Looking back on his life before practicing Falun Dafa, he feels like it was a completely different world.

Inspiration for his research has constantly emerged in his mind over the past year. “I now no longer do research for myself, but rather for something bigger than me,” he said, his voice choking with emotion. “Now I feel I’m guided, and I know Master is here.” He treats every challenge and difficulty as an opportunity to improve his character and assimilate to Dafa. The pain and torment have departed from him and inspiration naturally flows from his mind.

Breaking Through Obstacles to Promote Falun Dafa

Anh began participating in various activities to introduce Falun Dafa to the public and share the beauty of Falun Dafa. During his studies, he met many international students who were struggling with the academic pressure. Anh felt as if he was looking at his past self. He wanted to provide them with the opportunity to learn about Falun Dafa. He began thinking about establishing a Falun Dafa club to hold activities to introduce Falun Dafa within Harvard University, but he encountered significant resistance at the beginning. Some Chinese international students, deceived by the propaganda from the Chinese Communist regime, had misunderstandings about Falun Dafa and hindered the club’s application process.

Facing these misunderstandings and difficulties, Anh was not swayed by the other party’s attitude throughout the process. Instead, he maintained a peaceful mindset and saw these challenges as opportunities to clarify the truth. The attitude of the Chinese students eventually changed, and the university also approved the application after understanding the beauty of Falun Dafa. The club was established at Harvard University and regularly holds activities on campus to introduce Falun Dafa and explain the facts about it.

A Chinese classmate left a deep impression on Anh. Her heart was filled with confusion and struggle, and she didn’t understand the purpose of life. Anh persevered in explaining the facts about Falun Dafa to her. She went to watch Shen Yun perform and also began reading Falun Dafa books. She told Anh, “This is the first time I have felt calm after so many years.”

Endless Gratitude

This year’s World Falun Dafa Day marked the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction to the public. It was also Anh’s one-year anniversary of practicing Falun Dafa. He was filled with mixed emotions on this special day, “I’m thankful for Master’s benevolence and salvation for giving me a chance to be a Dafa disciple. Master did not give up on me regardless of how many mistakes I made in the past. I feel like I was given a second chance to live.”

Anh Cao expresses his gratitude to Master’s compassionate salvation for World Falun Dafa Day on May 13, 2023

Anh’s heart is brimming with gratitude to Master. “I’m thankful to Master for showing me a way in every aspect of my life,” he said. The overwhelming emotions in his heart caused tears to stream down his face, “I pray Master will give me more strength to be diligent and to be able to save more sentient beings.”