Cultivating to Reach a State of “Putting Others First”

(Minghui.org) Something recently happened that made me better understand what Master said:

“One thought made all the difference.” (The Fourth Talk, Zhuan Falun)

I realized that Dafa practitioners must reach the realm of “putting others first.”

We were hit by a sandstorm on March 20, and the pollution index exceeded 500. The sky was full of yellow sand, and the air looked dirty. I thought there probably wouldn’t be a soul on the streets, so I hesitated and didn’t go out to clarify the truth about Falun Dafa and the persecution.

That evening my throat felt itchy, and I began to cough. I didn’t feel well the next day, and had a headache, chills, and joint pain. I went to the market, but didn’t run into anyone who wanted to renounce the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its organizations.

I went home and reflected on my cultivation over the past 12 years. I knew that a practitioner should not have cold symptoms during bad weather. I hadn’t felt this way for many years.

When the COVID-19 lockdown was lifted a few months prior, some people around me tested positive. I wanted to go out to clarify the truth to people, but was anxious. Before heading out, I sent forth righteous thoughts and asked Master (the founder of Falun Dafa) to help me. I met many people who were willing to listen.

From December 2022 to February this year, I’ve helped 248 Chinese quit the CCP.

One time a young woman reminded me to keep my distance from her. She had tested positive and was coughing. I replied, “It’s okay. I’m not afraid.” I suggested that she often recite, “Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” to avoid harm from the virus and to have a quick recovery. I also helped her withdraw from the Party.

When I thought about others and wished to help them, my family of five and I were fine even though the pandemic was at its peak. So why did I have symptoms of illness the day the sandstorm hit?

I discovered it was because the “starting point” of my thinking was different. Not wanting to go out because the air was dirty was based on selfishness, instead of the wish to help others. Different thoughts led to different consequences. Practitioners should cultivate to reach the state of “putting others first.”

I had a rare experience when I did the seated meditation over the past two days. On the first day, my legs began to hurt as soon as I put them in the lotus position, and I took them down five minutes early. The next day I gritted my teeth and endured the pain in the final five minutes. It was so painful that I almost collapsed on the bed. But I felt relaxed after I finished. My joints stopped hurting and the cold symptoms disappeared. I realized that these symptoms were illusions. The karma was transformed because I endured the pain, and Master took away the bad substances.