(Minghui.org) Greetings, esteemed Master! Greetings, fellow practitioners!
Even though I’ve only practiced Falun Dafa for three years, I have experienced some amazing and positive changes, and I’d like to share them with you.
I used to be selfish, conceited, bossy and negative. My parents had a rough marriage, and I always wondered why they weren’t like other parents. Because I am the oldest child and a daughter, my mother always complained to me about all her unhappiness—in her marriage and her work. My father was seldom home so my mother pretty much took care of everything. Gradually, I developed a strong resentment towards my father. I felt he was irresponsible and didn’t take care of his family. When he was home, it felt like there was an extra person; if he wasn’t home, the atmosphere felt comfortable. I wanted to excel, be better than others, and I wanted my mother to be proud of me. I didn’t realize the impact my family had on me until I became an adult.
My husband was a very nice and kind person when I met him. I was very happy that I finally met someone I could marry. However, my negative personality gradually affected him. I even joked about it and asked him, “Why is it that I’ve become better, and you’ve become worse?” The longer we were married, the more I focused on his flaws. After we had children, our relationship became destructive. My husband was on business trips a lot when the kids were young. For two years I only saw him on weekends. I got used to him not being home. It gradually began to feel like my childhood—I felt comfortable when he wasn’t home, but when he was home, it felt like there was an extra person in the house.
Our relationship kept deteriorating until I felt I couldn’t take it anymore. I took the kids to China one summer. However, when it was time for school I really didn’t want to come back. I also didn’t tell my family how my marriage had deteriorated. My husband realized something was wrong. We tried to work on our problems, and our relationship slowly improved. But something blocked me and I could not accept him.
I Find Falun Dafa
The city was locked down during COVID in 2020, and everyone stayed home. I spent hours on the Internet. One online platform featured videos about prehistoric and unsolved mysteries, which I found very interesting. When a video about prophecies was featured, I remembered Master Li’s name. I’d heard about Falun Dafa before, but I never knew what it was. I searched online and found Master’s lectures in Guangzhou. I started to listen to them. Master’s teachings are truly remarkable. No matter how many times I listened to them, it always felt like I couldn’t get enough. Master’s words are so sincere and genuine, each sentence deeply moved me. I wanted to know more about Falun Dafa, so I began doing some research. I came across a video about Udumbara flowers. Master’s image was on the video. As soon as I saw it, I wept. Why did I feel so emotional when I saw Master’s image? I went to church for many years, but I never felt like this.
I still remember the day I went to the Falun Dafa exercise practice site. I arrived early. I didn’t know why I felt nervous and anxious. I’ll never forget that day, the day my life entered a new chapter.
The following morning, all the knots and nodules caused by my cervical spondylosis were gone. These knots all over my body, big and small, troubled me for over a decade, causing my muscles to constantly tighten, leading to pain, frequent dizziness, and excessive sleepiness. However, now I couldn’t feel them at all! They all disappeared! I couldn’t believe it. I was very excited: “It’s a miracle! Gods exist!” At that moment my atheism collapsed!
I ordered Zhuan Falun online. It was delayed, so I sent an email to the post office. To my surprise, I quickly received a response and the name of the person who responded was Destiny. I’d never heard this name before; did it imply something?
Teaching Chinese and Promoting Shen Yun
After I understood what Dafa truly is, I wanted my family to practice. I wanted to send my kids to Minghui School. Master knows everything. Two months later, I was told about a class to teach Chinese. I was invited to teach young practitioners Chinese. I was very nervous because I had only been practicing Falun Dafa for six months. I felt I didn’t understand the Fa very well; could I teach young practitioners well?
Fortunately, ever since I came to the U.S. I have been teaching Chinese, so I had some teaching experience. Through studying the Fa, I gradually understood that everything is already arranged. There is a reason I’ve been teaching Chinese since I came to the U.S. Teaching young practitioners not only helps them learn Chinese, but also helps me cultivate.
Once, I assigned the students to read an article about how Emperor Kang Xi educated his children. The article mentioned that the place where the princes studied was called the “Upper Study Room,” located inside the “Wuyi Chamber,” “(Place of No Indulgence), emphasizing the avoidance of pleasure and indulgence. The young princes had to begin their daily studies at the Wuyi Chamber as early as 4 o’clock in the morning. Emperor Kang Xi visited the young princes and asked them to read the text 120 times, and then recite it 120 times. The study routine lasted from early morning until 7 o’clock in the evening, day in and day out, no days off. I felt ashamed after reading this because I hadn’t tried hard or done as well as the young princes did. Teaching Chinese helps me improve my character; it also helps me understand better what Master said in the poem “Creating Anew” from the book Hong Yin V, in which Master said, “Returning to tradition puts you on the path to Heaven...”.
I wanted to see Shen Yun with my family years ago, but we didn’t go. Years later, I feel honored and grateful when I promote Shen Yun. I’ve participated in many ways to promote Shen Yun, such as distributing flyers, putting up posters in stores, visiting companies and apartments. Even though I walk a lot, I haven’t felt any hardship. I feel immensely honored to be part of this. Every time I hear people express their desire to see Shen Yun, I genuinely feel happy for them from the bottom of my heart.
Fa Study and Practice
The first time I read Zhuan Falun I had a lot of questions, so I kept reading. Each time I read the Fa my questions were answered, but then I had new questions. The Fa is so deep and profound. Master mentioned many times in other teachings that a lot of practitioners memorized the Fa. Since Master mentioned this, I felt I should do what Master asked. It took me more than a year to memorize the entire book the first time. The second time I memorized Zhuan Falun, I decided to memorize four paragraphs a day. I was usually able to accomplish my goal. It took me about six months to memorize the entire book the second time. I’m now on my third round of memorizing Zhuan Falun. The benefits I’ve gained from memorizing the Fa are numerous. It deepened my understanding of the Fa and allowed me to recall Master’s teachings. Whenever I encounter situations where I might have done something wrong, I remember what Master said and I think about whether I acted in accordance with the Fa.
When I started to practice Falun Dafa I wondered when I would be able to sit in the full lotus position like other practitioners. They looked so calm and peaceful. I kept trying and within a few months I was able to pull both legs up over the other. Because I obtained Fa so late, I wanted to get my karma removed as soon as possible. I wanted to catch up with the other practitioners. I thought that doing the second exercise for 30 minutes was too short. Master knows what I am thinking, and very soon, a practitioner sent me the link to the full hour exercise music. I now usually practice the five sets of exercises for two and a half hours. I’ve maintained a daily schedule of reading the Fa and doing the exercises, although some days I can’t do this.
Thanks to Master’s compassionate arrangement, my work schedule is quite flexible. I have time to read the Fa and practice the exercises every day. However, balancing family, work, study, and the three things requires time. Since it’s not convenient to practice the exercises during the day, I’ve begun doing the first four exercises early in the morning, and then I practice the fifth exercise at night. Practicing the exercises is the best form of rest. I don’t feel tired, instead I feel energized.
Improving Xinxing
After I began practicing Falun Dafa I understood that everything that happens is interconnected by karmic relationships, and all these occurrences are the result of my own karma. I told my husband: “If my father were still alive, I would apologize to him. In fact I would thank him. Without the family environment he provided, I wouldn’t cherish what I have. I wouldn’t have realized that everything comes with challenges.”
I’m also grateful for the purgatory-like experiences I had before I began practicing Falun Dafa. They made me stronger. After obtaining the Fa, I understood that those experiences were all due to my past karma. Dafa has gradually helped me let go of resentment towards my husband. However, I found that removing attachments and becoming a better cultivator is not easy. I often find it difficult to treat my family kindly and patiently. My husband and I often have arguments, especially regarding our children’s education and some undesirable habits they have. I just can’t seem to cultivate the virtues of kindness and compassion.
At first my family objected to my practicing, and I didn’t know how to handle it. It made me realize that cultivation is truly challenging. When I discussed this with another practitioner, she mentioned an article she read on the Minghui website. The article talked about another practitioner whose husband not only strongly opposed her practice, but also had an extramarital affair and treated her badly. She couldn’t bear it any longer, and asked Master in her dream why she had such difficulties. In the dream, Master showed her a scene from ancient times: She and her husband were once both divine. However, only one of them was destined to obtain the Fa in this lifetime. Her husband, in order to help her succeed, gave up his opportunity to practice. In this lifetime, he chose to play a villainous role, allowing her to let go of emotion. In this way they could both fulfill their prehistoric vows.
I was deeply moved and couldn’t hold back my tears. What that practitioner said deeply touched me, yet when real problems surfaced, I found it difficult to control myself and argued with my husband. When the children don’t behave, I sometimes lose my temper with them. When this happens I don’t feel like a practitioner.
I read an article on Minghui.org written by a practitioner. Her child began practicing Falun Dafa when he was very young. When he started attending school, especially high school, he was affected by the current modern environment, and gradually stopped practicing. He began dating, even though he was too young. His grades dropped and he stopped talking to his mom. The practitioner tried various things but nothing seemed to work. Finally, the practitioner realized that only compassion could change everything. When her mindset changed, the situation gradually improved.
Master said,
“I often say that if all a person wants is the well-being of others and if this is without the slightest personal motivation or personal understanding, what he says will move the listener to tears.” (“Clearheadedness,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
I’ve learned and memorized Master’s Fa, so why is it so hard for me to implement it? Why can’t I fully grasp the power of compassion? I realized it’s because I still have self-interest, which leads to so many conflicts. I shouldn’t impose the standards of cultivation on my family. They are also lost beings in this polluted environment. What I should do is to help them recognize the beauty of Dafa.
As my mind changes, the environment at home also improves. I know I still have a long way to go, but I will help my family understand that Falun Dafa practitioners are different, and that Dafa is most righteous.
Participating in Group Activities
I recently realized how important it is to read the teachings and exchange insights with other practitioners in person. Master emphasized in his teachings many times that group study and group practice are the cultivation forms that Master has left for us.
I feel ashamed that I haven’t been doing what Master told us to do. I found excuses for not coming to group Fa study. I felt I couldn’t focus when I read with other practitioners—I did better when I read by myself. In fact, I should overcome difficulties instead of avoiding them. Now I am very happy to see fellow practitioners every time I go to Fa study. This is the place where I can talk about cultivation and my cultivation experiences.
I treasure every opportunity to participate in activities to tell people about Falun Dafa. Three years ago, I was just one of the countless beings who is lost and unaware of life’s true meaning. Dafa saved me, and now it is my turn to clarify the truth to others, so they can be awakened and saved.
Sometimes when conflicts occur, I recall Master’s teaching. Master said,
“Actually, though, as a Dafa disciple, if in such cases your thoughts are righteous, and what you are thinking about is cultivation, about being responsible, and about how it’s something that should be done well, then you should quietly take whatever it is that you feel is lacking and do it well. That is in fact how a Dafa disciple should handle it.” (“Be More Diligent,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume X)
These are my cultivation experience over the past three years. I welcome practitioners to correct me if my understanding is not aligned with the Fa. Since I only began practicing three years ago, I sometimes feel lazy and that I haven’t lived up to Master’s compassionate salvation.
I hope I can be more diligent so I can follow Master to return and be spiritually perfected.
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners.
(Presented at the Southern US Fa Conference)
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