(Minghui.org) I’m ten years old, and in the fourth grade. Although I’m not very old, I have a lot of problems that teenagers have. The most prominent one is that I’m very self-centered and can’t stand my family pointing out my shortcomings. I’m unhappy because I often have conflicts with them. Thanks to my great aunt (my grandfather’s sister on my father’s side), who encouraged me to practice Falun Dafa, I underwent an amazing change.
I’m the oldest son and grandson in my family, so I’ve been surrounded by their love and care since I was born. When I was six years old, my mother gave birth to my younger brother, and my parents shifted most of their focus to him. My young mind was immediately unbalanced. I envied and hated him, and felt he took away their love. I competed with him for favors and toys. I didn’t act like a brother at all.
Wherever I went, I wanted to be the center of attention. Not only did I compete with my younger brother, I was jealous when I heard my family praising other people’s children. I cried and made a fuss, and there was nothing they could do to make me happy.
I’m not very self-sufficient. When I was six years old and ready for school, my grandmother still had to dress and feed me. By the time I was ten years old, I still couldn’t wash my underwear or tie my shoelaces. I felt that it was good to let my grandmother take care of me. I had no responsibilities, so I became lazy.
Because I have ADHD and another condition my family didn’t want to tell me about, they were very tolerant of me. I couldn’t concentrate in class and often made strange noises on purpose. My teachers and classmates didn’t like me.
I was sick of going to school and doing homework, which made my father, who tutored me, suffer. He helped me do homework until after eleven o’clock every evening. He and my mother took care of my younger brother while still looking after me, the naughty older son. It really wasn’t easy for my family.
During this period, the only time I was happiest and most relaxed was when I was playing video games. In fact, I was not interested in anything else. Because I was addicted to the games, I couldn’t stop playing, and I was even more disoriented when I went to school or tried to do my homework. I could feel my family’s disappointment in me.
This past summer, my great aunt, who has practiced Falun Dafa for 28 years, decided to help me learn Falun Dafa. Practicing Falun Dafa requires reading the book Zhuan Falun quietly, which is difficult for me. I couldn’t sit still after just a few pages. I would lay down, grab things, and hope that she would leave. Sometimes, I’d ask her, “Great Aunt, when are you leaving?” She wouldn’t get angry, but instead patiently encouraged me. I kept moving around, but my aunt would cross her legs and read the Fa quietly. Although I didn’t behave, I listened as she read.
My great aunt also showed my aunt and brother how to practice Falun Dafa. Not only did their health get better after practicing, they also went from being the bottom students in their class to the top students in the school. Based on what I saw, I felt that Falun Dafa was good, so I kept listening attentively as she read the Fa, even though I still had thoughts about gaming.
My family began limiting the time I spent playing video games. In order to help me quit gaming, my great aunt and I read what Master Li said about quitting smoking in Zhuan Falun. I had some understanding, but I still just wanted to play games. My aunt encouraged me to read Zhuan Falun with her. After I read more than 100 pages one day, video games felt like a distant memory, and I no longer wanted to play.
My family didn’t believe that I could quit gaming so easily, but I did! Even when my friends invited me to play, I didn’t waver. My great aunt and I both realized that it was because I persisted in studying the Fa, and Master saw I believed that Falun Dafa is good, so he removed the “gaming demon” that was attached to me. This incident also enhanced my confidence in studying the Fa.
After I quit gaming, my grandma (on my mother’s side) taught me how to swim. I can now swim more than a thousand meters at a time without stopping. This feat was something that my family could not even imagine before.
Although I quit playing games, my mind still couldn’t calm down. I wanted to quickly finish reading the Fa, and didn’t want to read anymore. I sometimes had negative thoughts, thinking that it was too hard to study the Fa and do things according to Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
My great aunt encouraged me to watch the movie Once We Were Divine. After I watched it, I understood that practicing Dafa is sacred, and that I was on the path to the divine. Although I understood the truth, it didn’t mean that my cultivation was in a solid place. Jealousy and selfishness were still very strong attachments in me, and I still struggled with letting others be better than me.
My great aunt asked me to memorize “Realms” in Essentials for Further Advancement. I wanted to become a good person! So under the guidance of Dafa, my jealousy disappeared. Now that I think about it, it’s funny that I used to be so jealous of others.
Next, I recited:
“The Fa can break all attachments; the Fa can destroy all evil; the Fa can shatter all lies; and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts.” (“Drive Out Interference,” Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I have a better understanding of cultivation after reading and memorizing the Fa. With enhanced confidence, I keep learning and reciting. Gradually, my selfishness has weakened, and I’m able to accept others’ criticism.
If I hadn’t learned Falun Dafa, where would I have ended up? It’s really scary to think about.
I have now read Zhuan Falun once. My great aunt said that if I encounter problems, I should follow Dafa’s guidance. My headaches and hyperactivity have improved a lot, and my concentration when I study is also improving. In addition, I have learned how to cook and wash clothes, along with many other useful skills. I believe that if I continue to study the Fa, my xinxing will gradually improve, and my bad habits will definitely change.
(This article was compiled by my great aunt)