My Three-Year Cultivation Journey

(Minghui.org) During my first summer break as a college art student over 20 years ago, I watched recordings of Master Li’s (Falun Dafa’s founder) lectures and was given a copy of the book Zhuan Falun by a relative. I was influenced by modern culture and pursuits, so I didn’t finish reading the book or understand what it was about. My relative stopped practicing after the persecution began in 1999. I didn’t practice, but I always remembered the three words, Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. 

Ten years later, I met my wife and learned that she and her mother both practiced Falun Dafa. I told her that I'd read the book and knew the principles. I quit all the communist organizations I joined after they helped me to understand the facts about Dafa. I supported their cultivation and learned a lot more about Falun Dafa. Master compassionately gave me hints in my dreams, but I didn’t start practicing for more than 10 years because I was focused on my career.

As I entered middle age, I became increasingly confused in this chaotic world. I wondered who I was, where I came from, and the meaning of life. My wife shared her understanding based on what she learned from Dafa. I gradually realized that Dafa answered my questions. I used to have a headache when I listened to the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, but I enjoyed listening to Minghui Radio. The programs about divine culture made me feel peaceful and inspired.

I Begin Practicing

We stayed home during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. I had plenty of time to discuss the questions I had with my wife. One day she said, “Why don’t you read the book? Master already answered all your questions.” I began reading Zhuan Falun with her every day. My reading disorder made it difficult, so I read one word at a time. I realized that it was significant to read the Dafa book, so I tried to read the entire book by myself. My wife corrected me as I read. Despite my slow speed, we finished one lecture each day, and I eventually finished reading Zhuan Falun. I was touched and grateful. I felt physically and spiritually refreshed, deeply immersed in the excitement of experiencing the moment I had been waiting for lifetime after lifetime.

I also learned the exercises with my wife’s help. She had been doing the second exercise for one hour, and she didn’t tell me there was a half-hour version. I did the exercise with her even though I sweated and grimaced in pain every day. 

Sitting in the lotus position when we meditated was another painful process. I started with the half lotus position, and my left knee was pretty high. After six months, I was eventually able to sit in the half-lotus position. It took me over a year to sit in the full lotus position for an hour. When it hurt, I always repeated to myself, 

““When it’s difficult to endure, you can endure it. When it’s impossible to do, you can do it.”” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)

Despite my sweat and tears, I had many marvelous experiences and saw many wonderful scenes in other dimensions. The experiences were unforgettable. 

Thanks to Master’s arrangement, the time we had to stay home during the pandemic gave me a lot of time to study the Fa with my wife, which made it possible for me to catch up with the process of Fa-rectification. Besides Zhuan Falun, we also read Master’s lectures given all over the world. I learned who Dafa disciples in the Fa-rectification period are, what the old forces are, how to validate the Fa, and why Dafa disciples should clarify the truth. 

I started distributing flyers with my wife. I helped my friends learn the facts about Falun Dafa and quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. With a fellow practitioner’s introduction, I got involved in a project that validates the Fa.

I could feel Master re-enforcing and enlightening me. Ideas came to my mind and helped me do things efficiently. I also ran into tests, but conflicts were quickly resolved when I looked within. My xinxing kept improving. When I ran into bottlenecks, Master gave me hints. I realized that frustrating conflicts were perfect opportunities for me to make improvements. I slowly realized that cultivation was a process of following the natural course instead of forced advancement. I should view things based on the principles I learned and treat everything as a cultivator.

Master also enlightened me on how to clarify the truth. I sent righteous thoughts ahead of time, listened to fellow practitioners’ experience sharing, and found good points to make. If people had a negative attitude, I stayed calm and looked within. I was truly happy when someone was awakened to the truth and quit the CCP organizations.

My wife and I study the Fa for a couple of hours, do the exercises, and send righteous thoughts every day. I didn’t pass every test well, but things turned in the right direction when my righteous thoughts arose.

Recounting my cultivation experiences over the past three years, I feel like I now live a completely different life. I can feel that Master is with me all the time and that I’m within the Fa every moment. I must have come to this world for the Fa.

Thank you, Master, for your compassionate care and perfect arrangements. The only thing I can do as a disciple is to cultivate myself diligently.