(Clearwisdom.net) Today a practitioner came to my home and asked to see the photo that showed us with Master, taken years ago. I took out the paper-wrapped photo that was stored in a long coat in the wardrobe. Opening the wrapping, we beheld Master's smiling face. We were so excited that our eyes brimmed with tears. Looking at the picture transported us back to the happy days when we were with Master during his second series of lectures in Wuhan City. The memories were so vivid, making us feel just like it happened yesterday instead of 15 years ago.
In the middle of March 1993, we had the radio on at home. The Changjiang Economy Radio Station in Wuhan was broadcasting Master's Falun Gong consultation program. Master said on the radio, "Now think where you feel uncomfortable." The sonorous voice sounded so sincere and familiar, I was curious as to why I would feel that way, since I didn't know Master.
Since Master was asking the listening audience to think where we felt uncomfortable, I immediately thought of my stomach. A few minutes later Master asked again, "How do you feel now?" Suddenly, the pain and bloating on my stomach, which had bothered me for years, had vanished. I was so excited. Master had cleansed my body before I even met him.
Falun Gong was really marvelous. Talking to my wife, we decided to take our ill daughter and participate in the lecture series in Wuhan that Master was giving for the second time. To find a cure for our daughter's illness, my wife had participated many different qigong classes. Listening to Master Li's lecture, she wondered what kind of Master he was. Just then she heard Master say, "Some people here are wondering about me. I can cure your illness without moving my hands." [paraphrased] My wife was really amazed, "He is talking about me, isn't he? This Master can see my thoughts."
The classes we attended were held from 7:00 to 9:00 every evening, which was convenient for those who had daytime jobs. Since we lived at Qingshan, far from Hankou City Party Committee Hall, the three of us usually left home a little after 3:00 p.m.. We had to take a ferry and a then bus to get there.
The first day we left the class early to catch the ferry and the bus home. The next day, practitioners told us, "Yesterday Master did cleansing for us. It is a pity that you left early." My wife immediately rushed to the stage before the class started to look for Master. Coming down the stage stairs after not finding him, she saw him ascending the stairs. My wife was in such a rush that she didn't think much about it and just held Master's hand as she said, "Master, we left early yesterday to catch the ferry so we missed being cleansed." Master smiled, lightly patted her shoulder, and said, "Someone wants to get the full benefit afterwards."
After that day's class Master said, "Yesterday, because some people live far away and left early, they didn't get a chance to have me cleanse their bodies. We will do it again." Following Master's instructions, "Now, stomp your left foot!" the three of us together stomped our feet. We felt so indescribably warm in our hearts. "Such a good Master!"
Following that day's class, Master taught us the first exercise, "Buddha Showing a Thousand Hands." A few practitioners demonstrated the exercise on the stage as Master gave the instructions, "Buddha Maitreya Stretching His Back, Tathagata Pouring Energy into the Top of the Head, Pressing the Hands Together in Front of the Chest." We followed Master's instructions to learn the exercise. At night I was excited and said to my wife, "This Falun Gong is really unusual. Think of the names of these movements: Buddha Maitreya Stretching His Back, Tathagata Pouring Energy into the Top of the Head, Bodhisattva Touching the Lotus, Arhat Carrying a Mountain on His Back, and so on--this Fa is so great. Master must come from an exceedingly high level. We must fellow Master and cultivate to the end."
Another day after the lecture Master taught us the second exercise, "Falun Standing Stance." When I did "Holding Wheel on Both Sides of the Head" with my eyes closed, I suddenly felt someone's hands lightly correcting my left hand position. I opened my eyes and saw Master standing in front of me. I felt a current of warm air penetrating my whole body. I felt extremely happy. Master's hands were so big, so soft and warm. At that time, the hall was crowded with people, including the aisles, but Master still came down from the stage and tried to correct our movements one by one. Recalling this, we were still deeply touched. I was so lucky to be so close to Master and have his personal guidance.
The nine-day lectures were soon going to end. The afternoon of the last day we were to have our photo taken with Master. Imagine the scene--several thousand practitioners all wanted to have their photos taken with Master. Master was photographed with each group, one after the other. The photo-taking lasted the whole afternoon, but our benevolent Master kept smiling the entire time and tried to satisfy all kinds of practitioners' requests. We were deeply moved. I was standing beside Master and was so happy that my broad smile made my eyes disappear.
Fifteen years have passed quickly. Whenever I recall my experiences with Master I feel ashamed. Master has been taking care of us like a caring father and has suffered so much for us. Just as Master said:
"It's not that Master is not merciful: in the several years of your cultivation, I have not only borne an incredibly great deal for you, but also, along with this, constantly given you hints for your improvement, looked after you for your safety, and settled the debts that you owed at different levels so that you can reach Consummation-- these aren't things that just anyone can do, and neither can they be done for everyday people." ("Driving Out Interference," Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Think of how much our benevolent Master has suffered for us. If I don't do well, I will really feel unworthy of Master's benevolence and salvation. On this last leg of our journey I must seize the time and do well the Three Things to be a genuine and qualified disciple of Master.