(Clearwisdom.net) I have practiced Falun Gong since December 2004. Prior to the practice I had poor health, but fortunately I had a chance to learn Falun Gong. Another practitioner and I initially studied Zhuan Falun and practiced the exercises together. I gained physical and mental improvements.
Later on, other practitioners introduced to me to sending righteous thoughts, and clarifying the truth about Falun Gong and exposing the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of people on the Mainland. I did not yet really know how to send righteous thoughts or how to explain Falun Gong to people online, but I persisted in studying the Fa and practicing Falun Gong daily. Some practitioners suggested I take some time to learn how to use online tools for truth clarification. How would I find the time for this task? I found many excuses not to find the time. Eventually I realized my problem: neglecting to completely eliminate bad elements around me. I told myself I no longer had an excuse now. I picked up the phone and scheduled a time for this task. After brief training I was able to chat with people online and commenced online truth clarification.
I was fearful at first and did not know how to deal with various situations. My hands were shaking, and my typing was slow. I could not remember the scripts and could not find the right words to respond to people. My online truth clarification effort became one of on and off again. Other practitioners offered help and also pointed out the importance of talking to people online. Fa study made me aware that as long as I had righteous thoughts there would be no difficulty because "Cultivation depends on one's own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one's master." (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun, Translation Version 2000)
I thought that practitioners in Mainland China have much a more difficult environment than we do, and they still do their best to let more people know about the goodness of Falun Gong and tell people of the evil CCP's persecution, and they do the three things diligently. I am in a safe environment and still fear handling online tools and chatting with people online. I had to abandon my reluctance to handling online tools and fear of whether or not people would quit the CCP. I should focus on letting people know the goodness of Falun Gong, the evil CCP's persecution, and the message of quitting the CCP to save their lives. With those thoughts I resumed online chatting.
I encountered many types of Mainland people, especially those from the younger generations, and most of them did not know about Falun Gong. I would tell them how Falun Gong has been spread widely around the world. I then told them that the CCP harvests organs from living people, and showed them a film on this topic. Some were shocked, some did not seem to care and some argued. No matter what happened, I was calm, treated them with compassion, and regarded it as a process of improving my xinxing.
Sometimes when I chatted with people online their first reaction would be "I don't know what you are talking about." After chatting for a while they would say, "Is that true? I think that I've heard about this before." After more chatting some would say "Can you tell me how to quit the CCP?"
I noticed this significant change in online chat and thought that was encouragement from Master. Of course I still had to pass other tests. There was a time when I did not know how to look inward. I encountered hardships and had sickness symptoms. I felt pain in all my bones when I chatted with people online. When this happened I thought that I came to Dafa for better health. I should always remember, no matter my difficulties, "When it's difficult to endure, you can endure it. When it's impossible to do, you can do it." (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)
My understanding of Fa was limited then. Later on I learned how to look inward and discovered attachments to my health, of which the old forces took advantage.
Master said, "Everyone sits here to learn this Dafa, so here you must conduct yourselves as true practitioners, and you must give up attachments." (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
Studying the Fa, sending righteous thoughts and clarifying the truth about Falun Dafa and about the persecution to the world's people are the "three things" that Master has asked of us. Fa study is very important. Master also told us that no mater how busy we are, we have to study the Fa. In the past I thought that Fa study meant simply to read the Fa. I was serious about my readings and thought I had studied the Fa well. One day I read,
"This is now provided right before you, and you may still be unaware of it. You have been everywhere looking for a teacher and spent a fortune, yet you have found nothing. Today, it is offered to you at your doorstep, and maybe you have not realized it! This is an issue of whether you can become enlightened to it and whether you can be saved." (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
I paused for a while and realized that reading the Fa is not studying Fa, but rather going through the motions. Genuine Fa study involves not only reading the Fa well, but also having the mind on the Fa. By doing that I could understand the Fa. Therefore, I liked to join the group Fa study as I was less easily distracted in group Fa study.
I will follow Master closely, focus on Fa study and have righteous thoughts. No matter what has happened, I should look inward. I treasure what Master has given to me and will do the three things well.