Hello,
I really want to say a few words here. I am a Caucasian practitioner of only three to four months. I have read Zhuan Falun, watched the nine day lecture and listened to audio recordings of Master Li's seminars. I continue to read and listen to Master Li. I had practiced another cultivation way prior to finding Dafa. Probably most people in the west have no idea what cultivation is or what it means. For the most part, westerners have nothing to compare it to like the Chinese people do.
I guess what is most important for me to say here is that when I started I found it incredible that many Chinese practitioners were willing to be tortured and put in jail and be persecuted. I have read and listened much more since then and understand better. Now I have to say that I am indeed awed but the level of Forbearance that so many Chinese practitioners have displayed. I am ashamed that my level of Tolerance is so low in comparison that I have trouble sitting double crossed leg for any reasonable length of time. There have been times when reading Master Li's books and lectures that I almost cry. It is because I get a glimpse somewhere in my mind about what Master Li has done for us all. It is truly incredible. Master Li's supreme Compassion is so evident. I feel so fortunate as I know that all of you do.
I often wonder if I would be able to pass the tribulations that the Chinese practitioners have to. It would be far too easy and disrespectful to what people are going through to casually try to answer a question like that. It must be so hard to lose everything, family, work, endure torture, jail, hard labor, pressure also being put on family members and other forms of coercion. I understand that some practitioners have to divorce from there families to protect the family members. I also understand that there may even be executions soon for Falun practitioners.
I am thirty one years old and of course living in the United States all that time, it seems so odd that people would be persecuted for pursuing their beliefs. Then again, the more my understanding grows the easier it is to see how even my (tame by comparison) environment is so messy and dirty. The world is very bad and messed up.
For now I want to let the Chinese practitioners know that their good example is very grand and powerful and that it is an inspiration to me and as time goes by it will also be to even more people. I am sure that as Falun Dafa is spread even further that others will come to know and appreciate the huge sacrifices that the Chinese practitioners must make and endure. I want to say thank you for Enduring these hardships to defend the Fa.
Even more profoundly felt and from the very bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to Master Li. Master you have done so much, I feel so glad that you have come to this planet, as low as it is, to help us all. Human language cannot adequately describe what I mean.
David Snape