(Clearwisdom.net)
Greetings to everyone, my name is Carlos Iglesias. I am a lawyer, 41 years old, married and have two daughters, 10 and 12 years old. I live in Madrid, Spain. I have been practicing Falun Dafa for two and one-half months. I am very happy to exchange experiences with all of you.
A few months ago, during the National Health Fair in Madrid, I came to know Falun Dafa and I was immediately attracted by the happiness, personal fulfillment and peacefulness that the practitioners there transmitted. They invited me to watch videos of a 9-day class of Mr. Li Hongzhi.
Due to my work, I could not participate in all of the 9 days, however, from the days that I did attend, many of the unknown questions and personal search throughout the years, search for other disciplines or natural medicine were solved by the explanations of Master. I could also appreciate or at least feel that I have come into contact with something very immense and important.
Thinking back to this moment from today's perspective, I can say that this encounter was very important for me, because I had spent a lot of time without any specific meaning in my life.
Even though I did not lead a life with problems, I did suffer quite a lot physically. I have been operated on twice in Spain. The first time, when I was 20 years old, I was operated on in an emergency case of life or death, due to a mistake of a medical diagnosis, of acute peritonitis, which kept me in the hospital for 15 days. The second operation I had was to remove gallstones from my gall bladder, when I was 26 years old. Since then, I never felt very well physically, always suffering with my digestive system and feeling a constant and permanent fatigue from morning when I get up until I go to sleep.
Due to these operations, I have a constant fear and rejection of doctors and traditional medicines. I could not understand nor admit to myself what happened. This caused me to search for other natural or alternative healing methods and natural products or herbs, which could help me to improve my heath and recuperate my lost energy. I also adhered to different types of diets, including fasting to purify my organs. I thought at that time that all my problems were physical and they were in my body. None of the other practices, including yoga, helped me to feel better. Nevertheless, I continued to search for a method to attain a better mental and physical state and hoped to find the "miracle" which would solve my problems. All those years of searching in vain caused my character to change. I became more introverted, worried, and even depressed. Before I came to find Falun Dafa, I could say that I had reached the bottom of my life.
Along with my negative thoughts, I had selfish and materialistic attitudes. I tried to compensate for all the difficulties that I had in my life. In my profession as a lawyer, I am used to fighting for personal and material interests. I reasoned that if I could not feel well physically, at least I could have more material things, a future, and fame. It took me a long time to understand what Master said, that there is no coincidence; everything that's happened to me was the result of karma that accompanied my bad attitudes and behavior in the past.
When I came to know Falun Dafa, my initial curiosity was enormous and, at the beginning, I did not understand some things that were not compatible with my Christian education, which did not recognize reincarnation, samsara, or the existence of past lives. But something told me at the bottom of my heart, that I had found the Truth and I became more and more aware that according to Zhuan Falun, the reality of the existence of humanity and the universe is there, beyond the knowledge of science. Finally, Master Li put a light to the questions that I have asked all my life, such as who we are and what we are living for. I began to realize that everything that happened to me was the result of my own negative behavior, which had to be paid back. This is the result of the mechanism of the universe's justice.
My life began to become serene, although I must admit that I do not deserve yet to be considered as a true practitioner. I have to improve my cultivation enormously and my own proper moral values in order to reach the true standard of a practitioner.
At the beginning of practicing of the exercises, I could see how my energy began to grow little by little, and I began to feel physically better. The chronic fatigue of so many years diminished. What I did not get throughout those years by taking a multitude of vitamins and herbal medicines, I obtained after a short period of cultivation. At the same time, I have been elevating my xinxing, my moral values, in a way that was previously impossible for me. I would like to give two examples concerning this:
Before I knew Falun Dafa, as a lawyer, I was used to having contact with many people with personal and professional problems, which confirmed to me that the moral standard of human society is very much degenerated. Mine too. I fought for personal interest, fame and material gains. I wanted to earn more money, in spite of having already enough to cover the necessities for my family. I wanted a second job to increase my income, better schools for my children, a big and better car and I called all of these purposes or dreams I desired. I did not think at all that this could be bad, but I understand now when Master Li pointed out that the human society has degraded so much that one does not see that something is bad, in spite of the fact that it is. I thought that all of those ambitions were legitimate and correct, because this was the standard of thoughts of the majority of the people.
After reading Zhuan Falun for the first time and with the benevolent help of veteran practitioners, something changed inside me, and today I can say that I do not pursue fame or money anymore. I am not trying to say that only in two and a half months I have changed completely, because obviously this is not easy. But I can confirm that I do not look for money or fame consciously. I have abandoned the thought of looking for a second job and for the first time in my life, I did not ask for a pay raise at work. This is really very surprising, when looking at and comparing with my behavior in the past.
A second example of how I was able to improve my xinxing is the change of attitude in my relations with other people. I try to avoid confrontations or disputes over personal interest. A year ago I bought a newly constructed house. When the house was finished we saw several defects and deficiencies in the construction. I negotiated with the construction company to fix the problems. They did not do so, and I was ready to sue them, for I felt cheated, and my interests damaged. Also my personal vanity as a lawyer was affected; therefore I was ready to go to court. After one month of practicing Falun Dafa, I told my wife that I will not sue the company and I will pay for the repair costs. This was very surprising for my wife, who was expecting a court case, but saw that I was very relaxed.
In spite of the short time I have practiced, I have realized the importance of study of the Fa. So I also want to declare my commitment to obtain everyday a better knowledge, and at the same time, elevate my moral values, my behavior, and attitude, in accordance with the standards of a practitioner of Falun Dafa. I hope to attain the greatest purpose of this life, i.e. how can I make the most of this great opportunity that has brought me to know the Fa and cultivation according to the principles taught by Master.
I have also assumed a personal commitment to improve my practice and study of the Fa, as well as support and validate the Fa in front of all those who, due to ignorance, manipulation, or simply maliciousness, try to discredit or prevent the practice.
We have manifested this by sending righteous thoughts in front of the Chinese embassy in Madrid, and we will begin activities before Spanish and foreign organizations and authorities in Madrid and Spain to validate the Fa, in order for them to adopt diplomatic initiatives to stop the persecution in China, and to see that the responsible people are put to justice.
At this moment I wish to dedicate a special thought to all those practitioners who have lost their lives in China or those who are being tortured, persecuted, separated from their families, or discredited simply for defending the Truth with benevolence. From a western nation, Spain, I want to transmit my deepest respect and support, and the petition of justice for those evil crimes against humanity.
I feel very proud in these moments, and in spite of the short time as a practitioner of Falun Dafa and from the deepest part of my heart, I simply want to say that I think my life has changed. My mentality of material competition is replaced by a mentality to defend and clarify the truth, to deepen my cultivation with the study of the Fa.
I think that the world now needs more than ever to be sustained in the three columns of Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Tolerance. These are the crucial keys to achieve maximum harmony in the world, peace, and well being of all human beings. No one should be against these principles, and I hope and believe these principles will be practiced by all of humanity to achieve a better world.
Thank you everyone.
