(Clearwisdom.net) Greetings Revered Master! Greetings Fellow Practitioners!
I was fortunate to begin Dafa cultivation in 1996. Prior to that I used to have many illnesses such as arthritis, gastric discomfort and dizziness. In May of 1996, my coworker was reading Zhuan Falun in the office. I was curious about it, so I borrowed it. The moment I started reading it I could not put it down. I experienced a happy feeling. I read it until very late at night and got up very early to continue to read. I finished the book around noon the next day. I was so excited and could not calm myself. I felt I finally found where I belong in my life.
I made up my mind to walk into Dafa practice. I went through huge physical and mental changes after I started cultivating. All my illnesses disappeared. I am so happy that I got the most precious thing in my life. I no longer suffer from illness. I no longer hate this world. I cannot express enough of my gratitude to Master!
Now when I look back at my cultivation path, I have done the three things well and harmonized what Fa-rectification needs. I have distributed Falun Gong materials, explained the truth about the practice and the persecution face to face, exhorted people to quit the CCP, established a Fa study group and started a family-based materials production site. I have persuaded fellow practitioners who had given up on the practice to return. I have encouraged fellow practitioners to validate the Fa. In the years assisting Master in Fa-rectification, I have not faced too much danger. My environment has been relatively relaxed. I have not encountered too much interference. Even when there was interference, I was able to eliminate it immediately. With Master's protection, I was able to walk on my cultivation path for over 11 years.
Someone said, "You are brave. You have broken through." In fact, everything comes from the Fa. Just like Master said, "The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts." ("Drive Out Interference," Essentials for Further Advancement II)
1. Clarifying the Truth; Establishing a Fa-study Group
The persecution began on July 20, 1999. I was very sad. I had built a solid foundation in my cultivation by having studied the Fa for several years. The Fa had been deeply rooted in my heart and mind. So, I was able soon to adjust my mindset. People whose minds were deeply poisoned by CCP culture laughed at me. Some concerned colleagues, friends and relatives worried about me. They persuaded me to give up the practice so it would not impact my husband and my son's future. I was not affected. I was calm and determined because I believe in Master, and I understand the Fa.
Following the loss of my previous job I started working at a warehouse. Everyone at my new workplace knows that I practice Falun Gong. After July 20, 1999, I still studied the Fa in the lotus position during my break at work. I often showed my colleagues Falun Gong materials, CDs and the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. I tell them about the wonders of Dafa. I tell them about the truth of the staged Tiananmen Square self-immolation, about the evil nature of the CCP, and some of the things explained in the Nine Commentaries. Some newer employees were still afraid when I mentioned Falun Gong. I explain the truth with wisdom. Then I exhort them to quit the CCP. More than 40 employees have quit the CCP already. Now I am able to openly tell the truth in my company.
One coworker began the practice in December 1998 and eventually had all her many illnesses disappear. Therefore she is quite determined. Not too long after July 20, 1999 she got a truth flyer from another practitioner. We made copies to distribute, 100 at first, 50 for each of us to hand out. This is how we began.
When we did not have materials on hand we wrote them ourselves. We have cooperated well with each other. Since 2001 we have used our lunch break to study the Fa. Our colleagues never bother us during that time. Now we have two new practitioners joining us to study the Fa together. Some practitioners heard about our situation and said to us, "Your cultivation environment is so good!" It is clear to me that the good environment is due to our efforts.
As the Fa-rectification advances rapidly, Master has made the Fa principles more and more clear to practitioners. Master asks us to "manage to fulfill still better Dafa disciples' vows and responsibilities, and do even better with things." ("To the European Fa Conference")
We should therefore make good use of our time to do well the three things and offer more sentient beings salvation. Time is limited. I thought of the people who attacked Dafa and who laughed at me. I worry about them. I made up my mind to tell them the truth so they can be offered salvation. I understand the great responsibilities Falun Gong practitioners have. Telling those people the truth was initially quite difficult, but I kept on doing. It became smoother and smoother and, because we have a pure mind, it was finally not difficult at all. By all appearances it looks as if we are the ones doing it when it is actually Master who has done it.
2. Helping Fellow Practitioners to Advance Together
Master does not want to leave any practitioner behind. Master taught us, "Your righteous thoughts and everything you accomplish come from the Fa, so no matter how busy you are, don't neglect Fa-study." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Philadelphia, U.S.A.")
As I study the Fa more, the Fa principles became more and more clear. My righteous thoughts became stronger and stronger. I thought of some practitioners I knew who had given up on cultivation after the persecution started, including my husband's colleagues. I wanted to help them to come back to the practice.
Not long after that I had opportunities to meet them one by one. I discovered after talking with them that they still have Dafa in their hearts. They just had fear and were afraid of returning to the practice. I told them, "Giving up on this precious Dafa will make you regret when the Fa rectifies the world. Look at me and other practitioners who are still practicing; we are all doing very well." I showed them the truth materials. They were too afraid to read them, but I did not give up. Whenever I had an opportunity I persuaded them. They eventually came to me on their own and finally decided to return to Dafa cultivation. They also wrote their solemn declarations.
In order to catch up with the advancement of Master's Fa-rectification and improve together we established a Fa study group of six to seven practitioners at my home in early 2004. Some practitioners were initially very afraid. Master then encouraged us and let one practitioner see a room full of big Falun. When we conjoined our hands, there was a strong column of light that reached toward the heavens. There was a huge, beautiful lotus in the middle. That practitioner was excited, cried and could not express her feelings in words.
I said, "We study the Fa in my home. I am not even afraid. What are you afraid of? We practice Dafa. This is the safest." I borrowed Zhuan Falun and Master's lectures from other practitioners. I told them how to send righteous thoughts. I also prepared materials. I asked them to distribute the materials, with safety in mind. The most important thing to remember is to often send righteous thoughts. I asked them to recite "Benevolent Might" and "A Righteous God" to remind them that Master's Fashen is always with us and protects us. They were gradually able to venture outside and distribute materials. Now they have caught up.
3. Expounding the Truth in Daily Life
I always keep some materials in my bag, making use of any and all opportunities to distribute them on my way to and from work. In the morning I hang materials on people's doors. Leaving the materials on the bus has a better effect.
I never gave up on any opportunities to save sentient beings, including religious people. I always explain the truth first in my daily life, when I take a taxi, go shopping or ask for directions; then I hand people truth materials. When I go shopping and use paper money with truth information on it, it becomes easier to talk to people. If people noticed the words put onto the bills, I would immediately ask, "What is going on?" Then the recipient would tell me what it says on the paper money. Then I would tell them, "This is lucky money. How come you got it?" They usually become very happy. If there is a chance, I continue to clarify the truth. If there is no good opportunity I would tell them as long as they follow what it says on the money, it would bring them good luck. They usually would happily express their thanks. Sometimes I would also initiate the conversation, "I am giving you a bill that you never saw before, that would bring you good luck." The people usually could not wait to read it as soon as they got it. I then would follow up with what they read to expound on the truth. Once a person said, "No wonder I have been so unlucky. I am a CCP member. I want to quit. How do I quit?" I told him the way to quit. He immediately made the decision.
Many times I could feel that Master helped me make things happen I wanted to do to validate the Fa. For example, I was unable to establish contact with certain practitioners for several years. I was eventually able to easily connect with them. In addition, some retired practitioners have moved far away. It was challenging to get together, even after we connected via phone. I often thought about them. One day three of them came to visit me and said they wanted to practice the exercises together. Master had arranged this! Just as Master said,
"People with predestined relationships and those who can be saved can be made to--made to by Master's Law Bodies, righteous gods, or the immense field that Dafa has formed in the world--appear right before you in any of a range of settings, providing them with a chance to learn the truth. But you have to carry it out, and it doesn't work if you're not out there doing things." ("Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference at the U.S. Capital," 2006)
Recalling the relatively smooth cultivation path I had in the past 11 years, Master has benevolently protected every single step. I know I still have many attachments and human notions I need to eliminate, and I am still far away from reaching the standard of a true Falun Gong practitioner during the Fa-rectification period. Therefore, I must study the Fa more, cultivate myself well, do well the three things and offer more sentient beings salvation.
I would like to conclude my article using Master's words,
"Dafa disciples are to do the three things well and steadily, and not be swayed in any human way. I hope that the Dafa disciples will, by way of godly righteous thoughts, walk the last leg of their journey well." ("Disintegrate Completely All the Meddling Deities in the Three Realms that Have a Hand in Interfering with Fa-Rectification")
(Experience Sharing Article for The Fourth Internet Experience Sharing Conference for Practitioners in China)