(Clearwisdom.net) Today is my 56th birthday. I started practicing Falun Dafa before July 20, 1999. I endured through the July 20 tribulations due to my strong belief in Teacher and the Fa. Today I would like to share my cultivation experiences while working with other practitioners at a truth clarification materials site under Teacher's merciful protection. Due to my limited understanding of the Fa, please kindly point out anything inappropriate.
A Materials Site that Started from a Single Pen
I started to make informational materials in October, 2001. Back then my only tool was a pen. I had not participated in group Fa studies or the exercises due to obtaining the Fa late. I only knew one practitioner at the time. She did not know much about what was going on and so I did not hear much Dafa news or information. We could not even get Teacher's new articles until long after they had been published.
In October 2001, I was going to go to my hometown, thinking that I should bring wonderful Dafa to the people there. I decided that I would not only tell them, but share my cultivation experiences in writing. According to my understanding of Dafa back then, I wrote truth-clarifying materials about the goodness of Dafa, our family experiences in practicing Falun Dafa and gaining both great physical and mental benefits. My husband (also a practitioner) edited my articles for me. My children printed out many copies. I took them with me and went to my hometown. My relatives, sisters, brothers and neighbours were all reading my sharing. Through my articles they believed that "Falun Dafa is good". Later, I supplemented with more and printed more sharings. At one stage we used my writings as our only truth-clarifying materials and delivered them everywhere in our area for a quite long time.
Later on I started to get to know more practitioners who were worried about the shortage of materials. Sometimes after we obtained Teacher's new articles or the truth-clarifying materials, it took a very long time to share them with everyone. So I decided to undertake this arduous duty. Each time Minghui Weekly releases truth-clarifying materials or Teacher's new article, I found a place to photocopy them. I still had attachments to fear at that time, but I studied the Fa with my husband and we shared with each other. We realized that the attachment to fear is selfish thoughts of self-protection that must be eliminated.
With the fast pace of Teacher's Fa-rectification, our methods could not meet the practitioners' needs for materials used to save sentient beings. I discussed the issue with my husband and decided to browse the internet and produce truth-clarifying materials at home.
Successfully Accessing the Minghui Website
After summer vacation in 2003, I eventually was able to connect to the internet. I asked my children to browse the Minghui/Clearwisdom website by following the instructions from the Minghui materials and finally we were able to access the Minghui/Clearwisdom website. At that moment everyone in my family saw our respected Teacher's photos, and we were very excited. We put our hands together in a gesture of "heshi" to Teacher and greeted our respected Teacher. Before I began practicing Falun Gong, my husband and I had serious illnesses. We knew that Teacher had given us a second chance in life because we chose to practice Dafa. We all had tears when we looked at Teacher's photo.
Learning How to Download and Print Materials Using a Computer
I was previously computer illiterate and had a negative attitude towards computers. Each time I tried to move the mouse; I could not control it the way I would have liked. Instead, I shook the mouse up and down, making some funny noise. My children laughed at my efforts at trying to control the cursor.
However, I had confidence that I would learn because I knew that a Dafa practitioner's mind is filled with the Fa. There's nothing Dafa cannot do. I spent two days trying to control the mouse well. I told my children that if I needed something they would need to show me. When I browsed the Minghui/Clerawidom website, I wrote down every step in my notebook, and then I practiced each step according to my instructions. Soon I was able to access the Minghui/Clearwisdom website independently on my first attempt. I was very excited, and put my hands together in a gesture of heshi to Teacher: thank you Teacher for granting me wisdom. I had stepped forward in my journey transforming toward my true self.
Very soon I learned how to download Minghui Weekly, booklets, and a wide range of truth-clarifying materials. Then we bought a printer and supplies and started to learn how to print. In the beginning I had problems because my children were not familiar with the printer. I could not get in touch with practitioners specializing in technical support. This resulted in a lot of wasted paper. I sat in the front of computer and waited for my children to return home. They were very impatient when I repeatedly asked the same questions too many times because they did not know much about it either. I calmed down and started to think that if everyday people can do this, and other practitioners can do this, then I should be able to do it as well. I struggled to imagine how other practitioners used word software to print these fine booklets and Minghui Weekly?
I opened Minghui Weekly and the other booklets which I had downloaded from the internet and read them from beginning to end; I tried to find ways to edit and print with my children. Eventually a Minghui Weekly was printed. I was so happy. It looked the same as those that were made by other practitioners. I even remembered all the steps since I had figured out how to do it myself. When I looked at these Minghui Weeklys I was filled with positive feelings.
Learning Editing, Typesetting and Burning CDs
Soon after I mastered printing, I learned how to edit, typeset, print and burn CDs, make Falun Gong medallions, greeting cards, the booklets of Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and publish statements of withdrawal from the CCP, all with my children's help. I recorded every step in my notebook, although no one could understand my writing except me. Within two weeks I was able do everything on my own. My children all complimented me, "Mom is excellent!"
Teacher said, "If you don't study the Fa well, you won't be able to do Dafa work well." in "Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Boston"
Teacher also said,
"No matter how busy you are or how many things you have to do, you can't neglect your own Fa study and cultivation. It's the fundamental guarantee that you'll do well in validating the Fa, and it's also a guarantee that you'll be able to make it to the last step." ("Teaching and Explaining the Fa at the Metropolitan New York Fa Conference").
I remember Teacher's words. I study the Fa in the morning for at least one and a half hours every day after the global sending forth righteous thoughts. If I have more time I spend more time studying the Fa as well as doing the exercises every night.
Since we established the site at home I have not gone out to print. We produce all the truth-clarifying materials required and as many as we can. Then I deliver them. Sometimes my children help. I can finally make truth-clarifying materials by myself without help.
Overcoming Fatigue, Moving Forward Diligently, Not Slacking Off
I have a large family. My husband and I live with my mother-in-law; she is over 80 and needs constant care. Our two children are still in school. A child of my younger brother has also been living with us. My husband is a chief manger in a corporation. He is very busy, but still has to find time for Fa study and validating the Fa. I was very tired at the time, plus our children and elders needed to be looked after. I had to take a long leave and stay at home. I took care of all the household chores, including all the shopping and cleaning; I was always in such a hurry. I never had time to travel. When I was at home alone, even for a day, I would feel so relaxed because I could study the Fa in peace and produce truth-clarifying materials.
I think that this is my cultivation path, arranged by Teacher. I need to go through my cultivation at home. Making materials today is my prehistoric pledge, my mission. I have never slacked off. Every day my schedule is filled with things to do. I go to bed after sending forth righteous thoughts at 12 p.m. and get up at 3:30 a.m. to join in group exercises. I have very little rest after lunch, but I don't feel tired. So far I have never been late providing materials for other practitioners.
Since the book Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published, I started to print and bind it as well. I bought a paper cutter and ropes. I made big and small booklets manually. The more I do, the better it looks. These booklets looked just like the manufactured versions. I have made up to 2,000 of them. I endured a lot on my journey, but I felt very pleased in my heart because I am with Teacher and Fa-rectification and doing the greatest thing in the universe.
Helping Other Practitioners Set Up Materials Sites
At this time last year, I helped two practitioners set up a site for producing materials at home. I shared my experiences with them, and some basic computer knowledge and skills step by step. I showed them patiently. They paid close attention and made notes. Soon they could do it by themselves. They print materials and burn CDs and so on. They are now a major source of truth-clarifying materials around their area.
Due to my limited level of understanding, I am sharing my personal experiences with everyone. In the end one sentence sums it up; as Fa-rectification period Dafa disciples we should fulfill the requirements of true followers of Dafa. Teacher said,
"Don't become complacent just because you think you've done such and such, for there are so many sentient beings that we have yet to save. You still need to push yourselves so that you may establish even greater mighty virtue within a limited time frame, and so that you won't have any regrets when all is said and done. So I hope that you will do even better and be even more magnificent."(Teaching at the U.S. Capital).
Fellow practitioners, let us join hands together, seize the time, maintain our righteous thoughts and righteous actions. Keep in harmony with what Master wants, save those lives that descended to this world knowing the risks and dangers. Let's keep Teacher's words in mind:
"The only thing you have a role in is saving people." (Teaching the Fa in the City of Chicago),
"You won't have any regrets when all is said and done." (Fa Teaching at the U.S. Capital).