(Clearwisdom.net) Attending Master's lecture at the Yanji Gym in late August 1994, left me with a precious, fortunate memory.
I took the train to Yanji City on the afternoon of August 20, 1994, accompanied by my daughter. After arriving, and as soon as I bought tickets for the lecture, at 6:00 p.m., we down sat in the gym's southeast section. I estimated that about 3,000 practitioners were filling the gym. I could tell by the different accents and dress that these practitioners had come from all over the country.
Master was simply and well dressed. The white, short-sleeve shirt made Master appear plain and dignified. He sat in the gym's northern section. When Master said, "I am Li Hongzhi," the noisy gym suddenly became quiet. When Master said that those who could attend the lecture had predestined relationships, I was thrilled. I recalled that once in 1992 when I was half asleep, a Buddha with blue curly hair appeared in the sky. At that time, he quietly looked at me. I never expected then that I had this predestined relationship a few years before I obtained the Fa.
Among many qigong masters in China, only Master Li teaches us the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. Looking back, I realize that Master used various means to lead sentient beings who made vows with Master thousands of years ago to gather together. Therefore, they can study the Fa and cultivate, and save sentient beings.
During the first day of the lecture, Master informed the practitioners that tomorrow, Sunday April 21, three classes would be taught and each class would last approximately two hours. In consideration of the limited financial resources facing practitioners from other regions, Master said He would teach three classes in one day that were previously scheduled for three days. We had classes from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Because of Master's teachings, many hotels were packed with people. By the way, I would like to mention that when Master went to a place to teach, other qigong masters also came to that place to give lectures. These classes were held for a few days only, and the class fee was one hundred or two hundred yuan. They taught people to use qigong to cure illnesses and then collected more fees. Master taught ten classes and collected only forty-three yuan. Veteran practitioners only needed to pay half. Master's lecture fee was the lowest in China. During the classes, Master treated all practitioners as his disciples. He not only purified the practitioners' bodies but taught them the Fa principles and how to improve their xinxing. In addition, he gave us the precious Falun. No amount of money could ever equal Master's mercy and effort expended for us.
On the evening of August 22, Master taught the Fa, explaining the relationship between the Buddha School Qigong and Buddhism. Before the class ended, Master had all the practitioners stand up so he could purify their bodies. Master shouted a command - practitioners in the gym's east and west sections raised their left or right legs respectively and then stomped on the ground. In this way, under Master's powers, the practitioners released their illness qi, and their bodies were transformed into the Pure-White Bodies, which laid a basis for their later practice. Finally, Master spoke through the microphone, asking the practitioners who worked at the railway station to help buy several sleeping compartment tickets for April 27 to Beijing.
Master really did not take a high tone with us and instead he treated all the practitioners as friends. Despite his fatigue due to his successively holding lectures all over the country, Master first took care of the needs of the practitioners from Beijing who were traveling with him. Master's consideration for others deeply touched the practitioners and impressed me. His deeds remind me now to be considerate of sentient beings while clarifying the truth and persuading them to quit the Chinese Communist Party.
On the evening of August 23, Master mentioned in his lecture that Falun Gong practitioners should not believe in Zhouyi and the Eight Triagrams. He said to be sure to practice "no second cultivation way." I understood that although Zhouyi and the Eight Triagrams were prehistoric culture, they belonged to something from the Milky Way galaxy, which had changed during the last several hundred million years and thus, Zhouyi had also changed. The information in Zhouyi is thus outdated and inaccurate. Furthermore, it included things from other qigong masters and we could not use it.
That night, when people asked me to tell them their fortune, I said I would no longer do it. I could feel that Master had cleaned out the spirits or animal possession from me and installed the rotating Falun in me.
On August 24, I had diarrhea three times, but I was in high spirits. In the past, I had developed gastroenteritis, which lasted for dozens of years and I had to pay attention to my diet, how I lived and how I dressed. If I neglected these things, I had stomach discomfort, developed diarrhea, and was out of spirits. In the past, my daughter's head always bothered her. After attending Master's lectures several times she had a clear head.
On August 25 it rained heavily. One hour before Master's lecture began, the heavy rain stopped. People from all over the region went to listen to Master's lecture. I remember that people of all walks of life attended. Some were young monks, wearing khaki-colored robes and white leg wrappings. Some were reporters from CCTV, and some were bearded old people. Some were Tao masters who could predict the future. The devout people came to learn Dafa.
At the conclusion of the lecture on the evening of August 26, Master personally taught us the five sets of exercises. We were so happy to learn them and were very excited. Initially, Master let practitioners who accompanied Him to spread the Fa teach us the first four sets of exercises, and then Master went around to correct our exercise postures individually. Some practitioners took photographs, and others recorded the scene with camcorders. My daughter and I carefully learned the exercises from Master. Our family of three are still cultivating. Exercise is a very important part of Dafa. Therefore, even if we are very busy with work and sometimes have little time to sleep, we still take time out for doing the exercises. Doing the exercises, studying the Fa and sending forth righteous thoughts are now important parts of our life, which help us overcome laziness and remember that we are Dafa disciples. In addition, doing the three things well makes us more energetic, and gives us wisdom and courage in clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings.
The last class was taught on the evening of August 27. Keeping in mind that practitioners from seventeen provinces and cities needed to catch the train to Beijing, Master began the class at 5:00 p.m. instead of at 6:00 p.m. During the first hour, Master answered the practitioners' questions. When he read my forwarded note, he read one section and then said, "You should think it over after you go back." I keep these words in mind and in my cultivation. When I encounter difficulties I take Master's Fa as teacher. I look for the answer from the Fa and look within to examine my mind and actions, asking myself whether they conform to the Fa.
At the conclusion of teaching the Fa, with practitioners' requests, Master demonstrated the big hand signs. He sat on the white draped desk, in the lotus position. The big hand signs are very beautiful. I felt Falun rotating everywhere. It was miraculous.
(Recently, when watching "Decent of the Celestial Kings" performed by Divine Performing Arts, I noticed that the hand signs used by the King of Kings come from parts of Master's big hand signs. I realize that Master has put much effort into the outstanding works of Divine Performing Arts and saving sentient beings.)
When the lectures concluded, numerous practitioners presented Master with silk banners to express their appreciation. Chinese-Korean practitioners from the Yanbian Region dressed up and bowed to Master and then presented Master with a silk banner. Master also gave them a silk banner, to thunderous applause. I was also excited. I thought about how Master had spared no pains to come to these remote mountainous areas to spread the Fa, and expended all his energies for the benefit of our cultivation.
We keep it in our minds and will never let Master down. In addition, we will practice only one cultivation way and always try to conform to the Fa,
"Cultivating gong has a path
mind is the way
On the boundless sea of Dafa
hardship is your ferry"
("Falun Dafa" from Hong Yin, Translation Version A)
Thunderous applause arose. Master donated 7,000 yuan of the class fees to the Red Cross in the Yanbian region. With this gesture he expressed his concern for the 1993 cold damage and the flood. And then Master said he hoped we would cultivate solidly after we returned home. Amid the thunderous applause, Master made big hand signs, presumably as an appreciation of our devotion.
My daughter and I left the gym by the northern way of the railway platform. I thought, "Master really works hard and will have to catch a train to Changchun shortly after. My friends hope to take a photograph with Master. I am not sure if they will have a chance." As soon as this thought emerged, I noticed Master, who was looking after the practitioners, look at me. I thought immediately, "Does Master already know what I am thinking?" Later, these friends told me that when they had a meal in a restaurant in front of the railway station, Master took half a bottle of mineral water and walked up to them. They cheered, "Hello, Teacher Li!" Master knew they were practitioners who worked in the railway station and who had helped to buy the sleeper tickets. He was glad to take a group photo with them. My friends had finally realized their wishes.
Because I had to take care of something, I did not return home that night and had no chance to take a photo with Master. However, I know Master is watching over us every day.