(Clearwisdom.net) I am a new practitioner. In 2008, I accidentally came across Zhuan Falun and began to read it. The principles of Dafa resolved all of my doubts and uncertainties in life. Right after I finished reading the book, my first thought was, why didn't I see the book earlier--it is extremely well written. I lost no time learning the five sets of Falun Gong exercises and began my path of cultivation.
After I began to practice, my celestial eye opened. Although I couldn't see clearly, it gave me confidence. After I finished reading Zhuan Falun for the first time, I made up my mind to memorize it. With this thought, the top of my head felt electrified and this feeling lasted quite a while. I understood that it was Teacher encouraging me.
In the first month of cultivating, I would see things with my celestial eye every time I woke up. One time, when I woke up around midnight and with my eyes still closed, I saw very bright lights just around the area of my lower abdomen that lasted five to six minutes. I knew it was Falun adjusting my body. Another time, as I was waking up around midnight, I felt something being pulled out, making a sound of "puff" from the heart area. Previously, I experienced heart pain. Then I saw a row of gods staring at me seriously before disappearing about a minute later. Ever since that experience, I don't have pain in the heart area anymore.
Sometimes, with my eyes closed, I was able to see some written characters, but I didn't recognize them. One time, I saw a character being written one stroke at a time--it was the character Ren (Forbearance). Teacher was giving me a hint that I should learn to be more patient. I then reminded myself all the time to be forbearing.
In the process of studying the Fa, I do my best to follow the requirements of Dafa. When I do the exercises, I see some scenes in other dimensions. Whenever I upgraded my xinxing, Teacher would show me different scenes to let me know if I had improved. I had been cultivating alone without contacting other practitioners.
Within the first year of my cultivation, Teacher frequently gave me hints by letting me see some magical scenes to solidify my faith in Dafa. Seeing that I had somewhat matured, Teacher had other practitioners send me His new lectures and articles from Minghui Weekly. I then learned about the responsibilities of a practitioner and the importance of sending righteous thoughts.
When I first began to send forth righteous thoughts, I felt as though I didn't have any strength as I couldn't calm my mind or sit still for five minutes. About a month later, I could sit for about ten minutes without too much problem. One time, I decided to send righteous thoughts every hour on the hour. That night when I lay down to sleep, I felt my legs cross in the lotus position, but in fact they weren't. I realized that Teacher was encouraging me to do better.
Since I knew about the importance of withdrawing from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the Communist Youth League and the Young Pioneers (the "three withdrawals"), I was anxious to let people know about it. However, I didn't have any experience clarifying the truth in person. With the thought of wanting to save sentient beings, I was given an opportunity. One day, a college student in the office where I work began talking about the June 4th Tiananmen Square Massacre. I took the opportunity to tell him about the truth of Dafa. However, I didn't get the result that I had hoped for.
A week later, the same student began talking about some Mayan prophesy. I took the opportunity to tell him that Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good, and that he should guarantee his safety by quitting the Chinese Communist Party. Although he didn't do the withdrawals at that time, I knew that his heart was moved. Riding the bus on my way home that day, and with my eyes closed, I saw a hand with the srivatsa symbol. I knew that Teacher was encouraging me.
In order to better clarify the truth and advise people to do the "three withdrawals," I realized that I should study the Fa well. So I decided to memorize and recite Zhuan Falun. After reciting the Fa, I found that I was more clearheaded and did better in encouraging people to do the "three withdrawals." Although I've been able to advise people to quit the CCP, I still feel I haven't met the requirements of the Fa, especially when it comes to talking to strangers. However, I believe that as long as I keep studying the Fa, raising my xinxing and cultivating myself well, I'll be able to save more people.
This is what I have experienced as a new practitioner. I hope my sharing is helpful to other new practitioners. Teacher is always protecting and encouraging us, so we should do well the three things and complete our cultivation in order to follow Him back home.