(Clearwisdom.net)
Greetings, Master. Greetings, fellow practitioners!
I am 19 years old and I just recently moved to Toronto. I'd like to share my experiences during this time period.
Dafa Helped Me to Improve My Xinxing
My mother and I moved from another city to Toronto, because our business in Toronto wasn't doing well. When I first moved to Toronto, I wasn't diligent in studying the Fa and didn't contact fellow practitioners right away. Bad thoughts entered my head, and due to financial difficulties I was depressed for some time. My appearance also wasn't good. My head was filled with thoughts about how to turn the business around and how to save money. I was like any everyday person my age and spent my spare time watching TV. I was attached to ordinary things,. I feel ashamed of what I did during that time.
Compassionate Master didn't abandon me however. Once in a dream, I was standing with a group of fellow practitioners on a street, and each of us had Dafa materials in our hands. With bright orange books and materials in our hands, I felt very serene. I realized that it was Master hinting at me that I could not continue the way I was going. I should not live passively, but should study the Fa well, and validate the Fa and tell people the facts about Falun Dafa and the persecution. Master said,
"There is this saying: 'The great Fa is boundless.' Cultivating it depends entirely on your heart. As to how high your cultivation level can reach, it all depends on your endurance and your ability to bear hardships." (Lecture 2, Zhuan Falun)
I didn't even pass such a small test, and became passive in the face of such a small tribulation--it simply wouldn't do. So I started to seriously study the Fa and improve myself. An old illness that had been with me for many years then disappeared, and my xinxing improved. I no longer wanted to view those everyday websites or TV programs, and was no longer attached to how to make money. At the same time, our family business improved. Both my mother and I knew that we should always study the Fa well, and that Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance is the standard by which we should measure ourselves.
Coming to The Epoch Times with Master's Compassionate Arrangement
One Friday in April, when we were still preparing for and promoting the Shen Yun show, my mother took me to distribute the special edition newspaper. There was interference that day. It was already springtime, but that day was very cold, with snow flurries and ice pellets. After we got a box of the special edition papers, we went to the Epoch Times office to pick up three aunties. It was then that I found out that the Epoch Times office was close to where I live. I originally thought we could only study the Fa and share experiences at the University of Toronto. I blamed myself for not actively contacting practitioners when I moved here and for slacking off in validating the Fa.
We got to the Epoch Times office and saw many practitioners there sharing with each other. I realized that I shouldn't feel at a loss due to difficulties in my life and that I had neglected my role as a Dafa disciple during the Fa rectification time period. I saw a friendly practitioner, who turned out to be the newspaper contact person. After my mother and I told her briefly about our situation, she asked me if I could do more for Dafa. I told her I was good at art and design, that I was waiting for college admission, and that I'd like to help with design. She told me they were urgently in need of an arts designer. I was happy to hear it, too. It is such a rare opportunity to do design work for the Epoch Times. She continued, "Our previous designer just left, and we are urgently in need of someone to design ads. See, we just had this thought and you came along. This is really an arrangement by Master." I again felt Master's compassion, arranging for me to work at the Epoch Times so that I could be with more practitioners and remember not to neglect Fa study at any time. I am really thankful for Master's magnificent compassion.
After leaving our contact information, we then got busy with special edition distribution. Though the weather wasn't nice and I wasn't wearing many clothes, I didn't feel the cold. I felt warm inside, because I was able to do this design work.
On the following Monday, I began working at the Epoch Times. I felt so happy for being able to help out with many designs. I've learned so much from working and studying the Fa with fellow practitioners. When I first got there, many practitioners who didn't know me asked where I had learned to do design. I told them I had learned it on my own. I took pure arts courses in high school, such as different types of painting, but none of them was for designing on the computer. So, when I used computers, I learned design software on my own and designed some posters and a menu. I suddenly realized that it wasn't me who had the inspiration to learn these techniques, but that Master has opened up my wisdom so that I could use the techniques in my path of validating the Fa.
I remember on a Thursday not long after I went to work at the Epoch Times, that we had to finish designing all the ads for the weekend edition by that evening's deadline, so everyone had a heavy workload. I was given many ads to design. Some practitioners began to worry, because I had to design so many ads by myself. They were worried that I wouldn't finish them on time. A practitioner was prepared to call another designer for help, but I calmly told her, "No need. Maybe others are busy, too. I am right here in the office, and I can do it, no problem." In the past, I might have been flustered and wouldn't have known what to do. But that day, I was able to quickly finish all the ads in an orderly fashion, and the quality was good. Everyone was relieved. That day after I finished the design work, I studied the Fa and sent forth righteous thought with other practitioners. No group study time was lost. Other practitioners were all happy that I was able to help so much, but I felt it was Master giving me the power so that I could accomplish it. I am very thankful to Master. I have now worked at the Epoch Times for over a month, and whether I'm designing in the office or at home, I always feel happy. This work is arranged by Master. The field of this work environment with fellow practitioners is very good, and I really treasure my time with them. I like to work, send forth righteous thought, study the Fa, do exercises, and participate in activities with other practitioners. In addition, I find my shortcomings and try to search inside more and do better.
Another story, on the side, is that before I worked for the Epoch Times, I applied to several universities. I was admitted to a few, but none were in Toronto. A design college in downtown Toronto wrote to me to say that there was intense competition for admission to their school this year. Because my work was not outstanding enough among the applicants, they would not give me a chance. Two weeks after I started to work for the Epoch Times, this school sent me a letter of admission! I think this is really a hint and an arrangement from Master, so that I can study in Toronto, while helping the Epoch Times with design work. What a great opportunity! I haven't done well enough, but Master still helps me and gives me hints along the way.
Helping with Shen Yun Energizes Me
On May 7, Shen Yun came to Toronto for three days of grand performances. It was again on a Friday, and my mother and I sat among the audience to watch the first show. Each program had such a profound meaning, with beautiful choreography and great performers that won the audience's applause again and again. I believe that no one wanted to take their eyes off the stage.
During the show, I was saddened when I saw a Dafa disciple being persecuted by the evil CCP, but when the deities saved the persecuted mother, I was moved to tears. I can't describe my feelings in words. Many Dafa disciples are being persecuted in China, and disciples outside of China must let more people know the truth. I should also do the three things well. The Shen Yun performance helped me find my shortcomings. I will be a better Dafa disciple during the Fa rectification time period.
In the remaining two days of the weekend, I distributed program books and posters to spectators inside the theatre. When I saw the unending crowd of people coming in, I felt so happy handing them the program books. Though I carried so many of them in my arms, I didn't feel tired at all. An older gentleman from Taiwan, who had already gotten a program book, came back to me and asked, "Can I have another copy? I want to send it to my friend in Singapore,. The show is so beautiful!" "Of course, no problem!" I happily handed him another copy. Another lady and a Korean asked me, "Do you sell DVDs of the Shen Yun performance? I want to buy a DVD of the full Shen Yun performance tours." More and more people recognize and support Shen Yun--many of them have been expecting it for a long time. Some came from far away such as Niagara and Kingston just to see Shen Yun,.
I got to know many practitioners while helping with Shen Yun performances. One of them talked with us for a long time after learning of our situation in Toronto, and asked if we needed any help. I felt so warm. I know it's Dafa, it's Master letting more Dafa disciples get together and validate the Fa.
During intermission and after the show was over, other practitioners and I collected a survey from the theatergoers. In sorting through them, I saw many favorable comments in Chinese and in English. Some audience members wrote a great deal despite the limited space. Shen Yun not only presents the traditional divine Chinese culture, but also shows people the truth and the beauty of Dafa.
Master's Unbounded Compassion
Master said,
"Cultivation practice itself is not difficult, and neither is upgrading one's level itself difficult. It is because they cannot give up the human mind that they call it difficult. This is because it is very difficult to relinquish something in the face of practical gain. The benefits are right here, so how can you abandon these attachments? It is actually because of this that one will find it difficult. When an interpersonal conflict occurs, if you cannot practice forbearance or treat yourself as a practitioner in dealing with it, I would say this is unacceptable. When I practiced cultivation in the past, many great masters told me these words, and they said: "When it's difficult to endure, you can endure it. When it's impossible to do, you can do it." In fact, that is how it is. Why don't you give it a try when you return home. When you are overcoming a real hardship or tribulation, you try it. When it is difficult to endure, try to endure it. When it looks impossible and is said to be impossible, give it a try and see if it is possible. If you can actually do it, you will indeed find: 'After passing the shady willow trees, there will be bright flowers and another village ahead!'" (Lecture 9, Zhuan Falun)
All the words in the book give us guidance and are absolutely true. When we encounter a tribulation, it's just to see if we can let go of our attachments. Each time I read Zhuan Falun, I have new understandings. Master's Fa is what we, as Dafa disciples, must follow to improve ourselves.
Though I've never seen Master in person, Master has helped me and has compassionately given me hints all along. Master is right beside us. I will do the three things well and be a good Dafa disciple. "When it's difficult to endure, you can endure it. When it's impossible to do, you can do it."
This is my sharing. I welcome anyone pointing out any inappropriate understandings. Thank you.
