(Minghui.org) Greetings, Honorable Master. Greetings, fellow practitioners! It's difficult to change a person, but Falun Dafa changed me.
I used to be muddle-headed. I didn't know what I should do, or what I should not do. I didn't care about other people. My health was very bad and I suffered a lot. My mom worked hard to take care of me, and she repeatedly asked me to wear more clothes.
I attended a public school during the first year I came to the U.S. I developed some bad habits and played online games all day. My grades got worse and worse, which caused my mom to very concerned about me.
Learning to Look Within During Conflicts
Later, by chance, I enrolled in Fei Tian Academy of Arts in the first semester. I feel that the students and teachers there are very nice and very outstanding. In the summer I moved into the boys’ dorm, where I was so lucky to start cultivating Falun Dafa.
Dafa became the focus of my life, and I felt very comfortable. Before, my mind was not clear, and I didn't know the difference between right and wrong. Now I have Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance as the criteria to measure everything I encounter, and my heart has lightened. Previously I used to argue endlessly with others to protect my attachments, and I was always unhappy. After I began cultivating, I gradually understood the principle of "looking inward," and I try to "let it go with a smile" (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun) when facing conflicts, although it's not easy. Master says in Hong Yin III:
"Who's Right, Who's Wrong
As a cultivator
One always looks for one's own faults
'Tis the Way to get rid of attachments most effectively
There's no way to skip ordeals, big or small
[During a conflict, if you can remember:]
'He's right,
And I'm wrong,'
What's to dispute?"
I realize that cultivators should always look inward when facing any conflict or difficulty, look inward deeply, and unconditionally think about other people first. "He's right, and I'm wrong." I realize the importance of looking inward and practice it in my daily life.
Dafa Changed Me and My Mom
Gradually my mother noticed that I had changed. My teacher also felt that I had opened up completely. They are right. Falun Dafa enlightened my heart and gave me wisdom. I respect Master sincerely!
Sometimes when my mom shared some unhappy things, I suggested she be more considerate of others and not think too much about loss and gain. My mother was surprised that a 14-year-old boy could have such good suggestions. This made her curious about what changed me. I told her it was Falun Dafa! So she's also started cultivating now.
I still remember that she didn't want to read the Epoch Times newspaper when a Fei Tian school teacher clarified the truth about Dafa to her in the beginning. Dafa is changing me and also changing my mother.
After Viewing The Art of Zhen Shan Ren Exhibition, My Paintings Changed
At the Fei Tian Academy, I study fine arts. Previously I liked to draw fighting scenes with my black pen, and I had three notebooks full of them. My grandmother asked me, "Do you think these paintings are good?" I didn't understand and asked, "Why can’t I draw these?"
Later on, after studying Master's lecture, "Teaching the Fa at the Discussion on Creating Fine Art," I was shocked. My grandmother also suggested that I view The Art of Zhen-Shan-Ren Exhibition. Wow, it is so great! I was moved to tears. Words cannot describe the shock I felt in my heart.
Afterward, my drawing style totally changed, and I realized that only genuine purity, pure compassion, and pure beauty from one's heart can create a genuinely good work of art. I started to feel peaceful and calm while I was drawing. My favorite color has changed from black to golden yellow. Classmates, teachers, and my mother say that my paintings look much better and are very different from my previous paintings. I really hope all my family members can feel the power of Dafa and benefit from it.
I Experience the Power of Righteous Thoughts for the First Time
In March 2013, Shen Yun Performing Arts came to my area, and I was very excited. I hoped that my entire family would go and enjoy Shen Yun. That way they could learn the truth about Dafa and know what genuine, traditional Chinese culture is.
But I worried whether my mom and dad would decide to go. I remembered that my mother didn't have any special feeling after she saw Shen Yun last time. Other boys in the dorm encouraged me to "remember Righteous Thoughts and Righteous Actions" when I asked. I also felt my righteous thoughts get stronger and stronger.
I called my mom on a Sunday evening and invited her to see Shen Yun with my dad and brother. My mom replied with excuses like, "I have no money for that, the time is not suitable, it's too late to get home, etc." Her key point was she didn't want to go.
I was very disappointed and didn't know what to do. My classmates and teachers encouraged me not to give up and to strengthen my righteous thoughts, believe in Master's arrangement, and believe that a miracle would happen.
I followed their instructions, and, in a little while, I got a text message from my mom. She said she would go with my dad to Shen Yun. I was very pleased and shouted, “It is a miracle!” I told my classmates and teachers the good news. They were also excited. It was the first time I felt the power of righteous thoughts. I encouraged myself to continue clarifying the truth to my family after this great experience.
After Attending Shen Yun, My Quiet Dad Is Exhilarated
When I went home, I gave my father the Shen Yun Special Edition newspaper and sent forth righteous thoughts to help him read it with his heart. My father read it carefully and told me that he understood.
Even though it was late at night, he decided to call my brother and asked him to see Shen Yun with us. My brother agreed and said he would bring his friends, too. My father asked my mother to order tickets right away.
The next day when we saw Shen Yun together, I saw that my father was very happy and applauded every program loudly. I could feel he liked Shen Yun very much. It's rare to see my quiet father have such strong feelings and express his emotions. When the show was over, my father was still excited and greeted other people at the subway station, which was completely different from his normal behavior. I experienced the power of Dafa again.
It's Not Hard to Persuade Chinese to Quit the CCP Organizations If I Have a Heart for Others and Righteous Thoughts
After I began practicing Falun Dafa, I realized the importance of clarifying the facts and helping Chinese people quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. I hope everyone can benefit from Dafa.
In July during our summer vacation, a boy from Shanghai, China, came to attend our summer course and stayed in our dorm. When I saw him, he was tall and big and chubby. I wanted to be his friend.
That evening, it was arranged that he would share my room. I was very happy and thought that I could make a new friend and have more chances to clarify the facts to him. I chatted with him before going to bed.
We gradually understood each other. I then started talking to him about Falun Dafa and how bad and harmful the wicked CCP is. I talked about the Party's Ideological and Moral Course textbooks that slander Falun Dafa. I finally said that there would be no good end being associated with the Party. I said, “Just quit!” Since he's an honest person and my new friend, he accepted what I told him and had a new understanding of Dafa. He decided to quit the Young Pioneers, one of the CCP organizations. I understood in the process of saving him that if I have a heart for others and righteous thoughts, the person will accept what I tell him.
Conclusion:
While studying the Fa and cultivating in Dafa, I always feel the power of righteous thoughts. Our righteous thoughts come from continually studying the Fa.
I've also realized that it's very hard to keep my thoughts and actions righteous if I lose the environment of Fa study and cultivation with the group. So I prize our group Fa study and sharing environment very much.
In the boys’ dorm, we do the exercises every day and have weekly group Fa study and sharing. In one year’s time, I have changed completely and have a new life now.
I am not muddle-headed anymore. I gradually let go of my attachment to playing games. My grades have improved tremendously. I also became healthy again. I am not a weak boy anymore, and my mom is happy for me. The grandness of Dafa and Master's divine mercy give me the happiness of going home. I am so lucky to follow Dafa!
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!
(Prepared for the 2013 U.S. Western Fa Conference)
