(Minghui.org) My dear Falun Dafa brothers and sisters and Respected Master,
I am a practitioner from South Asia, living in the Middle East. I obtained the Fa in 2011. In my school days, I was quite devout in terms of doing the religious rituals, and we were taught that reincarnation did not exist.
For ten years, I looked for spiritual guidance because I didn’t think that it would be so simple--that we would just follow a religion and go to heaven. I had a gut feeling that I was missing out on something. During these ten years, I moved a lot, and had some challenges. I also completed a spirituality course during this time, and read many books relating to the metaphysical. During this time, I also read some books by a famous American psychologist who did past life regressions, so my belief in reincarnation also grew (I was open to the idea). During 2010, I started feeling very restless, as if time was running out and I was getting off track. I also wanted--for the sake of knowledge, for the sake of showing off, and to use for training people and making money--to find some methods or techniques that I could share with people. I bought many metaphysical programs on the Internet. I registered with a metaphysical science organization during this time that was offering a bachelor's degree in metaphysical science, and one could study to become a PhD. I thought I could then write a book, become famous, etc.
It happened that in the first lecture when they mentioned meditation techniques, there was a small reference to Falun Dafa. I had heard this for the first time. They also included studying Falun Dafa as an “elective” in later semesters! I searched the Internet for Falun Dafa and visited the main website where it said, “The Buddha Fa is most profound.” Deep inside, I felt a sense of relief, and I told myself, “This is it, this is what I’ve been looking for.”
I downloaded the books, and started reading Zhuan Falun. I read Lunyu, then downloaded the lectures and listened to them. I even watched the exercise footage and started to learn them. This took me a couple of days. I also contacted the contact person who was named on the website and the volunteer who helped guide me and answered many of my questions, who is still in touch with me today. I quickly learned to do the exercises with the Chinese music, and I thank Master because I didn’t have any trouble doing so.
I realized that the metaphysical science institute was doing some things that Mr. Li Hongzhi was saying not to, and I felt that Master's words made sense. I contacted them and wrote an email stating that Mr. Li Hongzhi said that they were taking money for Falun Gong study, that they had made Falun Dafa an elective course and were trying to teach it, when Master Li clearly said that only he can teach it. The bottom line was that I obtained a refund. They kept a cancellation fee, but I felt that maybe I owed it to them. It was a transitional period for me where I thought a lot about the Fa, and about the strict way that I was brought up with many rituals. I actually felt alone.
But I studied the Fa, listened to the lectures, and did the exercises. My husband does not believe in any of what I do. He believes in the religion that we were originally brought up with, but he does not interfere with me. I thank Master for giving me this environment in which to practice. My daughter goes to a school where they teach my original religion’s principles and I have to teach them to her. I cannot talk much about Master, but she knows that I practice Falun Dafa, as she has seen me doing the exercises and reading the book. I try to teach her about being a good person, not striking back when struck, basically not losing De, so that I can later encourage her to practice Falun Dafa.
My Experiences During Cultivation
I have faith that Master is protecting me. When I listened to the lecture the second time, I made up my mind to become a practitioner, and I experienced physical reactions as my body was being purified, which included diarrhea and vomiting. I have not taken medicine during these past two years save one time when I had a very severe earache. The first time I had it, I just kept requesting Master to ease the pain for me, and I listened to Pudu. When I woke up the earache was gone. It relapsed after two days and I knew that I would fall in this regard if I took medicine, but I eventually went to the doctor and took painkillers and antibiotics. I just couldn’t stand the pain. After I took the pain killers, the pain went away, however I became deaf in that ear for a couple of days. I knew Master was adjusting my body so I was not worried. After a couple of days, my hearing was restored, not just back to normal, but better.
When I first started practicing the exercises, within two months, I felt Falun rotating in my hands when doing the Falun Standing Exercise. I was overwhelmed, and my faith of course improved. I cannot yet sit in the full lotus position.
I have spectacles. After I started practicing Falun Dafa, I stopped wearing them. I don't understand if that was the correct thing to do. I could see OK, as I had a + power in one eye and – power in the other. However, my eyesight has also improved to a great extent. I have new glasses now and I use them, as I understand that Master does not want us to experience safety issues when it comes to these things, and I should go with the flow.
I once felt like I was being lifted off the bed when I was sleeping. I woke up and then went back to sleep, and I was not frightened.
I had a very bad relationship with my mother. I couldn’t forgive her for many things that she had done. I grew up in a broken home. After practicing Falun Dafa, I realized that whatever my experiences were in the past, they were not for me to cry over and blame others, but to learn from, and to pay for my bad deeds and gain some virtue. I forgave her, and I also introduced Dafa to her. She read the book and listened to the lectures, but she has not yet embraced Dafa, as she is a staunch believer of the religion she grew up with.
Sometime after I started practicing, my husband never had time for me. He would go to play sports. Even though I realized that Master was helping me find time to study the Fa and do the exercises, I was not mentally prepared for it. Now, if my husband goes out, I no longer become upset, and I try to practice.
I started sending forth righteous thoughts after I read about it on the websites. I asked my contact from the Falun Dafa website about it, and she was kind enough to send me a list of articles related to sending righteous thoughts. I couldn’t understand it at first, but it has now become clearer.
When I send righteous thoughts, I say the formula and then my thoughts are as follows: “I eliminate all the evil that comes in the way of Master’s Fa Rectification; I eliminate all the evil that comes in the way of my and my Falun Dafa brothers’ and sisters’ consummation; I eliminate all the evil that comes in the way of those who are yet to obtain the Fa; I eliminate all the evil that blocks the minds of the governments and people against Falun Dafa; I eliminate all the evil that is persecuting the Chinese practitioners; I eliminate the evil specter in China; I eliminate my attachments to fear, fame, anxiety, laziness, greed (list goes on)….I am a disciple of Master Li Hongzhi; I am a disciple of Falun Dafa; I do not acknowledge any of the old forces arrangements, and I purge all the evil that gets in the way of Master’s Fa rectification; I walk the path that Master Li Hongzhi, the Master of Falun Dafa, has laid out for me.” When I keep my hand upright, I feel rotation.
I am not diligent with the exercises, and I send righteous thoughts sometimes only once per day, sometimes at all times, and sometimes not at all. I know I am lazy and I have to overcome this. This is especially so after I started my job. I don’t want to be the “average person” that Master Li has described in his lectures.
I have started a job, which requires a lot of preparation at home. I was fortunate enough to pick a subject to teach through which I could expose the live organ harvesting issue in China as a case study for the students. I also want to help out with truth clarification, so I trained as a reporter for a newspaper. I listen to the Fa in the car while commuting to and from work.
I would like to thank all the Falun Dafa practitioners who write articles and share their fantastic experiences with people like me. I have learned a lot from them. It has helped me to have faith. My heart goes out to those who are suffering at the hands of the evil specter. You are absolutely amazing and very courageous.
This article is written at my level. Please point out anything inappropriate. This is my first attempt at writing an article.