(Minghui.org) Master said:
“Shan is the manifestation of the nature of the universe at different levels and in different dimensions. It is also the fundamental nature of Great Enlightened Beings. Therefore, a cultivator must cultivate Shan and assimilate to the nature of the universe, Zhen-Shan-Ren.” (“A Brief Explanation of Shan,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
In the course of 21 years of cultivation, the difficulties I have encountered have all been overcome with the help of Master.
Treating Enemies with Kindness
When I was a child, because my mother and grandmother were Christians, they taught me to be a good person. I am the oldest among five siblings. The oldest brother and second brother among my siblings are mentally ill. There were lots of tribulations in our family because of the two of them.
When I reached the limit of my endurance, I suffered from insomnia, and was diagnosed with all kinds of illnesses. I almost collapsed at one time, but I was fortunate find Falun Dafa at the time, and begin my cultivation in this traditional spiritual discipline.
In the fourth year after I obtained Dafa, my oldest brother injured a township cadre, which resulted in many problems. After they arrested my brother, the family members of that cadre beat my father and my brothers whenever they encountered each other. One night, they came to our house, smashed our television and telephone, and made a big mess. I thought at the time: “Their family is pitiful. I am a practitioner, and I can’t get angry or call the police.” I had them sit down and served hot water to them to warm their hands, as it was a cold winter night. They stopped their rampage as I treated them with kindness. It was Master who gave me the strength to be kind, and resolve the conflict.
In the fall of the second year, I brought my younger brother and his wife to visit our home. We were intercepted by our enemy's children. Two of his sons held knives. Their daughter and her husband held an iron rod. One of the sons held a knife against my younger brother’s head. My brother instinctively turned his head away. As a result, the knife cut his shoulder. Blood rushed out. My sister-in-law dashed up to cover his wound. Our enemy's son-in-law tried to hit her with the iron rod. My sister-in-law was six months pregnant at the time. In order to protect her, I jumped up and took the hit for her. Several strokes from iron rod hit my back and I collapsed on the ground. When I woke up, they had left.
A few people from the police station told us to go to the hospital. My younger brother received a few stitches. The doctor also told us that we needed to be hospitalized. I thought that since I am a practitioner, I am cared for by Master. I should be fine.
After we returned home from the hospital, My whole body was in pain, and I could not turn over when I tried to rest. Breathing was painful. I vomited blood for more than 20 days. However, after a month, I recovered and all the pain was gone. When the police came to my house to investigate, I did not tell them the whole story. If I told them how they injured me and my younger brother, that family would be punished. Then their youngest son might fail the background check, and would not be accepted by the university. It was Master who give me the power of kindness. I paid the karmic debt back, and resolved the vendetta between the two families. Their family also witnessed the compassion of Dafa.
This incident spread through the countryside and beyond. Since then, I have used my personal experience to validate Dafa, and told everyone that Dafa is good. My mother and my daughter started Dafa cultivation that year. My father also believed that Dafa was good and quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). My oldest brother was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was also blessed by Dafa. He was released for medical treatment after eight years in prison. My husband now supports Dafa very much. Outside the home and family, friends and family have borne witness to these words: “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” Even Christians have quit the CCP. It was Dafa that influenced so many people with kindness.
Looking Inward When Facing Misunderstanding
I have always been very grateful to my aunt who introduced Falun Dafa to me. In 2004, both of us were persecuted. I was taken to a detention center, and returned home after six days. She was subjected to one year of forced labor. She stopped contacting me after she was released from the forced labor camp. Other practitioners also avoided me. Although I didn't know what happened, I still treated them kindly, and behaved as a practitioner should.
It wasn't until the spring of 2008 that two practitioners told me what happened. It turned out that my aunt believed it when the officer from the Domestic Security Division told her that it was I who betrayed her. Therefore, she was subjected to one year of forced labor. When I heard this, I felt that I had been wronged. No wonder fellow practitioners were staying away from me. That night, I couldn't sleep. I thought: I suffered this shunning for several years, without being told the reason. I cried in front of Master's portrait. Then I had another thought: Master has endured so much for his disciples, as well as for all sentient beings. Am I aggrieved by such tiny mistreatment? The power of kindness cleared away all my grievances and resentments.
Although my aunt believed the lies made up by the Domestic Security Police, I realized that I also had attachments to get rid of. When I looked inward, I found envy, resentment, and sentimental feelings toward fellow practitioners. Thinking about the attitude of my aunt and fellow practitioners towards me, I realized that this was an opportunity to help me improve.
Master said:
“A benevolent person always has a heart of compassion. With no discontentment or hatred, he takes hardship as joy.” (“Realms,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
Category: Improving Oneself