(Minghui.org) Greetings Master! Greetings fellow practitioners!
I’ve practiced Falun Dafa for more than 24 years. I first encountered Dafa shortly before the persecution began in 1999. I knew immediately that I found what I had been desperately seeking. Falun Dafa answered all the questions I had about life.
Before I began practicing I was in despair and did not regard myself as a good person. All my efforts to become a good person seemed to be in vain. Master once said that Dafa corrects all abnormalities. As I’ve cultivated myself over the years, I’ve seen the positive changes in myself and I’ve become more compassionate.
I’d like to share some recent experiences and understandings I’ve had with you.
The most obvious attachment I had was my competitive mentality. The competitive mindset was almost second nature for me. Although many of my attachments were gradually eliminated, some still existed. I was able to feel a wonderful sense of peace when I was able to eliminate them. I was able to be more tolerant of others.
The projects I participate in are long-term projects that require working on them for many hours every day. Besides translating for websites and editing, I was also in charge of a daily practice exercise site. Carrying out both projects at the same time allowed me to balance my cultivation and has enriched my cultivation experience.
I am filled with vitality when I clarify the truth to people who come to the practice site. This compensated for sitting in front of a computer for long hours. It is also purifying and re-energizing. I’m very encouraged by the positive energy I feel while translating and publishing cultivation sharing articles.
Over the years, I felt unhappy and upset whenever a practitioner quit or when we were short staffed. However, I told myself that this was all part of cultivation. One day I realized I should not so completely rely on others.
I cherish the group of practitioners I work with. We are all a small group, only four people. I admired their strengths and positive qualities, including their kindness, perseverance, trustworthiness, and sense of purpose.
Other times I felt discouraged and wanted to quit. Each time this happened, I questioned myself and asked if this is what Master wants and whether or not I could give up my attachments. The answer was always yes. I eventually understood that whatever projects we’re involved in, we should not place too much importance on our opinions, or feel that we’re important.
I have always felt the urgency of publishing as many articles as possible in the shortest amount of time. I feel this is very important because each project has the energy to save people and the power of its impact is directly linked to reporting it quickly. The more clearly we understand this, the calmer we’ll become. If we can take a step back, we’ll be able to see the bigger picture. To be able to achieve this, we need to have a strong sense of purpose in participating in Dafa projects. Only by relinquishing our ego while participating in Dafa projects can we do well and cultivate solidly.
I’ve experienced interference when I tried to eliminate my attachments, but I’ve also experienced a wonderful sense of peace when I do. I enlightened to how I can upgrade myself during the last leg of cultivation and how cultivating every notion and thought is very important.
Some negative thoughts occasionally surface. However, I know Master is guiding me and these negative thoughts cannot survive for long. If I can look inward and take a step back during conflicts, the situation changes for the better.
Master said,
“You will not be able to complete the final leg of your journey well if your cultivation is deficient in some way, or if you have human thinking or attachments. What a cultivator works on is always him or herself, and even the slightest change to your human thinking amounts to an improvement and will be witnessed by divine beings.” (“A Congratulatory Letter to the Fa Conference of Europe”, Team Yellow Translation)
The magnificent Dafa has arrived at our doorsteps and encompasses everything in this world. Every sentence in Zhuan Falun, the main text of Falun Dafa, contains solutions to all conflicts and tribulations.
Master told us to do the three things well. I understand that our cultivation state is most important, regardless of which project we are involved in.
No words can express my utmost gratitude to Master and Dafa.
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!
(Sharing paper submitted to the 2023 European Fa Conference)