(Minghui.org) With the 2025 New Year approaching, Barry, a young Australian, thanked Master Li Hongzhi for his gift of Dafa. “Words cannot express my gratitude to Master Li.”
Barry is studying culinary arts and works as a chef in a café restaurant. In August 2023, when Barry saw that his sister had taken up Falun Dafa cultivation, he also got into the practice. “The first impression I had of Falun Dafa was Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, which meant a lot to me, and it woke me up.”
Barry thanked Master Li and wished him a Happy New Year
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Awakened Me
Before he began practicing Barry said he was deeply influenced by modern society’s concepts such as being self-centered, and placing his personal feelings and interests first. He said Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance deeply moved him, “My point of view changed, and I realized that people should be selfless—I understood that the universe has the characteristics of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. These realizations awakened me. I feel fortunate that I’m no longer affected by the distractions of society as many of my peers are.”
He also said, “For me, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is everything, and I realize these are the guiding principles that I should follow in any situation. I firmly believe that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are the foundation of the universe, and that everything is based on them. When I follow these principles no matter what difficulties or challenges I encounter, I can let go of my attachments and fear. With Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance as the foundation, I feel safe and full of courage.”
Improving One’s Character
Barry said that when he first read Zhuan Falun, it was difficult for him to understand the profound principles. In order to better understand what it means to cultivate oneself, he read every lecture published by Master. “In order to maintain righteous thoughts, I study the Fa every day—usually for 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on my schedule.”
Falun Dafa’s profound principles gradually changed him. “As I continued to read Zhuan Falun, I found that every time I read, I gained new insights and a deeper understanding of the Fa’s principles. The wisdom contained in the book seemed to be revealed, layer by layer. As my thoughts and actions aligned with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, my personal standards for measuring good and bad gradually changed. Every time I read Zhuan Falun, it was like a new journey—my thinking became clearer and my moral standards constantly improved. Dafa’s principles guided me to look inward and strive for self-improvement. When I truly study the Fa and cultivate myself, my righteous thoughts become firm. With this foundation, I’m better able to overcome challenges and difficulties and practice the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in my life and work.”
The Physical and Mental Benefits of Practicing Falun Dafa
Barry said practicing Falun Dafa benefited him mentally as well as physically. He said: “Before cultivating, I was a person who had a hard time distinguishing right from wrong. I have been searching for an eternal truth to distinguish what is right and what is not, because I realize that everything in the real world is ephemeral and will eventually disappear. However, I believe that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is eternal and will never be influenced by external factors. This belief became the foundation of my practice.”
Once Barry began to strive to follow the principles in Zhuan Falun, he witnessed the miracle of Dafa. He said, “As I kept looking inward for my deep-seated attachments, Master gradually helped me to get rid of them, and I deeply experienced a sense of clarity and lightness—I felt as if I truly returned to my true self and I was no longer burdened by negative emotions. My temperament is gradually becoming calmer, altruistic, and patient.”
Barry’s profession is to work in the kitchen, an environment where anger and resentment are commonplace, and many people consider this normal. At first, he also experienced a lot of conflicts. However, as he began incorporating the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance into his life and work, he found the right way to deal with people. He said, “I hope that through my words and deeds, the people around me will gradually see the beauty of Falun Dafa and my positive changes.”
As he continued to look inward and let go of negative thoughts and emotions, he said, “I found my behavior undergoing a remarkable shift. My heart became calmer and lighter, and I found that when I remained in a state of peace, I’m able to identify the cause of the chaos and resolve it peacefully.
“When someone makes a mistake, I stay calm and speak in a polite and respectful tone,” he said. “Instead of reprimanding them, I first correct myself and maintain a serious and compassionate attitude. I try to understand why this person did not do well. I give gentle reminders, or provide clear and constructive feedback so that they can see the problem but don’t feel blamed or criticized.”
After Barry began practicing Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the people around him said that Barry is kinder, more patient, mature, and more emotionally stable than other young people. They all appreciate that he’s not swayed by emotions and that he remains calm and composed in difficult situations.
In addition to the spiritual benefits, Barry’s body also underwent some changes, “I had some physical ailments, such as toothaches and earaches. I think it was because I was obsessed with listening to modern music, such as remixes and electronic music. When I let go of these attachments and stopped dwelling on the pain, I noticed that the symptoms gradually lessened and have now disappeared completely.”
Barry also balances his cultivation with his daily life. He spends an hour practicing the exercises every day. The first day he practices the first four sets of exercises; The next day, he practices the fifth exercise. “I found that after completing the exercises, my body feels extremely light, and when I walk it feels as if though I’m floating. My physical condition improved significantly, and I feel healthier and more energetic.”
Determined to Help Master to Save Sentient Beings
Although Barry has only practiced Falun Dafa for just over a year, he feels he’s already benefited a lot. In addition to thanking Master, he also hopes that more people will understand the beauty of Dafa and the truth about the CCP’s persecution. He uses social media platforms to tell people how kind and peaceful practitioners are. He also tries to understand the extent to which the CCP’s lies caused people to misunderstand and have negative perceptions about Dafa so that he can better clarify the truth. “I believe that most people still have a conscience and a knowing side.
“For my peers, especially the younger generation, I know they tend to avoid discussions that involve so-called politics,” he said, “therefore, I focus on telling them how amazing Falun Dafa is, and about my positive experiences. When my heart, words, and deeds are pure, upright and kind, I believe this will touch the righteous parts of those who are waiting to be saved. By doing so, I hope to help others understand the truth about Falun Dafa and contribute to ending the persecution in my own way.”
Barry hopes his story will inspire others. He said, “I am extremely grateful to Master for giving me the ladder to heaven—Dafa cultivation. When a person understands the truth of the universe and truly follows Dafa, he will always find light at the end of the road, and wisdom will truly manifest.”
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