(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Dafa at the beginning of 2021. I’m grateful for Master Li’s compassionate salvation and I’d like to tell you about some of my cultivation experiences.
Master said,
“Group Fa study is what I left for everyone, and group exercise is what I left for everyone. Other than in situations of severe persecution, it should be done this way in other areas outside mainland China. There is no reason not to do it, as it relates to the issue of the future humans obtaining the Fa and cultivating. Therefore, group exercise and group Fa study is not something you can do without.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2016 New York Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XIV)
After I attended the nine-day Falun Dafa classes, I practiced the exercises by myself at home. I didn’t want to practice the exercises with the others because I had an attachment to being comfortable. I wanted to do the exercises inside, because it was air conditioned in the summer and warm in the winter. I felt it didn’t matter as long as I practiced the exercises. I also thought that it took too long to drive to the practice site, and I could use that time to study the Fa.
The neighbor downstairs put a note on my door one day that said I made a lot noise in the morning. I was upset and felt wronged. I explained to my relative (who owns the building) that I only practiced the Falun Dafa exercises in the morning and I did not make any loud noises. The neighbor insisted that I made noise. I thought perhaps it was a xinxing test for me and I needed to be considerate of others. I lowered the volume for the exercise music. After I explained several times, my neighbor agreed that the noise came from the other tenants. However, he did not remove the note from my door.
I enlightened to the fact that Master was using this to encourage me to do the exercises outdoors with the others. I began going to the exercise site in December 2022.
I persisted and went to the group practice site regardless of the bleak winter or hot summer days. I eliminated many attachments during this process. I always wanted to stay in bed a little longer, or I had negative thoughts about having to get up so early. I realized this would become a vicious cycle if I kept letting these bad thoughts continue.
Now when my alarm goes off in the morning, I silently recite: “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” to replace those negative thoughts. The results are good and I’m able to get out of bed. I was also afraid of getting bitten by mosquitoes or flies crawling on my face. At first, I wore a hat with a protective net. I later overcame this fear and took the hat off. I regarded getting bitten or having flies crawl on my face as a way of eliminating karma.
I still have many attachments. For example, I’m happy when it rains and I don’t have to go to the park. I know I need to eliminate my attachment to being comfortable. I’m happy when the weather gets cold, as there are fewer mosquitoes and flies. However, the more I think about it, the more mosquito bites I get. If I don’t think about it, everything is fine.
My neighbor’s note is still on my door but my relative no longer calls me about the noise.
I attend the local group Fa study. At first I mispronounced the words when I read, and I didn’t really have anything to share. I felt I hadn’t really cultivated well, so I made up things to make myself sound better. I felt frustrated afterwards because I was not truthful. I wanted to show off and be recognized by the other practitioners.
Through constant Fa study, I calmed down. I was able to think clearly and talk about my cultivation experiences. I realized that if I practiced truthfulness, I should not lie to make my experiences sound better.
Attending the meetings and talking about my experiences helped my cultivation. I was be able to view issues from other practitioners’ perspectives and understandings. I may not agree with their viewpoints but I feel that different cultivation enlightenment inspires and encourages every one of us to align with the Fa’s principles.
I realized that many attachments surface when I share my cultivation experiences with my family members who also practice Falun Dafa.
My mother has practiced the exercises for two years but still has not finished reading Zhuan Falun. She started going to the nine-day lecture classes when she was diagnosed with cancer several months ago. My younger sister (also a Falun Dafa practitioner) and I realized that Mother still had many ordinary thoughts and did not truly believe in Dafa. We began reading the Fa and sharing our cultivation insights with her.
My sister and I tend to talk over each other. We also lack patience. We often go off topic, talk about something else, and waste a lot of time. When we looked inward we realized that we should look at problems from our mother’s perspective instead of blaming her since she was a new practitioner. We should not compare her cultivation status with a cultivator who may have read Zhuan Falun hundreds of times. My mother still had the attachment of fear and wanted to cure her illnesses using ordinary methods.
In addition to being impatient, arrogant, impolite, and holding grudges, I realized I was selfish. I wanted my mother to get better so I didn’t have to spend hours accompanying her to chemotherapy. I also lacked compassion. My sister said I looked unhappy whenever my mother talked about our relatives. My sister and I discovered our own shortcomings and reminded each other to hold ourselves to a cultivator’s standard in the future.
Master said,
“What kind of attitude do many Dafa disciples consistently have toward their family members? “They are my family members, so when it comes to things that would be good for them, what I say goes. I will take care of some things for them since, after all, I’m looking out for their best interests.” That’s not how it works. Once you start to cultivate, you are fellow practitioners, and each of you is to return to your own heavenly kingdom. Whoever has cultivated well will be able to return, and no one can [do cultivation] on behalf of someone else.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2007 New York Fa Conference,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume VIII)
Although I understood the principles Master mentioned, my sister and I still viewed my mother’s situation with ordinary thoughts. I realized this was because we lacked compassion.
I’ve lost many umbrellas since I began practicing Falun Dafa.
The first time I knew it was a hint that I needed to eliminate my attachment to reputation and money, but it took a long time to calm down. After this happened a couple of times, I knew it was time to eliminate my attachment to fame (saving face) and gain. I told myself not to think too much about it, but I didn’t dig deeper to find the root of the problem.
Someone accidentally took my umbrella again when I attended group Fa study. Although I told another practitioner, “It’s okay,” I was upset. I realized that my attachment to saving face and money hadn’t been eliminated. I also held grudges and hadn’t eliminated my ego.
I thought, “I just purchased this umbrella!” and, “How can I lose my umbrella at group Fa study?!”
After I read an article on Minghui.org, I realized everything happened for a reason. We cultivate in the delusion of ordinary human society and we do not know what karmic debts we owe from past life times. Nothing is coincidental in cultivation and everything is intertwined with our karmic debts. Master has endured and suffered so much for us. How can I feel wronged? What is truly mine in this human world? Should cultivators desire these material things? When I thought about it like this, I enlightened and truly let go of my attachment.
These are my understandings at my current cultivation level. Please compassionately point out anything that is not in line with the Fa.