Chicago, Illinois: Learning from Each Other at Experience-Sharing Conference

(Minghui.org) A Falun Dafa experience-sharing conference was held on August 30, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. Practitioners in nearby cities and states attended, and 16 practitioners talked about how they lived by Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

Some practitioners recalled how they went from initial curiosity about Falun Dafa to rethinking the meaning of life. Some reflected on their shortcomings while experiencing grievances and conflicts or intense pressure from their studies, family, and career. Others identified their long-hidden attachments, such as arrogance and ego, when they were criticized or had career setbacks.

Despite their different experiences and challenges, practitioners shared a common understanding: in the face of conflicts and trials, they were able to look inward, adjust themselves, and continue to improve their character by following Falun Dafa’s guiding principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

The Chicago Falun Dafa experience-sharing conference (Minghui.org)

Practitioners talked about their cultivation journeys. (Minghui.org)

Constantly Letting Go of Attachments and Improving Mind Nature

Mr. Wang shared some of what he experienced while he was studying for his doctorate. His courses at university and his research had gone well, and he also participated in projects to inform people about Dafa. After he entered the doctoral program, however, his experiments failed, he had conflicts with his advisor, and his mother, a Falun Dafa practitioner, was arrested in China.

As graduation day neared, he had to teach, complete his thesis, and look for a job. Mr. Wang’s usually kind and understanding fiancée suddenly started to criticize him, and he felt he was being treated unfairly. So he calmed down and put more time into studying Dafa’s teachings, doing the exercises, and looking inward. He realized he was moved because he had a strong desire to protect himself and was unwilling to be criticized or told he was wrong. His attachment to saving face was exposed.

Mr. Wang came to understand that he used to approach things with a “quick-fix” mentality. In reality, to truly excel requires one to endure hardship, make improvements, and overcome limitations step by step to meet the required standards. His real obstacle was his desire to take shortcuts in his cultivation, to achieve his goals with less effort, without truly cultivating himself through long-term refinement.

When Mr. Wang began to truly acknowledge and let go of these attachments, he was also able to peacefully handle the long-standing conflict with his advisor. In the end, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, earned the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award, resolved his conflict with his supervisor, and found a good job.

Sara, a Western practitioner, was in charge of coordinating a project and updating information on Falun Dafa to government officials in her state. A new practitioner pointed out some issues in her coordination. Initially, Sara instinctively defended herself and even mentally dismissed what the practitioner said. Looking inward, she realized that her long-term involvement in the project had unconsciously fostered a sense of superiority, and she felt more experienced than others. At the same time, she hadn’t truly held herself to the standards of a coordinator or taken responsibility.

Recognizing these issues, she began to listen carefully to criticism and viewed differing opinions positively. She stopped rejecting the other practitioner’s honest feedback—instead, she felt grateful, because this not only helped her improve but also helped the entire team do better.

Sara realized that, by focusing on studying Dafa’s teachings, letting go of her ego in the face of conflict, and learning to tolerate other’s differences, she was less bothered by trivial matters and her mind became more open.

Sofia, a Western practitioner, was born into a prominent family descended from the founding fathers of the United States. Influenced by her family’s position, she developed a sense of superiority and arrogance.

After she started to practice Falun Dafa, Sofia’s career progressed smoothly for eight years. She was promoted regularly and eventually became a senior executive at a large international company. Six months later, however she was suddenly dismissed.

This setback prompted her to seriously look inward. She realized that she hadn’t consistently adhered to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance; instead she was arrogant, pursued perfection, and had an attachment to completing tasks.

Sophia increased the length of time she read the Fa teachings, evaluated herself frequently, and strove to let go of her deep-rooted arrogance and attachment to self. She realized that, whenever she encountered problems, she should first look inward and use setbacks to truly improve herself, rather than looking outward. When she didn’t know what to do, she should ask Master Li (Falun Dafa’s founder) for help. This heart-wrenching lesson made her realize the importance of sincerely studying the Fa and the need to let go of her attachment to self.

Taking Cultivation Seriously

Mr. Nguyen, who has almost completed his doctorate, was introduced to Falun Dafa in middle school, but it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that he truly grasped the significance of cultivation.

Mr. Nguyen’s mother began to practice Falun Dafa in 2014 and would sometimes tell him about other practitioners’ experiences and Dafa’s teachings. He was impressed by the breadth of scientific knowledge covered in the book. Out of curiosity, he readhismother’scopy of Zhuan Falun and learned the exercises. However, he didn’t have a deep understanding of what it meant to cultivate.

It wasn’t until the global lockdowns due to the COVID pandemic began that he suddenly realized how much time he had wasted by not taking cultivation seriously. Mr. Nguyen hadn’t participated in any projects to introduce Falun Dafa. As the COVID-19 pandemic brought the entire world to a standstill, he saw the brevity of life and realized that human joys are fleeting and empty.

Mr. Nguyen thought, “Why didn’t I take clarifying the truth more seriously in the past? Now that everything is under lockdown, how can I have another opportunity to talk to others about Dafa?” He asked Master to give him another chance, and, from that moment on, he felt that he truly embarked on the path of cultivation.

Suong Ha grew weary of the pursuit of fame, fortune, and emotional entanglements in 2016. While gazing at the stars one evening, she thought about finding a cultivation way to escape all the turmoil. She later happened to read an article about a Western psychologist who regained his physical and mental health after practicing Falun Dafa. Intrigued, Suong began to learn the exercises. In the first few days, she saw clusters of bright Falun (law wheels), which she initially mistook for laser beams from helicopters shining into her room.

When Suong later had a physical exam prior to immigrating, she discovered that her chronic hepatitis B was no longer detectable even though her own doctor had told her that the disease was incurable. She wondered how this could be when she suddenly remembered that she practiced Falun Dafa. So she read Zhuan Falun and found that the book answered most of her questions about life. She read all the Falun Dafa books and went to a local group practice site. She sincerely thanked Master for the intricate arrangement that allowed her to become a practitioner.

Improving Together

Other practitioners talked about how they cultivated and improved themselves amidst family hardships, how they promoted Shen Yun, and how they told others about Dafa.

A discussion in a truth-clarification group resonated with the attendees. They felt that clarifying the truth shouldn’t be limited to familiar areas but should extend more broadly to all levels of society, giving more people the opportunity to learn about Falun Dafa.

They collaborated to deliver truth-clarification materials to surrounding counties, cities, towns, and villages, including remote rural areas and Amish communities that are isolated from modern technology. Unless practitioners go to such places, it would be very difficult for the people there to access this information.

The practitioners also realized that clarifying the truth and saving people doesn’t necessarily require waiting for a large-scale event, nor does it require waiting until all conditions are met before they reach out to people. As long as one is sincere, one can start from what’s around them. As long as one is willing to take a step forward, Master will create opportunities.

These discussions made a deep impression on the practitioners who attended the conference, and they said they were inspired to walk the remaining path of Fa-rectification well together.