Shared at the 2002 European Fa Conference in Copenhagen
I am an Italian practitioner that started cultivation near the end of 1995. At that time, I took part in the first international experience-sharing conference in Beijing, and was fortunate to see our Master for the first time.
"Falun Dafa Hao!" This is Chinese for "Falun Dafa is Good!" This is so right. I have got too many reasons to validate this sentence! My mind, my spirit, and my physical health all benefited greatly from this practice. I try to use the standards of Dafa to guide my daily activities and my business activities. Many people say that if you do things according to "Zhen Shan Ren," then you cannot work well as a manager. My experience has proven this wrong. If someone does something wrong inadvertently in business dealings, if he could apologise sincerely to his clients, not only will he be pardoned by the clients, but he will become even more trusted. I think "Zhen" (Truthfulness) is the simplest way to solve problems, and letting go of the attachments to fame, profit and power is the best way to gain success.
My weakness lies in my character. I am too tough and arrogant, therefore my competitive mentality is very strong. But I have found that, so long as I can treat others with a moderate and peaceful attitude, I won't fight with others and create karma.
When I first obtained the Fa, my business in China was in a lot of difficulties. At that time, I was very worried that I would have to admit failure. I worked very hard, travelling around China to sell my products, but all in vain. Many times someone seemed to be willing to buy my products, but their orders never came. I had to keep the production going on, in order to train my employees. But my products just could not get sold. The situation became more and more difficult.
Many people began to laugh at me. For a person as proud as I was, this kind of insult was unbearable. It was my attachment that was preventing me from running the company successfully. When I realised this through practising Dafa and eliminated this attachment, all of a sudden, my products were sold and my company got on track. It was like a miracle.
Now I am having difficulties again, because I cannot go back to China to manage my own company. But, as my attachment to this has disappeared, I am not worried about losing it. One year ago, I couldn't give up my attachment to the business that I had painstakingly built up. It was not about the money that I had invested into it. Rather, it was some subtle things, like my notions that the old forces had created in my mind. The sense of responsibility for my employees, for the other investors and for my family, prevented me from acting like a Dafa disciple. I almost thought that I was the only one responsible for all that had happened, and that it was me who was to decide the destiny of myself and the others involved.
On the issue of illnesses, I have also gone through many tribulations. Through practising Dafa, I realised that it was my notions about illnesses that were really causing trouble. After that, I have always been extremely healthy.
Here I want to mention many fellow practitioners in Mainland China. Their experience sharing and the way they behaved helped me start my cultivation. I have forgotten many of their names, but I remember the beauty in their smiles and the peace and serenity in their voices. They opened their doors to me, and helped me unselfishly. They listened patiently to my jabbering, which I confidently believed to be wise.
I remember my experience trying to cross my legs. At that time, I thought that I could never cross my legs in such a noble and elegant way as my fellow practitioners did. Later, after painful practice, I finally overcame it and was able to double-cross my legs. Even today, my legs are very painful when I do double-crossing, but the moment of tranquillity in meditation is priceless.
I always think I cannot help others very well, but I want to do my very best to tell you my experience in cultivation, hoping that someone will benefit from it in some way.
I have experienced many things personally since I began cultivation. I have experienced beauty and peace in cultivation, happiness at the international conference, concerns when the Chinese media first attacked Dafa, interference at practice sites when the Tianjin incident and Zhongnanhai took place, and the day when the persecution of Dafa started in July of 1999.
On that day, my life took an abrupt turn. And I believe many other practitioners had the same feeling. After experiencing doubt, not knowing what to do, making mistakes, I finally came to a new understanding and new resolution on our new mission as Dafa disciples in the Fa-rectification period.
My personal experiences have proved that, when you are in difficulties and have to make a decision, no one can help you, not even those who are closest to you. If you yourself haven't got ready, others' suggestions will be taken as pressure, and can cause resistance and conflict, which could be taken advantage of by the evil forces. Our Master has always been helping us on our paths of cultivation. Through His works, He leads us to higher realms, until we reach consummation.
When the persecution began, maybe every practitioner experienced the persecution in different forms. I also experienced a lot, in China, in Europe, even in my country, Italy, though we are a democratic state. My status as an investor in China, though not officially ended yet, has been influenced greatly. My Chinese relatives cannot go back to their own country, and their passports are refused renewal. The business community, the political circle, and the media are silent and don't want to denounce what's happening in China, because they don't want to offend the "red dragon." Furthermore, serious illegal actions were perpetrated recently in Berlin, Iceland, Russia, Hong Kong, and Cambodia. In Italy, we also experienced similar things, though not as serious -- When the head of "610 Office" in China visited Florence, though we received permission from the police, the police nevertheless drove us to a place farther away from the delegation. They didn't succeed at last, though.
I know I should be able to do more and do better. Undoubtedly the situation has improved a lot. The attacks from the evil are getting weaker and weaker, our relationship with the media is getting better and better, and more and more Members of Parliament support us. I would like to express my thanks to many fellow practitioners present today. You have generously given us a lot of help, without which we couldn't have been successful in many of our Fa-rectification activities.
It is regrettable that some fellow practitioners, for various reasons, have chosen to practice cultivation quietly at home, and are reluctant to participate in activities intended to clarify the truth to Chinese people. These activities take a lot of painful effort, and they don't seem to generate quick results, especially at the beginning. However, those Chinese people have suffered the most from the evil persecution, and they don't have other channels through which to get correct information. These practitioners are always a bit hesitant when taking action. I'm not criticising anybody. I don't have a right to do so. But I really feel sorry for them, because they are losing an opportunity that, once lost, will never come back again. I always do my best to remember the requirements for Fa-rectification period Dafa disciples -- study the Fa well, clarify the truth, and send forth righteous thoughts.
I know I have made a lot of mistakes. When I want to get something accomplished at all costs, I often end up going after the desirable results like in a sports competition. It is our responsibility to step forward and use various methods to validate the Fa. But I think we should never forget that our purpose is to safeguard the Fa, safeguard the dignity of Master and of ourselves. Only when we use our wisdom can we break up the arrangements made by the old forces to sabotage the Fa. Otherwise we could damage Dafa because of our own shortcomings.
When sabotaging Dafa, the evil forces made up a whole series of lies, which culminated in a staged farce of "self-immolation." I think our compassionate behaviours and actions are the ultimate response to all this.
(Copenhagen, September 22, 2002)
Category: Journeys of Cultivation
