November 21, 2003
(Clearwisdom.net) I have recently participated in the singing and dancing rehearsals for Falun Dafa related activities. There are some experiences that I would like to share with fellow practitioners.
Transcending previous understandings and limitations
I have always taken writing as my path in validating the Fa. In addition to writing articles, I also put a lot of effort into editing publications, utilizing my pen in assisting Teacher in Fa-rectification. As for other truth clarification work, it seemed that they were considered according to "individual specializations" and when time was limited, I did not participate much.
One day, the practitioner who coached our singing said something that truly made me realize my omissions on this issue. He said that when they were learning vocalization in the past, everyone sang with the strength that transcended their limitations during the rehearsal. Every time they ended up being exhausted, but that was how their voices were achieved.
I couldn't help but ask myself: During the course of my validating the Fa, each time, did I discipline myself with an even higher standard? Did I always try my best to go beyond my abilities to do Dafa work? Was I willing to try to do different Fa-rectification projects, instead of restricting myself to writing, conducting interviews and editing only? Have I been restricted by the [notion of the] limitation of time, capabilities and other resources, and accordingly limited the power of validating the Fa?
In fact, there is no division of projects in validating the Fa. Everything is set in place based on our hearts and willingness. We should be able to participate in and drop out of a particular project whenever it is needed. Many attachments can often be exposed in situations when we feel unable to attend or drop out. Nevertheless, individual cultivation status can never affect what the entire group is supposed to do. The prompts, encouragement, and advice of fellow practitioners helped me realize that I should take the initiative in breaking through my own state of mind and cooperate well with the group.
I suddenly remembered what Teacher said in Zhuan Falun, "Once humankind's conventional mentalities form a systematic way of working and thinking, new ideas are very difficult to accept." Only when I changed my notion, and am willing to put aside my own project and treated myself as a particle of the group, could I experience the magnificence of the Fa manifesting in us.
My experience in validating the Fa with singing and dancing
I did not have any particular notion when I participated in singing and dancing. My only thought was to validate the Fa and harmonize what Teacher wants. Although I was pretty busy, I did not consider too much about the issue of time. Even though I could only sing popular songs and had never danced before, I did not worry too much about the issue of my capability, either. Meanwhile, I found that many other involved practitioners were just like me, who simply attended when needed.
I found the practitioner who coached our singing was able to use his voice without any restraint. His voice was part of his life; it can go both louder and softer, and was able to carry out any tone desired. I realized that his voice was just like the words that I write. They are all the manifestations of the power that Dafa disciples use to validate the Fa. These are all abilities bestowed upon us by Teacher.
Likewise, the practitioner who coached our dancing was able to make use of his limbs freely as well. Each movement and even the facial expression were well under his control. In contrast, though my body was flexible, I could not do the more subtle and finer movements as fluently as he did. From the surface it appears to be a technical issue, but I hold a different reasoning for this.
I feel that doing my best to learn the techniques of singing is not only the manifestation of validating the Fa as one body. The part of mine that is able to control my voice is actually assimilating to the Fa while validating the Fa by singing. Similarly, while I am trying my best to improve my ability to control each and every movement in performance, the part of my body that I can fully direct is also assimilating to the Fa while learning and performing the dances to validate the Fa.
Singing and dancing are the same as using wisdom to write articles to validate the Fa. I feel though they enrich in different aspects, they help us eliminate our impurities while we validate the Fa, and to gradually attain an ever purer state. In this process, the world's people also receive benefit by reading the articles, listening to the music, and watching the performances.
When practitioners cooperate as a whole to present these artistic performances [composed by Dafa practitioners] to everyday people, we are, at the same time, also clarifying the truth and saving the society of the ordinary people.
I enlightened to another level of meaning of what Teacher said in "Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples," "So, it was arranged that when you reach the standard for ordinary Consummation, you still have, in the human world, all kinds of ordinary human thoughts and karma. The purpose is so that while doing Fa-rectification things you bring in, through your clarifying the truth and for the consummation of your paradises, beings that can be saved. As you consummate your own paradises you are, at the same time, eliminating your last karma, gradually getting rid of your human thoughts, and truly stepping forward from humanness."
Completely Melting into the Fa
It is my understanding that the path of validating the Fa for Fa-rectification Dafa disciples is not arranged by others, nor planned by ourselves. Harmonizing Teacher's decision with all our mind and body and walking each step righteously is the only way to establish our mighty virtue. If I stubbornly adhere to my plans, it is equivalent to giving up the chances beyond my own sketch. If I continue to do so, then I will not be able to reach the level I should be at. This will result in a loss for the entire group.
Looking at it as a whole, a gigantic righteous field is created when practitioners sing together. Every performer and dancer becomes a particle melting in the big stage of validating the Fa. I understand that our doing well and putting all our efforts in harmonizing the upcoming performances would be the best path for validating the Fa. Although we are already very busy, we should exceed our limitations when it comes to group projects. This is also a part of establishing our mighty virtue and we must cherish such opportunities!
These are just some of my personal understandings. Please point out anything inappropriate.
