(Clearwisdom.net) I am a ten-year-old Falun Dafa practitioner from China. I have read many articles recently written by other young practitioners published on the Minghui (Clearwisdom) website. I was so touched that I decided to share my own experience.
My grandmother told me that when I was 18 months old, I had often wanted to learn to meditate with her and listen to Teacher's lectures. Once, I sat alone on the bed, pulled down my sleeve to bare one of my shoulders, and sat in the double crossed-legged lotus position to meditate. When grandmother came into the room and saw me, she was both surprised and glad. She asked me how I learned to do it this way, and I pointed at the Teacher's picture on the wall. She was really happy.
After that, I started to attend the group Fa-study with grandmother. When we attended the Fa-study, I always behaved myself and did not make any noise. Many fellow practitioners called me a little practitioner. I memorized many of Teacher's short lectures, poems, Lunyu, and so on. Although I could not say them clearly, I recited them to my father and mother when we got home. Since they were not practitioners, they could not understand them, but grandmother knew.
After July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cruelly persecuted Dafa practitioners. Grandmother and I experienced different degrees of the xinxing tests. When my parents saw me doing meditation with grandma, they rushed to me and pulled my legs out of position and would not allow me to meditate. They took me away from grandmother, and I was no longer allowed to sleep at her house. I only learned the Fa with her when she was taking me to kindergarten.
Immediately after the persecution started, my grandmother turned in many Dafa books under pressure, because she still had many attachments. I said to her, "Even if they beat you to death, you still should not have turned in Dafa books." Grandmother was very sad and knew that she had made a big mistake. She knew she needed to firmly cultivate Dafa and strive forward diligently.
For the past several years, I had persisted in memorizing Teacher's articles with grandmother while on our way to school. Sometimes I went out to pass out truth clarifying materials with her. Sometimes I delivered Teacher's articles to fellow practitioners. I had also clarified the truth to people to save sentient beings.
The publication of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party created such a strong shock in China. Grandmother told me that my classroom teacher wanted to withdraw from the CCP. My teacher had also agreed that our whole class should resign from the CCP Young Pioneers and break away from the evil party. I volunteered to write down all fifty names of my classmates and to declare their withdrawals on the website.
I realized that when we consider ourselves as cultivators, we will have no fear when we encounter difficulties. Teacher said:
"As long as you upgrade your xinxing, you can overcome them. Unless you, yourself do not want to do so, you can make it, provided you want to overcome them." (Zhuan Falun, Lecture Four)
Once, while I was attending kindergarten, I was playing with a friend at home. My friend pushed me over unintentionally and injured my leg. I could not walk for a whole week. I was going to tell my parents about it, but grandmother told me, "You are a cultivator. You need to pay your debt." I understood and endured it and did not tell my parents.
I was taller than most of my classmates, but my vision was not very good. My teacher changed my seat many times in order to let me see better. But I did not feel good about this because I was afraid I might obstruct others' view. I should be considerate of others. When I looked at my situation based on the Fa and studied the Fa diligently, my vision improved.
I had the attachment of pursuing fame and personal gain without realizing it. Once, my class was electing a class leader. When I did not receive any votes, I was disheartened. When I got home and told my parents, they were also disappointed in me. Grandmother said to me, "If you can't put it out of your mind, it is an attachment." I understood that it was an opportunity for me to get rid of my attachment of pursuing fame and gain. Hasn't Teacher talked about this in his lectures? I was able to let go of my attachment right away.
I sometimes indulged in fun and games and forgot I was a cultivator. When I slacked off in cultivation, Teacher gave me hint. Twice I dreamed about seeing a big pit full of snakes and crocodiles and other horrible things. A rope from the sky was tied around my waist with a big hand holding me from behind. I was very scared when I woke up. I told grandmother about the dream. She told me that I should look within to find out what I did not do well. I knew that I did not follow what Teacher requested of us. I did not study the Fa and did not do the exercises well. I practiced on and off. Teacher has said:
"How can one be forced to practice cultivation? You cannot be made or forced to practice cultivation. It is up to you to truly make progress. No one can do anything about it if you do not wish to upgrade yourself." (Zhuan Falun, Lecture Six)
Through all these encounters, I realized the importance of cultivation. Teacher said,
"The issue of cultivation practice is not child's play, and neither is it a technique of everyday people--it is a very serious matter." (Zhuan Falun, Lecture Two)
In order to follow Teacher home, one cannot take any detours. Fortunately, I am staying with grandmother now. We often share experiences, and I am able to raise my level quickly. Before going to bed, I study the Fa and do the exercises. Listening to Teacher's lectures and memorizing Teacher's new articles has become my daily routine.
