(Clearwisdom.net) I am sixty-three years old, and began practicing Falun Gong in 1998. Since the day I obtained the Fa, I have felt that I am the happiest person in the world. All my illnesses disappeared, I became more considerate of others, and my tolerance grew. I have been constantly improving my xinxing. After the persecution began in July 1999, I never wavered in my firm belief in Dafa, no matter how much pressure was placed on me by my family or the outside world, even in the face of life and death.
Improving Myself by Clarifying the Truth with Fellow Practitioners
From Master's lectures, we have learned that we need to do the three things well, study the Fa well, send forth righteous thoughts, and save more sentient beings. Master taught us,
“I can see that everything is heading into the final stage. It’s just that many people are afraid to acknowledge this reality and its progressive unfolding; that the number of lives to be saved before the final moment arrives has not reached the amount it should; and that there is still a portion of Dafa disciples that hasn’t kept up. That is the key reason why the end of this undertaking still hasn’t been enacted.” ("Be More Diligent")
After I read this Fa, I felt it was even more urgent to save sentient beings.
After realizing my mission, I could no longer sit around. I kept thinking about those kind people who would be eliminated because they did not know the truth, and I could not help crying whenever I thought about that. I set saving sentient beings as my top priority, no matter if I was taking a walk, riding the bus, shopping, or visiting relatives.
I teamed up with a seventy-year-old fellow practitioner to clarify the truth. We studied the Fa in the morning, and clarified the truth in the afternoon. We went out almost every day. We chose the place ahead of time and when we met, we first cleaned out the evil factors in that dimension through sending forth righteous thoughts, and then worked together. When one of us talks, the other sends forth righteous thoughts, and when necessary, we help each other. The fellow practitioner had very strong righteous thoughts, she had no fear, when she gave out truth-clarifying materials, it went very smoothly. Despite her age, she walked with me daily for long periods of time, just wanting to save people. Sometimes she didn't even notice that her legs or feet hurt until later. We were usually able to clarify the truth to several dozen people, but she always said that it wasn't enough. During one holiday, we clarified the truth to over seventy people, and we reminded each other not to develop any zealotry.
It worked well when we teamed up. Besides the synergistic energy working effectively, we also helped each other by pointing out each other's attachments. This fellow practitioner showed me my attachments of fear, of being afraid of losing face, and of focusing on others' shortcomings. I also pointed out her shortcomings such as trying to gain petty advantages when purchasing things by haggling over prices. These attachments can be very deep. Sometimes even after they are pointed out by fellow practitioners, they are still hard to let go of. I sometimes agonized over these attachments.
Master said,
“You fell here from a holy, pure, and incomparably splendid world because you had developed attachments at that level. After falling into a world that is, by comparison, most filthy, instead of cultivating yourself to go back in a hurry, you don’t let go of those filthy things that you cling to in this filthy world, and you even agonize over the most trivial losses. Did you know that in order to save you the Buddha once begged for food among everyday people? Today, I once again make the door wide open, and teach this Dafa to save you. I have never felt bitter for the numerous hardships I have suffered. Then what do you have that still can’t be abandoned? Can you bring to heaven the things deep down inside that you cannot let go of?” (“True Cultivation,” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
When we realized our attachments and became determined to eliminate them, we felt so much lighter. We realized that Master was helping us.
I felt that this fellow practitioner sometimes served as a mirror to let me discover deep-seated attachments. One day we went out to clarify the truth, and we were at a shoe booth, which had a sale with deep discounts, but the fellow practitioner was still haggling over prices. I felt it was too much. I felt it was not an accident that I saw this, but I could not find my attachment at the time. I was very attentive in cultivating away selfishness and the attachment to personal gain. When I was at a loss, an article from Minghui Weekly reminded me. In the article, a fellow practitioner stated that when you look inward and can't find anything, look deeper to see if you have any resentment, any inkling of looking down upon others. Have you looked for the other person's extraordinary side? I finally found it, I was not seeing the amazing part of her, because after I reminded her several times of her shortcoming and she didn't correct it, I developed resentment, and looked down on her. When I gave it some deep thought, I realized that it wasn't easy for the fellow practitioner, as she lived a thrifty life by herself. In order to do the three things well, she often skipped meals, she often walked for long distances, and she still tirelessly clarified the truth. Sometimes she ran in and out of a crowd just to tell the previous listener, “Don't forget Falun Dafa is good.” I was deeply moved when I thought of all her shining points. I then felt closer to her, and respected her even more. When I eliminated those attachments, my xinxing also improved, and I felt great. When I did something right, Master encouraged me. When I was meditating the next morning, I saw a mountain, that was very steep at the top. My hands were on the top of the mountain, but my feet were not up there yet. I have to work harder.
Helping Former Fellow Practitioners and People with Predestined Relationships Walk on the Path of Dafa Cultivation
Master said,
“As your Master, I can't leave behind a single disciple, and I'll tell you that as a coordinator, you can't leave behind a single one of my disciples.” ("Teaching the Fa at the Meeting with Asia-Pacific Students")
My nephew stopped practicing Falun Dafa after the persecution began. I must help him. I told him what Master said,
“With human beings... when a being can obtain the Fa today in history, it's no ordinary thing--he's so fortunate! But as soon as he loses the Fa, do you know what he faces? It's really horrific, because when he fails to fulfill the major responsibilities and the huge missions that were bestowed upon him, then, accordingly, that's like the inverse of a being's Consummation, and he will truly have to enter the gate of no-life.” ("Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Chicago Conference")
I reminded him to continue cultivation each time I saw him, and I sometimes visited him at home. He always promised me that he would, but forgot when he went home. I felt that was not good, and I realized that I needed to let him study the Fa with a group. I found a Fa study group near his house, and he went several times and then stopped. I still didn't give up. It just so happened that there was this couple who were fellow practitioners, looking for a house to rent. I helped them find a place near my nephew's house. We established a Fa study group at my nephew's house, and with the help of that couple, my nephew finally returned to cultivation and became more diligent. His mother also began practicing, and his father's attitude towards Dafa changed. I knew Master arranged all of this. Thank you compassionate Master. Thank you selfless fellow practitioners.
When we were out clarifying the truth, we often ran into former practitioners. I tried my best to bring them Dafa books, DVDs, and various materials, and told them to cherish this Dafa for which we have been waiting for ages, and tried my best to help them.
I met a young fellow in his thirties the other day. I clarified the truth to him, and he understood and agreed to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He told me that he believed in Buddhism and also showed me his conversion certificate. He said that he wanted to return to heaven through cultivating Buddhahood. I told him only our Falun Dafa Master is able to do this in this day and age. I told him that shortly after I began practicing Falun Dafa, all my illnesses disappeared, and for the last eleven years, I had not taken a single pill. He said that he still has illnesses, and he wanted me to find a Dafa book for him. When I brought the book Zhuan Falun to him, I told him that the book is very precious, is a heavenly book, that he should respect it, and clean his hands before reading the book. He said that he cleaned his hands and when he saw Master's picture, and said, “Great, great.” He thanked me profusely for guiding him on the righteous way. I was also very happy for him. Another one with a predestined relationship obtained Dafa!
I know that I still have a long way to go. Each time I read Minghui Weekly, I feel that fellow practitioners are cultivating better and better, and enlightening higher and higher, but that there is still a big gap between me and fellow practitioners. I still have so many attachments, including fear, resentment, and irrational states at times. We are walking on the last journey of Fa rectification, and I must be strict with myself by cultivating away these attachments. I will listen to Master, change my human notions on a fundamental level, and do the three things well. Let us follow Master home.
Heshi.
