(Clearwisdom.net) Greetings Revered Teacher! Greetings fellow practitioners!
Study the Falun Dafa Teachings Well, and Work Hard
I began practicing Falun Dafa in June 1996, when I was a graduate student. I studied the Falun Dafa teachings and did the exercises daily. I also helped promote Falun Dafa in my school. I remember thinking that it would be so wonderful if every person in China learned such a great practice. In 1999, I went to a different city to work on my Ph.D. In a strange place with a lot of pressure from school, I didn't practice as diligently as before. On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched the persecution of Falun Dafa and began arresting practitioners nationwide. I knew that the CCP was defaming and spreading lies about Falun Dafa and the practitioners, but I didn't know what to do. I gradually broke away from Dafa. I still had doubts in my heart, “Why are we being persecuted for following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance?”
Compassionate Teacher never abandoned me. I went to the USA in 2008 as a visiting professor. When I logged on to the Minghui website and saw Teacher's picture, tears covered my face. I had stopped practicing Falun Dafa a long time prior. I then downloaded all the Falun Dafa books and lectures and seized every minute to study them.
I read Teacher's lecture in Guiding the Voyage,
“...there was a huge difference when the tribulations had just started. Some were shocked. Some were contemplating, 'What kind of person is Li Hongzhi?' Some were thinking, 'Is this Fa righteous?' A comprehensive test has targeted all human attachments. No matter what attachments you held when you came to Dafa, those attachments had to be tested. Some people thought that this or that aspect of Dafa was good, but today’s test is relentless, as no human attachment can be taken to heaven.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. Fa Conference”)
The knot in my heart was untied.
From a non-practitioner's perspective, I was brought up with the CCP's lies and brainwashing. I couldn't imagine that a political party would use the power of a government and country to suppress its citizens using deception and violence. Being a victim, I'm obligated to tell the Chinese people not to be deceived by the CCP. From a practitioner's point of view, I looked inward. My physical health was terrible prior to practicing Falun Dafa. Every time I rode in a car, I became severely carsick and vomited. Three months after I began practicing, I no longer experienced carsickness. I now perform my work extremely well, and became a university professor at a very young age due to the wisdom endowed to me by Dafa. I am under a lot of pressure from work but haven't become sick once, nor needed any medicine since practicing Dafa. This is the direct result of what Teacher has given me. I want to help Teacher during Fa rectification too!
After I returned to China, I pondered, “Why can't I help Teacher rectify the Fa like other practitioners after July 1999?” The key reason was that I hadn't studied the Fa well. I didn't realize that I should protect the Fa. Now, I'm here to help Teacher rectify the Fa and will not make the same mistake again.
Teacher said,
“In order to truly enable you to ascend through cultivation, I have utilized a method, namely, taking what I can give to you and what I can help you with, and compressing all of it into the book of Fa. The only thing left is to see if you want to obtain it. For this reason I tell everyone that when you can’t see me, you must take the Fa as the Master. Take the Fa as the Master.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference in Australia”)
I set up a rule for myself, to read or listen to the Fa lectures daily. I worked long hours, was patient with students, got along with coworkers, and didn't embezzle or take bribes. I was selected as an outstanding professor several times, but I gave the opportunity to other professors. I didn't fight for personal gain, or with others. I followed the Falun Dafa teachings in my everyday life, and received many outstanding faculty awards from the school.
Harmonize the Family and Create a Good Cultivation Environment
My wife was a member of the CCP. She saw that I was a completely different person after I returned from the USA. I didn't talk about our finances, projects, or work all the time. She didn't like this and constantly picked on me, accusing me of not putting things away or not doing things right--she didn't like anything that I did. When she saw that I was making materials for clarifying the facts about Falun Dafa, she became frightened and started a big fight with me. She wanted me to leave, and she threatened to take our child away. She told me that if I was arrested, she would be shamed and the child would be discriminated against by society. In the end, she wanted a divorce.
My wife and I used to get along very well. She worked with me through difficult situations. While I was in the USA, she raised the child alone while she went to school. After I returned home, she graduated and got a job, and believed that her life was getting better. At the time, no matter what she said, I insisted on doing these things and even had a big fight with her. I was recalcitrant and kept thinking that there was nothing wrong with holding on to the truth, the universal values of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” and that there was absolutely nothing wrong with telling people the facts about the persecution and the beauty of Falun Dafa. I kept convincing myself that I was right, and eventually thought, “I should have stayed in the USA, and none of this would've happened. I should leave and rent a place so I can do whatever I want, and not have to deal with others.”
One day, I read these words from Teacher,
“In the course of practice, we require the following of everyone: Even though you practice and your spouse might not, it is not permitted for you to get a divorce because of the practice.” (Zhuan Falun)
I suddenly realized that everything was caused by me! I fought with her and didn’t do what a practitioner should do - not fight back when beaten or sworn at. I didn't have forbearance, and was irresponsible to her and the child, let alone having compassion. I was absolutely not acting like a practitioner, although I thought that I was. I calmed down and carefully read the teachings regarding relationships between husband and wife.
Teacher said,
“Perhaps as soon as you step in the door, your spouse will throw a fit right in your face. If you endure it, your effort of practicing qigong today is not in vain. Some people also know that in qigong practice one should value de. Therefore, this person usually gets along very well with his spouse. He thinks, “Usually, if I say ‘one,’ she doesn’t say ‘two.’ Today she’s overruling me.” He cannot control his temper and will start a fight. With this, today’s practice ends up in vain. Because karma was there, she was helping him remove it. But he would not accept it and started a fight with her. The karma thus could not be eliminated. There are a lot of these instances and many of our practitioners have experienced them, but they have not thought about why they were this way. Your spouse would not care if you were to do something else. Qigong practice should actually be a good thing, but she always finds fault with you. In fact, your wife is helping you eliminate karma, though she does not know it herself.” (Zhuan Falun)
First, I had to be tolerant, so I stopped fighting with her. When she threw a tantrum, I looked at her quietly. She still wanted a divorce and asked me to choose between Dafa and the family. I knew that this was not right. I am here to help Teacher rectify the Fa and save sentient beings. I should not have to choose something that is contradictory to the Dafa teachings. I began thinking about what went wrong. I told her about the persecution, and the CCP's propaganda and lies. She had never read the fliers I made, because she was afraid to.
One day I was making a DVD, and I realized that she hadn't seen the content, and that I needed to show it to her. We used to read in bed before going to sleep. I got on the bed first and played “We Tell the Future” for myself on my laptop. She got on the bed and asked me what I was watching. I said nothing and watched quietly. Later, I saw that she was watching quietly too. After that, she asked me to play the DVD for her every day. After we finished “We Tell the Future,” we watched the “Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party,” “Casual Comments on the CCP Culture,” and Shen Yun Performing Arts. Her attitude changed, she asked me to help her quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Later, she was promoted to the Secretary of Party Commission. Everything was approved and it was about to be announced. However, she found a reason to turn it down. Soon, her side of the family learned the truth about Falun Dafa and they all quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. She is now a Falun Dafa practitioner.
This incident taught me many lessons. Facing the CCP's iron fist and lies, it's difficult to save people - even the persons closest to us. However, it is always possible to save someone. The key for me in winning my family's support was learning how to look within. The nature of cultivation is finding our own gaps and attachments, eliminating them, and assimilating to the characteristic of the universe. When our character improves, Teacher takes care of the rest. Teacher said, “Cultivation depends on one's own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one's master.” (Zhuan Falun)
Clarify the Truth, Distribute the Truth Materials
Teacher said,
“Without knowing the Fa at high levels, one cannot practice cultivation. Without cultivating one's inner self and one's xinxing, one cannot increase gong.” (Zhuan Falun)
Improving xinxing and understanding the Fa complement each other. When I learned to look within, I also understood many Fa principles that I hadn't understood before. Teacher repeatedly tells us that the book Zhuan Falun can guide us to become good persons, very good persons, extraordinary persons, and eventually reach consummation. Whenever I clarify the facts about the persecution, I let the Fa principles in Zhuan Falun guide me. I now feel that every lecture from Teacher explains how to save people, how to clarify the truth, and at the same time, how to improve our xinxing.
When I spoke to students or other teachers, I was responsible for what I said. I had to explain the facts because they should no longer be lied to. Teacher talks about qigong in Zhuan Falun, and gradually guides us to the concept of cultivation. I don't speak directly about the persecution of Falun Dafa. I begin with a discussion about the chaotic society, the phony propaganda in the news, the degenerating morality, the corrupt CCP, and the conflicts of the Chinese nation. I then talk about how the evil nature of the CCP persecutes a righteous belief like Falun Dafa. This way, people don't get defensive from an abrupt statement, and can accept my explanation. Sometimes, they ask for details about the persecution, and then realize the evilness of the CCP.
Teacher tells us that we need to clarify the truth to everyone we meet in our daily lives.
Teacher said,
“Even when in your daily life you pass by people so quickly that you don't have a chance to talk to them, you should still leave them with your compassion and kindness.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2003 Atlanta Fa Conference”)
I often pity non-practitioners, because they're always busy with something and work very hard for things that don't last. I was just like that before I went to the USA. Compassionate Teacher saved me. When I faced students or people in society, even though I couldn't talk to them face to face, I wanted to leave them with my compassion. I uploaded their phone numbers and email addresses to Minghui, and let them establish a connection with Dafa. I had to lay a foundation for them to be saved.
I bring and distribute truth clarification materials with me whenever I travel. I was afraid at times, but through studying the Fa and sending righteous thoughts, I have been able to help Teacher rectify the Fa with a firm belief.
I helped several local practitioners set up their own materials production sites. They are now in other parts of the country, diligently helping Teacher to rectify the Fa.
Dear Respected Teacher and fellow practitioners, though I still have many attachments and haven't done well in memorizing the words of Zhuan Falun, I will try to do everything I can to catch up with practitioners who progress diligently. I will carry out my prehistoric vows, help Teacher to rectify the Fa, and return home with Teacher. Please don't worry about me!
