(Minghui.org) Master has told us that practitioners should “...always cultivating as if you were just starting will surely result in achieving your ultimate rank.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2009 Greater New York International Fa Conference”)
I have practiced Falun Dafa for more than a decade, but I was not always diligent. When reading Master’s teachings, I sometimes thought about other things, or I often dozed off. As a result, my understanding of the Fa remained superficial, and I stagnated at the same level for a long time.
After reading articles on the Minghui website about memorizing the Fa, I decided to do it. In addition to reading the Fa during group study, I began to memorize it. I started reciting Hong Yin every day whenever I had time. Later I began to memorize Zhuan Falun and Essentials for Further Advancement. As I memorized and recited more poems and books, I began to reach a higher level of wisdom, and I gained a deeper insight of the Fa. I relinquished many attachments that I previously could not let go of. For instance, I was very sad for a long time after my mother passed away. I worried about my father, since he grieved after mother’s death. Both my parents were practitioners.
One day I suddenly realized: We can easily observe the transformations a cicada goes through in it's lifespan. The little insect emerges from the earth and then climbs onto a tree. It flies off after growing wings, leaving its shell on the tree bark. After flying to higher trees, the fully grown cicada is not attached to its shell. I believe this insect’s life is a hint from divine beings. As humans we can see a cicada’s transformation, because we live in a higher level.
Divine beings are at a more superior level than humans, and they see humans the same way we see insects. Humans dropped to earth from above because we became selfish and acquired attachments in heaven. After their lifetime, people left the world, and their bodies were abandoned on earth. (There are exceptions). The only way for our primordial spirit to return home is through cultivation of Falun Dafa. I gained deeper insight: Returning to one’s original and true self is our life’s real purpose, just like Master said:
“If you can let go of life and death, you’re a God; if you can’t let go of life and death, you’re a human—this is the difference.” (“Fa Teaching Given in New York City” in Lectures in the United States)
As I was writing the above sentence, I opened Zhuan Falun and saw the following sentence:
“From a high-level perspective, everyday people are playing with mud while in society without realizing that it is dirty.” (Lecture Six)
As I read these words, they glowed. I realized that I had the right understanding, and Master was encouraging me. At the time, I saw another analogy. The way humans see ants busily moving their food is exactly the way gods view humans. Ants may also compete with each other to see who has more food or a larger home, but they may never realize that much bigger lives such as humans exist, and human buildings are millions of times larger than ant holes.
We may think ants are a lower level life, but to gods humans are low level lives, like ants. After realizing this, I couldn't find any reason to hold onto any human attachment. Nothing from this world can be brought to heaven. I felt so enlightened as if a shell were removed from my body. I will never be attached to money, fame or sentimentality.
In the past, I usually only talked to one person at a time. After reading an article in Minghui Weekly, I was impressed by the practitioner’s experience in clarifying the facts to groups. I saw my shortcomings and decided to improve. Master saw my determination and arranged a series of opportunities for me. I started by talking to two people. Soon I found myself talking to three, four and five people at the same time. Gradually, I could clarify the truth to groups with ease.
A client once called to ask if I was available to discuss a project with himself and five others. I was reluctant because it was my only day off and I had planned to clarify the truth in the city that afternoon. But I immediately knew I was wrong. These people came to me for the truth, so I agreed to see them that afternoon. After the phone call, I prepared a Falun Dafa informational materials package for each one of them.
I kept reciting the Fa from memory on my way to meet them. After we met, we had a good conversation about the project. As they were standing to leave, I said, “Now that we are done talking about the work, I have something more important to tell you.” Without pausing, I began telling them about Falun Dafa. I told them that I began to practice it in 1998, and explained what Falun Dafa is.
I told them my reason for telling them the truth. I said, “When people listen to the weather forecast and hear that a thunderstorm is coming, they close their windows and find their umbrellas. Since only specialists can forecast weather, everyone listens to them. Not long ago, people discovered a sentence that says 'The Chinese Communist Party Dies' on a 100 million year-old rock in Guizhou Province, and the words were naturally formed millions of years ago. I'm hoping you will all choose to do the right thing and quit the Chinese Commuist Party (CCP).
They appreciated my concern for them and agreed to sever from their past and current association with the CCP. In order to use proper nick names, I asked for their family names. One told me his surname is Liu. I said: “Why don’t you use Liu Zhufu. (meaning keep your fortune)?” Everyone laughed and said, “You are good at names.”
A section chief said, “I believe you. Please give me a nick name. My family name isZhao.” I gave him Zhao Xinsheng (Zhao meaning new life). He liked it very much. After all five were done, I told them to recite “Falun Dafa is great, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is great.” I gave each one some Falun Dafa informational materials and a bookmark with a Falun Dafa message. I also gave each a copy of the ticket to visit the Guizhou ancient rock (with the inscription on it). They thanked me repeatedly before leaving.
One day a former classmate called me from Shandong Province. He wanted to visit me the next day and bring a vice president from his company. I knew this must be an opportunity for me to tell them about Falun Dafa. I decided that I'd talk to them during our first meeting. In the past, I usually started talking about Falun Dafa and the persecution after several meetings. But this time, they came from so far, I did not want them to miss the opportunity.
They came early the next morning. After our business meeting, I began to tell them about Falun Dafa. After one hour of conversation, they both were quite happy to have learned the truth. They also agreed to use real names to denounce their past and current association with the CCP and its affiliates. My classmate even convinced his wife to do the same. They also happily accepted bookmarks with a Falun Dafa message, and some informational materials and DVDs.
After the meeting, I walked with them to see them off. Their driver was waiting. Without wasting any time, I told the driver about the “quit the CCP movement.” He was very receptive and agreed to quit his Party association. The vice president said, “Today we did not come for nothing. The information is very critical. We really appreciate you spending so much time with us.” I was moved by his kind words, because I knew people are yearning to be awakened.
A client called to thank me for helping him, and said, “I always get help from you. Next time I plan to bring some beauty products as a gift.” I said, “Thanks, but please do not bring anything. I have three rules when dealing with clients: 1) never receive a penny; 2) never let clients pay for my meal; 3) never ride in client’s car.” Surprised, he asked, “You must have a religious belief, am I right?” I said, “I'll explain the next time we meet.”
A few days later, he came to my office. I told him that I have practiced Falun Dafa for over ten years. He said: “Do you know what my job is? I'm a police captain.” I said, “In that case, I should tell you something important, that will help you to have a bright future.” I went on to tell him about Falun Dafa and the facts of the persecution. After a long talk, he was totally convinced, and said, “I thought Falun Dafa practitioners were criminals. I arrested more than 300 practitioners in the past. What should I do?”
I said, “My Master has compassion for everyone. As long as you have real remorse, publicly denounce your past and current association with the CCP and its affiliates, and help Falun Dafa practitioners within your capacity, you will be spared from final termination.” He promised that he would never persecute practitioners in the future. He quit the CCP with his real name. He also asked that I help his wife (a party official) quit. The next morning at 8 a.m., I received his call: “Did you do that (quit the CCP) for my wife?” I told him: “Yes, it’s all set.” Before the Chinese New Year, this police captain gathered the names of practitioners whom he sent to labor camps, and had all of them released.
From that time on, he put his best effort in helping Falun Dafa practitioners. One day he received a call from an informant, telling him that some people were gathered in a residential area. He and several officers went there and found several Falun Dafa practitioners.
Unable to release the practitioners in front of his subordinates, he took them to his police station. He did not give the practitioners a hard time. The next morning, he bought meat buns for their breakfast and had them released.
I realized that our truth clarification must be thorough. We need to make sure they really know what Falun Dafa is, and that the Party is truly evil. They must understand that quitting their Party affiliation is their only choice to move into the future. Many people accepted my advice. Some have become practitioners.
A business owner client came to see me, and asked, “Please tell me how much money I can withdraw now. I need cash to visit a hospital.” He complained, “I have chest pain, I cannot smoke or drink alcohol.” I advised him to recite “Falun Dafa is great, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is great.” I said, “This is very good for your health.”
He nodded and accepted a bookmark with Dafa words. A few days later, he called me, and said, “You know after reciting those words, I'm well now. How can I thank you? You never accept favors from clients. Unlike those pharmaceutical sales persons, all they want is your money. How can I return the favor?”
I said, “My Master told us to become unselfish and altruistic. You have a predestined relationship with Falun Dafa. I will be very happy if you share your good experience with your friends.”