(Minghui.org) Greetings, esteemed Master and fellow practitioners!
Since I started to practice Falun Dafa, I formed the habit of sitting properly to study the Fa, after showering and changing clothes. I concentrate solely on the Fa, so every cell in my body is also learning. I am certain that this habit of learning the Fa laid a solid cultivation foundation for me.
As a coordinator of a practice site, I also formed the habit of doing the morning exercises every day. I fully understand, as I started to practice Falun Dafa after 1999, that I need to combine personal cultivation and Fa-rectification cultivation.
Master told us, “Cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one’s master.” (Zhuan Falun).
Among my priorities is to study the Fa daily, so I can measure everything with the Fa. I also always look within and try to remove every thought that is not within the Fa. I want to be in a pure state without any distraction.
I am deeply grateful to Master, for changing me from a feisty impatient person to a Dafa practitioner.
After I returned to Australia from the 2011 New York Fa Conference, I realized that I should set up a truth-clarification site.
When I was driving on the highway, suddenly the epileptic symptoms that had disappeared for several years, recurred. I felt dizzy, was about to faint, and almost had a car accident. That day I reflected on my cultivation and found that I had slacked off because of the pursuit of comfort. I realized that I had not fulfilled my promise of assisting Master in the Fa-rectification.
The next day I participated in a signature drive to call for an end to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s crime of organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. I was told by a woman that she had seen a similar activity in the city's Town Hall. It was a hint from Master to clarify the truth about Dafa to main stream society. I asked a fellow practitioner to apply for a site at Town Hall, while I looked for banners and petitions. I shared the idea with more practitioners, and over 20 practitioners agreed to hold the activity every Friday.
Fellow practitioners and I organized many activities, and collected a lot of signatures during our signature drives. Sometimes we held up to three activities a week, and sometimes even two activities in a single day.
Practitioners asked me how I balanced family life and everything that a practitioner should do.
“I put aside the human things, regardless of their importance, as nothing is as important as what practitioners do. However, if I hesitate just a little it becomes difficult for me to abide by my pledge,” I answered.
I understand that cultivation is actually quite simple, if one knows clearly what needs to be done. When I stray a little, I remember the unprecedented persecution that is going on in China, especially when it comes to harvesting organs from living practitioners. How can I relax at home and do nothing to stop the crime?
Similar to many other families, I have a child and disabled parents-in-laws in their 80s, as well as my own business. Actually, my answer is simple: Master will help solve everything, as long as one wants people to understand Falun Dafa.
When I was not diligent, my child had a fever, my in-laws fell ill and were hospitalized, and family conflicts also increased. Yet, when I supported Dafa activities during my weekends, I still had time to take my child to dance class, play violin and go swimming. While on the surface a fellow practitioner helped me take care of my daughter, in essence Master has arranged everything well.
If I concentrate on my abilities before doing things that I should do, then I magnify my human side and limit my true self. However when I put importance on Dafa activities without any human notions, I can indeed feel Master helps and protects me.
I was going to a place and the brakes on the car suddenly stopped working. I calmly told the car not to worry as I would slowly drive it to a safe place, as it was a Sunday and no shop was open. I went to my car the next morning, and found it was parked right across from the car repair shop.
I have been clarifying the truth about Dafa, and experienced numerous troubles and challenges. However, this is cultivation, and I can only firmly move forward, as there is no turning back.
When I felt that my human side had reached the limit, I had diarrhea before I went out. However as soon as I reminded myself why I was needed at an activity, I could put aside my discomfort.
I know I have many shortcomings. However fellow practitioners tolerate me, so we can improve together, especially we all have the same outcome in mind – to do better at awakening people!
Master said:
“Cultivation is the cornerstone of what we do, and saving people is our responsibility. Both of these things need to be done well.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2015 New York Fa Conference”)
When I felt fellow practitioners did not cooperate well, did not come to the site on time to help unload the banners and materials, I would tell myself, to not wait or rely on others in cultivation, just unconditionally look within, and be more considerate of others. After this thought, a large layer of my attachment of complaining was eliminated.
My weekly chores are numerous from Monday to Friday, which includes taking care of my business. However on Thursdays, in between taking care of the family and doing housework, I strengthen my Fa study, send righteous thoughts and correct anything that might otherwise affect my cultivation state. On Fridays, with very strong righteous thoughts I am ready to set up a Dafa booth.
Master said:
“But consider what I have said: if whatever it is that you’re doing is not grounded in the Fa, if it does not have the power of the Fa, and if you haven’t cultivated well, you will not do those things well. Although you might have done whatever it is, it has not achieved any effect and simply cannot save people, for you are ineffective in dissolving evil factors. That is why Fa-study is still the most, most important thing—it is the fundamental guarantee for all that you are to do.” (“Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa - Fa Teaching Given at the 2011 Washington DC Metro Area Fa Conference ”)
However busy or tired I am, I always make sure that I study the Fa. When I run into external factors that prevent me from calmly studying the Fa, I send one to two hours of righteous thoughts and eliminate the interference. If I am extremely tired, I might take a short nap and then complete the day’s Fa study. In a nutshell, nothing can interfere with me calmly studying the Fa each day for two hours at the very least.
Inventory for my office arrived two days late, but I had to take care of it. Then, when I was ready to go to our Dafa booth, there were heavy winds and a torrent of rain. Practitioners called to see if we would set up the booth. I do not accept interference when it comes to Dafa activities and I told the practitioners without the slightest hesitation that I would be there despite the weather condition. We would not cancel Friday’s activities at Town Hall, as we are unshakable! We must get people to sign the petitions, and continue clarifying the facts about Dafa, until the persecution and organ harvesting stops.
Sometimes we would get a sudden stretch of stormy weather, but we turn up for the battle nevertheless. I firmly believe that there are people who will come and listen to us. I realized that, if it’s something we have decided to do, we must not let false illusions obstruct our hearts to save people. If we do not go out due to a certain attachment, then we will have losses and we would not live up to Master’s arrangements.
During one of the storms, about 10 practitioners held tightly onto a banner that read Falun Dafa is Good and the storm stopped. We experienced this many times. When we unfurled a banner, the wind and rain died down.
I realized that righteous thoughts and righteous actions is what the Fa rectification wants, it is what Master wants. Master takes care of Dafa disciples time and time again. Master also looks at how disciples walk the path when validating Dafa.
We have had a booth at Sydney’s Town Hall for close to three years now. And today, we have set up another booth and it’s even better for clarifying the truth about Dafa to mainstream society.
Since I started cultivating Falun Dafa, I experienced huge changes in my mind and body. By using the abilities and righteous thoughts given to me by Master, I can actually coordinate activities well. I also have a great sense of direction and can take the truth clarification materials and equipment to wherever they are needed.
Now, during the booth activity, I take photos and interview passersby, so that I can submit first hand, detailed, vivid information to the media. I know that all of this is because of the abilities given to Dafa disciples by Master, because Dafa disciples walk the righteous path.
We have now Dafa booths on Friday’s in Sydney's central business district (CBD), as well as a booth on Saturday in various areas where Chinese people congregate around Sydney. Sometimes on Sundays, we set up a booth for interviews with the local media. For the July 20th events (the date the persecution started), we also set up booths on Thursday.
The last few years I have always been on the move, and getting worn out has become normal for me. The fear of suffering, which I developed while growing up in a comfortable environment, have naturally been cultivated away.
I am someone who has not finished elementary school. I cannot use a map and have not yet gotten the hang of a Global Positioning System (GPS}. Whenever I’m driving a car full of truth clarifying posters and banners, I don’t rely on the GPS. I just rely on righteous thoughts to travel through Sydney’s streets and lanes.
It feels as if I returned to a previous life. I always feel that I’m leading a magnificent army of men and horses, galloping across the battlefield.
Thank you Master.Thank you fellow practitioners.
(Presented at the 2015 Australia Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference)