(Minghui.org) I am 66 years old. I want to share some cultivation experiences from our Fa study group, and encourage practitioners who still study the Fa alone to participate in group Fa study as soon as possible.
Master arranged group Fa study for us, so we should waste no time in using this form. Group Fa study facilitates our sharing experiences with other practitioners and helps us quickly improve in cultivation.
Joy After Obtaining Dafa
I saw a group of Falun Dafa practitioners doing exercises near my home one morning in early March 1998. I stood at the back of the group and imitated their movements. An assistant soon came over and taught me the five sets of exercises. I went back there to do the exercises every day.
I had several illnesses at the time, such as chronic gastritis, arthritis, neuralgia, and severe cervical spondylosis. After practicing Falun Dafa for about two weeks, I felt that my body was light when walking and climbing stairs. I soon found that I no longer had nerve pain, and my chronic gastritis and cervical spondylosis had disappeared.
As I experienced Dafa's miracles, respect and gratitude towards Master arose from the bottom of my heart. Soon afterward, my bad temper was gone, and I smiled at everyone I met. I have maintained good health ever since.
Starting a Fa Study Group
When the persecution of Falun Gong started in 1999, my workplace pressured me to stop practicing. This pressure, along with the serious health problems of my parents, parents-in-law, and my husband interfered with my cultivation.
I stopped cultivating for some time, but Master didn't give up on me and continued to protect me and treat me as a practitioner.
Four close family members passed away in 2005, leaving only my mother still with me. With some prompting from fellow practitioners, I restarted my cultivation again. After intensive Fa study, I realized that Master is rectifying the Fa, saving the universe, and giving all lives a chance. Therefore, as practitioners, we should be cultivating to enlightenment, becoming selfless and returning to our original true selves.
Before I stopped practicing, I could not complete the hour-long fifth exercise. After I returned to cultivation, I could easily do it for an hour. I thought that this was Master reinforcing me and encouraging me. I experienced what Master said about sitting in meditation: “...you’ll feel wonderful, like you’re sitting in an eggshell.” (Zhuan Falun)
I later resumed contact with several practitioners nearby. Most of them were retired. They had gone to Tiananmen Square to appeal for the right to practice Falun Dafa and were persecuted. Their family members and workplaces monitored them.
Because of all the turmoil, these practitioners were afraid to contact each other. I felt that I had the responsibility to reconnect them, so I visited them one by one.
After we established a Fa-study group, most of us did well in cultivation by participating in the group reading.
I bought a printer and made copies of Minghui Weekly and some other truth-clarification materials to distribute. I encouraged fellow practitioners to study the Fa more and get rid of their attachments to fear.
Some attachments were gradually exposed after we started group Fa study. For example, some practitioners looked down on others, while some had a strong attachment of putting their families first.
I initially argued with practitioners and criticized them. Therefore, I did not achieve good results in my relationship with others. Through Fa study, sharing, and help from other practitioners, I eliminated most of my bad tendencies.
After a period of time, we all improved in cultivation. And to complete our responsibilities, we went out to let people know about Dafa every week.
Helping Practitioners Overcome Tribulations
One practitioner practiced Dafa diligently early in her cultivation. After the persecution started, she had a strong attachment to fear, and her cultivation diminished. She held Dafa in one hand and an ordinary, happy life in the other.
She lived in south China for half of the year and in the north for the other half. This was the fourth year she was going to do the same routine. I suggested that she not do so because it was impacting her cultivation.
Her husband argued that the warm weather in the south was good for her health, and she told me that her flight was already booked and she was getting ready to leave. While she was packing she suddenly had pain in her lower back, and couldn't move. She was taken to the hospital and was diagnosed with a fractured lumbar vertebrae. Since there was no real treatment for it, she was taken back home.
I went to see her the following evening. She lay in bed and told me that she wanted to get up. Her husband, who was also a practitioner, discouraged her from trying. I felt that his thoughts weren't aligned with the Fa, so I told her to give it a try and get up.
She sat up slowly with no assistance, and realized that the fracture was not affecting her. Previously, she couldn't even talk or eat because even opening her mouth would cause severe pain in her lower back.
The next morning she resumed doing the exercises. Two days later, she was very thankful, and said, “If you didn't come and ask me to sit up I would still be lying in bed now.”
I told her it was all directed by Master, and that I had very little to do with it.
Since then she’s gained more confidence in Dafa and Master, and she’s decided to stay at home to further improve her cultivation. She also understood that there’s no substitute for genuine group Fa study.
Fellow practitioners: please participate in group Fa study. Also bring along practitioners who practice at home, so we can improve in cultivation together.
Category: Improving Oneself
