(Minghui.org) I had the same recurring dream since I was a child – that I was flying through the boundless universe, but at the end, I was always curled up in a ball at the bottom of a dark, bottomless pit. I finally stopped having this dream when I began practicing Falun Dafa in 2009. I realized that my true self came from heaven and that reincarnating and suffering through countless lifetimes were the bottomless pit.
When I was young, my grandfather was arrested by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and our family’s wealth was taken away. I grew up in extreme poverty. My finances improved after I started working, but the interpersonal conflicts and underhanded tactics I experienced in China left me feeling hurt and confused. Looking for an answer, I visited temples and prayed to Buddhas. I asked them to take me away from this human realm to their heavenly worlds. Eventually, I became a Buddhist.
I Began to Practice Falun Dafa
My family and I moved to the U.S. in 2008. I worked for a wealthy family, and on Sundays, I took English classes. Through the classes, I became acquainted with an elderly Falun Dafa practitioner. She told me about Falun Dafa, and while I enjoyed listening to her I did not think much further about it.
My sister’s husband met a practitioner in 2009 who told him about Falun Dafa. He thought I might be interested, and told the practitioner about me. I later met the practitioner when he came to repair a computer at our home. He told me more about the practice and showed me Master Li’s (the founder) exercise instruction video. I also borrowed a copy of Zhuan Falun and an exercise DVD from him.
One morning I began reading Zhuan Falun. I felt that every sentence in the book was correct. I was so moved that I could not stop shedding tears.
I continued to work for the wealthy family, and I enjoyed staying in my small, quiet room, where I studied the Fa and did the exercises. My heart was filled with joy and contentment.
One night, I dreamed that Master Li brought me to a dilapidated house. He said, “We’ve arrived home, come in.” As soon as we walked in, he showed me a chest filled with gold, silver and jewels. Master asked me, “Do you want this?” “No,” I replied. Then he showed me another chest that held a copy of Zhuan Falun and asked, “Do you want this?” I immediately picked up the book and said, “Yes, I want this!” Master smiled happily, and I woke up. I realized that Master was pulling me out of that bottomless pit and bringing me home!
Before I began practicing Falun Dafa, I had always thought that I was a good person. But after I began practicing, I realized that I had been negatively influenced by ordinary society. Each time I read Master's teachings I could feel the negative substances being removed from me.
A few months after I began practicing, my physical appearance changed tremendously. I looked like I did when I was 18-years-old. When my boss asked me what beauty treatments I used, I replied, “I practice Falun Dafa, and I feel renewed!” My boss practiced a qigong, so I introduced Falun Dafa to her. She eagerly said that she also wanted to practice, and I gave her a copy of the exercise DVD.
Overcoming Illness Karma
One week after I attended the Fa Teaching at the 2015 West Coast Fa Conference in Los Angeles, a tumor that I had for many years suddenly became enlarged, inflamed and painful. I realized that my body was being cleansed, so I persisted in studying the Fa and doing the exercises every day. After a few days, the tumor went away. I also told my family how my severe menstrual pain disappeared after practicing Dafa, and my family was very supportive when I participated in Dafa activities.
Letting Go of My Attachment to Money
I established a business in 2012 to take care of new mothers and their babies. As my business grew, I became very busy and so I seldom studied the Fa or did the exercises. Whenever I washed my hair, it began falling out. I realized that I was losing my cultivation path in Dafa, and not just losing hair!
One night, I dreamed that I fell from a very tall building, but I was not hurt when I hit the ground. I realized that the evil interference was taking advantage of my attachments to make money, and was dragging me down! Because I was so engrossed in making money, they were interfering and arranged more profitable work to lead me down this road! I had become so busy making money that I had forgotten why I came to this world.
Two elderly practitioners would occasionally visit me. They pointed out my attachment and helped me get back on the path of cultivation. They also reminded me that practitioners must stay diligent in practicing Falun Dafa. I had not been able to balance doing things in my everyday life and was not keeping up with studying the Fa. This was interference and a test for me to see if I could walk away from making money.
I had a dream in 2014 that I walked by a large stone, which turned into a sleeping Buddha. The Buddha shed a tear, from which several sleeping Buddhas appeared. Each one of these Buddhas shed another tear, which turned into a river of blood! I woke up startled.
I realized that I had become lost among ordinary people because of profit. Were the sentient beings in my world crying?
Master said,
“Human beings often believe that everything they pursue is good. In fact, from a high-level perspective, all of this serves to satisfy those bits of vested interests among everyday people. It is said in religion that regardless of how much money you have or how high your position ranks, it is good for only a few decades. You cannot bring these things along with you at birth, or carry them away with you after death. ” (Zhuan Falun)
Talking to People about Dafa at the Airport
After I had that dream, I closed down my business and focused on diligently cultivating. As I elevated in cultivation, I realized that studying the Fa and doing the exercises were not enough. I needed to talk to people about Falun Dafa and the persecution, so I began going to the airport with other practitioners, At first, I could not overcome my attachments to fear and saving face, and I would make excuses to leave or I'd hand out newspapers instead. With the other practitioners’ encouragement, I got rid of these attachments and became open and confident.
I met all kinds of people at the airport. Some would scold us, while some encouraged us. Some were moved after learning the truth. These interactions helped reinforce my resolve.
Not Attached to Loss or Gain
I went to the airport one Sunday to clarify the truth again. I put a ring and necklace in my pocket to wear at the airport, but I forgot about them. The next day, I remembered the ring and necklace, but despite searching my clothes, home, and car, I could not find them. I told my husband, “Perhaps they did not belong to me, so they were lost. I cannot take them along with birth or after death. They are only material, decorative things after all.”
The next day, when I felt in my pocket, I found my ring and necklace! I was surprised. How was this possible? I realized that I was being tested to see whether I could give up my attachment to material things.
Master said,
“I have said that our school of cultivation directly targets one’s mind. It does not make you actually lose anything in terms of material benefits. Instead, you are to temper your xinxing amidst the material benefits of everyday people. What is truly improved is your xinxing. If you can give up the attachment, you are able to abandon everything; when you are asked to give up material benefits, you will certainly be able to do it. If you cannot let the attachment go, you will not be able to discard anything. Therefore, the real purpose of cultivation is to cultivate your heart.” (Zhuan Falun)
My Father Is Blessed with Good Fortune
My father became very ill in December 2016 and was admitted to the hospital. Over the past 10 years, he had emphysema, 50 percent blockage of his heart arteries, and a heart attack. He did not get better in the hospital, and my uncles told me to come home quickly as he might pass away. I quickly booked my flight and told my brother which day I'd arrive. I also told him to ask my father to remember the phrase I had taught him to recite.
At the time, my father was already semi-conscious and no longer responding to my siblings. He had not slept or eaten for many days. But when my brother asked him if he remembered what I had taught him to say, he immediately replied, “Falun Dafa is Good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good.” My brother was stunned. He and my siblings began reciting the phrase with my father, and my father finally had his first sleep in many days. The next morning, my father got up and wanted to go outside. His leg swelling was gone, and he looked just as healthy as before. My brother and uncles felt it was miraculous.
My father’s life was prolonged for another year before he passed away. According to my sister, he called my siblings to inform them that he would be passing on soon, but they did not believe him. My uncle later found him lying peacefully in bed. Even after he passed away, his body was still soft and warm. I realized that because my father had quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations, and recited “Falun Dafa is Good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good” for many years, he was in a good place.
During my cultivation journey, I feel that the emotional tests related to family are the most difficult to overcome. I also realize that every attachment is an obstacle to my improvement. If we can identify our inappropriate thoughts as soon as they occur and eliminate them, they will no longer be obstacles in our cultivation.
There are still many things that I have not done well. I will do my best to walk every step well and cultivate diligently.
