(Minghui.org) I’m 81 years old. I started practicing Falun Dafa in May 1997. During my 23 years of cultivation, I've had all kinds of tribulations and interference. It was especially so during Shen Yun promotion.
No matter how the old forces try to stop us, Dafa disciples’ righteous thoughts have the power to split a mountain. I have personally witnessed the power of righteous thoughts several times. All of the events and thoughts shared in this article are based on the notes I wrote down when they happened.
Eliminate Evil with Righteous Thoughts
In October 2015, practitioners in our area began to promote Shen Yun. My husband and I were assigned to distribute Shen Yun door hangers. One day, as we were about to cross a street and begin, a sudden sharp pain in my back and thighs almost paralyzed me.
I knew it was interference and I immediately sent righteous thoughts, “I am a Dafa disciple.” I strode forward and quickly crossed the street. As soon as I crossed the street however, the pain came back, and each step was very difficult.
My husband suggested I sit down for a little while. As soon as I sat, a stabbing pain hit me. I realized I was wrong and should not give in. I got up. The pain was so unbearable that an everyday person would probably have dialed 911 for help.
Master said,
“A Dafa disciple... what’s a Dafa disciple? He’s a being created by the most magnificent Fa, (enthusiastic applause) and he’s rock-solid and as indestructible as diamond.”(“Teaching the Fa at the 2003 Washington DC Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. IV)
I told the old forces, “No matter how you try to stop me, I WILL fulfill my mission! I WILL do what Dafa disciples are supposed to do!”
At that moment I remembered what Master said,
The world’s miseries endured,One departs the earth a Buddha.(“Tempering the Will,” Hong Yin, Translation Version A)
I walked for four hours. The pain was unbearable, and my clothes were sweat-drenched.
The next day, the pain was still severe. My husband and I continued distributing door hangers. At every house, I spoke to the owner in my heart, “Dafa disciples are enduring severe pain to bring you the hope of salvation. Do cherish it! Hurry up and take the whole family to see Shen Yun. You will have a bright future!” I distributed materials for four hours that day.
On the third day, the pain was significantly reduced. When I got home, my back and thighs stopped hurting. I understood that as long as a practitioner has the Fa in heart and strong righteous thoughts, the old forces can’t stop us.
We typically start in late fall to give out Shen Yun fliers near the theater. One December, a big snow storm came and the temperature plunged to -20°F. Despite the weather, practitioners continued coming to the theater every day.
I went to give out fliers at the theater, and didn’t get home until late at night. I felt very cold. When I got up the next morning, I had no strength in my legs and I collapsed to the floor.
I knew it was interference because the old forces didn’t want me to go to the theater. I held Zhuan Falun in my hand and told the old forces, “I have Master. You cannot stop me from going to the theater!”
I studied the Fa with my legs in full lotus. After finishing a lecture, I stood up and everything was back to normal.
Master said,
“The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts.” (“Drive Out Interference,” Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Righteous Thoughts Change Everything
In September 2016, we began visiting stores. We introduced Shen Yun to the storekeepers and put up Shen Yun posters in their windows.
One night, I boiled water for dinner. I picked up the pot but did not grasp the handles well. Suddenly, the entire pot of boiling water splashed upwards on my face!
Wondering why the water did not go down on my feet but on my face instead, I immediately realized the old forces were trying to interfere and stop me from promoting Shen Yun. I immediately sent righteous thoughts.
My eyes and face were burning. My husband said, “Your face, nose, and eye sockets are burned, and your eyeballs are so red!” The pain kept me up all night. I sent righteous thoughts non-stop that night.
The next morning, the broken skin was scarred, but my eyes were no longer as red. On the third day, the scars began peeling off, and on the fourth day, my entire face was covered with new skin.
My husband said, “The skin on your face is so soft now, like baby’s skin. The scars are gone. Your complexion is much brighter than before.”
It would have taken an everyday person much longer to have such a scald heal. For me, it healed on the fourth day. Just like Master said,
“When your righteous thoughts are firm and when you can repel those things, I remove them for you bit by bit; however much you can do, that’s how much I remove for you and diminish for you.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Chicago Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. IV)
Sincerity Moves People
On the morning of October 25, 2017, before I set out to put up Shen Yun posters, I did Heshi in front of Master’s portrait and said, “Master, there are some big car dealers, banks, and retail shops. The managers have not understood the truth and have refused our posters. Year after year, they missed the opportunity of salvation.
“Now at the final stage of Fa-rectification, we are going to save them again. Please strengthen us and give these managers a chance to be saved. Thank you, Master!”
We were assigned to a new area that day. The road was lined with major businesses except for a few small shops. We sent righteous thoughts and said in our heart before entering each store, “Master has given you the opportunity of salvation. Please take it!”
Sure enough, when we walked into these stores, I felt Master had arranged everything and the employees were waiting for us. A few times, the first person we met was the manager himself. After listening to our introduction, they said, “Ah, Shen Yun! Let’s find a place for the poster. Thank you!”
That day, we visited several major businesses. They all accepted our posters. With 100% acceptance rate, we were so happy these sentient beings can be saved!
In the days that followed, all the banks and post offices we visited accepted our posters, including stores we thought would refuse. Some stores even let us pick a spot in the window to put up the poster. The world is awakening and people all want to be saved.
In areas that we covered for many years, shopkeepers saw us and, as if meeting old friends, happily took the poster and put it up. The owner of a photography shop not only accepted the poster happily, but also took down a portrait in a glass frame, put Shen Yun poster in it, and hung it in an eye-catching spot. He then had us take a picture of him with the poster.
Seeing the joy radiated from their heart, I was so happy that I wept. As long as we sincerely want to save people, Master will help us.
Break Through Conventional Thinking
On the morning of October 25, 2017, the rain was pouring. We don’t normally go out to put up posters when it rains or snows. But the driver practitioner arrived as usual. I got in the car and said, “I’m surprised you came when it’s raining so hard.” He said, “I didn’t know we were supposed to skip rainy days. Before people retire, they go to work even when it’s raining.”
His words struck me! Yes, time is so precious and saving people is so urgent, how could we stay home just because it rains or snows? Deep down isn’t it an attachment to ease and comfort? I realized that Master was giving me a hint to help remove my attachment to comfort.
The rain was still pouring when we arrived. The practitioner dropped me off in front of the stores and waited there. My clothes got wet as soon as I stepped out.
When I entered the bank, an employee greeted me: “You’re all wet, what can I do for you?” I said, “I’ve brought you good news.” When he saw the Shen Yun posters he said, “OK, I’ll find a place to put it up for you.” I think he was moved by our sincerity, so he accepted our poster without hesitation.
We visited a few more stores this way, but we felt that the rain was slowing us down. We parked the car and sent righteous thoughts, “Rain, you were created by Dafa, and you have a part in assisting Master to do Fa-rectification. We are now doing things to save people. Please hold the rain until we finish this area.”
Perhaps the gods were moved by our sincerity, as soon as we finished sending righteous thoughts, the rain stopped and the dark clouds dispersed. Our progress was much faster, and finished the area at 12:30 p.m.
We got in the car, and the driver practitioner said, “We’ve covered this area.” The gods must have been listening, because as soon as he said that, it began raining again. Earlier we asked, “Please hold the rain until we finish this area.”
It was still early, so we decided to cover another area. When we got there, it was raining heavily. We stopped to send righteous thoughts and ask the rain god to help us again. The rain stopped again, and didn’t resume until we finished that area.
We understood that, as long as we have a sincere heart to save people and step out, the gods will help make it a success. Just like Master said,
“When one’s Buddha-nature emerges, it will shake ‘the world of ten directions.’ Whoever sees it will come to give a hand and help this person out unconditionally.”(Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
Life Hanging by a Thought
I’d like to share another amazing experience that showed me life is really hanging by a thought.
When I got up on the morning of December 21, 2017 and went to the bathroom, I passed a lot of blood and felt dizzy. After eating, I passed another load of blood, more than the first time. My body felt like an empty bag. I was dizzy, flustered, and unable to get up from the toilet seat.
After struggling to stand up, I just wanted to lay in bed. But I immediately realized the old forces must be interfering with me and trying to keep me from going out to put up Shen Yun posters. I began doing Exercise One -- Buddha Showing A Thousand Hands, while saying the verses for righteous thoughts.
The first time, my body was shaking; the second time, I had some strength; the third time, an amazing thing happened: all the lost blood seemed to return to my body, it no longer felt like an empty bag but very full. Everything went back to normal as if nothing had happened.
I once again witnessed the magic of Dafa! My tears flowed as I thanked Master. I really wanted to shout out to the world, “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good! The Falun Dafa Master is good!”
At this time, a practitioner came to pick me up, and we went out to put up Shen Yun posters. We left my apartment at 10 a.m. and worked till noon. After sending righteous thoughts, I asked the fellow practitioners, “Did you notice anything unusual about me today?” The practitioners said, “No, your complexion looks really good!”
When I told him what happened earlier he said, “Dafa is really great!” He asked, “Were you scared?”
I said, “I was not scared at the time, but a little scared afterwards. If I had laid down, I probably would never have been able to get up again. The choice between being human or divine lies in a single thought. One must have righteous thoughts to drive out the interference. Otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous!”
Master said,
When disciples have ample righteous thoughtsMaster has the power to turn back the tide(“The Master-Disciple Bond,” Hong Yin Vol. II, Translation Version A)
Thank you, Master, for your merciful protection!
This concludes my understandings. Please kindly point out anything improper.
