(Shared at the First Inland Northwest Falun Dafa Conference, October 14, 2000)

Greetings fellow practitioners.

My name is Lance, and I have been a practitioner for a little over seven months now. I have tried other physical techniques to heighten spiritual awareness such as tai chi, some chi gong, and yoga. I have read so many books about the spiritual experience from Christianity to Paganism to Hinduism to New Age Metaphysics. No practice ever took me from the abstract theories to living what was being taught. Falun Dafa has done that.

I read in Zhuan Falun "Thus, these human beings are actually lost in a maze. In order to cure illness or eliminate tribulations and karma, these people must practice cultivation and return to their original, true selves. This is how all the different cultivation schools view it. One should return to one's original, true self; this is the real purpose of being human." This hit home for me, and answered what I thought was an unanswerable question, "Why am I here?" I have come to understand that when my actions are done with truth, compassion, and forbearance I am as I should be. I have come to realize that people including myself are stuck in a maze produced by our own attachments and suffer from the karma we have created. Falun Dafa has given me a way to view my attachments and release them and pay off my karmic debts. I can return to my true self only when I truly become assimilated to the characteristics of the universe.

It was during a yoga class that I first learned about Falun Dafa. The instructor mentioned to me a spiritual practice that involved a standing meditation and that the person who was demonstrating it was trying to start a group practice. After several weeks and some hesitation I finally called the number I was given.

The first evening I was introduced to the exercises and given information about Falun Dafa. Two days later I did my first practice and noticed how much energy moved through me. I figured this was a good practice and decided that I would do it diligently for one month. After a month I would evaluate whether it was worth continuing or not. Well, one month, led to a second, then a third, and finally to a firm commitment. It has become the center of my life with all actions measured against being a practitioner.

The first few months were some of the most difficult. I had always viewed the world with cynicism and skepticism. I had always tried to control my perceptions with a rational mind trained in the philosophy of western science which definitely lead to problems comprehending Dafa. It was also difficult for me to accept or understand that anyone is capable of speaking the absolute truth. I struggled through Zhuan Falun several times before realizing how profound it is and how profound Master Li's presence in this dimension is. I truly am blessed to have received such sacred teachings and overcome such a closed mind.

Since I have embraced the Fa I have watched my life begin to unfold into a smooth flow with ripples and waves caused only by my attachments to material or personal gain. My mind is calm with the understanding that all is as it should be and any suffering experienced is now endured with thanks. I am now a better listener, am more patient with people, and have more compassion. I have given up the destructive physical habits of drinking and smoking and am in the best physical health that I can remember.

I watch as my attachments surface, and I know that each must be and will be let go. Even my failures and setbacks teach me more about my attachments when I open my mind to the Fa. Now when I give up attachments a new understanding is gained and another gradual step taken back to my true self.

Fortunately, my wife has been a big help to me. She has been both supportive at times and a great xinxing test at others. She has been very upset with me unable to understand why I devote so much time to Falun Dafa or what it is all about. These times offered me an opportunity to show the qualities of Zhen, Shan, Ren. The tribulations with my wife also prepared me to speak with others about Falun Dafa because lately I have come to realize that it is not enough for me to just do the exercises and work on my Xinxing in my quiet little corner of the world. It has been relatively easy so far to study the Fa in Montana while so many other practitioners worldwide continue to do the work of spreading the Fa. I understand that it is time to present Falun Dafa to more people than just my intimate friends and to reach out in my local community so that others may obtain the Fa and hear the truth about Falun Dafa.

Thank you for your time.