(Minghui.org) Located in the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand is enjoying Spring weather right now. As September 2021 marks the annual Mid-Autumn Festival, Falun Dafa practitioners in New Zealand expressed their gratitude to the founder of the practice, Master Li Hongzhi, for his compassionate salvation. They recalled their joy after finding the teachings of Falun Dafa, and reflected on how their moral standard improved and how they progressed in cultivation. They’ve seen the gratitude from sentient beings after they learned how wonderful the practice is. Practitioners cherish this predestined relationship that does not come easily, and resolve to do better in cultivation, assist Master in Fa rectification and save more sentient beings during this critical moment in history.

Feeling Very Fortunate and Honored

Liu Jianqin wishes Master a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.

Liu Jianqin attended Master’s last public lecture in China taught in Guangzhou in December 1994. During the class, Master asked everyone to think of an illness that they or their family member had. Ms. Liu had never fully recovered after brain surgery to remove tumors. She later developed colon carcinoma, and her abdomen was painful and swollen. It was agonizing for her to stand or walk long distances. She wished the illness would stop tormenting her. After she returned home, her body felt very light and her illness did go away miraculously.

Ms. Liu started a Fa study group with local practitioners after attending the lectures in Guangzhou. Each night, everyone gathered at her workplace to study the teachings and to exchange their understandings. Practitioners were reluctant to leave and continued to chat excitedly long after Fa study ended. They played Master’s taped lectures over and over again. Many people joined the group. There were always new practitioners and it became so crowded that people had to stand outside the door. They eventually had to use the larger hall upstairs. Some nights there were 200 people. 

Ms. Liu said, “I will never forget how people yearned to obtain the Fa. Every morning I went to the park to do the exercises before rushing off to work. At night I studied the Fa. I was pressed for time, but organized. I was full of energy and the joy of having found Dafa was beyond words. My coworkers, relatives and friends noticed the positive changes in me and also began to practice Dafa.

Ms. Liu’s character improved rapidly as she studied the Fa. She said, “I used to think that I was not a bad a person. After I began practicing, I realized I had been pursing fame and gain, and comforts in life. Influenced by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) culture and postnatal notions, all my thoughts and actions were far from the universe’s characteristics of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. Dafa gave me a new life and awakened me from delusion and ignorance. I want to be a good person, an even better person. I follow the requirements of Dafa at work, in society and family. Master taught us to always think of others. One year I was promoted at work. Another doctor was always outstanding. I told my manager to give her the promotion. They said in surprise, ‘This promotion is for you and will go into your records. If you don’t take it, you will forever be one rank lower when you retire.’ I told them calmly, ‘She needs the promotion more than me.’ I convinced them to take back the promotion.”

That incident had a huge impact. After the persecution began, when Ms. Liu was arrested for refusing to give up her faith, the general manager questioned the police officer who came to take her away: “How you can arrest good people like that? If everyone in our company was as good as Ms. Liu, I would not have any troubles.” When she was locked up in a brainwashing center, her superior went to visit her and asked her to take care of herself. A police officer told her, “You have an excellent reputation. Your coworkers wrote a joint letter to the department requesting your release.” 

Liu Jianqin said, “I have been practicing Dafa for nearly 27 years. I often feel that Master is looking after me. I thank Master for making me a Dafa disciple during the Fa rectification period, for teaching me this magnificent Buddha Fa and guiding me back to my true home. Returning to my true origin is the real purpose of my life. I feel fortunate and honored to be with Master and Dafa. On the occasion of the coming Mid-Autumn Festival, I pay my respects to Master and wish him a happy festival!”

Eliminating a Show-off and Competitive Mentality

Mai Yushan thanks Master for helping her improve her character.

Before Mai Yushan began practicing Falun Dafa in 1998, she suffered from stomach cramps. After she began practicing, the stomach disorder that plagued her for 20 years disappeared. Her world view and values underwent a huge change as well. She realized that in the past she was competitive. In China’s traditional culture, women were kind, virtuous and upright. For practitioners, showing off and the competitive mentality are attachments that should be eliminated.

Whenever Ms. Mai runs into a conflict while working on media projects, she reminds herself not to get caught up in who is right or wrong. She knows that she must change her notions and restrain herself using Dafa’s principles. She learned to reflect on her shortcomings and eliminate her selfishness. When her xinxing improved, Ms. Mai discovered that her skills also progressed. She used to put in a lot of effort and time gathering news and editing articles for a news website, but it was difficult to meet the editor’s requirements. She searched for information online and started to learn how to write articles.

She said, “I learned not to be in a hurry to submit my report. I keep reading it after the article is written. Every time I complete an article, I edit it more than 10 times. I find my xinxing improving as I edit the article. The quality is better and the workload of other practitioners is lessened. I have felt Master’s help in the process, and my thought process has become very clear. Time and again, Master gives me extraordinary wisdom. The number of clicks for my articles has gone up quickly. Some reports get over 10,000 clicks. I realize that these capabilities come from Dafa.”

Ms. Mai said, “As long as we have the Fa in our heart and maintain righteous thoughts, there is nothing we cannot overcome. Whenever I read that other practitioners write on the Minghui website: ‘Thank you Master for your compassionate salvation and for giving disciples such a holy mission,’ my face is covered in tears.

“On the occasion of the coming Mid-Autumn Festival, I want to say to Master, ‘It is the highest honor in my life to have found Dafa. My husband and I both practice. Words cannot convey our gratitude to Mater. I wish Master a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Thank you, Master, for your compassionate salvation!’”

Growing Up Happily Because of Dafa

Isabella said her life is happy and fulfilled because she practices Falun Dafa.

Isabella Wang, 13 years old, began practicing cultivation with her mother and grandmother when she was very young. Excelling in both character and studies, she once gave a speech at the Auckland Future Plans Summit. She also participates in many popular events both in and out of school. Working with researchers at Harvard, Brigham Young University, and other universities, Isabella has developed student apps and other projects.

She is grateful to Master because she became a better person through practicing cultivation. She is able to see this world in a whole new perspective and does things she would never think of if she did not practice Dafa. She learned to treat bad things as good things—whether it’s challenges in her studies, in relationships with others, or in her daily life. She said, “I used to easily get angry and I was selfish. When I understood the standards of a practitioner, I knew I had to eliminate these bad habits. My life started to change positively under Dafa’s guidance. People around me and the environment changed for the better too. Living by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, my mind is at peace. When I have a different opinion from others or when there is a conflict, I work hard not to fight or resent others. I learned to take these as opportunities to eliminate my karma and improve my xinxing.”

Isabella participates in various truth-clarification activities such as posting on social media to raise awareness of the persecution in China, calling on people to pay attention to the human rights abuses there, as well as clarifying the truth to classmates and friends. She also attends parades and rallies as a member of the Tian Guo Marching Band. The most common challenge she runs into is finding time to attend training sessions and performances. She often reminds herself that her goal in life is to be a Dafa practitioner and return to her true origin.

Isabella said, “Words cannot express my gratitude to Master. Practicing cultivation makes me healthy. As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, I would like to thank Dafa and Master. My relationship with classmates, friends and family is harmonious because I follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. I also have a positive attitude towards life. I have a lot of hope for this world. Because of Dafa, my life is happy and fulfilled. I am extremely thankful to Master. I will try my very best to practice cultivation well. Thank you, Master, I wish you a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!”