(Minghui.org) I am a new practitioner who started to practice Falun Dafa on September 19, 2021. I run my own business. My entire extended family believe in Buddhism, and I was influenced by them. I listened to scripture lectures on Sundays at a temple. I was a lay Buddhist with a given Dharma name. I liked to explore and had questions about things that modern science could not explain. I believed that there must be divine beings and that everything that happened around me was not a coincidence. I would feel moved when I met people from vulnerable groups and wished that I could help them. I truly wanted to be a good person.
As time went by, however, I became uninterested in the things that I saw around me. I could see people's motives of seeking fame and gain or their attachments to sentimentality through their words. I wondered what they would achieve if they followed that way of life. Where does a person go after death? People always think they are doing what they should.
Master said:
“Some people evaluate themselves with the declined moral standard. Because the criteria for assessment have changed, they consider themselves better than others.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
People are misled by society's deviated morality, and I was not an exception. But still I believed in the existence of a higher power. I stopped going to the temple as frequently as I had before. I didn’t know what to pray for when I went there. Even if I prayed, nothing improved. The monks who accepted donations from the followers only respected the people who brought money to the temple. I lost trust in them. I gradually didn’t want to go there. I started to read books about spirituality, paranormal science, paranormal phenomena and exploring ancient civilizations. I wanted to find answers to my questions.
My city was in an extremely strict lockdown in 2021 due to COVID. I felt depressed and under a lot of pressure. Questions kept arising in my mind: where would I go when I died? Why was life so short? Where could I find salvation in this declining era? My wish to look for the great way in my heart became stronger and stronger. I browsed the Internet and found Zhuan Falun on falundafa.org. I was moved by Master’s teachings, though I only read a few pages. Just the first few pages unlocked all the knots in my heart.
I read a chapter of Zhuan Falun each night until I finished the whole book of nine lectures. Then I watched Master’s video lectures. As time passed, I deeply felt that I had found what I had been searching for. I decided to get up early to do the exercises, although that was not easy for me.
I experienced miracles even in the first few days after I reading the book. My third eye was opened. I could hear heavenly music. I saw amazing things in the sky and how beautiful Falun was. In my dreams I clearly heard Master’s voice; he woke me up to do the exercises. I became energetic. I can hardly describe those amazing things in words. When I did the meditation exercise at home for the first time, I saw Master’s law body. Tears suddenly streamed down my face and I didn’t know why.
I had never had such sacred feelings when I prayed in the temple, practiced yoga or did other forms of meditation. These incredible experiences reinforced my belief in Master and Falun Dafa.
I read Zhuan Falun for the second time. I also started to read Master’s other lectures. I gradually didn’t want to do the things I used to do, like spending a lot of time online, going out, dining in restaurants and other things that everyday people like to do. I thought nothing or nobody was able to change me before. But this amazing book changed me greatly. I let go of bad habits. I noticed my bad notions. My depression disappeared. I threw out all my medicines and no longer needed them.
I experienced the compassion Master has bestowed upon me, like other practitioners do. I spend a lot of time helping people learn about Dafa and bring predestined people into the practice. I share my cultivation experiences selflessly with new practitioners and try my best to support them.
I joined a group Fa-study. Practitioners’ sharing helped me improve my xinxing and get rid of my attachments. I looked within and tried to let go of attachments and eliminate thought karma. I have tried my best to overcome hardships and gradually improve my xinxing.
Master said:
“In other words, you should pay attention to xinxing cultivation and practice cultivation according to the characteristic of the universe, Zhen-Shan-Ren. You must completely dispose of the desires of ordinary people, immoral thoughts, and the intention of wrongdoing. With every bit of improvement in your state of mind, some bad things will be eliminated from your body. In the meantime, you should also suffer a little bit and endure some hardships to reduce your karma. You can then move up a little bit; that is, the characteristic of the universe will not restrict you as much.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
I study the Fa and read Master’s lectures after I practice the exercises in the morning. Every time I re-read the lectures, I feel like it is the first time I am reading them and I gain a better understanding. I look within and find my shortcomings when I have conflicts with my family members or other people. I can discern good and bad, something I was not able to do before cultivating in Falun Dafa. I have gradually changed. Falun Dafa teaches us to consider others first and look within under any circumstances. I can then find my shortcomings and get rid of my attachments.
I had been watching Falun Gong videos after I obtained the Fa and wanted to know how to send forth righteous thoughts and why we need to. I had the opportunity to share with other practitioners after I did the exercises at a practice site. I understood the importance of sending righteous thoughts. I increased my frequency of sending righteous thoughts and now do it regularly. I do what is required by Master.
Master said:
“So you must take sending forth righteous thoughts seriously. No matter whether you think you have the ability or not, you should do it.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the Conference in Florida, U.S.A.”, Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume II)
From Master’s Fa lectures and sharing with practitioners, I have come to understand the importance of clarifying the truth. I realized that I should do this as well as I can. Through truth clarification, we present the truth to people who have misunderstandings about Dafa or who didn’t know about Dafa. I have been looking for truth-clarification opportunities to help more people learn about the Fa and the beauty of Falun Dafa.
I often go to clarify the truth to people who are arranged by Master to meet us. Many people have learned the truth. We give out fliers, cards, and lotus flowers to sentient beings. People feel happy when they learn the truth behind the persecution. I am also involved in several other projects to save people who still live in delusion in this society.
I am also a member of a media project which exposes the evilness of the CCP. I study the Fa, do the exercises and send forth righteous thoughts, and I also try my best to clarify the truth and save sentient beings. This is the most important task for practitioners in the Fa-rectification period. Practitioners must do what Master requires of us.
I would like to thank Master for compassionately saving me. Thank you, Master for descending to this world and letting us become Dafa disciples so that we can fulfill our vows at this final stage and during the period of the universe's renewal.
The above is my understanding. Please kindly point out anything incorrect.