(Minghui.org) Greetings esteemed Master! Greetings fellow practitioners!
I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1997. Every step I took, especially after the persecution began on July 20, 1999, was under Master’s protection; everything I did to save people has been arranged by Master. I’m moved to tears when I recall my cultivation journey.
I set out to genuinely practice cultivation, so I have always paid attention to Fa study. When I first began practicing I hosted an exercise and Fa study group in my home. I knew that in order to do a good job leading other practitioners in cultivation, I must study the Fa well, so I repeatedly read Master’s teachings. When I first began to practice, my mind was filled with random thoughts so I began memorizing the Fa. I memorized the article, “Expounding on the Fa” in 1997. Although I could not grasp the deeper meanings, I enlightened that I should study the Fa more. After I memorized the articles “Buddha-nature,” and “For Whom Do You Exist,” I was able to distinguish what is the real me. This gave me a solid foundation for saving people and validating the Fa after the persecution began.
In 2008, I was forced to leave home and move from place to place to avoid arrest. I rented a place in the outskirts of town and set up a home materials production site. Every morning, after doing the exercises, I studied the Fa. Then I ate and began making truth clarification materials. If I did not focus when I read the Fa well that day, I had problems producing materials and the equipment malfunctioned.
In 2013, a practitioner got me a job as a security guard in a shopping center. I only worked night shifts from 6 p.m and finished at 9 a.m the next day. Although the hours were long, I was able to sleep normally. I could also study the Fa while I worked and produce materials during the day. I first read Zhuan Falun before moving on to Master’s other lectures. Whenever I received Master’s new articles, I read them at least 50 times. I memorized the lecture, “Fa Teaching at the 2013 Western U.S. Fa Conference.”
Since 2016, I have been working at a place that sells construction materials. I worked from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with one hour break in the afternoon for lunch. Other practitioners were worried that I would not have time for Fa study and this might impact my ability to save people. Every day after doing the exercises and eating, even if I only have 10 minutes, I read the Fa. After work and dinner, I first sent righteous thoughts at 8 p.m before studying the Fa then I start to make materials.
As soon as I get on my bicycle, I start to recite the Fa. At work, when the task is easy, I silently memorize and recite the Fa. Because I’m familiar with the job, I don’t make mistakes. When I’m immersed in the Fa, things go smoothly. As a result, it does not take a lot of effort to do things to save people.
Master said,
“Without knowing the Fa at high levels, one cannot cultivate. Without cultivating one’s inner self and one’s xinxing, one cannot increase gong. These are the two reasons.” (The First Talk, Zhuan Falun)
Soon after I began to practice, Master opened my celestial eye. A year into my practice, when I read the Fa, my hands emitted colors in the order red followed by orange, yellow, green, sky blue, blue and purple. The next round of colors I saw were pale red, orange, yellow, green, sky blue, blue and purple. The colors were translucent.
When I read the article “Levels in the Course of Cultivation” in Zhuan Falun Vol II, I enlightened that I reached a level beyond the human realm, but I was doubtful. In 2009, I listened to Master’s taped lectures given in Guangzhou. Master spoke of cultivation state beyond the human realm and only then did I start to believe that I had reached that level. Since I surpassed the human realm, I should conduct myself according to high level principles. I should not be restrained by low level principles in the three realms.
Master said,
“By July 20th of 1999 I had already pushed all of the pre-July 20 students to their positions—I pushed you to your highest positions.” (“Teachings From a Tour of North America”)
I did not understand what Master taught in the lecture. I did not believe I had already reached a high level in cultivation. Later on, through studying Master’s lectures in other places in-depth, I gradually understood. Whenever I ran into trouble, when I placed myself at a high level and let my divine side come through, the evil elements were no match for me. Some practitioners said, “If I validate the Fa, the evil will interfere.” I felt that was because he has not assimilated to the Fa at high levels and was restrained by the principle of mutual generation and mutual inhibition.
Master said,
“In a very high and very microscopic dimension of the universe there exist two different kinds of substances. They are two forms of material existence manifest by the supreme nature of the universe, Zhen-Shan-Ren, at certain dimensional levels in the universe. They pervade certain dimensions from top to bottom, or from the microscopic level to the macroscopic level. With the Fa’s manifestations at different levels, the lower the level, the greater the difference in the manifestations and variations of these two different substances. As a result, it brings forth what the Dao School calls the principles of yin and yang and Taiji. Descending further to lower levels, these two kinds of matter with different properties become increasingly opposed to each other, and this then gives rise to the principle of mutual-generation and mutual-inhibition.” (“Buddha-Nature and Demon-Nature,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
I realized that the principle of mutual-generation and mutual-inhibition is actually not that high a level. If Dafa disciples reached an extremely high level and surpassed the level beyond this principle, they will not be held back by this principle. Consequently everything they do is effortless. In fact, the sufferings we go through are because we are not clear about the Fa principles.
Some practitioners are reluctant to set up a materials site at home or store materials because they are not clear on the Fa principles. They thought that a practitioner was persecuted because he had so much equipment, and produced so many materials at home so he was sentenced to jail. They thought because we are saving people we are targeted for persecution. This is a wrong notion.
Master said,
“The creditors of the karmic debts you’ve owed lifetime after lifetime and even the victims of your massive karmic debts insist that you pay, so what can be done? The Fa principles of the universe are also assessing every single person, so that’s why there will be tribulations in cultivation and why persecution occurs.” (“Stay Far Away From Peril”)
I enlightened from Master’s teachings that saving people has nothing to do with being persecuted, the fundamental reason we’re persecuted is because of the karmic debts we owe.
From 2008 to 2012, I often studied the Fa and shared understandings with a certain practitioner. She repeatedly said, “Our computers, printers and truth clarification materials are magic tools for saving people. Don’t think they can be used as evidence to persecute us.” She put her understanding into action. Since 2007, she supplied me materials.
Under the influence of this practitioner, I began to produce materials in 2008. Right from the beginning, I used to color ink jet printers; I bought another laser printer in 2010 when I began to print the Nine Commentaries on the ChineseCommunist Party. I also purchased supplies. Every time I purchased paper, I used a tricycle to transport a dozen boxes. I usually produced three boxes of materials a week.
There is no air conditioning in the house I rented. It was hot in the summer and the machinery could not take it, so I printed fewer materials. In winter, I printed more copies of the Nine Commentaries. Every spring, I produced enough books and materials to supply practitioners in summer and early autumn.
In order to cultivate oneself well, one must study the Fa frequently and assimilate to Master’s teachings. Master said,
“I also want to tell you that your nature in the past was actually based on egotism and selfishness. From now on, whatever you do, you should consider others first, so as to attain the righteous Enlightenment of selflessness and altruism.” (“Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
By studying Master’s teachings I understood that to become a being in the new universe, one must reach a state of selflessness and altruism. When we do things to save people, no matter what project we’re involved in, we should not have intention. We should only have a heart of compassion and the wish to save people.
I now have fewer human thoughts. I am able to maintain a pure mindset while producing materials. The equipment cooperates, and the quality of the materials is good. Before, I had to keep a watchful eye on things when I printed books. Now, I simply have to put in the settings, set the number of copies to print and let the printer do its job. At work and in my daily life, I’m able to maintain a pure state of non interference.
From 2008 to now, I passed several major tests. In 2011 during the 6th population census, there was a rumor going around that this targeted those who rented homes. My fear of persecution was quite strong then but I calmed down and sent righteous thoughts to deny the old forces’ arrangements. This census is not arranged by Master. When I had this thought, this survey had nothing to do with me at all.
In the summer of 2013, my wife gave a plainclothes special agent a flier. Five or six young plainclothes agents rushed up, shoved her into a car, and took her to the police station. She was detained. She had firm righteous thoughts and refused to tell them her name. Every day she shouted: “Falun Dafa is great! Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is great!” They released her a week later.
However, it was an agonizing period of time for me. I could not obtain any news of her whereabouts, I did not know whether she was dead or alive. When practitioners went to the police station to ask about her, they were told there were no practitioners there. I became even more worried. The other practitioners suggested I move so I would not be arrested. I thought, “Master, no matter how hard things are, I have to produce materials and save people. If I don’t do it, practitioners who come to me for materials will have nothing to give people.” Thus, with Master’s blessing, I survived this ordeal. I did not move or stop making materials.
In 2015, a practitioner I partnered with to save people was arrested for suing Jiang. Five practitioners in her area were arrested. Police officers showed them the photos of twelve practitioners and told them to identify them. When they were shown my photo, they said they didn’t know who I was.
I was under great pressure then but I understood that I had nothing to do with the persecution. I said to Master, “No matter how hard it is, I must keep this materials site because it is Dafa disciples’ mission and responsibility to save sentient beings.” I pulled through once again.
The years have gone by in a flash. Under Master’s protection, I walked on this path steadily. Master has given me so much. I would feel ashamed to face Master if I didn’t write my cultivation experience.
Fellow practitioners, please kindly point out anything in my sharing that is not in accordance with the Fa.