(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Dafa in May 2006. Master Li (Dafa’s founder) continually cleansed my body and soul and guided me on the path of returning to my original true self. It is only due to Master’s protection that I could come this far. My gratitude to Master is beyond words. Only by cultivating diligently can I save more sentient beings, which is the best way to pay back Master.
Looking Inward
I moved into a spacious house during this Chinese New Year. It was one of my good friends’ property, where we could also access New Tang Dynasty (NTD) TV programs. I was so delighted that I wouldn’t have to go to another practitioner’s home to watch the Shen Yun Performing Arts show any longer. More importantly, I hoped that my entire family could watch Shen Yun.
I have quite a few siblings resulting in many family members -- altogether over a dozen. For them to be able to watch Shen Yun altogether wasn’t feasible in the past. Especially, my father believed that one should not spend Chinese New Year in someone else’s home. So I came up with an idea, by inviting my two sisters’ families to come see it first, then I would invite the rest of my family members after the New Year.
On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, I called my sisters and invited them to my place to watch Shen Yun on NTD. I was excited that my dream was finally coming true.
I put on my apron and began to prepare food for them. I prepared a variety of dishes and snacks. Then my sister rang, saying, “We won’t be coming over to your place. Your brother-in-law said that it’d be too troublesome to have so many of us over to celebrate the New Year with you.”
I quickly replied, “It’s not a big deal. It’d be wonderful to have a big crowd.” But, no matter what I said, I could not change her mind. She did not agree to come to my home.
Then, my other sister called to advise that she wasn’t coming either. The reason was that both my brother-in-law and nephew were drunk and couldn’t drive. I said that’s not a problem, as my husband could pick them up. It took me quite a bit of effort to persuade her. After that, I called the first sister, saying, “I’ve made so much delicious food for you all. I’ve prepared for so many people, which is plenty. If you don’t come, when could I ever finish it all?” She felt a bit guilty and said that they would come.
I thought everything was finally settled. I asked my husband to go and pick them up, but he replied sternly, “If you want to pick them up, you go. I won’t go!” I was completely caught off guard. This was not like him. I didn’t know what was wrong. He asked me to pick them up, but I can’t drive. So, my mind was filled with a lot of complaints.
Wasn’t this resentment? I was also anxious. I realized that it was the old forces interfering with me in saving sentient beings, so I sent forth strong righteous thoughts: I completely eliminated every evil being and factor interfering with my family and relatives to watch the Shen Yun performance. Eliminate them all! My husband immediately said to me, “I’ll go pick them up.”
I found quite a few of my attachments, such as showing off, zealotry, fame, validating myself, liking to be praised, looking down on my husband, a competitive mentality, thinking highly of myself, resentment, anxiety, and so on. For harboring so many attachments, no wonder I was so easily interfered with.
When both my sisters’ families came to my home, my husband treated them cordially. It turned out to be a wonderful party.
Before Shen Yun was on NTD, a female presenter was reading Master’s article How Humankind Came To Be. Everybody listened quietly. One of my sisters, who believed in Catholicism exclaimed, “This was well said! Isn’t god coming this time? What a secret! It was well said!”
Master’s Compassion Saves Sentient Beings
I responded, “Right on! Our Master is compassionate to all beings. Only because sentient beings are in peril, did He reveal this heavenly secret and give human beings their last chance to be saved. I hope people can treasure their lives and not miss this opportunity!”
Shen Yun then began, with the Creator’s resounding voice, “Who wants to follow me to go down to save sentient beings.” I started seeing gods and Buddhas from all over heaven coming from the immense cosmos to follow the Creator down to earth. Thus creating the splendid 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture, kicking off the drama of human history. This phenomenon was magnificent, majestic, and fascinating.
They were all very focused and attentive, enjoying every performance. They expressed their opinions from time to time. One of my sister’s favorite pieces was the songs sung by Shen Yun vocalists. She asked, “Didn’t gods come to save people to return to heaven?”
I replied, “Yes! The Creator is using the format of performing arts to save people all over the world.”
My other sister said, “A few days ago, all of us were infected with COVID. Even though your brother-in-law had two shots of the vaccine, he still got it and recovered slowly.”
“Why take the vaccine?” I questioned. “Just by reciting ‘Falun Dafa is wonderful!’ would do. Our entire family counts on Master Li. Thus, we kept reciting that phrase, and soon enough, we all got better. Falun Dafa is truly miraculous! Master is so wonderful!” Seeing the entire family being very receptive to the truth and truly admiring Master, I was so grateful for Master’s compassion for sentient beings.
My father is 84 years old. He looked to be in high spirits and upbeat, as he has benefited from Dafa. He often recited “Falun Dafa is wonderful!” and has read Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa, twice. A few years ago, he listened to Master’s audio lectures in Guangzhou City. Since my mother passed away, my father has lived with my brother’s family.
I brought my father to my home to have him celebrate the Lantern Festival with us. That way, it became natural for me to invite my brother’s family over to watch Shen Yun. My brother immediately agreed
Prior to watching the show, Master’s article How Humankind Came To Be was read. My father was standing by the TV. I could see that he was seriously thinking about every sentence that Master said. After that, the show began. My brother was watching it while sipping his tea, and remained silent throughout.
My sister-in-law sat on the couch and was watching Shen Yun. She said, “The backdrop is truly beautiful. It’s like a fairyland, truly remarkable!” She only received a limited education and didn’t know how to express herself. But, I could tell that she was extremely happy. It was Master’s immense compassion waking up the conscience of my brother’s family, also giving sentient beings an opportunity to be saved.
With the Thought of Being Altruistic, Master Helped Me
One day, I talked to Ms. Jie at 10 a.m., about going to her home to deliver Dafa informational materials. She said she’d wait for me at home. When I arrived, I knocked on her door and waited for a while, but nobody answered. I thought she forgot I was coming. After a while, I knocked on her door again. Hearing some noise coming from inside, a man’s voice said, “Who is it?”
I asked if Ms. Jie was at home. He said she wasn’t around. When I asked where she went. He just told me to leave and stop looking for her. He seemed a bit impatient, so I didn’t say anything and headed downstairs.
I thought I should wait a bit longer, as she might come back in a short while. So I waited downstairs, and recited “On Dafa”. It was freezing cold. I had waited for an hour and a half and was freezing. However, I didn’t complain about her at all. I knew nothing happened accidentally. She must have had something else to take care of, otherwise she would have been at home, waiting for me.
That day, at noon, I had already arranged to go to Ms. Feng’s home to send righteous thoughts. If I didn’t go, Ms. Feng would be worried about me. Thus, I took the Dafa informational materials and went to her home. I hadn’t eaten breakfast and was cold and hungry. So I bought a few steamed buns nearby.
When I arrived at Ms. Feng’s place, I told her what happened. I grabbed the steamed buns and began to eat. She felt my cold hands and quickly prepared a cup of hot water for me. I began to warm up after I finished eating and drinking. Ms. Wen, who was also at her home said, “How come she [Ms. Jie] didn’t keep her promise and left you out in the cold? After sending forth righteous thoughts, you and I can hand out the Dafa materials. It will save you the trouble of going back to her place.” I thought this was a good idea, and would save me a lot of time and money.
However, when sending righteous thoughts, a thought flashed through my mind: If I didn’t take the materials to Ms. Jie, where would she get materials? How worried she’d be if she couldn’t get materials. So I had to deliver them to her, regardless of whether she was at home or not, I must go. After we finished sending righteous thoughts, I told Ms. Wen that I still had to deliver the materials to Ms. Jie.
When I approached Ms. Jie’s door, I heard someone walking upstairs. It was her. I was so happy. She was also excited, saying that she had thought I would never come back. She was so worried that she couldn’t see me in the future.
It was after 7 p.m. when I got home. Even though I spent a bit more money on the bus rides, wasted some time, and endured some hardship, I felt I managed to behave like a practitioner, being considerate of others without having any resentment or hatred, and putting saving sentient beings as a priority.
I've been tempered in Dafa during the past 10 years of my cultivation. I gradually learned to be considerate of others. My realm was also continually elevated. I will strive forward diligently following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and cultivate more diligently! Thank you, Master!
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Category: Improving Oneself
