(Minghui.org) Greetings, Master! Greetings, fellow practitioners!
My initial motivation for learning the trumpet was not pure—I had an attachment to showing off because the trumpet plays the main melody, has a beautiful sound, and is easy to carry due to its compact size.
After I played the trumpet for some time, I realized that no matter how I tried, I just could not play the high notes. Although I managed to force some out, they sounded strained, and I could not sustain them for very long. I wanted to improve my skills, so I took classes every week from three professionals. All three said I should be able to play the high notes by playing forcefully and practicing more. I did this for a while, but when I still didn’t improve, I gave up.
I resumed practicing because I wanted to participate in the Calgary Stampede Parade in three months. Even though I practiced every day the same thing happened—no matter how hard I tried, I could not play the high notes. I realized that I should look inward. I knew my motive for playing the trumpet wasn’t good, but I always brushed it off. I told Master, “I was wrong. I know playing the trumpet validates the beauty of Dafa, helps clarify the truth and helps Master save sentient beings. I want to correct my motive and start anew. Please help me.”
I picked up the trumpet and played again, but there was no change. I knew it’s disrespectful if I always expect Master to do something for me. This time I was determined to not give up. I attended the big group Fa study that night. On the way back, I had the thought that I should do the Falun Dafa exercises with Shen at the park on weekends. Then I had another thought that I should not cover my lower lip with my upper lip when I play the trumpet—I should leave an opening at both ends so the air could flow, and I should just blow into the trumpet normally.
I called Shen as soon as I got home. Coincidentally, she also had the thought of going to the park to do the exercises with me on weekends. After we talked, I picked up my trumpet and followed my idea to correct my embrochure. This time I was able to play the high notes!
The way I used to play the trumpet was wrong. The thought I had to correct my technique came after I had the sincere wish to change—I also attended the big group Fa study, and I wanted to do the exercises at the park to validate the Fa. Afterward my technique improved. I felt Master used this, including the sequence of how these things happened, to enlighten me—I realized that we should prioritize our cultivation and clarifying the truth in everything we do, especially when we are validating the Fa. In the past, although I knew that my motive was wrong and that joining the Tian Guo Marching Band was to clarify the truth, I did not treat the matter seriously and did not put my heart into eliminating my attachments. When I truly rectified myself and no longer had hidden motives, I met the Fa’s requirements. Master enlightened me and helped me make a breakthrough.
Master said,
“While in the process of rectifying the Fa I discovered a certain situation. What situation, you ask? In an enormous cosmic body that is quite far away, the elevation of lives there is very different from what is understood by lives in the cosmic system that you are in. They are sustained by their skills and the continual improvement of those skills. The gods at a higher level, then, have tied whether the lives at the lower levels can invent things and whether they can produce things onto the elevation of their realms. If a person’s realm is elevated, his wisdom will be opened up, and he will be allowed to produce things, create things, and elevate. After he elevates, he will realize again and again that he is able to accomplish those things only because of the rise in his morality, and realize that he is able to elevate only because his own realm has risen.” (Teachings at the 2005 Conference in San Francisco)
This experience helped me gain a deeper understanding of this part of the lecture.
After I learned how to play the high notes, I needed to address some other problems. For example, my sound quality wasn’t stable; it was sometimes sharp, sometimes mellow, sometimes hollow, and sometimes full. I noticed I had a xinxing test every two weeks. Even though I did not completely pass these them, I did examine myself. I saw I had the same problem—I felt others did not take my feelings into consideration during conflicts, but I didn’t put myself in the other person’s shoes or try to understand their viewpoint.
When I truly thought about the other person and looked inward to see what I did wrong, the issue disappeared. During these tests many bad substances, such as my selfishness and complaints, were gradually worn away. I discovered I was able to coordinate harmoniously with others.
My mindset when I practiced the trumpet also changed. In the past, my attitude was: “How can I play to get the effect that I want.” My attitude changed to: “Understand the characteristics of the trumpet and change my technique so that I can get the best effect.”
When I could not play well, my attitude was no longer: “Why can’t I play well.” Instead I thought, “It seems like I don’t understand my trumpet. I have to continue trying so that I can play better.” After I adjusted myself, my trumpet’s sound became mellow. Some people say that one needs to become one with one’s instrument. I now understand that for a practitioner, how well we play reflects our cultivation state.
I’m trying to eliminate one of my big flaws—my main consciousness isn’t strong. When I wasn’t willing to examine myself during conflicts, I picked up my phone and watched the news, historic stories, or other things.
One day while I recorded myself playing the trumpet, I suddenly realized I was playing it in a lazy way and I had no energy. This manifested as a punctuation pattern where the sound was delayed by half a second.
Master said,
“It no longer wants to be in charge of the body. It is always in a daze and cannot stay alert. At this point, the person’s Assistant Consciousness or foreign messages will interfere with him.” (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun)
After I realized what was happening, I began strengthening my main consciousness. When I picked up my mobile phone, I asked myself why I wanted to look at it. My main consciousness strengthened a little and my trumpet articulation was no longer delayed. But then another conflict came and I picked up my mobile phone again. This situation kept repeating.
I saw my fundamental attachment—I wanted to be comfortable. When I examined myself during tribulations, I was able to resolve conflicts. When I took a step back and looked at the issue from the perspective of the Fa, a whole new world opened up. After I identified and eliminated some attachments, I felt relaxed when I did the exercises and I was able to focus when I read the Fa. I also had a feeling of satisfaction when I clarified the truth about the persecution.
One day, I asked myself if I practiced Falun Dafa because I wanted to feel happy. The answer was definitely not! Then what am I cultivating for? In my understanding, we cultivate ourselves in order to get eliminate our attachments, and attain the standards of a cultivator. This way, my truth clarification is effective so I can help Master save more people.
From the Fa, I understand that a great enlightened being is willing to sacrifice his life for his sentient beings. When I have this mindset, I no longer pursue comfort.
I had some new understandings about this problem while I wrote this experience sharing article, and I hope to do better going forward.
The button on my trumpet got stuck during a parade. I asked Master, “Please help me.” However, the button remained stuck. I knew that I needed to look within and see if I had a xinxing problem.
I realized I wanted my playing to be very effective. I should treat myself as a particle of Dafa, so that my performance would blend with the other band members. Miraculously, the button unstuck and I played smoothly for the rest of the parade. I understood that each particle of Dafa may be very small, but if they are placed together, they have great power to save people. I positioned myself on top, instead of Falun Dafa.
My biggest realization is that no matter what conflict or tribulation I encounter, I need to remember it’s an opportunity to improve and I should keep looking inward. I know Master saw I had a sincere wish to improve, so he helped me by enlightening me.
In the coming new year, I hope that fellow practitioners and I look inward, and cultivate even more diligently so that we can accomplish our mission to assist Master in saving sentient beings.
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!
(Selected article from the Tian Guo Marching Band 20th Anniversary Experience Sharing)