(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1994 while I attended college in Beijing. I saw a photo of the Tian Guo Marching Band when it participated in a parade in New York in 2006.
I was in China then—the atmosphere was dark and filled with suppression. Practitioners could be arrested at any time. So I was very excited when I saw practitioners outside China display the grandeur of Dafa openly in public. I was fortunate to be able to come to Montreal, Canada, at the end of 2006. When the local coordinator said we were planning to set up a Tian Guo Marching Band in March 2007, I immediately signed up.
At the blink of an eye, nearly 19 years have passed. I’d like to tell you about some of my cultivation experiences while participating in the band.
When the Tian Guo Marching Band (Montreal) was founded, I was assigned to play the trumpet because I was tall. We were scheduled to participate in our first local parade after practicing for less than three months. Most of the members hadn’t played an instrument before, so it felt almost impossible. We all had the pure wish to validate Dafa, so we practiced very seriously and helped each other out. At that time, there were nine trumpet players, and we often practiced and shared our cultivation experiences.
Not everyone could play the difficult high notes, and we all needed to improve our stamina. So the band director said we would be divided into two groups, one would play the complicated high notes, while the other would focus on playing the less difficult middle and low notes. Our first parade went well—making the impossible possible. Everyone was astonished by Dafa’s miraculous nature, and we were happy to do our part to validate Falun Dafa. With that, I embarked on my cultivation path as a member of the Tian Guo Marching Band.
About six months after I joined the trumpet section, the band director wanted me to be a band major. This was a big change. I felt that I was being “protected” because no one could see me, but they could hear the notes I played merge into the melody. It was a safe and wonderful feeling. However, once I became the band major, it felt as though I was suddenly placed under the spotlight. All my flaws would be exposed. I also needed to take into consideration many elements and react quickly during parades. Just thinking about it made me nervous. I knew this arrangement was not accidental, but I was worried.
I shared my recent cultivation experiences with another practitioner after we read the Fa (teachings). I hoped to hear some words of comfort. But to my surprise, she said, “Nothing is coincidental. Since you were chosen, it means you have the ability to do well. As a band major, you have great responsibilities. Just like an army commander, your responsibility is to lead the entire army to complete the task.”
I felt alarmed because her tone and demeanor were so stern. I felt Master was using her words to remind me. I calmed down and looked inward. Behind my complaints was the desire to protect myself. I did not want others to see my shortcomings, and I wanted to be comfortable. This was an opportunity to eliminate my attachments and try my best to do what I should be doing. When we practiced, I focused on how to improve my technique. When other practitioners pointed out my problems, I did my best to correct myself instead of thinking about whether I made a fool out of myself again. As my xinxing improved, my discomfort also gradually disappeared. I got used to my new role and continued to validate the Fa with the other band members.
It wasn’t dark at the start of a night parade. The Law Wheel on the band major’s baton has a string of LED lights that goes around it. If I were to turn it on right at the start, it would drain the power, so I decided to turn it on in the middle of the parade.
I was a little nervous. Not only did I have to think about all the possible changes, but I also had to pay attention so I could turn the light on when it got dark.
Everyone played in great harmony. As the grand music sounded behind me, I seemed to have entered another dimension in which my body and thoughts felt light and empty. I suddenly realized that the sky was dark, and it was time to turn on the light. I waited for the song to end. However, when I brought down the baton, I discovered the light had already been turned on. It was miraculous! It turned on by itself! The switch was designed to prevent accidental turn-ons, and I tried it before the parade—it was impossible for the light to turn on by itself.
After the parade ended, I asked the other members when they saw the light turn on. They replied that the light turned on when the sky darkened, and they thought I turned it on. I knew Master was encouraging us!
In 2012, I moved to Toronto and thus joined the Tian Guo Marching Band (Toronto). When I was told that the second band major should learn another instrument, I was encouraged to join the snare drum section. I initially felt it was difficult to learn the snare drum. After some time had passed, I still couldn’t meet the other practitioners’ standards, and I felt very anxious. I thought about giving up, and I told another practitioner that the other band members were displaying their special talents, but I seemed to be displaying my shortcomings. The practitioner joked that, in that case, I should improve on those shortcomings. I laughed and agreed—I realized eliminating my shortcomings is also a form of cultivation.
There were a few times when I was on the brink of giving up. I asked myself if I wanted to quit because I couldn’t meet the standards, or if it was because I had attachments, such as caring about my reputation. I asked myself, “If Master is right before me, can I say I tried my very best, but I still can’t reach the requirement, so I want to quit? I did not put in a hundred percent effort. How can I give up so easily?”
I gave myself one month to continue practicing to see if there was any improvement. The other band members encouraged me. I persisted, and my skills improved. I’m now able to guide the new members and give them suggestions. My learning to play the snare drum was a cultivation opportunity, and it became my specialty.
Recalling the nearly 19 years that I’ve been part of the Tian Guo Marching Band, I have gone through countless storms—I’ve sometimes felt lost, or I have had regrets, and disappointments. My most memorable experiences are when I improved in my understanding of the Fa, Master’s silent empowerment, and the joy from validating Dafa with other practitioners. Every time the Tian Guo Marching Band performs it feels like my body is filled with sacred energy. As we walk behind the Falun Dafa banner, we display a practitioner’s demeanor, and the music we play cleans up the other dimensions. This is such an honor. After 19 years of experience and perseverance, my initial nervousness is replaced by familiarity and ease.
Master said, “Cultivate with the heart you once had, and success is certain.” (“Fa Teaching on World Falun Dafa Day,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XII).
I hope that I can coordinate with the other band members and stay true to our original wish when we first joined the band, continue to do well on our cultivation paths, and fulfill our vows.
(Selected Sharing Article from the 20th Anniversary of the Tian Guo Marching Band)