PureInsight | December 30, 2013
[PureInsight.org]
Greetings to esteemed Master!
Greetings to fellow practitioners!
In spring of 2009, I came to Seattle, United States. In my spare time, I saw many people practicing Falun Gong without any concerns. There was no interference, and no restrictions. It's totally different from that in Mainland China. Falun Gong is persecuted in Mainland China. Newspapers and TVs would broadcast propaganda saying that Falun Gong was evil every day. Many Falun Gong practitioners were arrested. However, overseas Falun Gong practitioners can do the exercises publicly, and have gatherings, parades, and have even published newspapers. It's really good here! Due to not being very healthy and having many chronic illnesses, I was thinking of practicing a good Qigong to improve my health. Referred by my friend, I started cultivating Falun Dafa with a complex mentality: I simultaneously harbored curiosity, fear, and hope. Shortly after I started practicing, with the help of veteran practitioners, I participated in group Fa study and group exercise practice in Seattle. I have done so to this day.
As I studied the Fa and practiced the exercise more deeply, I felt that Master was adjusting my body continuously. I really experienced the benefits that cultivation gives to my health.
I had many years of cervical spine disease, lumbar disc herniation, cholecystitis, and floaters etc. As a result, I often felt dizzy, and had headaches, lower back pain, upper abdominal pain, and blurred vision. I felt groggy every day, and had lost hope for the future as well as the courage to live. I had tried many kinds of health care equipment and methods, but still couldn't find a way retain my health.
However, shortly after I started cultivation, I felt great change in my health. I didn’t need to take any medicine; all kinds of discomfort that had bothered me for many years gradually disappeared. Even my many years of beriberi experienced a complete recovery. I truly felt the happiness of being in an illness-free state. The change in my body reinforced my confidence and determination to study the Fa and practice the exercises. I felt Dafa's privilege, Master's great compassion, and boundless power of Dafa.
In 1999, I retired from a hospital in Beijing. My son was married. After a year, my grandson was born. Normally speaking, I could have stayed at home and enjoyed the happiness of family life. So why was it that I came to the United States? The reason is as follows. My sister came to the U.S. after June 4, 1989. She missed my mother, so she moved her to U.S. After some time, my mom missed home. So my nephew and I went to the U.S. to bring my mom back home. The kids and grandchildren in mainland China all awaited my mom’s return. I came to the U.S.specifically for this mission. I also had a selfish desire. I hoped my mom would solve the property conflict after she came back. In our old home in Beijing, my mom had two houses. The main one is for my younger brother. Because he is a boy, he is the obvious choice for heir. On the other hand, I also hoped to get a house or at least some money. I was the oldest daughter. After my dad passed away, I helped my mom to take care of my younger sisters and brothers. I contributed much effort and money. I made so many contributions to the home. It'd be wrong if I didn’t get a house or money. That's another reason I came to U.S. to pick up my mom.
However, once I came to U.S., I came across Falun Gong. After starting cultivation, all my illnesses recovered. My mind had also improved. I knew the principle of "no loss no gain". Based on the Fa, I know that as a practitioner, the most cherished thing is De (white matter). It stays with you whether you are dead or alive. De can also be transformed to Gong. Without De, nothing can be achieved. Do I really need a house or money? My son was married and had a house. I was retired and had a house. I am not short of a house or money. Then why should I fight for it? My family was very harmonious. But because I fought for the house, my two sisters fought for it as well. We became unsatisfied with each other, blaming each other and accusing each other. What was I doing? From an ordinary person standpoint, as the eldest sister, I shouldn't create conflicts among brothers and sisters. Not to mention I am a cultivator now! At the same time, our conflicts hurt my mom the most. How could we make my mom restless during her late years? I thought over it clearly. It's Falun Dafa that made me understand this principle. I decided to discard ordinary people's desires, give up the request for house, and let my mom make the decision.
Through Fa study and experience sharing, I realized that as a Dafa disciple of the Fa rectification period, I must do three things well: study the Fa, send forth righteous thoughts, and save sentient beings.
In March 2013, Shen Yun performing arts came to Seattle to present 5 shows. We had to sell more than 10,000 tickets. This was an important mission to help Master rectify Fa and save sentient beings. Practitioners in Seattle went out regardless of whether they were male or female, young or old. We all made our largest contributions in human, material, and finance resources. We all wanted to sell more tickets and save more people. Master said: "The paths of cultivation are varied / But none is outside the Great Law" (Hong Yin Volume II). We had the same goal, and worked together to post posters and distribute booklets from door to door. With fellow practitioners, I went through months baking in the hot sun, basking in the pouring rain, and walking on frozen, slippery roads created by the cold weather. All these different tests made me feel as if my soul was being baptized, as if I had become reborn through bathing in fire.
After the Shen Yun shows, I thought I needed to find another job. The job shouldn't be too tiresome, since I need time to study the Fa, practice the exercises, and participate in group Fa study and exercises. The salary shouldn't be too low as well. Shortly afterwards, I got a new job with all conditions satisfied. I was happy. However, something unexpected happened. On my second day of work, I was bite by the employer's dog. My left foot was seriously hurt. The inner side of my left foot had a 3-centimeter long hole, and on the outside a 2-centimeter large hole. In a moment, my shoe was full of blood. Although I am a doctor, I have never been bitten by a dog. I calmed down quickly, and told myself, "I am not an ordinary person. I am a cultivator. There shouldn't be any problem.” Master has said, “Whatever you experience during your cultivation—whether good or bad—is good, for it comes about only because you are cultivating”(Essentials of Diligent Progress Volume III). In Zhuan Falun, Master said: "As the Great Enlightened Beings see it, being human isn’t the purpose: a person’s life isn’t for being human, but to have you return. People think that they suffer a lot. But they think that the more you suffer, the better—it pays off your debts faster. That’s how they think"(Zhuan Falun).
The employer was scared. He probably was afraid I would sue him and ask for compensation. I comforted him and said I was fine. At the same time, I commanded him to quickly prepare all the materials needed to handle the wound. I washed the wound continuously. Since lots of blood came out, the employer asked me to go to hospital. I refused. I remembered in Zhuan Falun, Master said: "So from now on in your practice you’ll run into all kinds of tribulations. How could you cultivate without them?"(Zhuan Falun). Master also said: "A person has to truly temper himself in real-life situations—that’s the only way you can improve"(Zhuan Falun).
Thinking of Master's words, I thought it might be my tribulation and Karma I needed to pay back. I just need to take it easy and let things happen naturally. With that thought, a miracle happened. Though the wound was serious, I didn't feel much pain and had a good night’s sleep that night. The next day, there was still some blood oozing out, but I still didn't feel much pain. I kept studying the Fa, practicing the exercises, and sending forth righteous thoughts. I handled the wound and changed medication myself. The wound healed quickly and looked well. After 2 days rest in my employer's home, I resumed work. After 1 week, the wound was almost healed and looked very well. I truly experienced that one difference in thought could lead to a good/bad outcome. I had the thought: It's fine. I am a Dafa disciple. I shouldn’t have tetanus, rabies. I don't need to go to hospital. As a result, nothing happened. If I didn't remember Fa at that time, I don't know what would have happened.
Later in group Fa study, I shared the story and my understanding. A practitioner told me, shouldn't you look inside to see whether there are any gaps in your cultivation? I looked within repeatedly: are my job requirements a form of seeking? Master said in Zhuan Falun: "seeking things is an attachment"(Zhuan Falun). "People often think that what they want are good things. But in fact, when you look at it from a high level, that’s all just for the instant gratification ordinary people like"(Zhuan Falun). “The loss we’re talking about is broader. Throughout the whole course of cultivation we should lose all those attachments and different desires that ordinary people have"(Zhuan Falun).
I also remembered on Minghui website how fellow practitioners in mainland China told the truth to evil policemen and dogs. They told the dogs: "Don't bite Dafa disciples. Dafa practitioners cultivate truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance. If you bite Dafa disciples, you are committing a heavenly crime and will go to hell. If you bite bad people, I can save you. Remember Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance is good." The dog then really didn't bite Dafa disciples. When I came to a new environment, I didn't send forth righteous thoughts to clear away the evil in this environment. I didn't clarify truth to all beings in this environment. Hence, the evil took advantage of my loophole.
In May of 2012, I very fortunately attended the New York Fa conference. I heard Master teaching Fa with my own ears. I was deeply moved by the Master’s benevolence and his earnest instruction toward the disciples. After the Fa conference, I often recalled Master's words to "always cultivating as if you were just starting" (Fa Teaching at the 2009 Greater New York International Fa Conference). I used it as a reminder to myself to cultivate more diligently.
I will try my best to do three things well, save more sentient beings, and return home with Master.
Thank you Master!
Thank you fellow practitioners!
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