PureInsight | December 9, 2002
Greetings to our dearest Shi Fu!
And greetings to fellow practitioners!
I am practitioner from New Jersey. I obtained the Fa in November 1997. This Thanksgiving marks my five-year anniversary of rebirth.
During the past five years, I have been so fortunate to listen in person to Shi Fu' s lectures, and learned so many heavenly secrets that were never revealed to mankind since time began, enlightened to the truth of humanity and universal principles. I, from an ignorant, faithless atheist wandering around the secular world, gradually become a true Dafa practitioner returning to my real home.
It is an embarrassment to look back at myself five years ago.
I was born in the so-called new China, grew up under red flags with hammer and sickle. Under my parents' wings, I was doing well all along. I was promoted at 18 to a leader in a factory. This factory selected a university for my study. After graduation, I was reassigned to a Research Institute and soon became an assistant director of a division. I was on a fast track to fame and power. In eighties, in the study abroad rush, somehow I landed in the USA for graduate study. I got a white-collar job after completing my graduate study and became a US resident. Later, I became a US citizen and bought our house. I was very ambitious and anxious to succeed in my career. However, it did not work well this time. With many struggles and sleepless nights, my career was going nowhere no matter what I tried. Instead, my health deteriorated. I had severe insomnia, a stomach ulcer, periodontal disease, constipation, hypersensitive skin, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I was frequently a victim of the flu and fevers. I had no energy to do my job and lead a normal life. Every day, on returning from work, I had to take a nap before dinner to recover. I didn't care about household chores, because I didn't have the energy or interest. I felt like an old man close to the end of life. Gradually, I lost all interest in life. Stressed and depressed, my temper got worse. It was hard for my family members to bear it. I became so selfish, always arguing with others around me. Little things would irritate me a lot. I was living a hopeless life. Sometimes, I asked myself, "Why did I come here?"
In November 1997, before Thanksgiving, Falun Dafa came to me in the Huaxia Chinese School. I was taught to practice all five sets of exercises. The next day, I went to Newark to join the group exercises and study. With the help of veteran practitioners, I read all of Master Li's books. From then on, I started Dafa cultivation without a second thought. Through five-year cultivation practice, Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance deeply seeded in my heart, and I am reborn with a completely new life. All my illnesses disappeared. The worse flu epidemic in decades that knocked down every one around me did not dare to get close to me. My sleep became all-conditions-and-environment-proof. I enjoy sleeping like a baby every night. I have almost inexhaustible energy, and my mind is very focused and clear. I can tackle a strenuous amount of physical and mental jobs without feeling a thing. In past five years, I have never gotten sick, sleepless, never taken medicine or supplements, never seen doctor and never had a sick day. I have lived a joyful and healthy life. Like countless Falun Dafa practitioners, I am truly a direct beneficiary of this great virtuous cultivation practice that has no comparison in history. Youth miraculously returned to me after I passed half a century. My physical condition and functions returned to ones in my twenties and thirties, and even better. In my company's annual physicals, all my checkups are normal and healthy. The nurse was shocked to notice my healthy blood pressure. Of course, all of these health and strength benefits that could make people envious are just the surface results of a cultivated heart and soul. On reviewing the fundamental changes that have occurred to me during my cultivation practice of the past five years, I am telling the people of the world from the bottom of my heart, " Falun Dafa is great!"
Among millions of Falun Dafa practitioners, the overwhelming majority of practitioners are already enjoying the benefits of holistic health. Millions of practitioners spend nothing in health care costs. Guided by the highest moral standards, they seek no fame or reward, making significant contributions to their countries. This could indeed be a great blessing, welcome in any country. However, in the country that has a five thousand year old civilization, a small group of tyrants refuse to accept this gift and persecute practitioners for their own personal gain. They are utilizing nation's dictatorship machine to crush lives and name almost one hundred million people as enemies of the state. History will never forget the crime they have committed.
Falun Dafa cultivation practice centers on internal cultivation. Long ago, I knew internal cultivation was the most powerful among all cultivation practices. But, I had no idea what an internal cultivation really was. Since I started to practice Falun Dafa, I have personally experienced the deep meaning and high realm of Falun Dafa internal cultivation. Although my understanding is still deepening, I have summed up the following points for sharing with fellow practitioners.
1. Giving up human sentimentality, nourishing one's family with a cultivator's benevolence
Falun Dafa is an internal cultivation way that practitioners undertake within their own social milieu. Master Li pointed out in Zhuan Falun, "In our school of practice, those who practice cultivation among everyday people are required to practice cultivation precisely in ordinary human society, and to fit in among everyday people as much as possible…Cultivation practices in temples or in remote mountains and woods completely sever your access to ordinary human society, forcing you to lose everyday people's attachments and denying you any material benefits so that you can lose them. A practitioner among everyday people does not follow this path. This person is required to take them lightly in this everyday human environment. Of course, this is very difficult. It is also the most crucial aspect of our school of practice." As a practitioner among ordinary people, how can he or she live in an environment that is so badly contaminated and still succeed in cultivation? How can he or she become a selfless, virtuous and righteous great enlightened being? This is one Fa principle that I have been always attempted to put into practice. During this special period of Fa-rectification, I am fully aware that the relationship between cultivators and ordinary people and among cultivators themselves is such a vitally important key issue.
I remember when I just obtained the Fa, that my lack of understanding of the Fa caused me to made many wrong turns. My wife and I have two children. In my family there are three ordinary people and one cultivator. When I began to practice cultivation, I had nothing in mind but personal cultivation. My family was so neglected that I gradually distanced myself from them. My wife often complained to me that I only cared about going to heaven by myself, and that I was leaving the others to live or die. I retorted that I am the one who practices cultivation, and, as a result, you and many others should benefit. She did not buy that. My wife did not see any benefit to the rest of the family at all. Consequently, whenever I came back home from Dafa activities, she would explode. I would just take it passively as the pain of my karma elimination, hoping that karma would eventually go away. Gradually, my wife turned her protests from me to Dafa. She even had negative view of Dafa. I was painfully disappointed, because I knew my wife was a good person among ordinary people. How could she reject Dafa?
"Sentimentality is something of everyday people, and everyday people just live for it." (From Zhuan Falun) Sentimentality is most clearly demonstrated in the family. How should a Dafa cultivator give up sentimentality while not hurting others? I had been pondering this for a long time and did not have any idea. Whenever I saw a family in which every member is Dafa cultivator, I mistakenly envied them for being so fortunate to have such a predestined relationship.
Shi Fu said, "If you are free from this sentimentality, nobody can affect you. An everyday person's mind will be unable to sway you. What takes over in its place is benevolence, which is something more noble." I have read this Fa principle for so many times, but until I began to write this paper, I did not understand this: as long as we are still cultivating in the human world, it is not possible for one to completely give up sentimentality, which is inherently selfish. If a cultivator aims to give up sentimentality thoroughly, he or she should replace it with benevolence, which is inherently selfless. Without much gracious benevolence, one will not be free from sentimentality. Without giving up sentimentality, a human being will not succeed in cultivation. Perhaps my understanding of benevolence is still skin deep, but I realize that the selfless benevolence belongs to higher realm of Buddhas, Taos and Gods. In our way of cultivation, sentimentality is gradually and eventually replaced by benevolence.
Looking back at myself, I mistakenly centered my cultivation on myself at the expense of my family and neglected them. I did not fulfill my duties and responsibilities as a husband, father, son or son-in-law. I thought I was getting rid of sentimentality. In reality, I did not free myself from selfish sentimentality.
Shi Fu pointed to my lack of understanding, with help of fellow practitioners, through five years of cultivation. I have finally come to understand more about cultivation inside a family. It makes me really embarrassed to think of what I did in the past. Although my progress is still in process, I began to realize that my family members are people who have special bonds with me. It is not coincidental that we became a family. We met in this life for returning debts and credits owed to each other in previous lives. Our members of the family have relationships that are the most private, the most sentimental and are the last line of defense of selfishness. This offers us endless opportunities to cultivate our xinxing, to help eliminate karma and enhance gong. How could any real cultivator refuse such a situation?
Gradually, I began considering others more often, and looked into myself whenever there was a conflict. When anticipating Dafa activities, I would make arrangements so family matter would not be ignored. I started to take care of many of the boring and heavy household chores. I also became more caring for my wife's needs, the children's education and the parents' living arrangements. I am constantly aware that my every word and deed is the best example of Fa principles. If I forgot, my family members reminded me at right time and place. They love to throw back at me what I said to them, and I happily accept the reminder without feeling embarrassed. After five years of cultivation, I have changed greatly. My once very tense family became harmonious. I have turned my family from an explosive frontier into a cultivating backyard. My wife still has not made her mind to join our cultivation, but she is not against my participation of Dafa activities. Often, she drives me to places of Dafa activities. She also participated in some peripheral Dafa activities. It made me very happy that she expressed several times that she will start to practice Falun Dafa after she has retired and has more time. I believe if I continue to guard my xinxing, the day she starts to cultivate will come sooner.
When we are clarifying truth to ordinary people, I have had many discussion about the reality of the persecution in China with my family. Sometimes, the discussion became very heated. I know in my heart that if I did not treat my family right, perhaps they would not listen to me. In that case, I would be guilty, for it would be I who pushed them toward the old forces, jeopardizing their future.
My wife and I have two upright and diligent children. I introduced Falun Dafa to them as soon as I started to learn. They read the book, and practiced for a while, then did not continue practicing. I felt very sorry for them at times, because Dafa passed them by. Later, I thought to myself, "Perhaps their time to cultivate has not come yet." I began teaching them Fa principles in daily life. Often, I would discuss their problems from my heart, showing my caring for them in every way. Gradually, Dafa became deeply seeded in their hearts. Presently, the children's morals and study habits are both excellent. They also understand Dafa principles and the truth about the persecution to some extent. My daughter, under my encouragement, often writes reports and essays about Falun Dafa. Recently she was going to write a midterm report for a "Science and Religion" course. I recommended a super scientific research paper to her written by Dr. Lili Feng. She wrote a report from the viewpoint of an ordinary person. She used my extraordinary health as an example, discussing the relation of mind, body and spirit as well as Falun Dafa cultivation and holistic health. Her professor, Dr. Morrison, gave her an A and commented, "I heard in the news about Falun Gong in China, and enjoyed learning more about it! Why did the Chinese government find it so threatening? That I still don't understand."
Before my son went to China this summer, we viewed a VCD exposing the faked immolation together as a preventive vaccine, so when he arrived in China, he would not believe what the Chinese Government forces people to accept. On the contrary, he was telling relatives about the truth of the persecution. His childish naive and pure words moved some adults more than his father could.
For a true cultivator, his or her family should be a real cultivating environment. His family should be a truly beneficial environment for the other members. A cultivator who gives up sentimentality and nourishes the family with benevolence can then cultivate himself, family, neighbor, country and the world. Today, in my family, there are still three ordinary people who are extraordinary and one cultivator. My family is still not cultivating yet, but I am cultivating my family with abundant benevolence.
2. Abandoning desire for fame and personal interest. Doing my own work with dedication
Before starting cultivation, I was the kind of person Shi Fu describes in Zhuan Falun, "He cannot eat or sleep well; he fears losing self-interest even in dreams, and he will go all out for personal gain." What a tiresome life I lived. After starting cultivation, guided by a high moral standard, I slowly and surely abandoned the heart for fame and personal interest, and did good work without attachment to results. Now, I have many successes and work with joy and ease. No matter how difficult and busy the work becomes, I am doing my job efficiently, keeping focused without any stress.
I work as scientist for a pharmaceutical company. After starting cultivation, I introduced Falun Dafa to many colleagues, and discussed the truth of the persecution. Most people who know me are aware that I am a Dafa cultivator. If I neglect something in my cultivation, that is reflected in my words and deeds. People around me will be negatively affected. For the past five years, keeping Zhen-Shan-Ren in mind, I have been very considerate of my coworker's feelings and interests. I am not afraid of hardship, tedium or sacrifice of my personal interest, as I regard the work place as a hard-to-find cultivation setting.
Recently, my division hired a temporary new college graduate. He was inexperienced and lacked a good work attitude. Other groups did not want him. When my boss asked me for an opinion, I knew that if I did not want him, he would be fired. So, I suggested trying him out in my group. After he came to my group, I had very sincere discussion with him. I pointed out what he needed to improve, and taught him step-by-step with great patience. Gradually, he was welcomed into my group as good assistant. A few weeks ago, I recommended him for obtaining a full time position in another division of the company. This showed, not only to him, but also my division, how well a Dafa cultivator could do in saving all sentient beings.
Because I treat people around me with compassion, not burdened by personal fame and gain, my colleagues love to work with me. They are also more receptive to the true story of Falun Dafa, and closer to being saved. In the past five years, I have gotten a very good evaluation every year. I have received two Excellency Awards and two promotions. This accomplishment is, of course, not the pursuit of a cultivator, but comes naturally as a result of cultivation reflected in ordinary people's society. The facts prove again that it is Falun Dafa that gives people wisdom and strength to be dedicated in their jobs. In the near future, there will be more people who practice Falun Dafa, and then our society will become prosperous in an era of renewed spiritual civilization.
3. Righteous thoughts and deeds validate " Falun Dafa is great" to all sentient beings.
Master Li told us in the Florida Fa conference: "So in other words, when we clarify the truth to save them, we need to tailor it to the mindsets modern people have. This is because the extent to which today's people believe in Gods is very limited, the minimal level of morality acceptable to them is also very low, and even when they know perfectly well that something is bad, they still do it." My understanding of this Fa principle is if you are saving people first let them accept you and be their friend.
I have been volunteering for many years in a Scientific Association in which the majority of members are from Mainland China. After starting cultivation, I had the idea of giving up the volunteer work for the association fearing that too much time would be taken from my cultivation. As Fa-rectification progressed, I gradually realized that this 500-member association with chapters around the country, closely related with scholars from China provides an abundant opportunity to clarify the truth. So, I treated volunteer work the same as my own job. My dedication and diligence won support from many members. Every year I am re-elected Director of the Executive Committee, thereby establishing a network among members a foundation for clarifying the truth in this Fa-rectification period.
The annual conference that includes from 300 to 500 Chinese specialists occurs every August. On August 7, 1999, two weeks after Jiang launched persecution, the 7th Annual Conference was held on a university campus. I brought a lot of truth-clarifying materials to the conference for people to take home. There were about four hundred of people in the conference including the delegation from China, media and a Chinese Consul, who had the opportunity to learn the true story of Falun Gong in time.
Since 1999, every year at the annual conference, I tried by many ways and means to bring Dafa materials to the participants. During breaks and mealtimes, I told people about the persecution in China and introduced them to the exercises. I regarded the August of each year as a small test of my cultivation progress. Before the conference, I spent a lot of time preparing the materials, and purged my impure thoughts. I tried to ready myself to optimum condition of cultivation. With righteous thoughts, deeds, wisdom and courage, without attachment to the results, I offered many people the opportunity to learn the truth. I will continue my work in this way until the day Fa-rectification is realized in this world.
For this August's annual conference, I was again responsible for the registration work. The night before the conference, I came back from a weeklong business trip. My plane landed at Newark airport at 12 midnight. I went from the airport straight to the company to pick up advanced registration forms that arrived during the week. After I came home, I entered all the registrations into the computer. It was 2 in the morning when I finished putting all the registrations together with the Dafa materials I had prepared earlier. I slept for about 3 hours, and got up to practice in the morning. Then, I drove to the conference, arriving there an hour early. I spread all Dafa materials and VCDs in the most noticeable areas of the lobby. I was wearing a pin on my suit that radiated the truth from my heart "Falun Dafa is great!" Wearing that, I received about four hundred participants. They were scholars and specialists from different parts of this country, from China, as well as people from the media and the Chinese Consulate. Although only a minority of participants could speak directly with me, everyone noted my pin "Falun Dafa is great!" As soon as they walked into the gate, the first person to greet them was a Falun Dafa practitioner, who has been volunteering for many years with dedication and diligence, who is not interested in personal gain and fame, but eager to tell them "Falun Dafa is great!" Some participants felt confused, some surprised, some shocked, some admiring, some avoiding and some gave me their hands. I was busy helping them with registration while communicating with them silently. My heart was filled with benevolence and righteous thoughts. I could sense the enormous energy field that shocked one's soul. That night at the banquet, the Executive Committee presented me with the Excellent Service Award for my selfless contribution to the organization during the past five years. With a loud applause from audience, I held the award plaque above my head, verifying once again to sentient beings "Falun Dafa is great!"
I have learned in the last five years of cultivation that Dafa particles are worldwide and every Dafa dizi cultivates, lives, and works among ordinary people every day. If all Dafa practitioners guard their xinxing with Zhen-Shan-Ren, cultivate in all circumstances, then our every word and deed is telling the sentient beings in the world "Falun Dafa is great!"
