PureInsight | February 26, 2017
[PureInsight.org]
Greetings Revered Master!
Greetings fellow practitioners
This is my ninth year of cultivation practice in Falun Dafa. It all began with my receiving two books in the post: Zhuan Falun and Falun Gong. They were sent to me by an Egyptian friend, who is an Australian practitioner. I had always regarded him as very level headed and sincere, so I thought that these books must be important. I read Zhuan Falun, once and then I read it again. I have never left it down since.
To get this far in my cultivation I have had to be very determined and make the decision that I wanted to cultivate only in Falun Dafa. During this time, because of the many forces, distractions and tribulations, I have had to, on many occasions, call upon and live our Revered Master’s advice in Zhuan Falun, “When it’s difficult to endure, you can endure it. When it looks impossible and is said to be impossible, give it a try and see if it is possible. If you can actually do it, you will indeed find: ‘After passing the shady willow trees, there will be bright flowers and another village ahead!’”
Master describes cultivation practice, in essence, as continuously letting go of all our attachments. I find for me, that this is similar to continuously taking farewell to all the things in life that I will not be bringing back home with me. Some ‘good byes’ are very casual, some are care free and easy, like things that I have outgrown, and then some good byes are very painful and some are very traumatic.
Sending Forth Righteous Thoughts is in itself a tonic for me. My Righteous Thoughts have evolved to the point where I realize that I have a connection with everything I encounter. So I focus my Righteous Thoughts at dissolving the source of my attachments, notions and bad habits, dissolving my own attachments, and constantly cleaning house. The Righteous Thoughts at set times I use to disintegrate and dissolve demons and issues on a cosmic scale. This is my last lifetime here on earth, so I relate to the fact that I am settling my accounts and saying farewell to this world, called the blue planet.
Master says in Zhuan Falun, "The ability to achieve tranquility is gong, and the depth of ding indicates one's level."
In the beginning because I had many anxieties, it was not easy for me to enter into ding. I realized from the beginning not to be distracted, attached or pursue any technique to enter into tranquillity. Gradually, I am finding it easier to clear out my head, relax and enter into ding. The exercises are an opportunity for me to give my brain a sunshine holiday from all the chatter, bustle and turmoil of the world and reset my life. I have come to realize that there is no such thing as setting aside time for the Fa. The beginning and the end and the compass, for everything in my life is the Buddha Fa. Every aspect of my life is processed by the Buddha Fa. My approach is: asking how would a Divine Being handle this situation?
In about 1997 I was diagnosed with a genetic condition called Haemochromatosis. This is a common genetic condition in the Irish people. In essence, what happens is that all the organs and joints in the body absorb too much iron. Gradually all the organs are overloaded with iron leading to chronic fatigue, exhaustion and death. It is a fatal condition and my mother died from it.
About three years ago the hospital recommended to me that they should commence draining my blood to reduce the iron overload. Because I regard myself a Dafa practitioner, I did not want to go along with this. I decided that I would continue with my cultivation, study the Fa more, be more diligent in doing the exercises and Sending Forth Righteous Thoughts, and be more diligent doing what a Dafa disciple should do. While doing the exercises my knees and bones were in a terrible condition, the pain was excruciating, and my entire body was in convulsions with the pain, which seemed endless. I was raving with the pain during the fifth exercise that was so deep into my bones. At the end of the exercises I would lie down moaning and groaning for about ten minutes, until one day I realized that all that moaning and groaning negated all my cultivation efforts. Moaning is not part of Ren. A disciple is required to endure with dignity.
I endured with the exercises and I continue to make amazing breakthroughs. Now I look forward to doing the fifth exercise. Last year I went back to the hospital to have my iron count measured. The Consultant told me that I do not have Haemochromatosis. He said it so casually, and, or dismissively, as if I had never been diagnosed with the condition. I recently had my iron levels monitored this year, and there are no issues reported. Doctors, I have found can unnecessarily be very defensive if you alert them to non – medical ways of life.
I would like to emphasise that the approach I took with this condition was my own personal decision. It was not a careless or haphazard decision, as I value my own life, and it is not meant as medical advice for anyone. Falun Dafa is a complete cultivation system of mind and body. My meditation is to be diligent, steadfast and wholehearted in my cultivation of Falun Dafa and assimilate to the characteristic of the cosmos Zhen Shan Ren, and to fulfil all the vows I made to Master before the dawn of history.
During that time also, I was diagnosed with very high cholesterol. Before becoming a Falun Gong practitioner I would have been anxious about this, as my father and my uncles died from heart disease. The doctor prescribed strong medication for me. I did not take it, and just carried on cultivating. The next year I got a test and my cholesterol level had gone back down to normal levels.
About two years ago I was under a lot of stress. I began losing weight and fading away, many of the health conditions I had as a teenager returned. I was in a very critical condition. My system was grinding to a halt and I was not able to work. I asked Master about this and He reminded me that I did ask Him to dig out those old conditions.
During my cultivation practice, I have come to realize that because of our xinxing cultivation and kind nature Dafa disciples are very sensitive, this is not the same as Qing. I avoid, as much as possible, being critical, offensive or judgemental of my fellow practitioners. I also thank Dafa practitioners for your kindness and encouragement towards me.
Until recently I was of the opinion that if I saw an attachment in another practitioner, I would think to myself that that was none of my business, or that that has nothing to do with me. Likewise, if someone pointed out an attachment in me, I would think that that is none of their business and, or I didn’t ask their opinion. Master points out that we have a duty of care to point out our attachments for each other. For me, the main part is that that needs to be done with compassion, and with kindness. Otherwise it is counterproductive.
Master said in Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York, “When everyone is discussing something, you may get upset over someone expressing disapproval of your idea, but if nobody raises objections and everyone says, “This is a pretty good idea, and that one’s not bad either” – so that nobody gets offended – I’d say that these students aren’t being very responsible to Dafa or to their own cultivation. They don’t dare to speak up when they see a problem. That is being too attached to self, and that’s selfishness. If you deal with a problem without the attachment to self and calmly put forward ideas about how to tackle the problem well, I don’t think others will feel uncomfortable upon hearing it, because you’re doing it for the Fa.”
Master said in Teaching the Fa with the Asia- Pacific Students, “Dafa is cultivation and there’s nothing else.”
In my cultivation practice I have come to realize that being short of personnel for all the projects we have is not the critical issue. In my opinion it is a matter our level of commitment, determination and diligence. In the very first exercise Master teaches us how to do the work of a thousand hands with our two hands alone; how to easily carry a mountainous burden; and how to topple a mountain. When I review each day I am alerted to where I waste valuable time and opportunity for Dafa.
One evening after the last FZN, I was meditating and a “loud and distinct” inspiration came over me. What I heard was: “24 Hours Left!!” I immediately knew exactly what it meant. Master was alerting me that if I knew that there was only 24 hours left until the Fa Rectification of the Cosmos, what would I do with those 24 Hours? It was very startling. Now I live each day as if it is my last day on earth. This is not an irrational tendency on my part. I improve on all a Dafa Disciple should do with the gift that Master has given me. My life is: How do I fulfil all the vows I made to Master before the dawn of history. I try to make a connection with everyone I meet, in a dignified way. I do not want to come across as if I am trying to sell them something. I realize that, I may never have another opportunity to offer them the salvation of Falun Dafa.
If I may say, in my cultivation journey I am very inspired by the xinxing and the articles sent to Minghui website by Dafa practitioners in mainland China. You are an inspiration to the entire planet and beyond, for all time. Your courage, endurance and righteousness in the face of appalling atrocities against you and your families are beyond compare, and can only be comprehended through the Fa. It is my duty to make sure that the world does not forget your sacrifices and tribulations, and that you are not forgotten, and you are not on your own. I am humbled to be in your midst.
Master continually inspires us and puts everything we encounter into perspective. Master said in Teaching the Fa at the Western US Conference, “From the Fa you’ve all realized this principle: in this cosmos no being will suffer in vain. This is especially true for someone who cultivates Dafa, and on top of that is a Dafa Disciple in the Fa Rectification period – as long as he’s still in the Fa, no matter what ends up happening to him, what awaits him is Consummation.”
Master said in Cautionary Advice from Essentials for Further Advancement, “If every one of you can truly understand the Fa from the depths of your mind, that will truly be the manifestation of the Fa whose power knows no boundary - the reappearance of the mighty Buddha Fa in the human world!”
During the summer, I participated in an 11 Town and City Tour, of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, both for Workshops and Truth Clarification. Some Tours were by invitation and the others were arranged by the co-ordinator. Everywhere we went the people lined up to sign our Petitions. When Irish people discover what forced organ harvesting is they can hardly take it in. We hear people ask in dismay: Why is there not a worldwide outcry about this!! People of every race, creed and nationality, young and old, stop by to study our A-frame display boards, and want to support us to end forced organ harvesting. Dafa brings everyone together. Some people tell us that they are Catholic or that they are Christian but they still want to sign our Petitions. They often say that they admire us and thank us for what we are doing. In spite of the onslaught of modernity Irish people are still very kind and compassionate.
In the town of Tralee I saw a very elderly gentleman studying our display boards. I asked him if he would like to sign the Petition to end the atrocity. He exclaimed to me: Oh what a world. I am proud to sign my name there. It was a very moving experience.
The Petition drives, it seems to me is Master giving the people an opportunity to make a stand, to give the people a voice, and an outlet. People are crying out for something to be done about this atrocity, regardless of the economic consequences for them, because it is the right thing to do. When meeting with public officials and the media, I emphasize the quantity and the broad national extent of these Petitions: the voice of the people. It gives them courage.
The Chinese practitioners that work on the streets getting Chinese tourists to quit the CCP are very remarkable practitioners. I have noticed that when Chinese tourists first see them they do not even want to look at them. They deliberately turn their heads away 180 degrees. Then in just a few minutes, or less, suddenly they are on friendly, smiling terms with the practitioner, and quitting the CCP.
This is my understanding, kindly correct any errors.
Thank you Esteemed Master for calling me, and for watching over me.
Thank you to all Dafa disciples.
Chinese version: http://www.zhengjian.org/node/155670
