Assimilating into a New Cultivation Environment as Quickly as Possible
By a Falun Dafa Practitioner from Toronto
(Clearwisdom.net) Respected Master, greetings! My sharing today is entitled "Assimilating into a New Cultivation
Environment as Quickly as Possible." I started my cultivation practice in
1996. I arrived in Toronto in August this year. I will share with you some of my
experiences and understanding on cultivation since my arrival a few months ago. I. My Feelings Upon My Initial Arrival in Toronto When I met up with my youngest aunt, I couldn't wait to ask her about the
cultivation environment of the overseas Falun Dafa practitioners. Not long
after, I was informed about the Divine Land Marching Band, how fellow
practitioners had clarified the truth in shifts at the Chinese
Consulate in Toronto, and many things about the three media. All of these were
things I didn't know when I was back in China. When I learned that there was a group Fa-study at Toronto University on
Fridays, I wished it was Friday that very day. The Fa group study is one of the
forms that Teacher has given to all practitioners, and which has become almost
impossible in Mainland China. The persecution launched by the evil has made it
difficult for Falun Dafa practitioners to even meet, let alone study together. Finally, the sacred time for group study came. I accompanied my aunt to the
University of Toronto. Seeing so many practitioners entering the classroom, I
felt as though I was meeting with a roomful of relatives and was very excited.
The grand scene of the Fa group study brought me back to the times before 1999,
before the evil had launched the persecution. At that time, I was very young. I
would go with my mother daily to participate in the Fa group study and watch
Teacher's videos, while at the same time we shared our experiences and
understandings enlightened by Falun Dafa and discussed how to eliminate all of
our attachments and how to assist Teacher in spreading the Fa well. What we
share at present, overseas among all the fellow practitioners is how to clearly
clarify the truth, validate Falun Dafa, save sentient beings, and how to make
ourselves upright during the Fa-rectification. All kinds of thoughts swelled up
in my heart and I was deeply impressed by the free environment of overseas
practitioners. II. Joining the Divine Land Marching Band When I held the trumpet in my hands for the first time, I was delighted.
Feeling that I had a friend with me, the excitement kept me from thinking too
much about whether it would be hard or not. I adored it so much. Every day, I
longed to get home as soon as possible after school so I could play my trumpet.
I looked forward to playing it well so that I could participate in parades with
fellow practitioners to validate Falun Dafa and save sentient beings. When I
first received the trumpet and was ready to practice, I could feel that Teacher
had strengthened me with wisdom and righteous thoughts. Every day when I
practiced I could accomplish a lot and the practicing process solidified what
Teacher has taught me. As long as I practice more, I can grasp it. I feel that
I've improved quickly. I realized that practicing the trumpet is a process of cultivation. As long
as we eliminate human notions and are diligent, we can make improvements. To
think about which instrument is hard to play, or which is easy for young people
to learn, or that people without a basic knowledge of music learn slowly, are
all human notions that interfere with Falun Dafa practitioners. They should be
all rooted out. I have enlightened that when Teacher granted each Dafa
practitioner with a Fa implement, everyone of us was given abilities and powers.
To practice a musical instrument is to conform to the law and the state of the
human world. It is just like the enlightened beings needing to start their
cultivation all over again when they descend to the human world to save the
people. As long as we have righteous thoughts, and are aware that we are
practicing the great Fa, our divine side will take effect. And there will be no
way for the evil to interfere. The first time I took part in a parade, while walking in the procession, I
was fully aware that I was validating the Fa and saving sentient beings. At that
moment I truly felt the mission I shouldered as a member of the Divine Land
Marching Band. Every parade of ours received a good response. I think this is
because when Falun Dafa practitioners are together, their energies are strong,
and the music they play is pleasant. I feel deeply happy for the people who
heard, saw, and cheered for our band. "In order for Dafa disciples to walk their paths well and do the three
things well, they must study the Fa well and take Fa-study seriously." Teacher also said in this same article: "That is because the Fa is the foundation; it is what's fundamental
for Dafa disciples; it is what ensures everything; and it is the avenue by
which a human being journeys toward godhood. Thus I would like to take the
opportunity of this Fa conference in Australia to tell all Dafa disciples
around the world: Whether you are a new or veteran student, all the same you
must not neglect Fa-study on account of being busy. Don't just go through the
motions when you study the Fa. You should study with a concentrated mind, and
you must really be studying." Thinking back on my ten year journey of cultivation, whenever I could not
pass a test, or my cultivation state was not good, the reason was that I didn't
study the Fa well and also did not have Fa in mind. With so many things to do
now, if I do not study the Fa well, I will fall into a state of completely doing
things with my human side. I will easily feel entirely exhausted. I think of
practitioners in Mainland China inside labor camps, whenever there is a chance,
they will recite Zhuan Falun for other practitioners. Those
practitioners who had just learned the Fa and those whose houses were
searched were eager to read this great book. At present in Mainland China, Falun Dafa books are not available. I remember
how excited a new practitioner was when he received a copy of Zhuan Falun
from my mother who had copied it by hand. Before leaving China, I also gave my
mp3 player with Teacher's lectures on it to a new practitioner who had just
started cultivating. Teacher said, "Study the Fa and gain the Fa, In Mainland China, our fellow practitioners never neglected Fa-study in that
tough environment. Compared to them, I see my shortcomings. I should do even
better to get rid off my laziness and all the other evil which interferes with
my Fa study. I must cherish the Fa study environment here. To clarify the truth is also one of the three things that Teacher
requires of practitioners. On the first day of the new semester at the
University of Toronto, I went to distribute truth-clarifying materials and
gained many valuable experiences. Many people were walking on campus, and fellow
practitioners tried to give out those materials to them. Many of them received
it with gratitude, some even took the materials with both hands and bowed which
really touched me. Being blinded and poisoned by the atheism of the evil Party
culture, many Chinese people do not believe in gods and display indifference for
human life. When the persecution was just launched back in the year 1999, my family
members and I, and many fellow practitioners around, were all illegally
detained. It pained my heart to learn that some fellow practitioners were
tortured to death, to see practitioners walking shakily who had suffered from
several rounds of torture, to know that some practitioners were arrested and
sent to labor camp several times, and to think of the practitioners forcefully
taken into the labor camps! Never, ever will I forget any of those scenes.
Teacher said in his new article, "Throughly Dissolve the Evil": "As a result of the righteous thoughts that Dafa disciples have put
into validating the Fa and saving the world's people, the complete dissolution
of the evil beings and elements that play a negative role and persecute Dafa
disciples is taking place." I was enlightened that Fa-rectification has entered into a new stage, and we
still fall short in eliminating the dark minions and rotten demons that are
instrumental in the persecuting of Falun Dafa disciples. IV. Encouraging People to Quit the CCP and Its Affiliated Organizations Once, I spent an entire night clarifying the facts to another Chinese
schoolmate. Finally, he agreed to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations.
As I was about to say goodbye to him, he added, "It is because of the human
rights problem that I agreed to quit, but in terms of the economy, there are
natural cycles of ups and downs." I could find no other way then, but he
did get saved by quitting. It was 3 o'clock in the morning and I had a parade
the next day, so with no further discussion, we ended the conversation. The nine classmates in my class are from six different countries. Now, they
all know that the Chinese Communist Party is very evil and incompetent. I should
mention here that the entire credit for this need not go to me, for during the
course of clarifying the truth to them, I felt that except for some of the
Chinese people, the people of the whole world already know the evil Party's
autocratic and vicious nature. What I did only made them understand that the CCP
is much more vicious and incompetent than they thought. Though I continue to clarify the truth, compared to fellow practitioners in
Mainland China, I feel I lag far behind. These days, I get e-mails from my
mother every day asking me to help people to quit the CCP on their behalf on the
Internet. It's always more than one name, and the longest list had 169 names.
When I see an alias like 'Fo Yuan' (predestined relationship with the Buddha), I
feel as though I am actually seeing a new life before me. Thinking of Falun Dafa
practitioners in Mainland China on rain soaked nights, wearing rain-coats,
singing "Coming for You" and with truth-clarifying materials on their
backs, they go out to save sentient beings. Thinking of them distributing
truth-clarifying materials to police stations with their clean and pure minds,
thinking of the exciting scene when my mother and I found a new approach to
distributing truth-clarifying materials, thinking that inside a delicately
wrapped parcel there are some shining truth-clarifying materials, thinking that
they have kept on clarifying the truth without rest, I feel that I have fallen
behind and have not kept pace with the Fa-rectification process. Our fellow
practitioners in Mainland China must keep very strong righteous thoughts.
Failing that, the evil forces would make excuses to carry out their persecution.
Even in those cruel surroundings, they still do not forget the "three
things" Teacher asks us to do. Why can't I pick up the phone to clarify the
truth? Is it out of fear or worry? Or is it just out of my attachment to seeking
comfort, fundamentally? Each time I hear my fellow practitioners share their
experiences on helping people quit the CCP, I had a kind of wait-and-see
attitude to check out if other practitioners would make their move. I never
thought of how I could be better involved and take action. When I look inward, I
ask myself, "Have I slacked off now that I am in a better environment? Have
I failed to keep in mind that I am a Fa-rectification period Dafa disciple? Have
I always remembered that as a Falun Dafa practitioner, I should do the three
things well? Thinking this I break out in a cold sweat all over. It is time for
me to pick up the phone and call China. V. Conclusion Finally, I'd like to cite Teacher's words in Essentials for Further
Advancement - "Melt into the Fa": "As a student, if his mind is filled with nothing but Dafa, this person
is definitely a genuine cultivator. So you must have a clear understanding on
the matter of studying the Fa. Reading the books more and studying the books
more is the key to truly elevating yourself. To put it more simply, as long as
you read Dafa, you are changing; as long as you read Dafa, you are elevating.
The boundless content of Dafa plus the supplementary means--the exercises--will
enable you to reach Consummation." Please be kind enough to correct me if there is anything improper.
Fellow practitioners, greetings!
As soon as I left the plane, I saw the clear blue sky. I breathed the fresh
and free air of Toronto. I thought about the fact that just some ten odd hours
ago, there were still dark clouds clustered in the dark blue sky over my head in
a place where the evil filled the air. I realized that I had now reached a brand
new cultivation environment.
A month after I arrived in Toronto, I joined the Divine Land Marching Band.
When choosing a musical instrument, I was told by many fellow practitioners that
the trumpet was not easy to learn. The trumpet is supposed to play the main
melody and is the most needed in the band. Knowing that it is hard to learn, I
was stirred by human thoughts without even hearing the second half of the
sentence. I told myself, "Since the trumpet is so hard to play, it will
weaken the power of the band if I can't manage it well, plus I may not be in the
parade as soon as I wish." I have a good sense of rhythm, so it might be
easier for me to play the saxophone or the bass drum. Without my knowing, my
aunt chose the trumpet for me. I was really a bit vexed and complained why she
didn't ask for my opinion. She said "No, I did not, but are you afraid of
the difficulties you will encounter in playing the trumpet?" I think it was
Teacher that used my aunt's words to enlighten me. I finally accepted the
trumpet as my instrument. When I looked within, I found the attachment of
pursuing the easy way and the fear of difficulties which were interfering with
me.
III. Study the Fa Well and Clarify the Truth
Teacher said in his new article, "To the Australia Fa
Conference":
Focus on how you study and cultivate,
Let each and every thing be measured against the Fa.
Only then, with that, is it actually cultivation."
("Solid Cultivation," Hongyin)
As for helping people to quit the CCP, I should say I haven't done well
enough, for I've failed to initiate making the phone
calls, but only took a few opportunities to clarify the truth to some of my
former classmates and teachers. I really see that some Chinese people at my age
are poisoned. In fact, they are poisoned daily by the evil Party culture without
even knowing it. Ever since they were born, they have been living in that
environment. Nowadays the contents of elementary school textbooks for students
in China are almost exactly the same as those twenty years ago; there is no
essence of traditional Chinese culture, but only the evil Party's propaganda and
brainwashing. For example, when the teacher asked one of my Chinese classmates
in the language school where I now study, whether the Chinese people have the
right to vote, he answered without any hesitation, "Yes." So I asked
him when actually was the last time he voted and his reply was, "How can I
get my turn at that!" Then I asked him who should vote and he couldn't
answer. I continued, "Just think about how the American president got
elected, but everyone knew Hu Jintao was coming to power one or two years even
before he became the President. Do Chinese people really have voting
rights?" He thought for a while and then said, "It makes some sense
now."
Time flies and in an instant, I have been in Toronto for three months. I
came to understand deeply that for a Falun Dafa practitioner, wherever he or she
is, solid cultivation is of vital importance. We have to try our best to do the
three things that our Teacher requires us to do under any conditions. I realized
that though my cultivation environment seems to be getting better, how I keep
cultivating diligently in the new environment is Dafa's new and higher
requirements of me. I'll make every effort to study the Fa, and try to merge
myself into the new cultivation environment as soon as possible.
Chinese version available at
http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/1/2/145947.html
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