Let Go of the Selfishness in Our Hearts and Replace It with the Fa

By a Falun Dafa practitioner in China

(Clearwisdom.net) I started to practice Falun Dafa under the guidance of my mother. I used to be in very poor health and needed medication every day. I wanted to die and yet was very afraid of dying. After I read Zhuan Falun I knew all at once that this was what I had been searching for my entire life. Because I did not have the intention of having my illnesses cured, all my illnesses were gone before I even noticed.

Before July 20, 1999, when the persecution of Falun Dafa began, I was very diligent and studied many hours every day. I slept only two hours a day and recited Teacher's articles and Essentials for Further Advancement on my way to and from work. I lost count of how many times I recited them. After I got home, I once copied the entire book Zhuan Falun in 16 days.

A solid foundation of personal cultivation before the persecution helped me to pass all the tests and tribulations later.

When the persecution began they wanted us to turn in our Dafa books. The manager of my company and personnel from the 610 Office came to my house. I told them that I would not give up my books because I had regained my health from practicing Falun Gong and I would continue to practice. With Master's protection, all my Dafa books were safe even under such a stressful situation.

In those days, I did not watch any TV to avoid seeing the propaganda. Once when I was cooking a meal my daughter said, "Mom, they are saying bad things against you." I was moved. I am a Dafa disciple and safeguarding Dafa is the responsibility of Dafa disciples. I decided that I needed to go to Beijing to clarify the truth to everyone, restore the reputation of our Master and expose the evil lies. I was brought back from Beijing after being detained by the manager of my company and police officers from our local police station. I was told that I would be detained for two weeks, but we were released after three days.

In 2001, there was a long period of time that I was not diligent and the evil beings took advantage of my loopholes. One time I delivered Master's article to a fellow practitioner. This practitioner was under surveillance, so the minute I walked into his house the police followed me and I was arrested. I knew that I had loopholes, but I also knew being detained was not the path that Master had arranged for me. Where did I go wrong, and how should I correct it? I had one thought: "Since I am here, I may as well rectify the environment here." I started a hunger strike.

The purpose of my hunger strike was to have more opportunities to know more policemen and clarify the truth to them. I was not allowed to sleep from the first day I was in the detention center. I had no sleep and no food, plus I was forced to do physical labor with shackles on. Other inmates were quite concerned about me, but I told them that I practiced Falun Gong and that I was protected by Teacher. (I understood perfectly well that Dafa disciples are no longer within the three realms and will not be restrained by conditions within the three realms. Master said in "Salvation Far and Wide" (Hong Yin):

"Lay down your human, mundane mind,
The Fa gained, you now stand divine,
Break free, and depart, these Three Realms,
And ascend to Heaven with a Buddha Body."

I did not sleep or eat, but I could still function well. After one week of being on the hunger strike, I came into contact with many police officers. The director of the detention center allowed me to practice without being monitored and without reciting detention center rules or regulations. Through my hunger strike, all the inmates and policemen recognized the kindness and elevated spirit of Dafa disciples. I was unconditionally released after one month.

That year the evil Party set up brainwashing centers, and many people from the 610 Office and the neighborhood committee came to my house. I understood that Dafa disciples of the Fa-rectification period are here to save sentient beings. If I agreed to attend the brainwashing classes, that would mean that I accepted the tests that the old forces set up for Dafa. Therefore, I could not go no matter what. When I refused to go, so they adopted another tactic. They asked me to make my position clear to my manager at work. I did not think clearly at that time and agreed. On my way to work a police vehicle showed up and they tried to drag me into the car, but I resisted strongly. They could not do much and followed me to my work unit.

While I was walking into the unit, I was thinking: "If I get hit by a car and die, how will I face Master and all sentient beings? Particularly for those who came to arrest me, isn't their crime becoming more severe? I am a Fa-rectification period disciple, and I am here to save them. I cannot let them lose this opportunity of being saved just because I did not do well." At that moment I enlightened to the deeper meaning of "Beyond the Limits of Forbearance," that is compassion. I should cleanse everything that does not belong to this universe and all evil beings and elements that prevent the sentient beings from being saved. Thus, more beings on earth and in this universe can be saved.

When I arrived at work, the manager avoided meeting with me. I sat quietly and sent forth righteous thoughts. I asked Master to strengthen me. After half an hour, they abandoned the idea of taking me to the brainwashing center.

At the beginning of the persecution, there was very little truth clarifying material. I had to make copies in a store and made only what I could pay for. I distributed the truth clarifying materials with a pure heart. All I could think of was saving sentient beings. I hoped that everyone could receive the materials, understand the truth and be saved. I passed the materials to one store after another. One time a fellow practitioner got arrested and told the police about me. The police officers came to my home, but they did not dare to touch me.

Later, I got my own copy machine and started to produce materials myself. For a while, my state of cultivation was not very good and the material I made was not clear. One time people from the neighborhood committee confiscated a whole bag of my truth clarifying materials. I was in trouble and my knowing side immediately became awakened. I told Master that I was wrong and the poorly printed materials could not fulfill the goal of saving sentient beings. The evil beings took advantage of my loophole, but from then on, I would correct myself and make saving sentient beings my top priority. Meanwhile, I sent forth righteous thoughts and cleared away the interference. No being is allowed to interfere with my saving sentient beings, and no being is qualified to test Dafa; they can only assimilate to the Fa. I did the three things as usual and I was not bothered again.

People from the resident registration management came to see me today. They asked me whether I had distributed materials about Falun Gong. I said, "I will not answer your question. I am not obligated to answer the question, but I can tell you that I sure would like to go out and distribute some materials." They did not know what to say and left. I regretted afterwards that I did not take the opportunity to clarify the truth to them. When they came, on the surface, they came to harass me. However, I am a Dafa disciple who has righteous thoughts and righteous actions and should be able to be calm. I should be unaffected by their intent and reject their notions. I had one thought, "you are here to be saved." I thought about this with compassion and righteous thoughts. Master said, "I just don't believe their consciences are irretrievably lost." ("For the Good of the World" 6/16/2006)

I can recall all the tribulations that I encountered over the past years. Even though I passed them, now that I have improved, I can see even more attachments. I was afraid that I would do poorly, I complied with the evil beings, and I failed to meet the requirements of Dafa disciples to reach consummation. If I had put all the sentient beings in my heart, and always thought about others and how to save others, I would not have this much regret.

Master said that human beings are most difficult to save. Fellow practitioners, let's all make saving sentient beings the most important thing. We need to let go of the selfishness in our hearts and replace it with the Fa to be Dafa disciples truly worthy of the glorious title: Fa-rectification period Dafa disciple.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/4/29/153782.htm

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