Fortunate to Start Cultivation

By a new practitioner in New York

(Clearwisdom.net) When I was first asked to write my sharing I was very hesitant because I really did not want the attention. When I had a chance to reflect on the true meaning of sharing, I could not get the words "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," "xinxing," or cultivation out of my mind. I suddenly realized that I needed to write this experience sharing report not for myself, but for those that introduced me to Falun Dafa and for those that will seek it out in the future.

It feels like it all started so long ago, but it only feels this way because so much of my life has changed in just six months. I am a work in progress, I am a student of Dafa, and I plan to continue my cultivation as long as this life holds me.

Where should I start?

I met a lady practitioner during her mission to sell as many tickets and introduce as many as possible to what I call the greatest shows in the universe: the Holiday Wonders and the Chinese New Year Splendor. I was on my way out of work, and I was exhausted. This lady practitioner was on her way in to see me for an unannounced visit. I had never met her before, and I told her that I would not be able to see her unless she could return the following day. I was hoping that she would go away and not return. I do not know why I chose to see her the next day, as I normally turn away hundreds of people. I now realize that this was the most important meeting of my life. It was at this meeting that I first heard of Falun Dafa and Master Li.

A couple of days later I received a copy of the Falun Dafa book and the audio lectures. I completed the audio lectures first as I spend a lot of time in my daily commute. After I completed the audio lectures I would tell other practitioners about the 12 lectures that I had completed. I even proudly announced it to over 100 practitioners at a sales training session I provided. It was this same lady practitioner that asked me, "Why do you keep saying that there are 12 lectures?" I explained that there are 12 audio CDs and I assumed that each CD was a lecture. We laughed, but I did not feel embarrassed because I could only remember all of the kind faces that simply ignored my error as they knew my heart was in the right place.

I wish I had the time to share all of my experiences since my initial meeting with this lady and all of the other practitioners that have helped me through my personal experience within the Fa.

I can only tell you today of the man that I used to be. I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, I used to drink regularly, I used to not recognize the suffering of others, I had zero patience for some, I used to yell out my car window at bad drivers, and the word cultivation had no true meaning in my life. The funny part is that, with my poor habits and material possessions, people called me a success.

Today, I stand before you as a man that has set down smoking, drinking, gambling, and all of those negative habits, and I have now picked up the ever present act of cultivation.

I will end my testimony with what I have learned......I have learned that the meeting with that practitioner was not a meeting of chance. I realize that this meeting was my destiny!

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2008/5/26/179214.html

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