Cultivating and Upgrading Myself in Dafa

My name is Xiujuan Jia, from Edison, NJ. I attained the Fa in January,1999.

On the journey from being an everyday person to becoming a cultivator, many everyday people's philosophies and attachments can obstruct one's opportunity to attain the Dafa. It took me almost one year to start my cultivation and practice. In January 1998, my husband and I went back to China for Chinese New Year. He got a set of Falun Dafa books from his family. At the same time, I was introduced to Falun Dafa by an old friend. I did not start practicing right away because of my strong attachments and everyday people's philosophies about life. However, after seeing my husband's tremendous physical and spiritual changes, and hearing say good things about Dafa from time to time, I finally agreed to read ZHUAN FALUN. I was watching TV and reading the book at the same time and, therefore, did not see any profound meaning in the book. Several friends came to our place on Christmas in 1998. My husband introduced Dafa to them. Although I could not remember what Master Li said in the book, I joined him and tried to tell them Falun Dafa was very good, it taught people "Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance". After our friends left, I sat in our living room and felt what I said to them was from the bottom of my heart. But I still felt that I was not ready to start my cultivation journey because of my strong attachments to material wealth. However, I was afraid that I would lose it for good if I did not catch it when it came into my hand. For more than seven years after I came to the US, I always felt that was wandering around with a restless heart. Year after year, time flew by faster and faster and I started to fear getting old. On January 9, 1999, the most important day in my life, I started to attend the 9-day video lectures by Master Li. Thereafter, I truly began my journey to my true origin on this sacred, difficult, while joyful great path.

One month after I started cultivation and practice, I attended to the FALUN DAFA cultivation experience exchange conference in L.A.. I saw Master Li in person. After hearing Master Li's lecture and the cultivation experiences of the practitioners, my determination to cultivate by following the Great Law became even stronger. With continuous study of the Fa and the practice of the exercises, my Xinxing has been rising and my physical body changing as well. Like every true practitioner, I have been experiencing and proving through my cultivation that Dafa is profound and boundless. No human language could describe how precious Dafa is and how benevolent Master Li is. I miss the days when hearing Master Li's lectures on the experience sharing conference, but I realize that I should treasure my predestined relationship with Dafa and cultivate myself very well in this special cultivation environment.

I know that Master Li is with me at every single moment, checking whether my cultivation meets the requirement. Whenever I am not diligent, Master Li tells me in my dreams. Several times, I dreamed about exams for which I did not prepare and did not know what to do. Once, I dreamed climbing up on a ladder. While I was a few steps away from reaching to the top, the ladder started to sway abruptly. My two legs were shivering badly and I could hardly stand up. I told myself that I should not stay here, because I could fall down to the bottom, which would be very dangerous. So, I gritted my teeth, lifted my trembling legs and finished the last few steps. Then, I found myself standing on a solid, flat open ground. I continued to walk forward. Suddenly, I was told that there would be a Chinese literature examination very soon. I started to get nervous and walk rapidly to find a place to study. When entering a room, I saw a bunch of people gambling there and went ahead to tell them that there would be an examination. However, nobody paid any attention to what I said, they just continued to play their games. I became worried. When I woke up, I realized what Master Li was telling me through my dream, which is there is no trial or test that a practitioner can not overcome once he or she is firm and steadfast about cultivation, and one has to be diligent in order to handle the obstacles well in the course of cultivation.

Because of the heavy suppression of Falun Dafa in Mainland China, the promotion of the Dafa and our own cultivation are inseparable. In September of last year, practitioners from our practice site attended a public introduction of Falun Dafa. There, we met a couple who attained the Fa not long ago. The wife told us "Such a great Law, once you read the book you would know it is good. I only wished that you guys had introduced Dafa to us earlier. It has been made public for over seven years, and yet we've only truly known it for three months". After hearing what she said we realized that we should do much more and improve at promoting Dafa. There are many predestined people out there who have not had the chance to know what Falun Dafa is. Especially under the present environment, the Chinese government controlled TV stations repeatedly broadcast fabricated stories to attack Dafa and to try to brainwash people. Some people, especially the na ve children, are polluted by lies and unjustifiable accusations. Occasional reports from the western media also contain misleading information. It is hard for outsiders to get to know what Falun Dafa really is. Therefore, impartial introduction of Falun Dafa becomes extremely important.

Since October of last year, practitioners in our practice group started to introduce Dafa to people in the nearby bookstores, libraries and community centers. From then on, we started a free teaching of Falun Dafa exercise classes every Monday and Wednesday in the North Edison Community Center. One after another, people came and learned the exercises. Some people also read China Falun Gong They had some understanding of Dafa. After reading China Falun Gong, a lady came to me and told me that Master Li's book is so profound and the principles are so enormous, and she finally knew why she could not calm down in meditation. The staff at community center were also interested in Dafa, learned the exercises with us and borrowing the books from us. They often tried to help us promote Dafa to the community and brought their friends to attend our exercise class.

During the course of promotion of Dafa to the community, many of my attachments were exposed. Sometimes, I had a very strong desire to do the job but I forgot about cultivation - such as hoping more people would come to learn Dafa, or worrying people would not show up again after seeing the report on heavy suppression of Dafa by the Chinese government in the local newspaper. As a matter of fact, the people who came to learn Dafa were not affected by any of the reports and my concern was unwarranted. Later on, we asked the center to put our activities on the community calendar which would be distributed to every family. In order for the activity to be put on the calendar, we needed to have a head count each time. I started to worry again, afraid that if not many people showed up, the center would cancel our class. One practitioner noticed my uneasiness and reminded me "We are not only promoting Dafa, but also cultivating ourselves".

Ever since I was a primary school student, I have always tried to be the best and would filter out any criticism directed toward me. Being blamed would make me feel that I was just misunderstood, and my emotions would fluctuate for a long period of time afterward. After becoming a Dafa practitioner, my attachments to personal fame are fading. In my company, I do not fight with colleagues for personal fame and material interests. Unlike before my cultivation practice, I hardly complain now, because I remember that I am a Dafa practitioner and should measure myself with Fa instead of falling to an everyday person's level. However, whenever there were differences between other practitioners and myself, I tended to measure other practitioners with the Fa instead of myself. On the issue of how to effectively promote Dafa to Westerners, I have been very stubborn and not willing to hearing hear people's suggestion. I spent a good portion of the class teaching them the exercises and practicing the exercises, while leaving only a tiny bit of time for reading the book. Sometimes, when I talked about my experiences of promoting Dafa, I would pave the way carefully with the hope that people would see my reasons and, therefore, have no objections. As a result, I could not say things directly and it was very difficult for others to know what I really wanted to express. I, too, felt that I was terrible at presenting myself. For a period of time, my thought was like a bundle of threads tangled together. I felt that I was sealed in a cylinder, walking along in a circle and not making any progress. One day at lunchtime, I sat in my office quietly and felt that I was in a layer of film, could not hear any voices from outside or see anything. Suddenly, I realized that I have been sealed by my own attachment--- self-protection, which prevented me from looking inside and forced me to pick on other people. Master Li said in "Genuine Cultivation" "Whether you can abandon the everyday person's mindset is a fatal test on your way to becoming a truly extraordinary being. Every disciple of genuine cultivator must pass it, for it is the dividing line between a practitioner and an everyday person". I told myself to step out of the shell of self-protection and let all my attachments be exposed. At that very moment, I felt that my whole body became light and relaxed.

On the "International Taichi and Qigong Day" about two weeks ago, we went to introduce Dafa to a group of Westerners who are interested in Oriental Culture. I had a conversation with a gentlemen who attended a public introduction of Falun Dafa two years ago. He told me that from his point of view oriental meditations were almost all the same, so he did not pay much attention to Dafa. After hearing what he said, I felt so sad. While I was driving home after the Falun Dafa exercise class the following Monday evening, it occured to me that Master Li had said that Tai-chi-Quan only consisted of movements but had left out the principles. I realized at once what Master Li was telling me. I should use more time to guide new people to read the book, so they will have a genuine understanding of Dafa and be able to distinguish Dafa from any other type of Taichi or Qigong - in that Dafa is not only for improving health and keeping fit but also to bring people to toward higher levels.

Master Li said "Any work in Dafa is intended for people to obtain the Fa and for disciples to improve themselves. Anything other than these two points is meaningless" (from Essentials for Further Advancement, "Sober-Minded"). I do not worry about the number of people who show up at the Dafa exercise classes at the community center any more, but teach people the exercises and introduce Dafa to them with a true heart. There are times more people come, and there are times only a few people show up. Our classes continue. During the course of promoting Dafa to the community, I found that there are many aspects that need improvement. The Staff of the community center did not cancel our class for not having enough participants now and then. On the contrary, they suggested we start another class in the South Edison Community Center. At the end of last month, we started Falun Dafa introduction class in south Edison on Tuesday and Thursday evening. The Falun Dafa classes in the community centers provided an environment for the community to get to know what Dafa really is, and an opportunity for the predestined ones to attain the Fa. Although we spend one hour in the community center every night from Monday to Thursday, our own cultivation and practice have not been left behind. We have kept studying the Fa and practicing the exercises together every night and morning, respectively. Life has becomes very busy, but full of joy.

In April, beautiful flowers are blooming in the Garden State. Two weeks ago, the delicate flowers went through a trial during the sudden snow and strong winds. The cherry tree in front of the window of my home, when covered with a layer of snow, looked even prettier. A strong gust of wind wiped the snow away and the tree swayed back and forth in the wind. I was kind of worried it would not be able to stand the sudden change of weather. However, not long after, the clouds faded away and the sun came out and shined on the top of the tree. The trees and the flowers all looked full of life and even stronger and more beautiful than before. After seeing all that had happened in such a twinkling, I thought about our cultivation and practice today. In the enormous universe, the hardships and trials that practitioners need to pass are even shorter than a snap of the fingers. "The Lord of Buddhas, whose mercy is incredibly immense, has left the Buddha Fa to man. The universe is giving man another opportunity, allowing the mighty Buddha Fa once again to reveal the actual reality of the universe to the human world, wash away all filth and ignorance, and use human language to recapture its brilliance and splendor. May you cherish it! The Buddha Fa is right in front of you" (Essentials for Further Advances, "Remaking Mankind").

Dear fellow practitioners, let's treasure this opportunity, which is extremely hard to find in millions of years, assist Master Li in the rectification of Fa, and write the greatness of our own in the course of our cultivation.

Thank you.