(Minghui.org) I’m a young practitioner in my 20s. My mother used to suffer from a number of illnesses. She recovered after she began practicing Falun Dafa. I was still young at the time. Although I read Dafa books occasionally and listened to Master’s Fa lectures on tape, I was not diligent in cultivation.
That situation changed two or three years ago, when I started attending group Fa-study and truly realized the seriousness of Dafa cultivation. It is more important than anything in this world. I now understand that the true meaning of being a human being is to return to our true selves and go back to where we came from. I hope that all young Dafa disciples can attend group Fa-study, as it's such an important factor to help us keep up with our cultivation.
Attending Group Fa-study and Memorizing the Fa
I have strong thought karma. When I read Dafa books, I usually have a hard time focusing. Later, my mother established a Fa-study group at our home and my parents required me to attend. At the beginning, when it was my turn to read, I often got phone calls. There was a lot of interference. But I persisted and the interference eventually disappeared.
Later, fellow practitioners suggested that I memorize the Fa. In the past, due to my laziness, I was not able to memorize the Fa. Now that I have the group Fa-study environment, I feel that I must memorize the Fa. We started by memorizing and reciting the Fa once a week.
At the beginning I felt that, since I was young and had a better memory, it shouldn’t be difficult. So I only worked on it once or twice every week. During the group Fa-study, when it was my turn to recite, I couldn’t do it smoothly. So I tried harder and worked on it every day. After a while, I became more focused when studying the Fa.
Later, we started memorizing Zhuan Falun. Due to my attachment to laziness, I wasn’t able to recite well during group Fa-study. A fellow practitioner pointed out my problem.
I realized that it was Master giving me hints through this practitioner. I understood that such a great Dafa should be memorized every day, so that I can always recall the Fa and use the Fa to assess right and wrong when facing conflicts.
Now I am able to memorize the Fa almost every day. I am able to recite correctly during the group Fa-study. The group Fa-study format is what Master taught us. It's especially important for young practitioners.
Group Fa-study Helps Me Overcome Sentimentality
In the past, I didn’t study the Fa enough. My thoughts and behavior were like those of non-practitioners. My attachment to vanity and jealousy caused me to make a mistake in a test related to sentimentality. However, Master didn’t give up on me.
After I started taking part in the group Fa-study, when I was struggling and trying to be diligent in cultivation, Master helped clear some bad substances from me. I made up my mind to come back to cultivation and finally was able to get rid of my attachments in this area.
Doing the Exercises Consistently
When I was young, I heard the exercise music every morning when I got up. I thought it was my father doing the exercises in another room, but that wasn’t the case. I then felt that it was Master’s hint, asking me to start doing the exercises. Due to my laziness, I didn’t do them for a long time. Later, my parents started forcing me to do the exercises with them.
As I was studying and memorizing the Fa more, I found the reasons why I wasn’t able to do the exercises consistently. First, I didn’t firmly believe in Master and the Fa. Master says,
“Have you ever thought of the fact that practicing cultivation is the best form of rest? You can obtain the kind of rest that can’t be obtained through sleeping.” (“Lecture at the First Conference in North America”)
Secondly, I didn’t respect Master and the Fa enough. My movements did not follow along with the exercise music, nor were my movements accurate. When my father would point it out to me, I'd get upset. When I wasn't feeling well, I had the attachment of pursuit and hoped for improved health by doing the exercises.
Before, I couldn't get up on time even with an alarm clock. In order to overcome my laziness, I slept on the sofa instead and forced myself to get up. As a Dafa disciple in the Fa-rectification period, I have to do the three things Master asks us to do. Now, I’m able to do all five exercises and send forth righteous thoughts in the morning.
Clarifying the Truth
Clarifying the truth face-to-face to strangers has been a difficult task for me. I have only been able to use phone auto-dialing functionality and put up informational stickers to clarify the truth. However, there are still so many sentient beings waiting to be saved.
The first time I was able to clarify the truth face-to-face was the year before last, when I met an elderly lady at a bus stop. She was complaining about her legs being constantly in pain. I didn’t know what I should say, so I told her to recite “Falun Dafa is good and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” She was so delighted to hear that. I thought it must have been Master encouraging me. Thank you, Master.
Sometimes after group Fa-study, I go out with several fellow practitioners to clarify the truth. I either send forth righteous thoughts on the side or try my best to talk to people. Through this process, my many attachments--such as fear, the competitive mentality, and jealousy--were exposed.
I will try my best to let go of my attachments. I will do the three things well and follow Master to return to my true home, because “The countless years of hardship were all for this time.” (“A Will That Ebbs Not,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress, Vol. III)
