(Minghui.org) Greetings to Revered Master and fellow practitioners!
Ever since I was a child, I’d pondered the meaning of life. I majored in science, but there was no scientific explanation for supernormal phenomena or near-death experiences. I looked into different religions for answers and even considered becoming a monk, but my family strongly objected. I learned about Falun Dafa in September 2013 in my third year at the National Sun Yat-sen University.
Shortly after I began practicing Falun Dafa, I realized the importance of telling people about it. I decided to go to a tourist destination in Sizihwan. One afternoon while I was sending forth righteous thoughts, I was interrupted by a fellow practitioner who asked, “Are you a practitioner?” When I said I was, he said, “Then why are you sending forth righteous thoughts with your legs loosely crossed?” I happened to be sitting next to the self-immolation incident display board.
He explained, “Those involved in the self-immolation had their legs loosely crossed instead of in the full lotus position. I thought you weren't a practitioner.”
Embarrassed, I replied, “I'm a new practitioner and can only sit with my legs loosely crossed.” He smiled and said, “Oh, I see. Well, as a new practitioner, you should make reading the Fa teachings a priority.” So I decided to read all of Master Li’s teachings. Master said, “Breakthroughs will occur if you keep up your Fa-study. Only by studying the Fa well can you validate the Fa, and only by studying the Fa well can you do better.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2007 New York Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. VIII)
During my college years, I had lots of time for Fa-study. I realized how meaningless emotion is. My thoughts seemed to be far away from those of everyday people. I even studied the Fa in class. Through constant Fa-study, I understood that I was going to extremes, and I adjusted myself.
Exchange students from China attended my university. I realized that this was a good opportunity for me to talk to them about the persecution. I applied to be a learning partner with students from China. Through interacting with them, I realized that telling Chinese students the facts was also a process of cultivating myself.
The first time I brought Chinese students from the airport to campus, I enthusiastically showed them around the campus. I also pointed out our cultural differences and mentioned that there were Falun Dafa practitioners at Taiwan’s attractions who told Chinese tourists about Dafa. Then I told them that I was a practitioner. They turned pale and were silent. I was surprised by their reaction. From this experience, I realized how deceived they were. I should have put myself in their shoes and been more thoughtful in my approach.
I started reading the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. After I read it several times, I had a deeper understanding of how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has undermined the Chinese, and I thought of a better way to tell them the facts. I also understood why practitioners established their own media and why they put so much effort into exposing the CCP.
Master said:
“In reality, though, the exposing of the Communist evil spirit is not directed at certain people. The Nine Commentaries aim to save all beings whose minds have been poisoned by the evil, which includes members of the malevolent CCP, those in the CCP's most powerful organs, and the common people. The goal is to help beings in all realms see clearly the factors behind the malevolent CCP.” (We Are Not “Getting Political,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress Vol. III)
I once took 12 Chinese students to the Alishan tourist destination so they could talk to practitioners there. I thought they would walk up to the practitioners and talk to them. To my surprise, they avoided them. So I walked over to the display boards and began chatting with the practitioners. Two or three of the Chinese students then came over and the practitioners told us the facts. Before we left, I asked if there was any information we could take home. The practitioners offered us the Nine Commentaries. The Chinese students dared not take the booklet, so I took one, and then one of them also took one. On our way back to campus, I told them more facts. Several Chinese students changed their opinion of Dafa after this trip. I realized Master saw my eagerness to save people and pointed out the correct way and encouraged me.
Last year I realized that I would have no summer or winter vacations after I graduated from school. I thought of visiting Hong Kong to tell people the facts, but I didn’t do it. After finishing my military service, I planned to stay in Hong Kong for a month to validate the Fa. I knew my family accepted my belief in Falun Dafa but could not understand my decision to go to Hong Kong, nor could they help me financially. So, during my military service, I saved every penny until I had enough to stay for a month. I had secured a job several months before and would start two days after I returned from my Hong Kong trip.
During my stay in Hong Kong, every day I felt as if I were going into battle. I held a big banner at the tourist spot. A pro-communist group stood next to me broadcasting defamatory propaganda. Chinese tourists walked in groups past my banner and display board. I smiled at them and sent forth righteous thoughts. I hoped that they could understand what we were trying to tell them instead of being poisoned by the pro-communist group's lies.
Two days later, a woman shouted at us in an attempt to disturb us. Seeing such an irrational person for the first time, I realized there were evil spirits in other dimensions that were directing her. The other practitioners and I started sending forth righteous thoughts to eliminate them. Suddenly, more and more members of the pro-communist group appeared and I was afraid. One practitioner encouraged me to let go of my fear and instead smile at and greet the tourists so that they could sense our compassion. At first, I felt awkward waving at them. The tourists walking by looked very cold. I remembered something Master said:
“Don’t dwell on how people might be on the surface. Some of them have accepted the lies that the CCP uses to persecute us, and have a bad attitude toward Dafa or Dafa disciples. But give it some careful thought and you will realize that the CCP’s lies have poisoned these people.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2015 New York Fa Conference”)
I told myself not to give up. Master said, “... “the appearance stems from the mind.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the Epoch Times Meeting,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. X)
I told myself not to let my fear influence people. Suddenly, my fear was gone. I was filled with energy and courage. I smiled and waved, and the situation changed. Some of them smiled back, while others waved. Still others said loudly, “Falun Dafa is good!” I realized that, after I eliminated my fear, my field was cleansed.
I had one especially memorable experience in Hong Kong. One Chinese tourist got off the tour bus, looked at the display board, and said, “Didn’t Falun Dafa disappear long ago?” I said, “In Taiwan, Hong Kong, and around the world, millions of people practice Falun Dafa. Even in China there are many who continue to practice. Because of the CCP's persecution practitioners cannot practice the exercises in public.” The tourist looked doubtful. A lady came up to me and said, “I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1995.” I smiled and nodded at her. Meanwhile, the tourist who was doubtful about what I said looked surprised and then smiled at us.
After I returned from Hong Kong, I began working at my new job. The atmosphere in an office is very different from school. Even though I was a newcomer and not familiar with the work, I had a good degree and was given a high salary and position. In addition, the company was willing to wait for me to return to Taiwan. My new co-workers thought this was unfair and were unwilling to teach me. The attitude in my office was to muddle along until payday. But I thought that wasn't right and did not meet the requirements of a practitioner.
Master said, “A cultivator must be a good person wherever he or she is.” (Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Houston)
I thought that practitioners should play a positive role at work, so whenever there was a problem I was the first one to offer to help. I put forth great effort but my senior colleague often found fault with me. I endured it. I later realized that maybe he was helping me eliminate my karma. I was no longer bothered by my co-workers' criticism, and they seemed to be touched by my compassionate behavior. Some of them were willing to teach me. In just a few months, my skills really improved. It was mentioned that I would be sent to China as a technical advisor.
I was happy since things were going well at work. Then I was on alert. How could I eliminate my attachments in such a comfortable environment? Even though I still read the Fa every day, I no longer sensed any breakthroughs. I thought maybe I had already met the requirements at my current stage. I thought about how to tell people the facts when I went to China. Just as I was preparing for my business trip to China, I was told by a fellow practitioner that the Epoch Times was short of manpower. Without a second thought, I said, “I'll work for the Epoch Times!”
Letting Go of My Attachment to a Comfortable Life
I had planned to work at that company until I could buy a car and a house, get married, and then retire. But I gave up all those plans when I said, “I'll work for the Epoch Times!” After that, I was unsure. My supervisor and co-workers couldn't understand why I would leave such a promising company.
As the eldest son, I had to give my parents a monthly allowance. I also had to pay off my student loan. If I left the job in Kaohsiung, would my parents approve? I used to think I had few attachments. But at that moment, my attachments to fame, self-interests, and affection came to the fore. I was surprised. As a Dafa disciple, I was far from the standard set by Master. Suddenly I felt extremely ashamed.
I realized that our media needs more manpower to help save people. Master said,
“...if clarifying the truth and the task of running a Dafa-disciple media entity could be rolled into one, wouldn’t that help resolve the time constraints that you face? And it would also be resolving the issue of making a living and having a job in ordinary society. What’s not to like about it? I think that this is now imperative.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the Epoch Times Meeting,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. X)
Yes! I realized that this was what I should do. I needed to let go of my attachment to enjoying a comfortable life. My parents were upset when I told them. I calmly said, “I understand that you are concerned about my future. You also want me to be happy, right? Then let me give it a try.”
Before I left my job, my supervisor and co-workers expressed their concern for me and said, “You seem to be happy here. Did anything upset you? Are you dissatisfied with your salary?” I replied, “No! I've been very happy here.” They asked, “Then, why are you quitting? We don’t want you to leave.” I was able to explain my decision in a way they understood.
On May 13, I applied to the Epoch Times. I silently pledged Master, “As your disciple, I will work harder in the future and do the three things well to repay your mercy.”
Thank you, Master. Thank you, everyone.
(Presented at the 2019 Taiwan Fa Conference)