(Minghui.org) I play the clarinet in the European Tian Guo Marching Band. We regularly participate in parades in major European cities. Several years ago, the band coordinator decided to periodically test everyone’s playing ability in order to help everyone improve.
The Playing Tests
The first test we had was several years ago. That time I played several songs from memory both standing still and marching, and I passed the tests with no problem.
Yet, afterwards, the coordinator told me that I could improve. He especially mentioned that I was playing too loud. I immediately tried to argue about it. I said the test was indoors and the ceiling was very low. I also said since we usually wear gloves while playing, we must play with more force. But that night when I thought about this, I realized that the coordinator was right. I indeed played too loud. It was really because I wanted to be heard and wanted others to notice and recognize me.
However, things were different this April when I took the test. When I was asked to play the song “Buddha Mercy Sacred Music,” which I was very familiar with, as soon as I played the first note, my brain went blank, and I could not play from memory. I looked at the notes, tried again, but again could not remember the notes. I looked at the music again but nothing had changed. I realized that there was something wrong, and I told the coordinator that I needed to review the music.
I asked myself why couldn’t I play the song that I was very familiar with. I looked back on how I studied the music, and tried to remember what had happened during the past several years. I had always paid great attention to technique, as well as how good the instruments were. I thought that these were the most important things for improving the tone and the rhythm, and what allowed me to keep up with the tempo of the whole band. But, I did not pay much attention to cultivating my xinxing, and cultivating compassion. I did not try to find my true self, and open my heart to others.
My Attachment of Looking Outward
Several years ago I was playing in a band, and a friend in my unit brought a new famous brand clarinet. That night, I dreamed about having a new clarinet. I was sure that if I had a new clarinet, my tone would become so beautiful, and my rhythm would become impeccable – moving all people who listened to me.
The next morning was my clarinet lesson, and I talked with my teacher about getting a new clarinet. He told me a story. He regularly went to his friend who sold clarinets, and he tried different clarinets. Once he played the same music on several different clarinets, and his friend could not tell any differences in the tone.
From this I realized that I should spend more time studying the Fa, sending forth righteous thoughts, and clarifying the facts about Dafa. I should also be more focused when doing the exercises, and look inside to improve my xinxing. Only in this way could I play music that is more pure and be able to move people.
About a year and a half ago I passed a test in a music school. The judge told me that I could consider upgrading my clarinet since I was already playing at a certain level. I was very happy, because someone I didn’t know recognized my playing ability, and encouraged me to get a new instrument. I was very pleased, and again dreamed about getting a new clarinet.
During the next week's clarinet lesson, the teacher told me and another student to turn around, and he played both our clarinets. He asked us whether we heard any differences. To my surprise I couldn’t hear any difference.
This made me realize that I was always looking outward, and wanted to rely on a new instrument to improve my playing ability. My teacher also said to me, “Your instrument is very good.” I understood that it was I who needed to change, and I should treat my instrument with a positive attitude. I realized that whatever situation I encounter, I should always keep a positive attitude, look inside, eliminate any wrong notions, and improve my xinxing.
Master said,
“It is known to all that when we truly practice cultivation, we want positive messages and assimilation to the characteristic of the universe. Shouldn’t you practice Shan? In order to assimilate to the characteristic of the universe, Zhen-Shan-Ren, one must practice Shan. If you always commit bad deeds, how can you increase gong? ” (Lecture Eight. Zhuan Falun)
Changing My Way of Playing
Several months ago we started to practice a new song “Stars and Stripes Forever.” When I first started to practice it, I was stuck on two very high notes. In order to be able to play them correctly, I spent several days just practicing these high notes. I could play the rest of the song very well, but whenever I got to these high notes I would always get stuck. I felt a lot of pressure when it came time to play these high notes, and my body would have a ton of tension. I would always need to repeat the notes two or three times to play them correctly. I felt helpless.
The next week I asked my teacher for help. He had me practice breathing and taught me to not try overly hard when playing. As a result, my tone became mellower and more beautiful. My way of playing changed almost completely.
The following week I practiced in a way to let the reed vibrate freely instead of forcing the tone out as I used to. In my next lesson my teacher continued to help me play with a more beautiful sound. At the time I had a strange feeling. I felt as if the ground was opening up, and all my previous knowledge of playing the clarinet was disappearing. That evening after Fa study, I clearly received a message in my mind that says “Abandon the old way and welcome the new way.” I realized that I needed to change my habits. During the following days, I had to overcome a lot of difficulties in my playing.
This happened right before our test last year in Germany, and I had 10 days to get ready and pass the test so I could join the next parade. It was not a lot of time, and I asked Master to help me. I practiced the songs in a very slow tempo at a very soft dynamic, and I tried to let the sound come out naturally instead of forcing it. Eventually, I successfully passed the test. But I thought that I still had not found the the correct tone, and my xinxing had not improved.
Rebellious Mentality
Several days later, a young Vietnamese practitioner said that her sister, who was very rebellious, benefited a lot just in the first several months of practicing Falun Dafa. Her sharing really touched me and I thanked her. Once I got home, I sent forth righteous thoughts for an hour against my stubborn, rebellious mentality.
The next morning, Master cleansed my body when I was doing the exercises outdoors. When I was doing the second exercise, I saw that a dark substance in my lumbar area was eliminated, and then it was the bone marrow getting cleansed, and finally it was the molecules. This was last May, two days before Shen Yun performed in Paris.
Fulfilling the Vow
Shen Yun's final performance in Paris was the next day. Master helped me gain a deeper understanding of the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Two practitioners had a heart attack. One was in a coma, and the other who was a young female practitioner passed away a couple of days later. I felt much pain. I saw that death could come any time. I saw that I had always had the mentality of controlling other people and other things. I realized that I needed to open my heart and treat sentient beings with kindness.
Another year passed. Once we were doing the exercises in a little park. As soon as I finished, I saw a coffin about a yard from me. That moment I saw my death and I cried for several minutes, and could not stop. We then sat down on a bench a little farther away to send forth righteous thoughts. That night I saw Master and I remembered the vow I made before coming to this earth: “Help Master spread the Fa, assist Master validate the Fa in the Fa-rectification period, and save sentient beings.” The death of the young practitioner alerted me. Had I forgotten the vow I made to Master?
A fellow practitioner gave me an album of Shen Yun songs. She told me that she thought about me the moment she received it. I began to learn all the music the next day. I liked the melodies so much. I was moved by the beauty, elegance, simpleness, and pureness of these songs. I felt that I needed to open my heart – a direction I needed to take.
Taking Others' Concerns As My Own
When Shen Yun was performing in Paris last May, one of the French coordinators told me that a Shen Yun orchestra member's cello was broken, and asked me what to do. I said we could send it for repairs, rent one, or buy another one. She then said that the Shen Yun company coordinator hoped that the cello player could continue to use her own instrument. Then I said the only solution was to send forth righteous thoughts to the cello.
On my way home I sent forth righteous thoughts toward the cello, and I had tears in my eyes within several minutes. I realized this was an important matter and after arriving home, I sent forth righteous thoughts for an hour.
When I was young I broke my first clarinet, and Master helped me renew it, and also helped me cleanse my body. During the first several minutes when I sent forth righteous thoughts toward the cello, I felt a resonance from that clarinet, and I felt a powerful force that I had never experienced before. I saw that my body was surrounded by light, and I felt the extraordinary power of Dafa.
The next morning I received a text message on my phone saying that the cello had been fixed. I realized that we are one body, and everyone is connected to each other. It is just as Master said:
“In these situations your conduct should always show Dafa disciples' tolerance, kindness, and niceness. The next person's things are your things, and your things are his things.” ( “Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. II)
