Studying the Fa Gives Me the Strength to Cultivate Myself Solidly

(Minghui.org) Greetings, esteemed Master. Greetings, fellow practitioners.

My topic is: “Study the Fa, study the Fa, study the Fa – Studying the Fa gives me the strength to cultivate myself solidly.” I chose this topic because studying the Fa teachings has brought about tremendous changes within me over the past year. It has put me on the true path of cultivation as a Falun Dafa practitioner during Fa rectification.

Over the past year, I began to earnestly study the teachings. I experienced some changes and I began to understand the profound meaning of Master’s teachings. Through Fa study, I understood what it truly means to be a genuine Falun Dafa practitioner and what a practitioner should strive to achieve during this special time.

Fa Study Brought Me Back to the Cultivation Path

Many practitioners asked me, when did I first obtain the Fa. When I think about it I feel deeply ashamed because I wasted almost two decades. I obtained the Fa back in 1996. For the next two years, I did the exercises every day at the communal training ground in Zhongshan Park in Beijing, and I attended Fa study groups. However, in 1998, when I faced the test of fame and interest, I failed to maintain my cultivation. Not only did I fail the test, but I stopped cultivating.

Reflecting on Master’s teachings now, I realize that I could hardly be considered a genuine Falun Dafa practitioner at that time. I neither grasped the importance of cultivation, nor did I diligently study and practice according to the Fa as Master asked. Although I joined the group practice and read the book Zhuan Falun, I did not understand Master’s teachings, and I did not adhere to the standards of a cultivator in my daily life. Because I did not seriously study the Fa and did not cultivate and transform myself internally, I can not say that I had sincere thoughts and actions.

How could I be considered a genuine practitioner?

Ten years ago, encouraged by other practitioners and with my unwavering, fundamental belief in Master and the Fa, I resumed practicing and I began reading Zhuan Falun again.

But as Master said:

“When an average person hears it, this person will practice it on and off.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)

I was, at best, an average practitioner. I seldom read Master’s lectures, and my daily practice was confined to my home. I viewed cultivation as a purely personal matter. Because I neglected studying the Fa, I failed to grasp the true meaning of Master’s teachings about solid cultivation.

After the COVID pandemic I began participating in group exercises and I read Zhuan Falun with other practitioners. Although I started paying attention to the requirements for cultivating my character, I still fell far short of the standard, and I was often worried and frustrated by my lack of diligence.

It wasn’t until I read, “Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa” (Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume XI) – that I truly realized I couldn’t expect any improvement in my xinxing if I didn’t prioritize studying the Fa.

The real transformation came after the Fa conference for the German-speaking part of Switzerland last year. I listened as several practitioners talked about their deeply moving experiences. Their accounts profoundly touched and inspired me. After the conference, I emailed the practitioners who organized it, and told them what I learned, and my insights from the event. I wrote, “The conference was incredibly encouraging. As I listened to the experiences of the other practitioners, I kept asking myself, ‘If I were in their shoes, how would I act? What would I do?’” I also shared with the organizing practitioners that I gained three insights from the conference:

1. Studying the Fa is fundamental. As a Falun Dafa practitioner, I must learn from the Fa what I should do and how I should act.

2. The importance of sending forth righteous thoughts. Before last year’s conference, I did not consistently send forth righteous thoughts. First, I hadn’t truly understood the vital importance of sending righteous thoughts for the salvation of sentient beings and for an end of the persecution. Second, I had not recognized their importance for the progress of my personal cultivation. Through subsequent Fa study, I gradually came to understand some of the reasons for my insufficient righteous thoughts and the difficulty in raising my level.

3. Going out to do truth clarification. Before attending last year’s conference, I seldom participated in any activities to validate the Fa. Although I made some efforts at the practice site to clarify the truth and spread the Fa, this fell far short of Master’s requirements and expectations for practitioners during the Fa rectification period. I decided that I needed to go out and validate the Fa like other practitioners.

After that conference, I decided to truly cultivate myself.

Studying the Fa Made All the Difference

After the 2024 Fa conference, I was fortunate to become involved in promoting Shen Yun in the Basel region, thanks to the help of the local Shen Yun coordinator. Along with a fellow practitioner, I was responsible for distributing the special edition and promotional brochures in eight cities in the region. By the time all the newspapers were delivered, I traveled more than 150 kilometers (93 miles). While distributing the newspapers, I often sent out silent, sincere thoughts, hoping that our efforts would encourage more people to attend Shen Yun performances and thus be saved. In those moments, I felt like a “true Falun Dafa practitioner.”

Also toward the end of last year, our Chinese Fa study group in German-speaking Switzerland began holding daily Fa study sessions, and I became an active member of this group. It was through this daily Fa study and weekly sharing that I experienced a profound awakening and realized how far I had strayed from Fa rectification. With each lecture, I gained deeper insights and truly understood what a Falun Dafa practitioner should embody during the Fa rectification, and how to properly do the three things. Fa study strengthened my sincere thoughts, solidified my resolve to assist Master in saving people, and reinforced my confidence that my cultivation would succeed.

I realized that I had wasted far too much time over the past ten years and I needed to take immediate action. Fearing that the effectiveness of spreading the Fa at the Basel practice site was not ideal, I had the idea of establishing an additional practice site closer to the city center. I not only increased the number of weekly practice sessions, but I also changed my previous practice of simply waiting for passersby at the practice site. At the new location, after each practice session, we proactively distributed Falun Dafa informational materials and told people about the persecution. Our sole aim was to save more people and thus truly fulfill our vow to “assist Master in saving sentient beings.”

Initially, only one or two people accepted the pamphlets or paused to listen to my explanation. I felt disappointed. I even judged people by their appearance, and used human perceptions to assess whether someone could be saved.

Master said:

“You know that it’s not hard for us to save a person; the difficulty lies in the evil’s interference and pressure. When a person manages to understand the truth and be saved, it means that, speaking on a fundamental level, all of the lives in the cosmic system behind him that he represents are saved in conjunction.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2009 Greater New York International Fa Conference,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume IX)

I understood that even if only one person is saved, countless other living beings behind him will also be saved—not to mention the possibility that this person could be a king or a deity who had descended from above.

I also thought, “If I could save one person every month, that would be twelve people saved in a year. If every Falun Dafa practitioner could achieve this, we could save over a billion people annually. What if every practitioner saved more every month, or every year? Isn’t that exactly what every true cultivator strives for? Isn’t that also what Master expects of us?”

I explained the facts to a middle-aged lady and gave her the informational materials about Falun Dafa, along with a brochure. However, shortly afterward, her husband returned the materials to me. As I watched the many children playing in the park, an inexplicable sadness suddenly welled up inside me. When the final moment comes, how many living beings might still be unsaved? What future awaits them? I said to Master, “Master, please help me so that I may follow you and save more people.”

In the past, when I was trying to persuade people to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations, I often encountered relatives or friends who refused, citing various excuses, or out of inner fear. I recently succeeded in persuading my sister, who lives in China, and a former colleague, to quit the Party.

Master said:

“You should earnestly and carefully clarify the truth to your family members, just as you would with other people in the world.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume VII)

To help them understand the importance of quitting the Party, I drew a connection between the current situation in China and the impending collapse of the CCP, and the oath they swore when they joined the Party. I then explained what the collapse of the Party would mean for them personally. I found that this approach of discussing things with them and appealing to their emotions was very effective.

Through continuous Fa study, every day I experience the progress I’m making through Master’s teachings, which provide concrete guidance for my cultivation. After some time, I was surprised to find that significant changes took place within me.

Whereas before I felt little for strangers as they walked down the street, I now feel an inexplicable warmth toward them, and always notice their kindness and positive qualities. Whenever I think about problems, go about daily tasks, or maintain relationships, I remember that I’m a Falun Dafa practitioner. I first ask myself, “How should I, as a Falun Dafa practitioner, conduct myself? What is my goal when I do this or say that? Is it sincere? Is it in accordance with the Fa? Is this action or statement appropriate? Could it negatively affect others?”

When conflicts arise, I look inward. My improvement brought kindness and sincerity to my family, positively impacting them all and leading to greater harmony.

Persevering in Fa Study, and Walking the Final Path Well

When I tell you about my personal journey and insights from my Fa study over the past year, it may seem as though I made significant progress compared to my former self.

However, I know that my understanding and knowledge of the Fa need to be continually refined. I’m aware that I must be diligent, at least at my current level of understanding. I firmly believe that through persistent, earnest Fa-study I will improve.

As the Fa-rectification accelerates, I occasionally experience a sense of impatience. Through continuous Fa study I am reminded that regardless of the stage I’m at, I must remain steadfast and free from any restlessness. I should read the Fa every day, do the three things, disregard personal gains or losses, and never give the old forces an opportunity to exploit my weaknesses. I would also like to say to Master, “Your disciple will certainly improve.”

My process of obtaining and cultivating the Fa has been like that of a person going around in circles, only to return to the starting point and begin again. I wasted so many precious years, and missed so many opportunities to save sentient beings, for which I feel deep regret and heartache. After almost a year of serious Fa study and diligent cultivation, I now feel a conviction and confidence I never knew before. I know that Master has not forgotten me despite my many detours. Master is merciful, and I must not disappoint him.

Once again, I express my deepest gratitude to our merciful and magnificent Master!

I extend my heartfelt thanks to all fellow practitioners!

(Selected submission presented at the 2025 Swiss German-speaking Fa Conference)