(Minghui.org) Greetings, revered Master! Greetings, fellow practitioners!
During the Shen Yun season last year, I had the opportunity to support Shen Yun The experience gave me some cultivation insights that I’d like to share with you.
In November 2024, a practitioner in France contacted me and asked if I could help with Shen Yun. He told me that ticket sales in Montpellier were very low, and because of this, they decided to deliver flyers door-to-door. However, due to a lack of manpower in the region, he was seeking support from other countries. At first, I thought it would be enough to spread the word so other practitioners would go, but I wouldn’t go. I had a busy summer with the Tian Guo Marching Band, and I felt it was time to rest. I decided that I wouldn’t travel until the following spring.
However, that practitioner persuaded me to go because they didn’t have enough people. I bought the plane ticket, but my attitude wasn’t good. I packed my bag the day before I left and the ironing board fell on my toes. It hurt badly and one of my toes became swollen and bruised. It was painful to walk. I wondered whether I would be able to deliver flyers in Montpellier. I thought, “What’s the point of traveling to Montpellier if I can’t walk?”
I knew this wasn’t an accident. The old forces wanted to interfere with our project. I realized I needed to change my attitude. I sent righteous thoughts to eliminate the interference and strengthen my resolve. I told myself, “I will fly there, deliver the flyers, and walk as if nothing happened. I will not stay home.” The next day, my toe was no longer swollen, although there was still some pain. The pain was gone that evening.
I am not accustomed to heavy physical labor, so the most challenging test for me in Montpellier was overcoming physical endurance. We had a very tight schedule there. Every day, we woke up at 5 a.m., did the exercises, and studied the Fa. Everyone had to be ready to leave by 8 a.m., and we wouldn’t get home until 6 p.m. The first few days, I had to carry hundreds of flyers and walk about 13 km [eight miles] each day. At the end of the day, my legs were extremely tired, and I was exhausted. However, somehow, after doing the exercises the next day, I felt energized again. If it hadn’t been for Dafa’s power, this would have been impossible. But what I did was nothing compared to other practitioners. One practitioner walked 18-20 km [11-12 miles] each day. Another walked with flip-flops in cold weather because his shoes hurt his feet. It seemed that nothing could stop us from accomplishing our mission.
Knowing I would be living with many unfamiliar people in the same apartment, I prepared myself to face the worst scenarios. However, contrary to my expectations, the practitioners were very friendly and kind. The local practitioner picked me up from the airport when I arrived at midnight. Another practitioner was asleep but woke up and helped me set up the bedding. Another cooked delicious food for us to make sure we ate properly, etc. We cooperated harmoniously. Their compassion and tolerance were deeply touching. Looking inward, I felt ashamed of my doubtful mindset. I was judgmental, and my heart capacity wasn’t large enough. The root of this was pride—ego.
I have a strong support system from my family and a small circle of close friends, which led me to think, “I don’t need people.” I had certain criteria that others had to meet in order to be in my circle. Only then would they be worthy of my time and energy. Is this unconditional compassion? The answer is no. I realized I need to enlarge my heart. My self-imposed criteria was limiting my heart capacity.
This year, I had the idea to support the Shen Yun shows while watching them at the same time. I asked other practitioners from Austria and France if they needed help. However, it was too late to go to Austria, and France had enough personnel. I thought I probably had the attachment of pursuit, so I let go of the idea and I waited to see what Master arranged for me. Later, a practitioner informed me that they needed help in Bergen, Norway. I contacted the local practitioners, and they accepted me.
I was assigned the task of guarding the entrance door for the staff. It was more boring than I assumed. There was a reception at the entrance, and of course, they would let in the people with name cards. I didn’t have to do anything except double-check that the staff had their name cards. I had to sit there for 7-8 hours doing nothing. I felt useless. My team members were older practitioners, and I had various negative thoughts: “Am I so old that I was assigned to this team? I could be more helpful doing other tasks rather than this one.”
I studied the Fa to pass the time. After I studied the Fa all day, my perception shifted.
Master said,
“Therefore, what one does in life is not arranged based on one’s abilities. Buddhism believes in the principle of karmic retribution. One’s life is arranged according to one’s karma. No matter how capable you are, if you do not have de, perhaps you will have nothing in this life. You think that another person is good at nothing, but he has a lot of de. He could become a high-ranking official or make a big fortune. An everyday person cannot see this point and always believes that he should do exactly what he is able to.” (Lecture Seven, Zhuan Falun)
I began to accept my assignment and eventually enjoyed it. I had the chance to study the Fa for the whole day without having to interact with anyone.
The next day, I encountered an interesting elderly couple. They were American tourists and were visiting Norway. They noticed the Shen Yun advertisement as they walked by the theater, and they entered the theater to ask about Shen Yun. The receptionist couldn’t answer their questions, so I spoke with them. They decided to buy tickets on the spot for the afternoon show.
On the third day, after the Shen Yun shows finished in Bergen, I visited the city center and ran into that same couple. They were very grateful to have seen the show and said it was wonderful. The lady hugged me and thanked me for my help. I realized that they could be my sentient beings. I realized that Master’s arrangement is always the best. If I hadn’t been assigned to watch the entrance door, I wouldn’t have met the couple and introduced them to the show, and they might not have been saved. This situation was like “killing two birds with one stone.” It not only humbled me but also helped save sentient beings.
Bergen is a rainy city. On my way back to the hotel after my shift, I saw practitioners guarding the Shen Yun bus in the rain and cold. From my heart, I admired their devotion and hard work. In my eyes, they are secret heroes, humbly sacrificing without big applause or recognition. This experience taught me about humility.
My understanding of Chinese traditional culture, is that humility is one of the most important virtues for women. There is an ancient saying, “All rivers flow into the sea.” The sea, being lower than the rivers, humbly receives all the waters, no matter how large or small. This metaphor highlights the idea that, just as the sea’s vastness is achieved through its humble position, a person’s heart can expand by embracing humility. When one is humble, one is able to accept and care for others without discrimination, becoming a vessel for compassion that can hold all beings—whether virtuous or flawed. The humble heart does not hold onto pride or ego, and by letting go of such attachments, one becomes more open to the world and capable of offering true compassion.
The above are my current insights. Please kindly point out anything not in line with the Fa.
Thank you, Master. Thank you, fellow practitioners.
(Presented at the 2025 Finland Fa Conference)