(Minghui.org) Greetings, Master! Greetings, fellow practitioners!
Fa conferences are opportunities to reflect on our recent cultivation experiences and to inspire one another to further align ourselves with Falun Dafa’s guiding principles: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and help Master save sentient beings.
Master said, “There is no designation more exalted than ‘disciple of Dafa.’” (“Critical Times Reveal One’s Spiritual State”)
I began practicing Falun Dafa 6 years ago, in 2020. I also moved to the United States. Growing up, I never thought my life would turn out so amazing and beautiful.
I joined the media shortly after I moved to the US, which helped me evolve both as a cultivator and as a young professional. Studying the Fa with fellow practitioners and sharing about cultivation matters quickly sped up my improvement.
I remember the first time I joined The Epoch Times and NTD weekly Monday Fa study and sharing. My day started early in the morning—I drove to the metro station around 6 a.m. and returned after 9:30 p.m., but I never felt tired.
It’s hard to describe that experience, but many times I had a profound feeling that from the time I left my car in the morning at the metro stop till evening, it felt as if millions of years had passed.
Only through Dafa I was able to learn every skill I used in the media so far: dealing with challenging situations over the phone in customer service, how to write articles, learning photography from scratch, and integrating into the community of media professionals in Washington, D.C.
I’d like to share with you a few interactions with people that helped me improve my xinxing in the past few months.
Being among non-practitioners from other media outlets in Congress, the White House, and other assignments always made me nervous, because I was afraid of confronting their potential questions from negative hit piece articles about our media.
A photographer recently made a few remarks about The Epoch Times being right-wing and founded by those “weird Chinese people.” I was very moved by his words, and no matter how much I tried to tell him that we try to include both sides and report as fairly as possible, he wouldn’t listen.
After this interaction, I felt regret for not clarifying the truth to him about the persecution in China and how our media was founded.
In retrospect, I realize that I was too focused on proving that the media is not right-wing. I also had lingering negative thoughts during that conversation. Looking down on this photographer with thoughts like: “How come you are so naive to believe everything you read on the Internet, and you don’t even listen to what I have to say?”
Master said, “A benevolent person always has a heart of compassion.” (“Realm,” Essentials For Further Advancement)
Realizing where my mistake was, I made up my mind to always remember to clarify the truth about the persecution first and foremost.
A few weeks after this, during a busy day in Congress with multiple cabinet members coming and a lot of media presence, I had the opportunity of clarifying the truth to a cameraman from another media.
Dozens of reporters, photographers, and cameramen were waiting for the government officials to come out and talk. As I was among them, waiting to take photos, a cameraman behind me started chatting with me. He offered me two special-edition Tic Tac mints that the White House gave him while traveling on Air Force One.
He was so kind and generous to give me those special Tic Tacs. As we were chatting, he asked me who I work for, and when I told him I work for The Epoch Times, he followed up with questions about whether I am getting paid and whether everyone in the media is a practitioner.
I remembered the previous conversation with that photographer, and I reminded myself that I must be compassionate and inform him about the persecution.
I answered his questions, and I explained why the media was founded: to expose the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Falun Dafa. I explained what Falun Dafa is and how the persecution started. He quickly understood and accepted it.
He then followed up with more questions about Shen Yun. I told him I can’t speak on behalf of Shen Yun, but my understanding was that practitioners found ways to peacefully expose human rights atrocities in China—including through the arts, parades, peaceful protests, and the founding of media outlets. He was also able to accept and understand those points.
He asked me if I practiced Falun Dafa, and when I said yes, he was surprised. I told him that constantly reflecting on how I can improve my life has helped me become a better, calmer person. He was touched by that and told me he also tried qigong at some point.
I never saw this person on Capitol Hill or at any other assignment before. He said he doesn’t come to Congress often. I gave him my business card, and the energy between us was so uplifting and positive. His eyes were mellow and sparkling. It reminded me that sometimes people might have just that one chance or moment to hear the truth.
It was a touching scene to live and observe: how I happened to stay right beside this person among so many members of the media on such a busy day. There was much chatter and activity around us, yet he attentively listened.
I am immensely grateful to Master for arranging this opportunity and for giving me the wisdom to navigate all the questions he had. Even the Tic Tac mints were so meticulously arranged. Since everything in other dimensions is alive, the beings behind those mints will gain great virtue for being a tool in connecting me with this cameraman.
Master said:
“All kinds of things can become Fa-implements. While Dafa disciples validate the Fa, if you write articles to validate Dafa, then even that pen you use every day has earned merit and virtue, and perhaps even your pen will become a Fa-implement in the future. Once something used by a cultivator has earned merit and virtue, it can become a Fa-implement, and that includes the brushes, pens, and pencils you use to paint or draw when you validate the Fa.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Discussion on Creating Fine Art,” Teaching the Fa at the Discussion on Writing Music and Creating Fine Art)
Next, I want to share about an opportunity I had to cultivate my xinxing through a conflict with a fellow practitioner in the office.
A few weeks ago, I helped to organize a team-building day with our Washington, DC, bureau staff, which consists of non-practitioners and practitioners. We usually do this once a year. The team building activities consisted of a scavenger hunt at the National Museum of American History, followed by a picnic on the National Mall.
One of the practitioners, a staff cameraman, messaged our group about a Chinese practitioner organizing a protest weekend in front of the Chinese Consulate in DC to raise awareness about her mother being imprisoned again in China. I personally did not know about this until a few days before.
We told him that we couldn’t postpone these office activities as they had already been rescheduled a few times. The company already paid for and reserved the date with the museum, and it was one that most staff could attend. The date coincided with one of the days the protest was organized.
As most practitioners in the DC office did not plan to attend the event in front of the Chinese embassy, the cameraman messaged everyone in the group, saying, “Have fun on earth!”
I got very triggered by this message, and I replied with long messages about how everyone is trying their best and how we cannot attend every event by dropping everything else.
After I sent those messages, I was still so upset and triggered. The next day, I complained to everyone about his message, venting my frustrations, feeling good when everyone agreed with me. I complained that even though he might be right, he shouldn’t have said it that way, trying to guilt-trip all of us for not going to the protest.
Although everyone else from the office agreed with me, I still felt unsettled. When I saw the cameraman the next day, he tried to talk to me, and I said, “Don’t talk to me. I am still upset with you!”
I couldn’t stop thinking about this. I knew my way wasn’t right. I shared with another practitioner, and she helped me think from the cameraman’s perspective. After his message, more people from the office actually made an effort to attend the protest, including me.
During this unsettled time, I also thought about how Master responds many times in different Fa Conferences to practitioners during Q & A. There are various questions when practitioners raise concerns about other practitioners or coordinators. And Master, not exact words, points out both perspectives that we, as people who go through conflicts and onlookers, should look inward as well as the coordinators.
It reminded me that my way of thinking is not the only correct one and that I should look inward to see what I can improve.
I also had a notion that told me I couldn’t take cultivation advice from someone who doesn’t regularly attend office group Fa study and share. I thought, how come the cameraman all of a sudden lectures us on not attending an event, but he barely attends our group Fa study and sharing?
I realized this line of thinking wasn’t right, and I should have an open heart to listen to anyone with good advice, without holding them to my shallow standards. I also don’t regularly attend group study. Everyone has their own life circumstances, and I should be understanding and encouraging of others instead of judging them.
I realized that this conflict pointed towards attachments I had, such as feeling superior when doing Dafa things. Thinking I am better than others, especially non-practitioners, for completing such important tasks as cultivating and helping Master save sentient beings.
I was also enlightened that I should be kind to others even when it appears that I am right. Fellow practitioners are all a part of Dafa and Master’s disciples; I should treat everyone with utmost kindness, respect, and patience. We all go through difficult tests and have our own challenges.
In fact, the cameraman is a very kind practitioner, and he always encouraged me. He is the practitioner who, a few years ago, told me, “You can become one!” when I was in doubt about whether I could be a professional photographer.
To redeem myself from the cameraman after this conflict, I wrote him a note and brought him a watermelon. He was really happy and I was happy too. I want to take this opportunity to thank him for putting up with all the young practitioners from the office. It’s so great to work with you!
Master said,
“Yet people today have forgotten the ways of tradition, and forgotten how kind, respectful, loving, and helpful as well as good to one another, in so many ways, people traditionally were.” (“Why Shen Yun Can Save Lives”)
In closing, I am very grateful to be among so many kind practitioners and to have this chance of becoming a better being. I want to continue to cultivate my xinxing and help Master save more sentient beings!
Thank you, Master, for all the compassionate arrangements.
Thank you, fellow practitioners, for listening to my sharing.
Please point out anything that is not in line with the Fa.
(Selected article presented at the 2026 Washtington DC Fa Conference)