(Minghui.org) I am a young Dafa practitioner, with parents who both cultivate Falun Dafa. Despite my good fortune in obtaining the Fa, I have not always been diligent in cultivation. Yet Master never gave up on me and continued to guide me along my cultivation path. In order to express my incomparable gratitude, I would like to share some of my experiences.
I was constantly in poor health during my childhood. Exceptionally skinny even before elementary school, I had sparse hair and threw up everything I ate. My parents tried to treat my condition with medication. At that time, they were still new practitioners who had not cultivated for very long. Their understanding of the Fa principles was shallow. Coupled with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners, my parents dared not expose me to the teachings of Dafa.
When I was seven years old, a white spot about one square centimeter appeared on my forehead. My mother consulted a doctor, who diagnosed it as vitiligo. He confirmed this skin condition would continue to spread across my face. My mother became anxious and worried upon hearing this news.
Despite traveling around to seek medical aid, my condition did not improve. Finally, my mother introduced me to the book Zhuan Falun. That was how I started cultivating in Dafa. Soon after, the small white spot on my forehead faded without further medical treatment. I no longer vomited after every meal and discontinued all medication.
My mother scheduled some time for me to read Zhuan Falun every day. I learned to apply the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, which resulted in excellent academic performance in elementary school. Additionally, I either served as class monitor or subject head, recognized as our teacher’s reliable assistant and a model student in the eyes of every parent.
After entering junior high school, my heavy workload meant I had less time to study the Fa and practice the exercises. Influenced by my social environment, I began watching television shows and following celebrity news. During my parents’ absence, I would watch TV while doing homework. Naturally, my academic performance plummeted. My parents were invited to school and received a briefing on my academic situation. Afterwards, my parents sat down with me for an in-depth discussion. I realized my behavior was developing further and further away from Dafa’s requirements, and I had to put a stop to it.
I started paying attention to my behavior and put effort into my studies. Although my high school entrance examinations were imminent, I found myself neither anxious nor fearful about my grades. To my surprise, I was accepted into a prestigious high school in our region.
In high school, my workload became heavier and more intense, so much so that I could only concentrate on my studies. I had no time to study the Fa or do the exercises. However, I continued to study Zhuan Falun at home every weekend, under the supervision of my parents. Eventually, I successfully obtained a place at a well-known university.
With more spare time in University, I started studying the Fa on my own and learned to look inward when encountering conflict. My character and grades improved, until I became top of the class in academic achievement. Although my classmates proposed to nominate me for the ”excellent member of the Youth League” award, I declined the offer. I did not want to accept any reward offered by the CCP, as I am a Dafa practitioner.
During my fourth year in university, I was contemplating whether I should seek employment or continue with postgraduate studies after graduation. At this time the head lecturer suddenly announced the availability of two postgraduate opportunities. Only the first and second placed students would be automatically eligible for qualifying interviews. I digested the news with equanimity, even after hearing that my lower-ranked classmates also wanted to compete for this opportunity. I was able to maintain my composure because I understood a key principle. A person’s life is arranged by higher beings. Things which naturally belong to a person would be theirs, otherwise, one could never obtain it. In this way, I successfully obtained a place as a postgraduate student.
I have experienced several tribulations throughout the years. Symptoms of high fever, rhinitis, headache, nausea, weakness, eczema, and so on. I overcame these easily by studying the Fa, practicing the exercises and sending forth righteous thoughts. However, I once endured an incredibly severe illness karma that pushed me to my limits both physically and mentally.
In October 2021, an itchy, small red spot, the size of a grain of rice, appeared on the inner side of my right calf. It gradually expanded in size before starting to scab. I ignored it and told myself it was nothing. Unexpectedly, the scab kept getting rubbed off by my pants or washed away while bathing. Each time the scab fell off, sticky yellow pus leaked from the abscess. To prevent it from affecting my daily life and work, I wrapped it in gauze and silently recited “Falun Dafa is good.” Unexpectedly the abscess refused to heal. On January 16, 2022, many small, itchy red dots began to appear all over my body. These red dots started to develop pus, which oozed out as sticky yellow discharge. The oozing discharge stuck to my clothes and dried into patches. These patches were pulled and rubbed repeatedly by my clothes throughout the day, causing indescribable itching and pain. It felt as if countless poisonous insects were stinging and crawling on my body.
I endured the suffering and had an in-depth discussion with my parents. I realized that this illness tribulation was a test of my determination to cultivate, an opportunity to look inwards and cultivate my attachments, and test my belief in Master and the Fa.
I seriously reviewed my cultivation state and found I had adopted a half-hearted cultivation approach, supervised by my parents. I would cultivate diligently some days, while slacking off on others while pursuing ordinary human attachments. My desire to achieve good looks, lust, laziness, a comfortable life, and in particular my attachment to surfing online, had become obstacles blocking my cultivation path. My attempts to get rid of these attachments never lasted, and I would fall back into their orbit, triggering a cycle of self-blame and shame. However deep down, I knew I would never give up Dafa or cultivation practice.
I began to study the Fa and practice the exercises on my own initiative and felt an overwhelming sense of comfort. Master was purifying my body and encouraging me. I slowly got rid of my various attachments and bad thoughts, using the principles of the Fa to correct my every thought and action. I continually sent forth righteous thoughts to clear away any bad influences from demonic entities in other dimensions, completely denying and eliminating all interference from the old forces. I am a Falun Dafa practitioner and therefore I will only acknowledge the words and arrangements of Master Li Hongzhi.
While at work, I would recite, “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” over and over during my free time. I also recited this phrase from Master’s Fa,
“The Fa can break all attachments; the Fa can destroy all evil; the Fa can shatter all lies; and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts.” (“Drive Out Interference,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress II)
I kept begging Master to save me and support me. Every night, my parents would help me send forth righteous thoughts.
One month later, some of the ulcerated areas on my body became covered with a thick yellow scab. However, at the same time, yellow patches started appearing on my face. Half of my face and forehead began seeping yellow pus and became covered in yellow scabs. Startled relatives and colleagues advised me to consult a doctor immediately. Some told me it was “yellow pus sores,” a very serious condition. Wherever the yellow pus touched, sores would be left. Yet others told me it was herpes, which could cause scars and disfigure my face. Despite the many theories, my heart remained unmoved. I knew this was a sign of karma being eliminated, and I had to firmly believe in Master and the Fa.
Two months later, the sores on my body and face began to form thick yellow scabs. My relatives and colleagues became more anxious and asked why my condition was worsening! Faced with their increasing scrutiny, I became anxious. Tears started to gather in my eyes and I felt hollow, wondering when this suffering would end. I immediately realized I should not believe in the words of ordinary people, follow Master’s teachings and eliminate all external interference. At this time, I thought of Master’s words, “I would say physical pain is much easier to bear, as you can simply tough it out.” (The Fourth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
With this, my heart became calm. This amount of physical pain is nothing. No matter how difficult, one can overcome this tribulation as long as one cultivates well.
Under Master’s protection, a miracle happened. The yellow sores on my body and face stopped spreading, and the scabs began to fall off little by little. The affected areas also stopped itching. Four months later, my face and body were restored to normal.
I experienced Master’s great compassion and the miraculous powers of Dafa. Master must have silently borne the burden of this massive hardship for me. Looking back on my karma-eliminating experiences, words cannot express how grateful I am to Master Li Hongzhi.