(Minghui.org) When I was a child my parents did their best to satisfy all my wishes. I enjoyed receiving praise from everyone around me, so I was selfish and spoiled. Because I grew up under a communist regime, traits such as competitiveness, struggling against others, criticizing others, and extreme thoughts were deeply rooted in me. All this set the foundation for a selfish personality that pursued fame and profit.

I started practicing Falun Dafa in 2002, when I was 27. In Zhuan Falun, Falun Dafa’s main book, I found answers to many questions, and I knew that I wanted to practice. I also realized that in order to become a true cultivator, I needed to relinquish my ego, ambitions, and my feelings – this may sound easy, but it’s very difficult. Quite a few tests emerged in my family environment, at work, and in society. Unfortunately, I did not always pass them successfully, because of the notion that doing so would force me to let go of “part of myself.”

As I kept reading Falun Dafa’s teachings, I realized that the one who suffered in these situations was actually my ego, not the real me, and that what I “lost” were actually only bad things.

In Zhuan Falun, Master mentions how people treat stones versus gold. In my understanding, stones are equivalent to opportunities in cultivation. Ordinary people do not want them, but for cultivators they are like true gold. I realized that I should treat any criticism, inappropriate behavior, injuries to my feelings, or my reputation, as “stones,” or valuable cultivation opportunities granted to me to cultivate and fulfill my role well during the Fa-rectification period.

I noticed that it was more difficult for me to accept criticism from people I considered “unworthy” of criticizing me. After looking inward, I realized that it had to do with my attachments to arrogance and pride that I hadn’t removed. I realized that I must correct these notions, and I started to treat criticism from any person as an opportunity to look inward and improve.

When I began cultivating, I participated in various truth-clarification projects (about Falun Dafa and the persecution), but I always selected those that required creativity or involved a sense of fun. As I progressed, I realized that should not be important to me. The only important thing was the impact it would have on saving sentient beings. I realized that in order to cooperate well I must be able to let go of my own opinions and intentions.

When I wake up each morning I remind myself that I have been given another precious day to complete my historic role. When I encounter difficult tests, and when my human thoughts and notions try to overcome me, I quote Master’s poem “All for this Day” from Hong Yin III. My righteous thoughts become stronger and all the bad things begin to weaken.

With infinite gratitude, I thank venerable Master for the opportunity to be a Falun Dafa practitioner during this historic period!

(Selected submission to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day on Minghui.org)