Click on the below-mentioned, numbered subjects:
- Welcome
- What’s Happening?
- A Lawyer from Spain: A New Light in My Life
- Interesting Stories from Falun Gong Exercise Practice Sites -- Predestined Relationship
- Thoughts on Breaking Through Old Force Arrangements
- Walk Our Paths Well
- The Phenomenon of "Falun Dafa Is Good"
- The Tremendous Power of Benevolence
- 1. Welcome
Welcome to the April 2008 Falun Dafa India Newsletter.
The whole world has woken up to the turmoil in Tibet.
China is using its economic might to quell the media reports.
It is important for us to keep our righteous thoughts and clarify the truth to the world.
Please visit this site and fill in the Support the Relay Form.http://www.humanrightstorch.org/join.php
Please forward it to as many people possible to create awareness.
This issue has a compilation of experience-sharing Articles gleaned from Clearwisdom that always shine through because of their insights and fine quality of sharing. It is important to read the Clearwisdom, Pureinsight and other Dafa sites. We make an effort to select Articles from the Archives which people don’t go back to and are relevant even today. Contributions are welcome from practitioners.
Heshi! Hope, you like the selection of Articles and gain some new insights!
Note: "All the contents in this newsletter - except for quotations and excerpts of writings of the founder Mr. Li Hongzhi - are only ideas and experiences of practitioners and do not represent Falun Dafa in itself."
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- 2. What’s Happening?
Some practitioners from Bangalore along with some practitioners from Pune introduced Falun Dafa exercises to a school in Pune.
Several schools in Bangalore where Falun Dafa has been introduced have been inviting practitioners for school sports and Annual Day events to give away the prizes.
Practitioners from Bangalore who had visited Malaysia were requested to introduce Falun Dafa exercises to some schools and an orphanage.
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- 3. A Lawyer from Spain: A New Light in My Life
By Carlos
(Clearwisdom.net) Greetings to everyone, my name is Carlos Iglesias. I am a lawyer, 41 years old, married and have two daughters, 10 and 12 years old. I live in Madrid, Spain. I have been practicing Falun Dafa for two and a half months. I am very happy to exchange experiences with all of you.
A few months ago, during the National Health Fair in Madrid, I came to know Falun Dafa and I was immediately attracted by the happiness, personal fulfillment and peacefulness that the practitioners there transmitted. They invited me to watch videos of a 9-day class of Mr. Li Hongzhi.
Due to my work, I could not participate in all of the 9 days, however, from the days that I did attend, many of the unknown questions and personal search throughout the years, search for other disciplines or natural medicine were solved by the explanations of Master. I could also appreciate or at least feel that I have come into contact with something very immense and important.
Thinking back to this moment from today's perspective, I can say that this encounter was very important for me, because I had spent a lot of time without any specific meaning in my life.
Even though I did not lead a life with problems, I did suffer quite a lot physically. I have been operated on twice in Spain. The first time, when I was 20 years old, I was operated on in an emergency case of life or death, due to a mistake of a medical diagnosis, of acute peritonitis, which kept me in the hospital for 15 days. The second operation I had was to remove gallstones from my gall bladder, when I was 26 years old. Since then, I never felt very well physically, always suffering with my digestive system and feeling a constant and permanent fatigue from morning when I get up until I go to sleep.
Due to these operations, I have a constant fear and rejection of doctors and traditional medicines. I could not understand nor admit to myself what happened. This caused me to search for other natural or alternative healing methods and natural products or herbs, which could help me to improve my heath and recuperate my lost energy. I also adhered to different types of diets, including fasting to purify my organs. I thought at that time that all my problems were physical and they were in my body. None of the other practices, including yoga, helped me to feel better. Nevertheless, I continued to search for a method to attain a better mental and physical state and hoped to find the "miracle" which would solve my problems. All those years of searching in vain caused my character to change. I became more introverted, worried, and even depressed. Before I came to find Falun Dafa, I could say that I had reached the bottom of my life.
Along with my negative thoughts, I had selfish and materialistic attitudes. I tried to compensate for all the difficulties that I had in my life. In my profession as a lawyer, I am used to fighting for personal and material interests. I reasoned that if I could not feel well physically, at least I could have more material things, a future, and fame. It took me a long time to understand what Master said, that there is no coincidence; everything that's happened to me was the result of karma that accompanied my bad attitudes and behavior in the past.
When I came to know Falun Dafa, my initial curiosity was enormous and, at the beginning, I did not understand some things that were not compatible with my Christian education, which did not recognize reincarnation, samsara, or the existence of past lives. But something told me at the bottom of my heart, that I had found the Truth and I became more and more aware that according to Zhuan Falun, the reality of the existence of humanity and the universe is there, beyond the knowledge of science. Finally, Master Li put a light to the questions that I have asked all my life, such as who we are and what we are living for. I began to realize that everything that happened to me was the result of my own negative behavior, which had to be paid back. This is the result of the mechanism of the universe's justice.
My life began to become serene, although I must admit that I do not deserve yet to be considered as a true practitioner. I have to improve my cultivation enormously and my own proper moral values in order to reach the true standard of a practitioner.
At the beginning of practicing of the exercises, I could see how my energy began to grow little by little, and I began to feel physically better. The chronic fatigue of so many years diminished. What I did not get throughout those years by taking a multitude of vitamins and herbal medicines, I obtained after a short period of cultivation. At the same time, I have been elevating my xinxing, my moral values, in a way that was previously impossible for me. I would like to give two examples concerning this:
Before I knew Falun Dafa, as a lawyer, I was used to having contact with many people with personal and professional problems, which confirmed to me that the moral standard of human society is very much degenerated. Mine too. I fought for personal interest, fame and material gains. I wanted to earn more money, in spite of having already enough to cover the necessities for my family. I wanted a second job to increase my income, better schools for my children, a big and better car and I called all of these purposes or dreams I desired. I did not think at all that this could be bad, but I understand now when Master Li pointed out that the human society has degraded so much that one does not see that something is bad, in spite of the fact that it is. I thought that all of those ambitions were legitimate and correct, because this was the standard of thoughts of the majority of the people.
After reading Zhuan Falun for the first time and with the benevolent help of veteran practitioners, something changed inside me, and today I can say that I do not pursue fame or money anymore. I am not trying to say that only in two and a half months I have changed completely, because obviously this is not easy. But I can confirm that I do not look for money or fame consciously. I have abandoned the thought of looking for a second job and for the first time in my life, I did not ask for a pay raise at work. This is really very surprising, when looking at and comparing with my behavior in the past.
A second example of how I was able to improve my xinxing is the change of attitude in my relations with other people. I try to avoid confrontations or disputes over personal interest. A year ago I bought a newly constructed house. When the house was finished we saw several defects and deficiencies in the construction. I negotiated with the construction company to fix the problems. They did not do so, and I was ready to sue them, for I felt cheated, and my interests damaged. Also my personal vanity as a lawyer was affected; therefore I was ready to go to court. After one month of practicing Falun Dafa, I told my wife that I will not sue the company and I will pay for the repair costs.
This was very surprising for my wife, who was expecting a court case, but saw that I was very relaxed.
In spite of the short time I have practiced, I have realized the importance of study of the Fa. So I also want to declare my commitment to obtain everyday a better knowledge, and at the same time, elevate my moral values, my behavior, and attitude, in accordance with the standards of a practitioner of Falun Dafa. I hope to attain the greatest purpose of this life, i.e. how can I make the most of this great opportunity that has brought me to know the Fa and cultivation according to the principles taught by Master.
I have also assumed a personal commitment to improve my practice and study of the Fa, as well as support and validate the Fa in front of all those who, due to ignorance, manipulation, or simply maliciousness, try to discredit or prevent the practice.
We have manifested this by sending righteous thoughts in front of the Chinese embassy in Madrid, and we will begin activities before Spanish and foreign organizations and authorities in Madrid and Spain to validate the Fa, in order for them to adopt diplomatic initiatives to stop the persecution in China, and to see that the responsible people are put to justice.
At this moment I wish to dedicate a special thought to all those practitioners who have lost their lives in China or those who are being tortured, persecuted, separated from their families, or discredited simply for defending the Truth with benevolence. From a western nation, Spain, I want to transmit my deepest respect and support, and the petition of justice for those evil crimes against humanity.
I feel very proud in these moments, and in spite of the short time as a practitioner of Falun Dafa and from the deepest part of my heart, I simply want to say that I think my life has changed. My mentality of material competition is replaced by a mentality to defend and clarify the truth, to deepen my cultivation with the study of the Fa.
I think that the world now needs more than ever to be sustained in the three columns of Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Tolerance. These are the crucial keys to achieve maximum harmony in the world, peace, and well being of all human beings. No one should be against these principles, and I hope and believe these principles will be practiced by all of humanity to achieve a better world.
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- 4. Interesting Stories from Falun Gong Exercise Practice Sites -- Predestined Relationship
(Clearwisdom.net)
Falun Gong has always been taught for free at practice sites that are now in over 60 countries around the world. Falun Gong is often practiced outdoors and this has allowed many people to learn more about the practice. Here are some short stories of how people discovered Falun Gong.
Madrid, Spain
There was one lady from Venezuela who came and stood transfixed watching the exercise practice at a site in Madrid. When practitioners gave her a leaflet, she said: 'I don't need a leaflet; this is definitely what I want.' In fact, she said two days ago she had a dream and in the dream she kept repeating some movements and heard a voice telling her, 'This is just what you have been looking for over thousands of years.' At that time, she did not know what it actually meant until today when she passed by our practice site and saw practitioners doing the same movements she did in her dream. Soon after, she started to learn Falun Dafa's movements. One week later, she also brought her husband and daughter to the exercise class.
Paris, France
One day, a lady from Peru came to the Paris Falun Gong exercise site to learn the movements. As soon as she came out of the underground, she started to run because she did not want to be late. At once, she heard a voice in her mind: 'Don't run, don't worry: you have already discovered the thing you have always been waiting for.' When she arrived at the exercise class, she told everyone her amazing experience; her eyes were filled with tears.
Santiago, Chile
A 14-year old student who lives near the Santiago practice site, once looked up the phrase 'sitting in meditation' on the Internet and found Falun Dafa's website. He then discovered the movements showed in the pictures on the web were exactly the same as the people at a practice site outside his house were doing. He soon switched off his computer and went out of the house. He only needed to cross one road and he was at the exercise site, where he started to learn. Now his parents, friends and schoolmates all know Falun Dafa, and some of them even started to practice. Every time this student comes to the exercise site, he asks for many Falun Gong leaflets to hand out to people.
A 75-year old elderly lady from Chile has a daughter who lives in Switzerland. Not long ago, her daughter saw Dafa practitioners holding a peaceful appeal outside the UN headquarters in Geneva. Her daughter later called her mother in Chile and told her about this. Now, she and her mum are both practitioners. One practices in Switzerland and the other practices in Chile.
A young Korean student who lives in Chile was once traveling back from the United States to Chile when he met some practitioners in a California Airport. The practitioners offered him a leaflet. After reading it, he called the Falun Gong contact person in Chile straight away. The next day, he came to learn the exercises.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
There is a practitioner in Buenos Aires who has practiced Falun Dafa for nearly a year, but he did not take cultivation very seriously. He did not do the exercises regularly and he couldn't do single leg crossing properly in the meditation. However, after he took part in the first Latin America Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference in March this year, he came to understand Dafa more deeply and firmly through talking with other practitioners. After the conference, when he did the last exercise at home, to his amazement he found himself sitting in meditation with both legs crossed.
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- 5. Thoughts on Breaking Through Old Force Arrangements
A Western Practitioner
(Clearwisdom.net) A couple of days ago, I realized that my attachment to waiting for changes was having a big impact on my cultivation and Fa-rectification work. I would like to share my understandings with fellow practitioners.
Often when doing anything - be it studying the Fa, sending forth righteous thoughts, clarifying the truth, doing the exercises or doing everyday work - I realized that I often had this mentality of finishing what I was doing quickly and going on to the next thing. As a result, I was not putting in my best effort and was not focused in what I was doing.
A couple of days ago, I realized that there was something wrong with my mentality. Why was I always uncomfortable with my present conditions and what I was currently doing? Why was I always eager to "get over with it" and rush to do something else? For instance, while studying the Fa, I often couldn't concentrate, and I would think, "Oh, let me finish Fa-study quickly, since I am not good at it, and let me do Fa-rectification activities well." As a result, I would concentrate even less on Fa-study. When I did do Fa-rectification work, I would be thinking, "Oh, I have so much Fa-rectification work and everyday work to do. How can I do it well? Let me do this quickly and go on to everyday work." While doing the exercises, I would think, "Let me finish the exercises quickly so that I can go to study the Fa well."
When I finally looked within, I realized that hidden deep within me was an attachment to perfection. I wanted everything to be perfect before I put in my best effort. The old forces must have arranged this for me. Even though I was trying to do my best on the surface, deep down, I was passively waiting for changes in external conditions and myself. I was thinking, "Oh, if my friends and family are more open, I could clarify the truth to them better." "If my work and home conditions are better, I could do a better job at Fa-study and Fa-rectification." "If I was more calm and clear-minded, I could do a better job at everything I do." "If I had no fear, I could clarify the truth to the Chinese students I meet with more confidence." etc.
Thus, whenever I was doing anything, I was always passively waiting for external and internal changes so that I could do better. Once I came to understand my mentality, I realized that I should not wait for any changes, but rather do the best with what I currently have. Waiting is the old force arrangement. Stepping forward and breaking through that arrangement is my responsibility as a Fa-rectification Dafa disciple.
Soon after realizing my attachment and how to solve it, I tried to put it into action. That evening, my mind wandered much less than usual during the exercises, and I was finally able to study almost one whole lecture of Zhuan Falun without any interfering thoughts! I was also more confident when approaching Chinese students to talk to them, even though I was still as 'imperfect' as before. While sending forth righteous thoughts, I was much more focused.
I believe that whether we are perfect or not, or whether our external conditions are conducive or not does not matter very much. We should step forward and do the best we can with what we have. We must deny the old force arrangements and step forward to save sentient beings without delay.
Above are just a few understandings at my current level. I request fellow practitioners to compassionately point out anything inappropriate.
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- 6. Walk Our Paths Well
By a Taiwan Practitioner
(Clearwisdom.net)
Who ever learns Falun Dafa does so due to a predestined relationship. After three years of cultivation, I have realized this fact: under Teacher's arrangement, every Dafa practitioner will be able utilize his or her unique talents and strengths to create opportunities for beings to learn about Falun Dafa.
I received an outstanding teachers' award from the Bureau of Education last September. This event was held for the purpose of promoting teachers' dedication. To participate in the competition, each elementary and middle school from the whole county was to recommend one or two teachers. After several rounds of appraisal, examination and interviews, the head of the county was to make the final decision.
I still remembered the questions asked by the main examiner during the interview. He asked, "Being a model teacher, will you encounter any hostility from other teachers?" To this, I replied, "When treating others with honesty and kindness, I'll be able to accommodate others amicably. I believe everyone has his or her merits that I can learn from." He then asked, "If you win the award, it's a high point of your teaching career. Would that put pressure on you?" I replied, "Winning is only a mark in my teaching career. My emphasis is on teaching whatever students need to learn. I do not worry about gain or loss. I don't think there will be any pressure on me." My replies were based on what I learned from my practice of Falun Dafa. At the end, three elementary school teachers were given outstanding teacher's awards, and I brought honor to our school by winning the highest mark.
After winning the award, I was encouraged to excel even more. The whole school knew that I practice Falun Gong, but I hope more students could learn about Falun Dafa. Each week, I taught students, who were interested, the Falun Gong exercises for 80 minutes during community activity time. I also taught them about the principle of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance". Below are comments from my students after a semester of studying Falun Dafa:
Yingxun: "I taught Falun Gong to my family after I learned it in school. My younger brother used to be in poor health, and now he rarely gets sick."
Qiaoyuan: "After practicing Falun Gong, I am more considerate towards others and do not get upset any more."
Meihui: "I am quite happy that I have the opportunity to practice Falun Gong. How I wish my mother would also learn Falun Gong, since she is always so tired and I am worried about her."
Peijing: "Falun Gong helped me to become a healthy and happy person. I love to read the Dafa books and share my experience with others and be a helpful person."
Jingru: "I'm always eager to attend the Falun Gong classes; after understanding the principle I was calm again, I could finish my homework with ease."
Xiurong: "Since I've come to understand the principle of Truthfulness, Compassion Forbearance", I do the exercises doing good deeds and helping others, I no longer bully other students."
Yuling: "When I became impatient with my homework, I would practice the exercises for a while. When my mind with happiness each day."
Lixiang: "I've become so energetic that I haven't taken any sick leave at all recently."
After sowing the seeds of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" in my students' hearts, I will lead more than three hundred fourth grade students to demonstrate the five sets of exercises in our school's annual celebration event. I have joined the teaching staff of a Minghui School recently. This is only the starting point; I know that I am taking one step at a time to fulfill my pledge, to walk my own path well.
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- 7. The Phenomenon of "Falun Dafa Is Good"
By a Falun Dafa Practitioner from China
(Clearwisdom.net) I had been thinking to myself after reading a few articles about miracles that had occurred after someone said, "Falun Dafa is good" and "Truthfulness, compassion and tolerance are good." While many colleagues, friends and relatives know the truth of Falun Dafa, even though they are not opposed to Falun Dafa, they may not readily follow my suggestions to read the Fa and do the exercises. However, if miracles could happen when you ask them to say "Falun Dafa is good" and "Truthfulness, compassion and tolerance are good," then they might accept those suggestions.
I am not so sure that it would work for everyone at first, so they might stop saying it before it has had sufficient time to take effect. Therefore, I was afraid of asking people to say, "Falun Dafa is good." I thought that my difficulty was probably related to the insufficient development of my own moral character. If I had doubts about it myself, then I wouldn't be able to convince other people, let alone validate the Fa and save sentient beings.
One of my colleague's father-in-law was once involved in an auto accident. He was over seventy years old and suffered severe internal injuries accompanied by edema in his chest. His abdomen had become distended, both legs were fractured and he was in critical condition. Seeing my colleague so worried, I began to feel compassion in my heart, and thought that I must save his elderly father-in-law. After briefly clarifying the truth of Falun Dafa to my colleague, I told him to please ask his father-in-law to say, "Falun Dafa is good" and "Truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance are good." Perhaps then, he would be miraculously saved. It will work if the heart is sincere. Then, I told him the miraculous stories that I had read on the Internet, in which liver cancer patients and patients with fluid accumulation in chest were completely cured by saying, "Falun Dafa is good." The next day, my colleague appeared very happy. He said that it had been a real miracle. His elderly father-in-law's edema was gone and he had begun eating again. He said that he felt much more energetic. Previously, he would have had to undergo exploratory surgery to check his internal injuries. I said, "Teacher Li is the one who is taking care of your father-in-law. The old gentleman should keep saying "Falun Dafa is good" and thank Teacher for this favor." After going home, he suggested that his father-in-law say, "Teacher Li is good; Falun Dafa is good." After two weeks, his father-in-law was released from the hospital, and after two months, had completely recovered. The old man was so thankful that he knelt on the ground. Indeed, his whole family was thankful to Teacher and Falun Dafa.
After researching five similar cases, I have reached the conclusion that by saying "Falun Dafa is good" and "Truthfulness, compassion and tolerance are good," the divine, miraculous power of Dafa is precipitated. Teacher bestows these supernormal abilities upon us so that we might use them to save sentient beings. These abilities are both effective and convenient, and they are the keys that open the doors for sentient beings to obtain the Fa. At the same time, utilizing these words demonstrates that the divine, miraculous power of Dafa is not just an idealistic teaching, but is something of supernormal science. Meanwhile, they enable those who accept the truth of Falun Dafa to be instantly rewarded.
Nowadays, everyday people have become very grounded in "reality" and their inclination toward attributing anything to the divine is very slight. Many people have such poor enlightenment quality that they would do so only if they saw a personal benefit. Despite this situation, Dafa can still create opportunities for sentient beings to learn Dafa. When we clarify the truth, if the party seems to understand, we can ask them to sincerely say, "Falun Dafa is good." They will certainly be rewarded.
Many practitioners know people who have suffered from major illnesses or calamities. If those people truly want to become kinder people, and they can sincerely say, "Falun Dafa is good," then Dafa will certainly show its divine, miraculous power. The power of the cosmic Dafa is boundless. A Great Bodhisattva does not display its power just because the human heart is unrighteous and unwilling to accept the existence of the divine, or because humans exhibit a reckless disregard for the divine consequences of their actions. Therefore, we can instruct those people who understand and accept the truth of Falun Dafa to say, "Falun Dafa is good." This will reduce their karma and they will also be rewarded. Many things in the new cosmos await our creation of them.
"Teaching the Fa at the Discussion on Creating Fine Art," Teacher said:"You've followed me here to save sentient beings. And the meaning of our saving sentient beings also includes how we save human morality, how the people who are saved will be in the future, how they'll live, and what kind of conditions they'll live in. In other words, Dafa disciples are not only saving sentient beings, they're also blazing a true path for the existence of human beings." If just one person is seen to have benefited from saying "Falun Dafa is good" and "Truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance are good," then those around him will see the power of Dafa and will validate Dafa. The lies that are propagated by the state-run Chinese media will be exposed. From the few examples that I have personally experienced during truth-clarification, I can relate to what Teacher said: in "Teaching the Fa at the 2003 Atlanta Fa Conference.""As you clarify the truth, the words you speak and the energy you emit have the effect of intimidating and eliminating the evil. You are crucial in determining whether the beings in this world stay or get eliminated." If we do well and maintain powerful righteous thoughts, many more sentient beings will be saved. Finally, let's be encouraged by Teacher's poem, "Falun Dafa Is Good," and take another solid step toward our grand wish to save sentient beings.
Dafa Is Good
The colossal firmament illuminated by the Fa's light
Only after the immense force of Fa-rectification sweeps through
Are the boundless wonders known
Falun Dafa is good
Gradually entering the human realm
The sentient beings need not worry
Gods and Buddhas are already smiling
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- 8. The Tremendous Power of Benevolence
Written by a practitioner in China
In early days when I sent forth righteous thoughts, I felt as though I was supposed to destroy the enemy. With an underlying heart that was not kind, I felt tired very soon, and even felt sick if I did it for a long time. Later after I had read articles by fellow practitioners and the guidelines by Master, my mind became pure and benevolent in sending forth righteous thoughts. I would recite in my mind the Fa-rectification formulas and would re-focus myself and keep a pleasant facial expression as soon as I found that my thought was drifting away. I found that it was easier to concentrate and the power was tremendous, with every cell in me embedded in energy. Under such conditions I always felt energetic no matter how long I sent forth righteous thoughts.
My finding is that because we cultivate according to the great law of the universe, "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance," every practitioner's cultivation energy and capability are assimilated with the characteristics of the universe. Master said, "I am rooted in the universe. If anyone can harm you, he or she would be able to harm me. Put simply, that person would be able to harm this universe" (Zhuan Falun, Lecture One). Therefore we do not need to have many concerns in sending forth righteous thoughts. Some of these capabilities were acquired through our own cultivation, and some were given to us by the Fa and Master. The parts in us that we have completed the cultivation for are assimilated with Fa, so our energy will be endless. This is the power of Dafa, and it came from the universe and Master. So as long as our mind is righteous and benevolent, our power will be tremendous.
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