I Found The Meaning of My Life in Fa-Rectification Cultivation (2003 Fa-conference, Gevena)

Greetings, Master!
Greetings, fellow practitioners!

My name is ... I am currently working in a university in Germany and at the same time studying for a doctorate’s degree.

Ever since I was a child I have always liked sports and have received quite a lot of professional training in fencing; athletics and basketball. Basketball was my favourite, and I almost viewed it as a part of my life. In primary school, I was selected to play for the municipal children’s basketball team. In secondary school and university, I was one of the top players in the school team, and participated in games on the provincial and national levels, winning many awards. When I first came to Germany, I went to a basketball class in the university, after which the coach invited me to join the university team. I declined the offer because I worried that it might jeopardise my studies. After all, basketball could only come second place when compared to my studies.

I went to very good primary and secondary schools, and later to a famous university in China. I was always a good student in the eyes of the teachers and professors. I did very well in the final dissertation, and graduated from university as an “Excellent Graduate”. Then I got a good job, and was named an “Advanced Employee” at the end of my first year there.

I like to treat people with sincerity. When faced with such a chaotic society and complex inter-personnel relationships, I might appear to have handled the situation quite well on the outside but deep down I felt very tired and a sense of despair of losing my own identity. I couldn’t help but ask myself, “ what do people live for?“ Although I have read many books on ancient Chinese philosophies but did not find the answers to my question and so I gave up looking. Predestined relationships brought me to Germany to study. Thinking that I shall be away from home studying, both my physical and mentally health are equally important, so I packed a book on Confusianism and a basketball to take with me.

One month after I arrived in Germany, I obtained the Fa through a Chinese neighbour. After reading Zhuan Falun from cover to cover, my question was answered. The words are simple and easy to understand, but the principles are profound. When combined with modern science, it expounds the great principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance, unraveling the riddles which mankind has puzzled for tens of thousands of years. I was full of joy and learned the exercises without delay and thus started my cultivation. It was only a few days when I noticed an improvement both mentally and physically. I felt serene and peaceful. The stomach disorder which had troubled me for years which neither physical exercises; Chinese nor Western medicines could cure, has now disappeared. The same is true with fatigue. I now feel more energetic and healthy than ever before and have truly felt the difference between cultivation practice and physical exercises. So I gave my basketball to a friend, and also threw the book away.

My cultivation also benefits my studies. Having worked for many years, my mind was cramped with all sorts of messy thoughts. Since I started cultivation, my mind can calm down quite easily. When I read, I can concentrate well and there is very little interference. I continued to do well at university and received a scholarship from a big German company.

However, I don’t consider myself a diligent practitioner on the path of cultivation. I am way behind Teacher’s requirements in many aspects. Especially after my transfer to another university in late 1999, during which time, I was in the state of personal cultivation. Through studying the Fa, reading articles on Clearwisdom website, and the help of other fellow practitioners, I started to step out, and go out to clarify the truth. At the same time, I had to make a start in writing my thesis for my master’s degree.

In Teacher Li’s article, “To All Students at the Nordic Fa Conference,” Master says, “So in clarifying the truth, don’t wait, don’t rely on others, and don’t just hope for changes in external factors. Every one of us is creating history for the future, that’s why everyone is not only participating in group activities, but also taking the initiative to look for things to do. As long as something is good for Dafa, you should take the initiative to do it, take the initiative to work on it.” Realizing what I had done before was not enough, I bought some truth clarifying material and copied some myself (I could not have a part-time job because I was doing design for my graduation. I had to budget carefully). Sometimes I just carry a bag and go to the busy part of the town to distribute the truth clarifying materials. Then, after I exchanged experiences with other practitioners, distributing the truth materials gradually became clarifying the truth. I carry material with me all the time and utilize every opportunity.

At the beginning, the progress of my thesis went smoothly. But soon I came across a problem, which involved a complicated deduction of a mathematical model. I went to see two professors, one of whom had published related works. However, both of them felt they could not help me solve the problem. I didn’t care much about it at the time, thinking that I could try using other methods.
With the Fa-rectification progress moving faster and faster, the evil’s last moves were near total madness. We heard about the news of practitioners persecuted in China one after another each day. Acting as one body, overseas practitioners exposed the evil through all means. We held activities of urgent rescue of the practitioners in China time after time, and appealed peacefully in front of Embassies. Other kinds of activities of spreading the Fa and clarifying the truth were also taking place. It pains me to see Teacher and Dafa being slandered and fellow practitioners in China persecuted, and how I have not been diligent enough in my cultivation practice. I immediately got up and threw myself into the tide of Fa-rectification. The fear in my heart, which had bothered me, was also relinquished bit by bit in those days. Because I persisted in studying the Fa everyday and shared experiences with many fellow practitioners, I became more and more clear-minded in understanding the principles of the Fa.

Some of the activities can take me away a few days at a time. This made me cherish what time I have even more. I sometimes reduced my sleeping hours in order to work on my design. Although the amount of time I spent on my thesis every week might not be a lot, (I once worked a mere 5 to 6 hours week—this being an extreme case. Usually I maintain a normal student’s schedule) but when I discussed my work with my tutors, I often managed to offer some original thinking. In fact, some new ideas would spring into my mind when we were discussing. However, when I failed in the deduction of different algorithms, my thesis was basically in a state of standstill. The condition remained unchanged for some time. Because I am always good at studying, I felt there must be something wrong with my cultivation practice. I had to look inside.
Seeing my schedule was rather tight, fellow practitioners warned me not to have the mentality of ‘doing things’. My studies are also very important. We should also do well in the human level. It is also validating the Fa. So I started to think about it calmly. Why do I need to step out? Is my heart pure? How do I balance the relationship between cultivation, spreading the Fa and studying? Through studying the Fa, I understood that Dafa had created all beings in the universe and the living environment for all beings. All lives in the universe were created by Dafa. When Teacher and DaFa are being slandered, when Dafa disciples in China are being persecuted, as Fa-rectification Dafa disciples, stepping out for the Fa-rectification was our incumbent duty. At the same time, we are saving lives. I was first a Dafa practitioner, then a student. So I should play a part in Fa-rectification and go out to clarify the truth. This is undoubtedly correct.

But how should I look at my studies, especially the graduation design? Teacher had said that Dafa disciples should be good people everywhere; should do well in their jobs everywhere. When I phoned my family in China, they told me about the fabricated material on the television accusing us of conspiring with anti-Chinese powers overseas and so on. I told them the real situation here: how our activities are run: from applying for permission for peaceful appeals in front of Embassies to preparing leaflets and banners, as well as the messages which banners carry. They soon learned the truth and knew that I have put time aside to do Dafa work. However, I began to develop this fear about what people might say about a practitioner whose studies have been going well and yet fails to achieve the expected high standard with his thesis. I tried to steady my thoughts by first strengthening the will to cultivate and then do my best for my thesis, paying little attention to other’s comments. Thus I tried to squeeze time to do my design.

Despite my effort, my thesis was still progressing very slowly. Having read some of my draft and seeing how many methods have failed to work, my tutor realized the difficulty must be huge and began to give up on finding a solution. One day as I was reciting ‘Lunyu’, the first sentence that entered my mind was ‘The Buddha Fa is most profound’. I immediately thought, ’how could the wisdom of a Dafa practitioner be limited by the level human knowledge?’ As soon as I realized this, a mathematical model sprung into my mind and it was moving. Although I have now understood this level of principle but deep down I know, there are attachments which have yet to be discovered.

It was not until one day when I was sleeping in bed, a vivid scene was played in front of me: that was the evening before I left home for Germany. The family was gathered around the dinner table when my cousin asked me, “What is most well-known about Germany?” I said it’s probably the Mercedes-Benz. “Then bring one with you when you come back,” my cousin said cheekily. I smiled at her and said, “I might be penniless when I return. But I will have my diploma though.” When I woke up in the morning, I realized where my attachment lies. I instantly felt light and clear-minded. Master said in Zhuan Falun, “In our school of practice, those who practice cultivation among everyday people are required to practice cultivation precisely in ordinary human society, and to fit in among everyday people as much as possible. You are not really asked to lose anything materially. It does not matter how high your position ranks or how much wealth you own. The key is whether you can abandon that attachment.” Once I found my attachments, I worked steadily and smoothly on my thesis. Sometimes when I settled down to concentrate on my graduation design, many new ideas would come to mind. I knew it was the state of practitioners’ wisdom being broadened through cultivation, as Master once described. From the on, I joined the activities of Fa-rectification more whole-heartedly. Although my schedule was still very tight but everything was done in an orderly manner.

Before long, I worked out two complete sets of solutions. They both proved to be able to produce accurate answers. These helped correct some errors that my tutors made in their computer calculations that were very difficult to detect. I completed my master’s degree with distinctions in both my thesis and overall achievement. The research results played a crucial role in my tutor’s field. It has also become a blue-print for academic research papers and was published in an international periodical. In addition, it was given ‘The Best Thesis of the Year Award’ by a well-known professional association. I am now staying at the same university working and studying for a PhD. This provides excellent opportunities for clarifying the facts in future

Sometimes, when I encountered Chinese on the street or in other places, I would peacefully and kindly tell them the truth of Falun Gong, and at the same time, I would talk about my work and my PhD studies in the university. I did not have the intention of showing off in my talks, and others did not feel jealous, either. On the contrary, what they showed in their eyes was their understanding and admiration towards Dafa.

At the same time, I learned from other practitioners’ experiences from the Minghui website, and started to take advantage of my work obligations and clarify the truth at academic conferences in China and abroad. My colleagues from Chinese institutions were quite surprised to know there are Falun Gong practitioners among their colleagues. Sometimes, when I attended conferences in places where there were no practitioners at all, I managed to tell the truth to people there through the media. I came to the profound realization that, when we have pure heart, Master have arranged everything well for us.

My heartfelt gratitude goes to Master, who has helped me find the meaning of my life in the Fa-rectification.

Thank you, Master! Thank you, my fellow practitioners!