On the Path of Cultivation with Righteous Thoughts and Actions

Greetings, Master! Greetings, fellow practitioners!

I started my journey of Falun Dafa cultivation in 1997. Along the way, I have deeply felt Master's compassion and protection. I realize it is important for me to rectify my mind while doing the three things well. Hereby, I would like to share my recent cultivation experiences.

Getting rid of ego in Shen Yun Work

I have had the honor of participating in the preparation of Shen Yun shows in Sweden since 2008 – the first year that Shen Yun Performing Arts toured in Europe.

In recent years, I participated in the costume team in Sweden and other Nordic countries. The tasks of the team included washing, ironing, steaming and mending clothes etc. Though these tasks may seem simple, they directly impact the Shen Yun shows. Each new venue presents new challenges. It requires practitioners to handle these challenges with a righteous mindset to overcome difficulties and fulfill the tasks in time.

In April this year, I joined the costume team in Bergen, Norway. Since Shen Yun had not performed in Norway for 15 years, and the Bergen Theater was hosting Shen Yun for the first time, I and another Swedish practitioner went there to support the team there.

We held several meetings and communicated individually multiple times. Everyone did the preparation work well. However, when we arrived at the theater early in the morning of the show day, we were astonished to see the laundry room was very small. There were only two small washing machines, and one dryer of the same size beside them. That was all! With the low capacity of the washing machines, it would take longer to wash. What is more, the laundry room was occupied by the theater. We could not start washing until the theater’s laundry was done! 

Facing this new situation, I began to feel anxious because I knew the actors' training clothes and some shirts needed washing. As anxiety set in, negative thoughts came to mind: Why does such a large theater not have a matching laundry room? Since we had rented the venue, our needs should be accommodated for these two days… As my thoughts continued, a voice suddenly reminded me: What can we do now?" I immediately realized these thoughts were distractions! If I continued thinking this way, it would not solve any problem, nor have any positive impact on the other team members. I quickly calmed down. Now we needed to focus on ironing the performance costumes that were brought to us.

Among the costumes to be handled, there was a dress with a large stain in a very noticeable place. A fellow practitioner brought it to me. I carefully wrapped the dress in a large towel and took it to the toilet nearby to get the stain off. When it was clean, I hung it on the rack to get it dry. About an hour later, another practitioner showed the dress to me. The stain was gone, but there was a large watermark. Since the performers had already been on tour in Europe for months, the color difference between the washed and unwashed areas was very noticeable, even more so than the stain itself. The entire dress had to be washed by hand! 

Where could I wash it? How could I dry it? I had no answer, but I told myself to stay calm and there must be a solution. I thought of the bathtub in my hotel room. I told team members I had to take it to the hotel room to try, as there was no other possibility in the theatre then.

Fortunately, the hotel was very near to the theater. I hurried toward the hotel with the large bag containing the dress. Suddenly, some doubts arose: “Can I do it? What happens if it does not turn out well? We have so many tasks to complete. I need to hurry back… ” Thinking about these things, my heart began to race. This time, I quickly identified these incorrect thoughts and immediately eliminated them. For a Dafa practitioner, nothing happens by chance. I am worthy of washing this dress clean and completing what seems impossible. I told myself: “Do not rush; Step by step. I can do it!”

Upon arriving at the hotel room, I first cleaned the bathtub, bathroom tiles, and floor. I filled the bathtub with warm water, added shower gel, and laid the dress flat in the bathtub. I carefully washed it by hand. The upper part of the dress had two layers, with the outer layer adorned with glitter. The lower part of the skirt had three layers! The water became dark, and the dress was clean. The wet dress was heavy and long. I lifted it up to drain the water. However, the water flowed down my arms, soaking my clothes from inside out.

To make rinsing easier, I needed to hang the dress up high. Looking around, I noticed a showerhead bracket that could be used, so I stepped on a chair and secured a hanger at the highest point with my shoelace and hung the dress on the hanger. I turned on the shower and rinsed the skirt layer by layer.

Throughout the process, my mind was empty. By taking the above measures and finding the necessary items, it seemed to be our Master who helped me. To maintain this calm state of mind and avoid any distracting thoughts, I began reciting On Dafa and some poems from Hong Yin. 

After wringing it out, I hung the dress on the towel-rack opposite the hairdryer. While drying it, I found myself repeatedly reciting “Predestination” from Hong Yin.

Great enlightened beings’ hearts are clearer, 

Obtaining Fa, journeying in the world. 

A long, long time, several thousand years, 

Predestination arrives, Fa is already formed. 

1994 (August 27, 1994, Hong Yin)

After drying the upper part of the dress with a hairdryer, I used hairpins to secure the dried outer layer of the dress to the top of the hanger, then used the same method to dry the second and third layers. When the whole dress was dry, I quickly took a shower, changed clothes, and rushed to the theater. 

The entire process took one and a half hours. Seeing the vibrant, shimmering dress hanging on the clothing rack, I finally felt relieved, and immediately joined the team who were busy with ironing the other clothes. We worked nonstop with laundry and ironed them dry. Finally, we finished all the laundry before the performers left the theater.

I deeply realized: When I let go of self-concern, clear my mind of distractions, and maintain a pure mindset, the power of the Fa manifests. On the path of cultivation, there are always choices to let go of oneself. When we let go of ego, we receive divine wisdom and assistance. I haven't done very well yet, and human and selfish thoughts still pop up, but I am in the process of changing my mindset to let go of the ego.

Handling challenges with righteous thoughts and actions

Each time we have Shen Yun, we usually share responsibilities for the work groups with specific tasks related directly to the shows, such as the stage-technical group, kitchen-group, costume-group and security-group backstage. In addition, we have the security guards-group, program book-group, PR group, SY shops etc. at the front-of-house. 

Every year, we encounter some unexpected difficulties. How well we handle these challenges with righteous thoughts is truly a test of a Dafa practitioner's cultivation.

There was a technical malfunction with the curtain in the second half of the premiere in 2020, which interrupted the show for about 45 minutes. 

When the show started, I and two other practitioners were busy with preparations for the VIP reception. Since I placed tea and snacks in my hotel room, I ran between the hotel and the theater to move things after the intermission. I saw that the lobby was empty with no practitioners. I assumed they went in and watched the performance.

When the preparations for the reception were complete, I went to the lobby. Suddenly, a practitioner ran out of the auditorium and eagerly told me to do FZN. I realized immediately that something unexpected had happened. I did FZN right away to eliminate all interference. Later, I learned that there was a technical malfunction with the curtain. I hurried to notify more practitioners to do FZN.

Many people from the audience had already come out to the lobby, some going downstairs to get their coats to go home. When I saw this, it hurt my heart. I understood they had a strong predestination and their true selves would reach their heavenly world through Shen Yun. 

There were two other veteran practitioners in the lobby by then. Without communicating with each other, we did the same thing: talking to them and persuading them to stay and see the rest of the show.

One practitioner came to me and suggested inviting them to the VIP reception for tea. A thought flashed through my mind: “It is not for them”. Then it quickly occurred to me that it was more important that these people could stay and see the rest of the show. So, I invited them to the VIP lounge to taste Chinese tea and snacks. 

More than 30 people followed me to the reception. We still did FZN to clear the interference while entertaining them. They discussed the first half of the show in a lively manner. They gave high marks to Shen Yun Performing Arts for top artistic level and profound content. After half an hour, the bell rang, and they returned to their seats immediately.

We cleaned up the room right away, prepared new tea, and replenished the Chinese snacks. The VIP reception after the show was highly successful! 

After the Shen Yun shows in Sweden, I sent emails to the VIPs and sponsors I had invited to apologize for the unexpected technical disruption. Some replied and consoled me, saying that it was a problem with the theater equipment and that similar things have happened at many opera houses. They also praised the Shen Yun performance.

The chairperson of the Taiwan-Europe Chamber of Commerce replied, "Thank you for inviting my husband and I to the Shen Yun show. We feel honored and are deeply impressed by such a wonderful performance. The curtain malfunction was not your fault. In addition, the Shen Yun orchestra played wonderful music during the waiting time. We felt we really got something extra. We look forward to seeing Shen Yun next year. Let me know when you come to Stockholm next time, so we can have coffee together."

Apparently, it was a problem with the theater's old equipment, but we know that no disturbance happens by chance. One of my shortcomings was that I relaxed when the show started since our ticket sales were going well. Shen Yun had not come to Sweden since 2015, which was a five-year gap period. Before the show, everyone did their best to promote Shen Yun. Due to that the ticket sales went well.

When I looked inward, I realized many other things I should improve on, such as focusing too much on doing well with my own work group and caring less about the work done by other groups. In fact, this was also a form of selfishness. When it comes to Shen Yun shows, every practitioner should focus on what is best for the success of the shows.

What should you do when a problem arises? Should you complain, blame others, shift responsibility onto others, contribute to more negative energy, or look within yourself, be constructive, and help solve it? This is truly a test for practitioners. Without righteous thoughts, there would never be any righteous action.

2025 Shen Yun shows in Sweden took place during Easter. We agreed at a meeting on the quality, price, requirements, and transport time of the program books. We used the same supplier as before, because Shen Yun had praised our 2024 program book. Therefore, I thought this year's program book would be as good.

The day before the first Shen Yun show in Sweden, when I arrived in Stockholm from Bergen, I received several phone calls from practitioners informing me there were serious problems with the program book, as loose pages fell apart when they opened them. Two practitioners spent several hours going through more than 2000 copies of program books. In the end, they found only about 800 copies were usable. Now it was a matter of solving the problem with the remaining 1,200 copies. It was impossible to print new copies as all printing shops were closed during the Easter holiday. 

All group leaders were busy with their respective tasks. I knew I had to take care of this and find a solution. The Shen Yun show in Linköping was on a weekday after the Easter holiday. So, I communicated with the contact person there and asked local practitioners to check the program books and bring all usable copies to Stockholm. Meanwhile, I discussed with one of the two practitioners about methods to repair the less damaged program books. He said he would buy several types of glue and test at home which one was better, and he would bring both the program books and the right glue to the theater the next morning.

Fortunately, all 600 copies of the program books from Linköping were okay and brought to Stockholm. There were still 600 copies missing. I called three practitioners in Stockholm, explained about the urgent situation, and asked them to come and help the next morning. 

Early in the morning of the show day, I received 800 copies that were in good condition and 600 copies that needed repair. The practitioner also brought with him some suitable glue and tools. At around 10:00 a.m., three other practitioners arrived at the theater, one of them brought glue, face masks, and gloves.

I had already set up three tables in one lobby corner as our workshop. Everyone worked together, calmly and attentively. After four hours, we had glued together about 600 program books. I then called the practitioner who had ordered the program book to report the problem to the supplier. For the show in Linköping, I asked him to contact the print shops in the city to have an emergency print of 500 program books and 100 booklets in English.

The whole process went smoothly, thanks to the efforts made by practitioners involved. I had no distracting thoughts but focused on solving the problem. However, when I sat down to mend clothes backstage, a thought suddenly popped into my head: “Actually, it was not my responsibility.” Quickly, my righteous thought returned: “When it comes to the Shen Yun shows, it is my responsibility! There is no excuse to escape!” Afterwards, a practitioner said in a discussion that next time he would open the boxes and check the quality soon after the goods arrived, so he could detect any problems in time. I was touched by the various insights for improvement through looking inward.

In my future cultivation and work with Shen Yun, there will certainly be many difficulties and new challenges. We should, of course, plan each step and carry it out well, so that we do not leave any loopholes for interference. I am not afraid of interference, because I have learned to deal with it with my righteous thoughts and righteous actions.

The above are my experiences during working with Shen Yun shows in Sweden over recent years. If there is anything inappropriate, please point it out to me.

Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!

(This article was presented at the 2025 Nordic Fa-Conference)