Elevating spiritually through mental trials

Greetings, fellow practitioners!

I started practicing Falun Dafa in October 2023, but it seems like I've been cultivating for at least 10 years. Looking back, the changes that have taken place in my consciousness are simply tremendous. I'd like to share some moments of my cultivation and insights that came to me along the way.

Understanding the principles is the basis of fundamental changes

I have always been a loner, and if I could avoid interacting with people, I would. Even asking a stranger for directions was torture for me. Dafa has entirely changed that. Having realized who a human really is, why they came into this world, and how deeply they are immersed in delusion, I quickly changed these notions of mine and rejected many of the attachments generated from them. I began to feel compassion for everyone I looked at. And indeed, as Master said:

"Everything human about this world stems from emotion, from likes to dislikes, from joys to sorrows, love to hate. And so you will have problems in spiritual practice if you don't manage to free yourself of it. Those who do, will be free of human sentiments and unflappable. In its place will arise compassion, something far more noble." (The Fourth Talk, Zhuan Falun)

This had an impact on my ability to clarify the truth and enabled me to see in every person a living being who is seeking salvation.

As soon as I joined the group of practitioners in my town, I realized that I had to do the work of clarifying the truth at the site where practitioners inform people about the persecution of Falun Dafa in China and ask people to sign a petition calling for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution. At first, it was difficult even to hand out leaflets. Wasn't this imposing something on others? Realizing that such thoughts arise from a lack of understanding and poor wisdom, I tried not to follow them but to study the Fa conscientiously, as only the Fa can give wisdom. Master said: "… true spiritual practice is about working on the mind, or character." (The First Talk, Zhuan Falun)

When I first read Zhuan Falun, I realized that once I had finished reading it, I would have to make a choice: whether to practice Falun Dafa or not, and if yes, to do so with all my heart, without doubts, and to the end. Once the choice was made, it was as if my essence had been strengthened and separated from the things of this human realm. From that moment on, I gradually began to recognize which thoughts were truly mine and which were not. Thanks to this, I am gradually learning to do things, including distributing materials and clarifying the truth, in a righteous state, discarding the thoughts of an ordinary person (thoughts shaped by karma, attachments, and fears) and acting as a practitioner.

Elevating Spiritually Through Mental Trials

At the start of my practice, I was in an elevated state; I did the exercises several times a day, read extensively (in addition to Zhuan Falun, this included the scriptures and a series of articles on the spectre of communism), and my thinking evolved at an incredible pace. It felt like I was being pushed forward. At times, intense mental trials would arise, during which preconceived notions were dispelled. I remember one such moment: when Master wrote an article, Our Practice and the Term "Religion". At that moment, I was overcome by a chill, and a battle of thoughts began in my mind.

I had always been sceptical of religions, believing that they exploit people's naivety and their yearning for something higher and greater. The fact that the practice of Falun Dafa was positioned as "not a religion" was, for me, a rather compelling argument for trust, and here Master says that "Falun Dafa's main religious site, Dragon Springs, is a religious temple registered in the United States."

It felt like a wall had come crashing down on me. It was hard even to move, but as I had placed my complete trust in Master from the very beginning, I knew I would get through this, that I simply had some preconceived notions about religion.

"Falun Dafa is not a religion, but future generations will regard it as one. It is taught to human beings for the purpose of cultivation practice, rather than to establish a religion." (Essentials for Further Advancement)

From my understanding, it means that righteous religions are, in a sense, schools for cultivation from the past, which are, moreover, subject to the wisdom of the old universe and, along with it, are in the final stage of destruction. But since society carries such baggage and holds such views, we must simply coexist in its current state.

Reading this article together in the Fa study group played a significant role in helping me get through this ordeal. I remember how I was shaking, but the calmness of the experienced practitioners supported and reassured me. Ever since my heart was freed from the prejudice against religion, I often started to come across religious people. I can now interact with them calmly, helping to foster in them a positive attitude towards Falun Dafa.

Do Not Go to Extremes

I remember reading in our Fa study group the following in the Eighth Talk of Zhuan Falun:

"Yet some of you come across as abnormal, or apathetic about the world, and people can't relate to what you say."

This concerned my behaviour within the family. One day, my husband, who is not a practitioner, said these words to me almost word for word. And indeed, I took a good look at myself and realized that I had started to avoid my family members and minimized my responsibilities, yet this goes against Master's teachings:

"The vast majority of people who do Falun Dafa, however, carry out their practice in the secular world (the exception being those who previously took monastic vows or were ordained), and so we inevitably lead normal lives in the world and are part of society. We have jobs and should be doing them well." (The Eighth Talk, Zhuan Falun)

I began to correct myself, paying more attention to my son's upbringing, encouraging him to study hard and be a good person. My family responsibilities (such as cooking, keeping the house tidy, and looking after my family's well-being) no longer felt like a burden to me. I changed my outlook on this and began to live more for others.

Sometimes it's quite difficult to find a balance between doing the three things and the affairs of ordinary people, but if one remains in a righteous state, everything can be overcome, especially since all matters are created for our spiritual growth.

My family is one of the environments where I cultivate myself. Here, I feel more at ease, so it is harder to maintain my Xinxing, especially with my son, who has a stubborn nature. Sometimes, because of my emotions, I cannot immediately recognize my own selfishness, which is disguised as giving advice. But if I calmly assess the situation from the perspective of the Fa, everything becomes clear. That is why one of the important parts of sending forth righteous thoughts when I purify myself is to reject and erase feelings and things that, as I understand it, belong to this low level and exist solely to keep you at that level.

Conflict Is a Way of Uncovering One's Attachments

I have managed to more deeply understand one very important thing: any conflict or misunderstanding is an opportunity to uncover one's attachments so that one can let them go and raise one's level. It doesn't matter whether you were treated fairly or not, who is right and who is wrong; for the practitioner, these things are irrelevant. What matters is whether it affected you. If it did, then you have an attachment. And once you've identified it, you must let it go.

Once, during a joint event of practitioners, I felt a kind of emotional high, which is usually accompanied by a heightened mood and talkativeness. With no ill intent, I made a few remarks about what was happening, and this upset another practitioner. As we were leaving, she calmly pointed out my strange behaviour to me. When I got home, I began to reflect on everything, and at first, I wondered: why did this bother the other person? Perhaps she has some issues? Then I stopped myself. Master repeatedly says that whatever the circumstances, one must look within oneself, search within oneself. So, I turned my attention inwards and discovered a fear of not pleasing others and a desire to show off. I began to send forth righteous thoughts, separating these matters from myself. And they went away.

Various conflicts arise from time to time, and it is sometimes difficult to calmly reflect on everything straight away. At such moments, I repeat, "Falun Dafa hao, Zhen-Shan-Ren hao." That prevents negative thoughts from taking hold and allows me to look within. It is difficult to immediately set aside emotions and feelings during a conflict or disagreement, but if one gains a more profound understanding of the purpose of these conflicts, it becomes increasingly easier to do so over time.

Every moment in this environment of deception, I try to remind myself (and advise other practitioners to do so) not to forget who we are, why we are here, and what we must do. And as we study the Fa, our understanding of this deepens continuously, thereby strengthening us and our righteous thoughts.

If my understanding has deviated from the Fa in any way, please point it out.

Thank you, revered Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners.

(Submitted to the European Fa-Conference 2026)