Being Dedicated Always Takes Us in the Right Direction

Attachments are insidiously hidden. They are so cunningly perfect that they can hide even behind the most sacred of motives: those for Dafa.

It has been 12 years since I started practising Falun Dafa. I have faced all sorts of tests and tribulations, but thanks to our Master’s boundless mercy I’ve always managed to stay on the path I’ve chosen, stronger and more clear-headed. I have had serious karma tests, but never, until now, have they been impossible to overcome. I haven’t taken any pills for the last 12 years, nor have I visited a doctor. I felt very confident and believed that I was “ironclad” in that matter.

Until now! One rather routine dental surgery broke apart my confidence and threw me to the bottom of ordinary people’s fears.

I had gum surgery on 19 September last year, prescribed by my dentist. It was supposed to be a routine and easy procedure, nothing to think too much about. I showed up for my appointment calmly and in a good mood; I wasn’t afraid or bothered by it. When the surgeon started operating, it turned out that the problem was much more serious, and the procedure lasted three times longer than scheduled. I was not afraid, did not stress about it, and maintained the mind of a practitioner.

The prolonged procedure needed multiple local anaesthetics, and even though they were wearing off rather rapidly, I managed to keep calm. The surgeon, who had more than 40 years of experience behind him, looked worried and warned me that the incision was much deeper than expected and that I would need to take some medication.

The first thing I did when I got home was the fifth exercise. I was overwhelmed by a wonderful feeling of calmness and wisdom; I felt confident, humble, and blessed. There was no worry, fear, or pain.

The next morning I went to the park, as usual. It was a warm and wonderful Saturday. After finishing the exercises, I went back home. Although my face was already swollen, I did not take any of the prescribed medication.

The moment I stepped inside the house, I felt my strength leaving me. I started feeling unwell, but that did not bother me, as I knew it was just a post-operative effect and it would go away. But my condition worsened with every passing hour. The swelling increased, and so did the pain. But I wasn’t afraid: determined to endure, I did not resort to painkillers.

A few days later the pain became unbearable. My mind could hardly deal with it, my movements were chaotic, my thoughts irrational. I was in a really bad state.

23 September was my birthday. My family made sure that I felt appreciated and cared for. I received lots of attention, flowers, and gifts.

But my condition continued to deteriorate. I did not want to disappoint my family, who had done so much to make my day special, so I decided to “treat” myself with half a dose of painkiller.

Over the next few days my symptoms became so bad, including pain, fever, swelling, and infection, that I decided to see a doctor. Naturally, the serious karma elimination was disguised as ordinary sickness symptoms.

The doctor prescribed strong medications, injections, X-rays, and even hospitalisation. I refused and stayed at home, trying to recover. However, the situation did not get better; it was very difficult, painful, and demanding, both physically and mentally. I felt confused, weak, and not worthy of being Master Li’s disciple. I felt I was a failure.

A bad habit of mine is to take tribulations as punishment instead of facing them with gratitude and humility. Thanks to my husband’s immense support and my good understanding of the Fa, I found the willpower to pull through. Of course, I also had the continuous support of a few practitioners who were checking on me all the time (I sincerely thank you!).

Days and nights were passing by, but I wasn’t getting better. My anxiety was growing as I was unable to fulfil any of my duties. I wasn’t able to do the exercises, to study the Fa, to attend truth clarification events, or to continue my education, as the college year had already started. Nothing! My sense of worthlessness was getting stronger, depriving me of the little air I had left in me, depriving me of my sanity and my faith in myself. I collapsed to the point where I was unable to get out of bed, which of course was masked as iron deficiency. I had to have an intravenous drip to replenish it.

In despair, and vulnerable because of my own shortcomings, I was searching for the main reason for what was happening to me. My initial approach to the situation was wrong, as I took it as a harsh punishment.

After conversations with my husband and a fellow practitioner who encouraged me to look in a different direction, the situation started to become clear to me. I had lost my focus… I had embarked on doing so many things (with the excuse of being helpful to Dafa), when in fact I had turned away from Dafa.

Dafa was my priority, but only in theory. My schedule was beyond busy: college classes, English lessons, other training programmes, countless commitments consuming all my time. Because I was so busy, my Fa study was regular but insufficient and not deep enough. I was pursuing ordinary human things that I thought would bring value to me, which I could then put into Dafa projects. But none of that was happening. I was barely making any progress.

The lack of progress was a long-standing sign that I had lost my way. But I attributed that to old human grievances hidden behind a lack of opportunities for intellectual and professional advancement. I had failed to accept myself for who I was. I did not value my heart, my cultivation; instead, I was looking for human success and validation, hidden behind education in the name of Dafa.

Despite repeated reminders from my husband, as well as some fellow practitioners, that these efforts were draining me and taking me away from my true nature as a cultivator, I did not listen. My human insecurities made me overload myself with more and more tasks. And here was the result: lying in bed with no strength. Something had stopped me.

I needed to find willpower and wisdom to continue. I realised very clearly that I couldn’t carry on this way and that my next break could be fatal. If I did not change my fundamental understanding of myself, if I did not accept myself as I was, if I did not stop pursuing human validation, I would fail, and this time forever. The chances would not be endless.

And at that moment I felt the intervention of our merciful Master, showing me the right path, a path that I had neglected; I had deviated into human ambitions.

This tribulation is like a milestone for me, one of the biggest yet, because I must face one of my most difficult tests: the SELF test! To accept what I am, to accept what I am not, and to be guided only by my heart. When Master Li showed compassion to me and made me part of Dafa. I had no education, no English, no special abilities. I had only a heart, a heart for Dafa! An hour before I wrote these lines, I studied the Fa and received the following gift.

Master said: “No matter what talents Dafa disciples have and no matter what aspect of culture these involve in human society, these are talents that humans possess. This is how it should be understood at the moment, at least. Dafa disciples are using their unique strengths as they validate the Fa. These are things Dafa disciples should do, and it can be said that they are making the most of their talents to do what Dafa disciples should do, so that is a great thing. In fact, isn’t this the case with everyone? Those of you who are good at computers are breaking through the Internet blockade and clarifying the truth online, and of course there are those with other talents. It’s all the same. Those who really don’t have special talents are handing out flyers on the streets, and the mighty virtue is the same. No one will fail to reach a high realm in cultivation because society doesn’t consider what he or she does scientifically or technologically advanced. That’s impossible.” (Teachings at the 2005 Conference in San Francisco)

Besides human ambitions, which proved to be a heavy anchor for me, another one turned out to be the fear of challenges, of tribulations. Because of my upbringing and human notions, I viewed tribulations as punishment, not as opportunities. Tribulations made me feel unworthy and unable to cope. I resented them, I didn’t want them, I was afraid, and I believed they were destroying me. In the same lecture, Teachings at the 2005 Conference in San Francisco, Master talks about this subject while answering a question from a fellow practitioner. Here is an excerpt:
“Some students forget that they are cultivators and become unhappy as soon as they run into anything troublesome. Some students become unhappy whenever they encounter conflicts or emotional turmoil. In that case, are you still cultivating? Cultivators look at things in just the opposite way. They see tribulations and suffering as good opportunities for improvement. [To cultivators] these are all good things, and the more there are and the faster they come, the faster the improvement. Some cultivators want to push them away and think, ‘’Don’t come.” Whenever [conflicts and turmoil] come up they think that others have a problem with them and they can’t stand it when others say anything negative about them. You just want to live a more pleasant life, but is that cultivation? Can you really cultivate that way?”

For me it is very challenging to view tribulations as opportunities to improve. They make me feel guilty and make me complain; these are all human notions. The day I wrote this sharing, I did the fifth exercise and I saw what the tribulations were. They are the next step, given to us as a chance on the big staircase of life (of improvement). Tribulations are the steps meant to help us elevate and hold our heads high above the terribly filthy dye vat. We just need to accept them with joy and humbleness.

Assimilating to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and the boundless mercy of our revered Master makes us extraordinary beings: beings with extraordinary power and wisdom, a wisdom that is impossible for ordinary human beings.

Thanks to my strong faith and the protection of our Master, I am healthy again and full of energy, so I can continue to fulfil my duties as a Dafa disciple. The gratifying feeling of overcoming such a huge tribulation and gaining understanding from it is indescribable. When we feel Master’s unconditional support, our faith in ourselves and in Dafa becomes an incomparable engine that has no limits.

This test left me with small scars, for which I am forever grateful, because they are a reminder that only with dedication, righteous actions, and a pure mind am I on the bright path of Dafa.

There is a lot to be done from now on. I hope that with my diligence and your help, I will have the courage and dignity to call myself a Dafa disciple.

Thank you, revered Master!
Thank you for everything!

(Speaker at the European Fa-Conference 2026 in Prague)