Being a Responsible Assistant to Create and Maintain the Cultivation Environment

Greetings, Master!

Greetings, fellow practitioners!

My name is Werner and I am from Sweden. My wife and I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1998. At that time, our eldest daughter was one year old. After the persecution began in 1999, the evil forces ran rampant, and every Falun Dafa practitioner was under immense pressure. No matter what kind of truth-clarification activities we organized, we would encounter enormous resistance.

It was indeed a difficult period. Together with other Dafa practitioners, we overcame many difficulties and endured numerous arduous trials. At the same time, our family became bigger and we had two more daughters. I cannot recall how many times our whole family set off on long car journeys to various places to clarify the truth. We travelled not only within Sweden, but also throughout Europe, and even to the United States. These truth-clarification trips left a deep impression on the children. Nowadays, whenever we get together, they are a lovely topic of conversation.

Years passed and in 2014 we moved down to Stockholm. We were able to take part in various Dafa activities that took place every week, such as demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises at the City Hall, clarifying the truth to tourists and handing out leaflets around the city. Various truth-clarification projects were being organized. It was a wonderful time. As the evil forces were continually being eliminated, the pressure was no longer as great as before, life became more comfortable, and it was easy to let one’s guard down. It required a new kind of vigilance not to fall into the trap of everyday comforts. Comfort is one of the insidious attachments I have, and I was almost completely unaware of it.

Sometime between 2019 and 2020, I began to feel completely exhausted, worn out and lacking in motivation. At the same time, I was growing increasingly tired of life in the big city. Since we came from Värmland County, I felt there was still unfinished work there, and that no active practitioners had remained after we left. It was time to awaken the people there.

In 2021, we moved back to Värmland County. We immediately got in touch with the local Community School and set up a beginners’ course in Falun Gong. During the first year, we had to commute between Värmland County and Stockholm every week. My wife, who works as a dancer, ran a dance class, while I was in charge of the beginners’ Falun Gong class. The two classrooms were right next to each other. Once the classes were over, we would head back to Stockholm. Those Monday evenings often kept us busy until late, and we would return to Värmland on Friday evenings. This routine continued for a year, until I finally found a job there.

I continued to lead introductory sessions for beginners through the Community School. We held around 16–17 sessions each term. When a new term began, new beginners would join and they were very positive about Dafa, but it was difficult to retain them. Sometimes I was on my own; sometimes only one or two turned up, even though many were grateful and would say things such as “This is the best day of the whole week”, or “I look forward to the next practice session”. By the end of the term, their interest seemed to have waned. However, giving up is certainly not an option for me, as I have also begun to feel a sense of inner joy and motivation reawakening. The gratitude I felt at being able to help our Master spread Dafa to those with a predestined relationship in Värmland is a source of immense encouragement to me.

Each term, around 20 people would start and learn the exercises. I would spend a lot of time explaining the principles during the first few sessions and would take things slowly. At the first session, I demonstrated exercises one and two. At the second session, we repeated them and added the third exercise. For each new exercise, I read through the instructions again. At the start, I didn’t push them too hard with the longer exercises, such as the second and fifth exercises. There were always positive comments about the different experiences they had, and slowly but surely the group began to grow. I decided to hold the beginners’ sessions on Thursdays and the sessions for experienced practitioners on Mondays. A few practitioners who had stopped practicing Dafa after we left for Stockholm came back and joined us again. The group grew bigger as time went by. I also ran weekend courses for friends and relatives of the new beginners.

Every term we held an introductory session for beginners, which attracted around 20 new participants. Those who stayed on were moved to the Monday group. In the spring, we hold a Nine-Day Lecture video course. Over the last three years, more people have stayed on. We now have a weekly Fa-study group, a practice group and a beginners’ introduction class. Apart from that, once a month we hold an intensive weekend gathering, where we can meet, study the Fa, do the exercises and share cultivation experiences. Our environment has developed into a true cultivation environment for all practitioners, including beginners.

We have been fortunate enough to be given a free venue and advertising through the Community School, as I have been in close contact with my case officer at the school and have thoroughly clarified the truth to her. The collaboration between us went very well. She took part in one of our weekend induction courses.

However, a year and a half ago she changed jobs, and a new case officer took over. I thought this was another opportunity to clarify the truth, so I visited this new contact person. We had a lovely chat, and I even invited her to join one of the weekend groups for beginners. This new case officer told me that she had heard about the course and had received a lot of very positive feedback from the questionnaires that participants left at the end of each term.

This spring, I was informed that the school manager had started reviewing the courses and activities to ensure, for example, that they fell under the category of adult education, and that a fee would be charged to all participants. As the case officer knew my stance and that we never involve money in our activities, she arranged a meeting for me with the school manager.

I clarified the truth about Falun Gong to the manager and explained my reasons. I stated that I would rather pay 3,000 kronor per term out of my own pocket than charge the participants any money. Otherwise, I would have to find another solution.

This made an impact on them. At the end of the meeting, they promised to find a solution and to come back to us later. Our case officer helped us a lot and spoke for us. She showed her manager all the positive feedback from the participants and highlighted the affidavit. A week later, I was informed that no payment would be required for our courses and that we could continue our courses and activities.

I often heard comments from people who came into the practice room that they felt calmer and more harmonious as soon as they walked into the room, and that everyone there was so nice. Practitioners shared how they had changed their way of thinking, how their situations had improved at work or at home, and how their view of life had changed.

To witness their awakening is marvelous encouragement for me. During a meditation, I opened my eyes and looked around at the practitioners. I saw all the beautiful, radiant faces of those sitting there. Their faces grew brighter and light surrounded them. I felt a strong predestined relationship with them, as if they were my old friends or relatives. I felt so honored and privileged to be an assistant, to be able to help Master and serve as that link.

During the years in Värmland, more than 200 people have taken part in the courses, and many of them have read Zhuan Falun repeatedly.

Practitioners continued to take the initiative themselves to find time to study the Fa on other evenings and get together to watch the Nine-Day Lecture videos. They have made new friends with whom they can share their experiences. They started to do Hongfa in Karlstad – the capital of Värmland County – on Saturdays and do the exercises during the summer, whilst providing information to passers-by. When they have time, they meet outdoors in the lovely weather to do the exercises. A chat group has been set up for practitioners to share in, and it is open to all practitioners.

Looking back at the time when we moved back to Värmland, I often headed home alone on many dark winter evenings after practice with one or two practitioners. Today there are about 25 active practitioners. I don’t know how many will continue to cultivate to Consummation, but I do know that everyone has benefited from Dafa and has had wonderful experiences with this cultivation practice. They have told others about the truth of Falun Gong and the persecution.

At the beginning of my cultivation in 1998, I saw a vision of hundreds of people standing outside practicing in the small town where I lived, but then the persecution began and things changed. Now I feel that vision isn’t so far away any more.

I am grateful to hear the new practitioners share their experiences, progress and insights. It has inspired me to cultivate even better and to notice the small details of hidden attachments. It’s like peeling the onion one more time. Even though I’ve been cultivating for many years, most of the attachments are the same. We might have a different understanding of a tribulation when it arrives, or we might handle it differently. I can notice the small attachments that have emerged in this new cultivation environment in Värmland, but I am not affected by them and see them from another perspective.

I would suggest that everyone who can should start a small group in their own area in a similar way. You will then experience the incredible joy of helping our revered Master find people who have been waiting for Dafa through numerous lifetimes. We all have our own paths to follow in Dafa, as the Great Way has no form. In my cultivation, I have never had any doubts about the Fa or our Master—and I have finally come to understand why.

I regret not having done this sooner and not having tried harder. Being a Dafa disciple and an assistant, I should do more. I have waited through so many lifetimes and still get disturbed by the attachment to comfort so close to the finish line. Master has watched over me all the way. I have been given the ability to meet and get along with all kinds of people, and to take a leading role easily and naturally in most social situations. I therefore have the responsibility and commitment to cultivate myself well and create a good cultivation environment. I must be on guard against the pursuit of comfort, which has prevented me from taking on the responsibilities I should.

I have always appreciated solitude and silence: to work, build, cultivate and create on my own; not to deal with others and their problems; to experience the silence of nature; to study everything around me with calmness. All of this is part of my attachment to comfort. When I think of our Master, who has borne so much for me, I feel ashamed for not being more diligent. Having the opportunity to be there for others and help Master spread Dafa has helped me gradually let go of my reluctance to take on responsibility and break through my attachment to comfort in this final period of Fa-rectification.

From feeling tired and unmotivated to being delighted and motivated to take on my responsibility, it has been a process of cultivation with patience and perseverance. The joy comes from making the effort.

Thank you, revered and compassionate Master, for taking care of us!

Thank you, fellow practitioners!

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