I Began My Practise of Falun Dafa During the Height of the Persecution

In just two years of genuine cultivation of Dafa, with Master's compassion and loving care, I have benefited from Dafa in many respects, both physically and mentally. I first learned of Dafa in the late spring of 1999, but I did not genuinely cultivate until 2001, when the evil persecution of Dafa was at its most intense.

With the help of Dafa truth-clarifying materials, especially the exposure of the staged Tiananmen Square "self-immolation," I gradually started to understand what was going on. Later I had opportunities to meet several practitioners that I already knew and had in-depth discussions with them. At this time I finally realised and truly understood what the meaning of life is and what values a living being must embrace. At the end of the fall in 2001, I embarked on the path of cultivation without any hesitation. I brought out the precious Dafa materials that I had collected for study, such as Zhuan Falun, the tapes of Master's lectures and exercises tapes. I learned the five sets of exercise in a short time from the other practitioners. I also repeatedly read Master's recent lectures and other Dafa materials.

Not long after I had begun my genuine cultivation I had a dream. I saw a crowd of people watching a big ship slowly leaving the shore. A rope hung down from the stern of the ship, which was three or four stories high. I grabbed the rope tightly and strenuously climbed onto the ship, step by step along the ship's planks. My arms felt very tired. When I woke up I understood that Master did not give up on me and I got on the "Fa ship," which further strengthened my courage and confidence in cultivation.

Since I started my genuine cultivation during the Fa-rectification period, I experienced karma elimination and many xinxing [mind or heart nature, moral character] tests such as the tests about reputation, accolades, personal interests and emotions. I persisted in studying the Fa daily and listening to the lectures, clarifying the truth and sending forth righteous thoughts. Taking the Fa as teacher, I always look inward in my cultivation, but I still have many attachments that have not been completely eliminated. During xinxing tests I become impetuous sometimes, but Master has kept on giving me hints at proper times to make me enlighten to things. My own changes are very obvious. I gave up bad habits and frivolous activities that I had indulged in for decades. My high blood pressure became normal without any medical treatment. The severe side-effects of an injury disappeared. A large amount of medical expenses were avoided.

The beginning of my genuine cultivation is also my starting point of clarifying the truth. I study the Fa, clarify the truth and do other Fa-rectification activities along the way. Although I have not suffered from Jiang's persecution directly, I am behind two years in my cultivation. How can I make up for the loss?

I try hard to do the "three things" [study the Fa, explain the facts and send righteous thoughts] well. Master told us to do these and try to compensate for the time I lost so that I can catch up with course of the Fa-rectification. I have heard unfriendly words during truth-clarification events and met some people who did not want to accept the truth. Sometimes I began to debate with them from my perspective of ordinary notions and an unsettled mind. Gradually, through Fa study and looking inward in cultivation, I began to pay more attention to clarifying the truth with compassion and wisdom. The effects have become better.

I have encountered the elimination of karma and other cultivation states, which in general I could handle well and I passed the tests smoothly. I faced more interference regarding emotions. In real life I was able to deal with them and handle them well, but several times I failed the tests in dreams, which made me very upset. Master also gives me hints to help me. In one dream, I saw three sharp, white steel saws hanging on the clothesline, glowing brightly, with the saw teeth pointing down. They were lined up orderly by size, from small to big and were displayed in front of me. When I woke up I realised I should eliminate my degenerated, bad notions formed in the everyday society without leaving any that could hurt me, just like those sharp metal saws that could cut me. Later I further realised that the three different sized saws were for breaking through the three obstacles of "reputation, self-interest and emotions."

At present, toward the end, and during this most critical period of Fa-rectification, I will learn from other practitioners and walk every step well, continuing to do the "three things" to advance in the Fa and to improve myself.

Please, point out anything improper.