Article from European Fa-Conference, Copenhagen: “The luckiest human being in the cosmos”

The age of 89 may seem a bit late in the day to start a new commitment for the remainder of life. 2 1/2 years ago I received out of the blue a letter from an old friend telling me of Falun Gong, of which I had not previously heard. We had not been in contact for ten years, but we had worked together on a different cultivation path and I knew that he would not commit himself without very good reason. We met and talked and he gave me “Zhuan Falun”.

Our former teacher had had a strong presentiment that a very high enlightened being was about to incarnate in the planet to rectify the desperate state of human moral degeneration. My friend told me that Master Li fulfilled this role. I had an inner sense that I was being given a great opportunity after 30 years of frustrated spiritual search.

I have never had any familiarity with any form of Buddhism. Like most people here I had not had any contact with China, or with what has been a pretty remote cultural universe of Chinese Buddhism and Taoism. No doubt many of us have found that it is not easy to grasp some of the translated Chinese terminology; ‘Fa’ has no equivalent in any western language and Taoist understanding of energies had hardly begun to begin to penetrate the West before acupuncture entered the scene. These must have been familiar problems for others, and they confront us in seeking to spread the Fa.

Once I started practising, however, I received encouragements. The exercises have given me more energy. I need an hour’s less sleep and expect to reduce further. I have always enjoyed good health but the aftermath of three bouts of pneumonia over the years had left a constantly recurring cough which has now disappeared. I had had a tiresome skin ailment for three years for which on advice I had arranged surgery; but felt I should have trust in the unseen help that may be given to practitioners and cancelled the surgery: the condition cleared up completely in a few weeks

The West has had its own unacknowledged Great Cultural Revolution in the last 100 years when its belief system and values were almost entirely submerged in populist assumptions by the shallow metaphysics of a materialist science. Materialism, accompanied by a naive faith in technology as the solution to every problem, has swept over every continent at an accelerating pace, leaving in its wake the wreckage of traditional values, in spite of efforts by minorities to cling on to them. But we have been given the answers to all the main problems: Master has said ‘’I have utilised a method which is taking all I can give to you and what I can help you with and compressing it all into the book of. ‘Fa’ I am ashamed at not reading Zhuan Falun more often again and again as we are enjoined, especially as I experience myself that each time new depths of truth leaps out.

We all know that Master Li has, by his saving presence and unceasing work, filled the moral void and, in the immense sweep of his vision, revealed a new rational understanding of the cosmos Shock treatment may be inevitable as part of divine therapy for what we are doing to the world. But a healthier, less selfish and more cooperative global world community will emerge as the process of world rectification takes effect, showing in the human sphere that the essential qualities of all life, as of the Great Universe, are Truth, Compassion and Forbearance.

I have myself witnessed at first hand the global degeneration, seeing in Asia, Africa and the Americas, as in Europe that hatched the virus, the erosion of traditional ancient values.

I entered Diplomatic Service on leaving Cambridge, spending 40 years divided equally between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at home and service abroad, specialising on Commonwealth relations, a constantly evolving process as the Empire was transformed into 50 independent countries. A child in the first World War, after the second I attended Peace Conferences and the early meetings of the United Nations, and went on to strenuous and responsible work in India, Canada, Ghana, New Zealand and Australia, Nigeria and the Bahamas. On retirement I spent 15 years in the House of Lords. Much ordinary political work amounts to shuttling the pieces about while change of substance has to be achieved in other dimensions. We have the opportunity, to participate in such creative action when we send forth righteous thoughts with a pure heart and mind though I have been long in seeing this.

I was brought up by parents who sought to apply in their lives the teaching of Jesus on truth, love and humility. And facing hardship and overcoming attachments had been at the core of my previous cultivation path, which I tried to work on after retirement for ten years, with some years devoted to a practice of Yoga. As Master Li has indicated, none of the previous main righteous paths available to those leading ordinary lives any longer has the force to inspire full commitment, and I was half-hearted. But nevertheless I was helped by my background to grasp the special character of the opportunity when it came.
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Writing this article has itself helped me as to face up to my own daunting spectrum of failings. ‘FA’ Fa-rectification is being done throughout the whole cosmos and is being done below the surface of human society as well.’’ Master Li’s words perhaps imply that for some of us sending forth righteous thoughts may be the most effective contribution that one can make and I have to be much stricter in respecting our timetable to align with others. And there is, of course, no end to what should be done in working on attachments; mental ones are more difficult than physical. As a warped human being I am largely unaware of them. I am a moral coward, not wanting to be laughed at, even though it can obviously do no harm. How absurd! I am stuck in my life-style and used to a soft life. It is tempting in old age to opt out of activity, making increasing limitations an excuse and carrying on with former interests and family obligations. All your priorities have to change when you undertake to practise. Many people assume that I have gone slightly crazy.
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But even at so late a stage I know that I have found my way at last with a new horizon, a fresh understanding and, thanks to the exercises, more energy. But that misses the point. We have been given an inconceivable privilege, of living in the epoch of Fa-rectification and being made aware of it. Master said to a student in Australia “You are the luckiest human being in the cosmos. You are a Dafa student and even Gods in the heavens are envious of you.” I certainly regard myself as one of the luckiest of my generation.

And it is a great help to work with other more competent and experienced practitioners We have been given an inconceivable gift and we face the challenge to be worthy of it and to do more to give others the same opportunity.

(Copenhagen, 22nd September 2002)