The Importance of Experience Sharing Amongst Practitioners

By a Dafa Practitioner in China

In a way, experience sharing and communicating amongst fellow practitioners are the same as having Fa conferences. Through talking with each other, practitioners can discover their own problems, some of which are XinXing [the nature of the mind or the heart, moral character] problems and some are things overlooked in work. When practitioners remind each other of their shortcomings, mistakes can be corrected in a timely manner and less unnecessary steps need to be taken. Diligent practitioners and practitioners with a deep understanding of the Fa [principles or teachings of Falun Dafa] can help speed up some of the practitioners who are less steadfast.

Since July 20 of 1999 when the Jiang regime started the persecution of Falun Gong, sharing between practitioners in China can only be held in secret, and the number of people involved is very limited. But I have not ceased organizing experience sharing meetings. The average attendance has been about 3 people each time. I do this because every day, the only thing we are in touch with is the big dye vat of ordinary society. Only when we are with practitioners can we feel the harmonious environment. Teacher said, "This environment is the best way to change the surface of a person. The lofty conduct that Dafa disciples have established in this environment--including every word and every act--can make people realize their own weaknesses and identify their shortcomings. It can move one's heart, refine one's conduct, and enable one to make progress more rapidly." ("Environment", Essentials for Further Advancement)

When the persecution first began, I didn't know what to do. I saw some practitioners around me begin to doubt. Some were very afraid, and even worse, some were avoiding Dafa and Dafa practitioners because they feared that the connection could expose them to the persecution. Some expressed that there was no cultivation environment and that they could not practice at home. I talked to them one by one. At that time, I didn't have a concept of "Fa-rectification" in my mind, and didn't know anything about the old forces. I just told them that we must believe Teacher Li, believe in Dafa. One by one I told them that we were fortunate to obtain this universe's fundamental Dafa and that it was a precious opportunity--we must treasure it. Ever since the distant past, those who have obtained the Tao have all gone through serious tests of life and death--tests of righteous faith. So much of our enormous karma accumulated from our many past lives has been eliminated for us. So much has been borne for us, and we only bear that little bit. If we can't even bear this tiny portion, cannot pass the tests, how can we face our benevolent Teacher; how can we deserve this magnificent Dafa?

During these three years, all the practitioners that I have met are in one of the following circumstances: one type consists of those who can put down their attachment to life, and courageously stand up to protect Dafa and validate Dafa. Another type consists of those who are persistently practicing at home, but due to fear, do not come out to validate and protect the Fa. A third type consists of those who are terrified by the evil "tests" and chose to abandon cultivation. I see fellow practitioners that have not studied the Fa deeply and are weakening under the evil lies and persecution. Some of them face the danger of elimination [due to karmic retribution for their bad deeds], yet their predestined relationship with Dafa is deep. I feel worried for them and feel a big responsibility. To help them strengthen their righteous thoughts, and walk out of the evil "test" is my responsibility, something that I am supposed to do.

After I talked with those practitioners in the second and third circumstances, some of those that felt great fear became less afraid, and those who had doubts felt more clearheaded. I call them all together to study the Fa. Especially when Teacher has new articles, we get together to express our understandings and experiences and encourage each other. If the home environment is not appropriate, then we take walks after dinner, strolling and talking. The number of people is usually between two and four. During experience sharing, I try to talk about my experiences from the Fa, and talk about xinxing tests and how to improve. We talk about how we can keep up with the pace of Fa-rectification and how we can clarify the truth to the people and help save them. We also talk about things we must pay attention to during truth-clarification work, this way we can avoid the consequences of individual's mistakes and also encourage practitioners who are less steadfast or those practitioners who have not stepped forward.

The people in the group are constantly changing, but I persist in holding the meetings. The time of the meetings varies according to circumstances. When the evil persecutes wildly, we encourage each other and share our understandings. We help the practitioners who are falling behind to catch up. Those who persist in our group meetings are all actively validating the Fa, clarifying the truth to help people, and forming part of the indestructible body of Dafa.

The above are my reflections on a past cultivation experience. If there is something inappropriate, fellow practitioners may please kindly correct.

Chinese available at: http://www.yuanming.net/articles/200301/16086.html