在工作中和与社团打交道中修炼 (AM 9th sharing)
J. D.
尊敬的师父好！
同修们好！
我一直鼓励讲英语的同修们写法会交流稿，理所当然，我也应该写交流稿，来参与到师父给我们开创的这个修炼环境中来。
作为一名1951年出生、1999年初得法的老学员，这些年中我写过很多交流稿，其中很多没有被法会选中，但每次我都学到了很多。感谢师父！
我的太太近来提醒我说，最好每天晚上回顾一下自己的修炼状态，努力去掉自己的执着心，而不是一年才回顾一次。她说的很对。随着年龄的增长，我有时似乎只着眼于过好每一天。
我认为其他男同修也能认识到结婚给修炼带来的益处，那就是，太太往往是对的。
师父在《转法轮》中开示：
“我們中國有男左女右這個說法，也是從這兒來的，很有道理。”
我理解这意味着身体左侧是阳，右侧是阴，这也是我应该坐在我太太左边的原因。在英语里，“右”这个字也是“正确”。在结婚23年以后，我可以看到“女右” 的另一个含义，那就是，当她指出我的执着心的时候，我的太太是正确的。
当我写完了这篇交流稿的草稿时，我让太太看了一下。她中肯的提出了一些值得注意的地方，鼓励我审视一下这些方面，审视一下我自己，这對我很有帮助。
回顾过去的一年，我想分享我在做半职工作中和与其它受中共迫害的团体打交道的一些经历。
第一部分：摔倒又爬起来
随着年龄的增长，我发现坚持有规律的炼功、学法，发正念真的是很重要。当然，对任何年龄的大法修炼者而言，这都是重要的。可是对老年学员来说，其结果更加显而易见。
通常，我做事小心谨慎，因为我的工作就是检查老旧的建筑物与建筑工地，报告有关的危险物品，遵循安全作业的方式。今年早些时候，我在家中摔了一大跤。这的确令我吃惊不小。
当时，我正在急着打理花园，因为我第二天一早就需要离家去新州乡下去工作。我挪动了一个自动喷水器，在草地上倒退着走，以便躲避喷出来的水，然后被一堵挡土墙绊倒，仰面倒向了更低处的水泥车道上。当我向后倒下去的时候，我本能的转了身体，以避免碰到头，结果是我身体的一侧着地了，在碰到水泥地的时候，我的臀部发出“咔嚓”的一声。
师父在《转法轮》第四讲 <提高心性> 中开示：
“咱们就讲，好坏出自人的一念，这一念之差也会带来不同的后果。”
我当时有点懵，但记着“第一念”的重要性。邻居看到我摔倒了就大声的问“你还好吗？”我立刻回答“我很好，谢谢你。”我慢慢的站起来，走到后院，炼了第一套功法“佛展千手法”。 四肢感觉好好的，于是我就继续做完打理花园的工作。
当天晚上，臀部肿起了一大块，我行走困难，而且不能用那一侧身体着地躺着。我在入睡之际，一直在想着我怎么那么笨，哪里不对了？我想到那天早上我没有炼五套功法。而且，干活时我有些心急，想一下子干完。我也想，或许在我倒下去的时候是师父用看不见的手帮我转动了身体以免我头部着地，或许其他高级生命说‘让他重重的摔在水泥地上吧，那样对他更好！’
第二天早晨，我五点起床，开车四个小时去了乡下。我本想待在家里休息，但想到了我的责任，还是去了。如果我不去做我的工作，我们公司找不到人替我去，公司或许会失去那个客户。公司知道我修炼法轮大法，很欣赏我在工作中尽职尽责的態度。 我不能让他们失望。
我在那里工作了六天，虽然行走困难但还是干完了所需要做的事项。承受着相当大的痛苦，我还是完成了工作。一个紫黑色的大淤块清晰可见，从臀部直到腿部。
师父在《转法轮》第三讲中开示：
“真正修炼可不象你想象的那么容易，你想修炼，就修炼上去啦？你要真正的修炼，马上就遇到生命危险，马上就牵扯这个问题。”
从摔倒又站起来，我学到了什么呢？我向后面倒下了，或许那是说我的修炼倒退了？反思是什么执着心导致我摔倒了，我列出了一个不完整的清单，比如妒忌心、争斗心、显示心、欢喜心，可没有哪一条真正的对的上口。那么是不是情呢？可能是。我的确在乎我的家人，但我也相当习惯于独处，这样说来是可以不那么在乎。那么是不是吃呢？我喜欢巧克力，但现在很少吃。肉吃不吃我无所谓，但我喜欢吃全麦面包，喜欢吃太太做的饺子。有时，我在电视上看橄榄球比赛，看家居翻新节目。
我猜可能是因为这些执着心而摔了跤。但我也认识到，无论我经历了什么都是公平的，对一个修炼人来说什么事都是好事，吃苦是修炼的一部分。而且或许我需要吃一些苦从而消业。
师父在《转法轮》第六讲中开示：
“修炼中要消业，消业就痛苦，哪有舒舒服服的长功的！要不你的执著心怎么去呢？”
第二部分：学法
几个月后，身体似乎并没有完全康复，我的臀部断断续续的感到疼痛，这影响了我正常行走，也影响到其它活动。我意识到摔的那一跤也与我的学法有关系，我学法没能完全做到持之以恒。
我记得几年前，曾经有过类似的经历。那时，我几个星期以来，一直在新州各地驱车做我的工作，期间没有按部就班的学好法。当我回到家时，连起床都感到困难，而且站不直，不能炼功。唯一不感到痛楚的姿势就是笔直的坐在椅子上。于是，我就那样坐着，学了《转法轮》前五讲，然后我可以正常的站起来了，正常的走动了，不疼了。
我并不是说要把学法当成补救。但在紧急情况下，多学法可以帮助我们恢复到正常状态。
回忆起几年前的那次经历，我感到渴望学法。当我开始读法的时候，就好像是在汲取养分。我读了三讲《转法轮》，臀部的疼痛消减了一些。过了几天，我的身体恢复到了更接近正常的状态。从那以后，我每天早晨第一件事就是学法，读一讲法，有时两讲，然后才开始做其它事。这帮助我以更好的状态去做大法的工作以及其它日常的事情。
第三部分：与其它受中共迫害的团体合作
过去五年，代表着新州法轮大法团体，我加入了受中共迫害者联盟。每一个联盟团体的成员都有其受中共迫害的经历，代表着一个独一无二的群体。
起初，我发现各团体之间差异很多，这是一个不小的挑战。诚然，他们都关注自己的群体，关注他们在中共迫害之下所承受的苦难。也许他们也认为我只关心法轮功。我们不使用诸如“与中共斗争”这样的语言，我们更愿意去“揭露中共”，而中共将会自己倒台。而且我不会去喊“打倒这个，打倒那个。”在与这些团体共处的时候，我致力于如何化解彼此的分歧，避免误解，并且保护法轮大法的尊严。只要我牢记保持一颗慈悲平和的心，一切都会理的更顺。
正如师父在《转法轮》第四讲中开示：
“你老是慈悲的，与人为善的，做什么事情总是考虑别人，每遇到问题时首先想，这件事情对别人能不能承受的了，对别人有没有伤害，这就不会出现问题。”
我发现，在其它团体的集会上，讲起法轮大法所遭受的来自中共的迫害，那是自然而然的事情。我们遭受迫害的共同根源就是中共的邪恶。
几年前，联盟举办了一场关于中国民主的会议。我受邀代表法轮大法团体发言。最初，我不知道如何讲。毕竟，我们并不寻求中国的民主。但是，这场会议是帮助人们理解大法的大好机会。
用了几天的时间，我做了一些研究。我并不确切知道我在找什么，但我强烈的相信，如果我把心放在其中的话，师父会引领我。我发现，尽管传统中华文化中没有一人投一票的民主概念，但确实肯定了人民至关重要的地位。
在会议上，我发言谈到法轮大法正在唤醒中国人民的心灵，大法的根深植于传统文化之中，大法在中国广受欢迎，真、善、忍的法理，中共为什么迫害法轮大法，还有大法弟子们通过”三退”来帮助中国人民获得自由的努力。
我讲到了五大中国经典之一的《书经》（又名《尚书》），其中强调人民是国家的最重要的元素，而这又是民主的基石。其中讲到人与天的传统上的联系，天如何善待人，而统治者如何必须遵循天道。
我还解释了法轮大法如何帮助中国人民通过发现自己的神性本源从而找到自己的自由，找到拒绝共产主义的自由意志，让中国变成一个尊重传统中华道德与治国原则的社会。
很多与会者都很赞赏我的讲解，他们明白了，“民主”，或关心人民，不仅仅是一个西方的理念，而且在传统中华文化中有其基础。当然，这一点，中共也意识到了，意识到了在天之下他们的执政地位不合法，这也是他们害怕和攻击法轮大法的原因之一。
我的讲话结束后，一位在场的华人同修说“你怎么那么懂中国文化？”我答到“我并不真正懂，这对我来说也是惊奇。”是师父让我的发言很成功。
我分享了什么是法轮大法，以及法轮大法修炼者们为讲清真相所付出的巨大努力，我希望联盟里的人们能更好的理解法轮大法。他们也是在今天这个世界上修炼的人，理应有机会对正法敞开他们的心扉。
师父在《二零一八年华盛顿DC讲法》中开示：
“我一直在讲，这个整个社会其实就是给我们大法弟子开创的修炼环境。你不在宗教中，你在社会中修炼，那各行各业不都成了你的修炼场所了吗？其实还不止是这些，那人不也都在这个修炼环境中了吗？！历史上有这样的社会吗？！”
在最近9月27日于悉尼市政厅外面举行的、旨在唤醒民众对中共邪恶历史的认识的集会上，联盟中的几个团体发表了讲话，称赞法轮功，他们肯定了法轮功揭露中共本质的努力也会让他们受苦受难的群体收益。
今年8月18日，在堪培拉议会大厦外面，在法轮大法组织的反对中共跨国镇压的集会上，来自联盟几个团体的代表特意从悉尼赶到堪培拉，并在集会上发言支持。
这些都是令人欢欣鼓舞的新的进展。
以上是我有限层次的交流，有不当之处，请慈悲指正！
感谢尊敬的师父这么多年来的慈悲与耐心的指引。
感谢同修。
Cultivate through work and community engagement
J. D.
Greetings respected Master. Greetings, fellow practitioners.
As I had encouraged other English-speaking practitioners in Sydney to write a sharing for the Fa Hui, it makes sense that I also write to participate in this cultivation environment that Master has given us.
As an older practitioner, born in 1951 and obtaining the Fa in early 1999, I have written quite a few sharing articles over the years. Most were not selected for a Fa Hui, but I learnt a lot each time. Thank you Master!
My wife recently reminded me it’s good to review my cultivation state at the end of every day, not once a year, and work on removing my attachments. That is said quite correctly. Yet as I grow older, sometimes my main focus seems to be on simply getting through each day.
I think other male practitioners would also recognise the cultivation benefits from being married – and that their wife is usually right.
In Zhuan Falun (2014), Lecture 5, Master says:
“In China, we have a saying “Male left, female right,” and this is also derived from that; it makes a lot of sense.”
I understand this means the body’s left side is yang, and the right side is yin, and that’s the reason I should walk or sit at my wife’s left side. In English, the word ‘right’ can also mean ‘correct’ and after 23 years of marriage, I can see another meaning of ‘female right’ – which is that my wife is right when she points out my attachments.
When I did a draft of this sharing, I asked her to have a look. She sincerely offered a few observations and encouraged me to review it – and myself – which was helpful.
In looking back over the past year, I will share a few experiences related to work (I still work part-time), and engaging with other groups who also suffer under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
1) Falling down and getting up
Getting older, I find consistency in doing the exercises, studying the Fa and doing righteous thoughts is really important. Of course, for a cultivator in Dafa it is important at any age. But the consequences can be more apparent the older you are.
Earlier this year, I had a serious fall at home. It really surprised me. Normally, I take care to do things safely, as my work involves investigating old buildings and construction sites to report on hazardous materials, and following safe work methods.
I was rushing to complete some gardening, as I had to leave for work in regional NSW the next morning. After moving a sprinkler, I was jogging backwards over the lawn, to avoid the spray and tripped over a retaining wall and fell backwards onto the concrete driveway below. As I was falling backwards, I instinctively turned to avoid hitting my head and landed on my side. There was a loud “crack” as my hip hit the concrete.
In Zhuan Falun (2014), Lecture 4, Improving Xinxing, Master said:
“We have said that good or bad comes from a person’s initial thought, and the thought at that moment can bring about different consequences.”
I was a bit stunned, but remembered the importance of, “the first thought”. My neighbour saw me fall and called out, “Are you alright?” I immediately replied, “Yes, thank you.” I got up slowly and walked to the back yard and did the first exercise, “Buddha Showing a Thousand Hands.” My arms and legs seemed to work ok, so I continued with the garden work.
That night, a big lump had swelled up on my hip. I had trouble walking and could not lay on that side. As I tried to sleep, I kept thinking how stupid I was, and what I did wrong. Then I realised that I didn’t do the 5 exercises that morning. Also, I had been rushing and trying to do too much. I also thought it may have been Master’s hidden hand that helped me turn when falling to avoid hitting my head – and maybe some other higher beings saying, ‘let him hit the concrete hard, it will be good for him!’.
The next morning, I got up at 5am and drove 4 hours to work in the countryside. I would have preferred to rest at home but thought of my responsibility. If I didn’t go to the job, the company could not replace me and may lose the client. They know I practice Falun Dafa and appreciate my diligence at work. I did not want to let them down.
I worked there for 6 days with difficulty in walking but could complete the required tasks okay. It was quite painful, but I managed to work through it. A large purple-black bruise ran from my hip all the way down the leg.
In Zhuan Falun (2014), Lecture 3, Master said:
“Genuine cultivation is not as easy as you imagine. Do you think that just because you want to cultivate you’ll be able to make it? Once you want to truly cultivate, your life will be in danger right away, and this issue will concern you immediately.”
What did I learn from falling down and getting up? I did fall backwards. Maybe that was an indication of going backwards in cultivation? On reflecting on what attachments could contribute to the fall I ran through a non-exhaustive list such as jealousy, competitive mentality, showing off, or zealotry – and nothing rang true there. What about qing or sentiment? Possible. I do care for family members, but I am also quite used to being alone – and can end up not being that caring. What about food? I like chocolate but now rarely eat it. I could not care if I ate meat or not, but I do like wholemeal spelt bread and dumplings my wife makes. Sometimes, I watch rugby on television, or home renovation shows.
I guess it is possible I fell down because of those attachments. But I also recognised that whatever I experience is fair, everything is good for a cultivator, and that tribulations are part of cultivation. And it may just be that I needed to suffer some hardship and eliminate some karma.
In Zhuan Falun (2014), Lecture 6, Master said:
“In cultivation one needs to eliminate karma, and that is painful. How can one increase gong comfortably? How can one otherwise remove one’s attachments?”
2) Fa study
Some months later, my body didn’t seem fully recovered, and I had intermittent pain right across my hips, and it interfered with my normal walking and other activities. I realised the fall also related to my Fa study, which had not been consistent enough.
I remembered that a few years ago, I had a similar reminder after driving around NSW for work for several weeks, when I did not manage regular Fa study well. When I got home, I struggled to get out of bed and could not stand up straight to do the exercises. The only position that wasn’t painful was sitting upright on a chair. So, I sat and studied the first 5 lectures in Zhuan Falun – and then could stand up and move normally without pain.
I don’t mean to treat Fa study as a remedy. But in an emergency, doing more can help return to balance.
On recalling that experience from a few years ago, I felt a real thirst to study the Fa, and when I began to read, it was like absorbing nourishment. I read 3 lectures in Zhuan Falun and the pain in my hips subsided. Over the next few days my body returned more to normal. Since then, I regularly study the Fa first thing in the morning and read one and sometimes two lectures before doing anything else. That has helped me be more clear in doing Dafa work and everyday things.
3) Working with other groups who suffer under the CCP
On behalf of the Falun Dafa community in NSW, over the past 5 years, I have joined other groups in the Alliance of victims of the CCP. Each group has its own experiences of suffering caused by the CCP and represent a unique community.
At first, I found the differences in the groups a bit challenging. Understandably, they have a focus on their own communities and the abuses they suffered under the CCP. And they may think I just care about Falun Gong. We don’t use language like “fighting the CCP”, we are more like, “expose the CCP” and it will fall by itself. And I don’t shout, “Down with this, and down with that!” How to harmonise these differences and protect the dignity of Falun Dafa (The Great Law), when doing things with other groups to avoid misunderstandings. Once I remembered that I should maintain a compassionate and calm heart, everything was clearer.
As Master reminds in Zhuan Falun (2014), Lecture 4, Improving Xinxing:
“You should always be benevolent and kind to others and consider others when doing anything.”
I found it quite natural to speak at other groups rallies and link the persecution of Falun Dafa to the issues faced by their communities. The common cause we all share is the evilness of the CCP.
A few years ago, the Alliance group arranged a conference on democracy in China. I was invited to speak on behalf of the Falun Dafa community. At first, I did not know what to say. Afterall, we don’t seek democracy in China. But the conference was a good opportunity to help more people understand Dafa.
Over several days I did some research. I did not know exactly what I was looking for but had a strong belief that Master would guide me, if I put my heart into it. I found that while traditional Chinese culture does not have the idea of democracy where each person has a vote, it does affirm the paramount importance of the people.
At the conference I did a presentation of how Falun Dafa was reawakening the hearts and minds of the Chinese people, including its roots in traditional culture, its popularity in China, the principles of Zhen Shan Ren, why its persecuted by the CCP, and practitioner’s efforts through Tuidang (the Quit the CCP movement) to help free the Chinese people.
I spoke about the Shujing (“Classic of History”), one of the Five Chinese Classics, which affirms the people are the most important element in a nation – which is also a foundation of democracy. It tells of the traditional links of the people with Heaven, how Heaven is compassionate towards the people, and how the sovereign, or ruler, must obey Heaven.
I also explained how Falun Dafa helps Chinese people find their freedom to discover their own divine origins – and the freedom to reject communism, to become a society that respects traditional Chinese morality and principles of governance.
Many attendees appreciated the presentation as they realised that “democracy”, or care for the people, is not just a Western idea, but has a foundation in traditional Chinese culture. Of course, the CCP also recognise that fact, and its own illegitimacy under Heaven to rule the people, which is one reason they fear and attack Falun Dafa.
After my presentation, a Chinese practitioner who was there said? “How do you know so much about Chinese culture?” I replied, “I don’t really, it was a surprise to me as well.” It was Master who made the presentation possible.
In sharing about Falun Dafa and the great efforts of Falun Dafa practitioners to clarify the truth, I hoped people in the Alliance groups could learn more about Dafa. They are also human beings cultivating in today’s world and deserve the chance to open their hearts to the righteous way.
In the Fa Teaching Given in Washington DC, June 21, 2018, Master said:
“I’ve always said that this entire society is in fact a setting for our Dafa disciples to cultivate in. You are cultivating out in the world, and not off in a religious setting, so whatever job or trade you are in serves as a setting for your cultivation, doesn’t it? And this doesn’t apply to just you, in fact. Wouldn’t this mean that ordinary people are also in a setting for cultivation or tempering themselves, then? Never has there been a world like this before!”
At the recent 27 September Alliance rally at the Sydney Town Hall, raising awareness of the CCP’s evil history in China, several groups spoke up in appreciation of Falun Gong. They recognised that Falun Gong’s efforts to expose the true nature of the CCP will also benefit their communities who are suffering.
At Parliament House in Canberra, on 18 August this year speakers from several Alliance groups came from Sydney to speak at a rally on Transnational Repression organised by the Falun Dafa community.
These are new and welcome developments.
In concluding, if you find anything said here is not in line with the Fa, please let me know. It may be a bit late now, but I will try to make amends.
Thank you revered Master for your benevolent guidance and patience over the years.
Thank you fellow practitioners for listening.