I’m a long-term resident of Tasmania, and have practiced and studied with our Falun Dafa group in Hobart for the past twenty months. We are fortunate to have a beautiful open practice-site for Sunday morning exercises in a city park, and a peaceful room in a private home for regular group-study. Hobart has a rather erratic climate throughout the year – it’s true that we can have four seasons in one day! Because of this, our Sunday practice is occasionally “washed out”. Recently we agreed that it was important for our small group to maintain continuity of exercise practice, regardless of the weather. If it’s raining, or if the ground is too wet from overnight rain, we now use a partially enclosed Japanese-style shelter in the Botanical Gardens. The noise of a heavy downpour on the roof combines with the sound of cars passing on the wet road, and provides us with a great opportunity to practice forbearance and endurance! – But at least we can still practice together, rain or shine.
I am very grateful for past opportunities to study a range of spiritual paths, particularly for a strict and traditional background in Buddhist and Indian yogic teachings and practices. It was this background that inspired me to enquire about the teachings of Falun Dafa, when I first saw television news-reports about the fate of Chinese people sitting peacefully in meditation posture in city streets. A few months later, I was given printed material that explained the basic principles of Falun Dafa and outlined the sets of exercises. I borrowed Falun Gong from the local library, and eventually began to practice with the exercise video, initially to support another household member. We were soon able to obtain the principle text of nine lectures, Zhuan Falun, in English translation.
Even now, I can’t adequately explain my reaction. It was as though I had been waiting for thousands of years to understand the fundamental principles taught in these lectures. I felt that my path for this lifetime had brought me safely to the starting point of a journey of greatest importance.
There have certainly been improvements in the condition of my physical body. Being in middle age, it hasn’t escaped the punishment of passing years! But the most profound changes have occurred in my mind and heart. On this journey there are daily challenges to our deeper understanding of the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. The challenges are usually unexpected and often difficult, but understanding improves as each challenge is met – however tentatively! And on this journey I frequently experience the truth of an old Chinese saying: “After passing the shady willow trees, there will be bright flowers and another village ahead!”
Posting date: 9/Nov/2003
Original article date: 9/Nov/2003
Category: Insights
