(Minghui.org) The Oregon Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference was held at the Hillsdale Library in Portland on September 30, 2023. Eleven practitioners talked about their experiences and understandings of practicing Dafa, and described how they required of themselves to adhere to Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance in their lives and at work. They described how they improved their moral character (xinxing), and strengthened their faith in Dafa despite hardships.  

The Oregon Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Conference was held on September 30, 2023.

Annie from Vietnam started practicing Falun Dafa three years ago. She talked about some amazing dreams she had before and after she started practicing Falun Dafa. She realized that the goal of Dafa practitioners’ cultivation is to return to their true homes and their true nature. She said that Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa, is always present, encouraging and protecting us.

Annie said, “When we encounter difficulties in cultivation, we should stay calm and strengthen our determination, because Master is always by our side.”

Understanding That Cultivation Is Serious

Retired engineer Jason said that after reading Master’s recent article “Cultivation in Dafa Is Serious,” he realized that he did not take cultivation seriously enough. For example, when he practiced the exercises, his thoughts wandered. “When I did the exercises, I thought about problems and I even daydreamed. I didn’t take it seriously and I made no effort to stop those distracting thoughts.” He now realizes how dangerous this is. He said it’s like, “practicing an evil way” and he is determined to practice seriously.

Young Practitioner Stops Quarreling and Learns to Be Humble

Derek, a nine-year-old Dafa practitioner, shared his experience of overcoming difficulties with his grandmother’s help. He went from not knowing Chinese to reading Zhuan Falun and other Dafa books four times. Guided by Falun Dafa’s principles, he stopped quarreling with his sister. He was humble towards his classmates at school and did not listen to inappropriate topics.

Derek also shared some interesting stories about how he participated in a traditional culture project and worked with his grandmother to eliminate distractions and improve while he recorded audios of ancient poetry for children.

Letting Go of Attachments and Improving in the Fa

Dillon, a Western practitioner, said he always wanted to examine Dafa from the perspective of Western empirical science, but he finally realized that Dafa is real and correct. He said that he needed to let go of his obsession with verifying the past and predicting the future, and improve himself in the Fa.

Other practitioners said they overcame illness karma and hardships with Master’s help and the help of fellow practitioners. They were able to get rid of their attachments to emotion, and hold themselves to the standards of cultivators while interacting with their families. They also helped family members learn about Dafa. They said they were able to look inward when they had conflicts with other practitioners.

Practitioners said they greatly benefited from the conference. Some said they needed to communicate better so they could encourage each other, learn from each other, progress together, and complete their missions as Falun Dafa practitioners.