Cherish Every Opportunity for Band Activities
Yingchun
Dear Master, fellow practitioners,
It is an honour to participate in this Fa conference. Since obtaining the Fa in 2002, I have been involved in numerous projects. Yet intriguingly, various enlightenments in my dreams have consistently centred on the Tianguo Marching Band. For instance, dreams of arriving late for a parade – enlightening me about complacency – or discovering upon arrival that I had mistakenly worn the wrong performance attire – enlightening me about insufficient diligence. I understand this signifies a profound karmic connection between myself and the Band.
A dream I had several months ago remains vivid in my memory. A higher being informed me that many dimensions have already completed the rectification of the Fa, and it will soon reach our dimension.
Master has said in Wake up (2021):
“The Fa’s rectification of the Cosmos has finished, and now a transition to the Fa’s rectification of the human world is taking place. Most of our Dafa disciples will join me as the Fa rectifies the human world.”
In the dream, I was dressed in my band attire, yet still wearing slippers on my feet—as if to say I was not fully prepared. This signifies that my cultivation still has many shortcomings, with numerous attachments needing elimination—such as the desire for comfort that shirks pressure, the need for saving face, resentment, feelings of grievance, and the obsession with appearance.
In recent years, due to increasing project demands, I haven't been able to participate in every parade as I did over a decade ago.
The past two years have been especially challenging. Complex tasks and pressures from other projects, coupled with our local Fa conference immediately following this one, left me hesitant about attending the Prague event. Later, I asked myself: If the time for validating the Fa is truly short, how many more Tianguo Marching Band Fahui will there be? As a veteran member of nearly fifteen years, wouldn't missing this opportunity be a pity? Then I recalled how Master guided me to join the band, and how after leaving several years ago, Master explicitly enlightened me to return to the band, stating otherwise I couldn't achieve perfection. These experiences led me to decide to fulfill my responsibility.
So when I heard that every drum major was expected to attend this Fa conference and submit an exchange sharing article, I didn't refuse.
Truthfully, every ensemble activity brings me significant growth and improvement. Here, I wish to share reflections on our recent Vienna tour. Initially, I believed participation was impossible—I had a crucial exam the afternoon of departure. The weeks leading up to the trip were intensely stressful, juggling exam prep with complex project deadlines, leaving little time for focused arm strength and rhythm training. However, when I told my husband, a fellow practitioner, that I couldn't go to Vienna, he asked me why. Even after explaining my reasons, he seemed not to quite understand. This prompted reflection. I sensed it was a sign—I should go. Perhaps it was meant to be. Moreover, squeezing time for a life-saving event amidst such overwhelming tasks and pressure might strengthen my resilience. With this realization, I signed up despite the strain.
Before the event began, I felt a bit uneasy. Previously, I’d start intensive arm strength training with sandbags a week or two in advance, but this time, due to the tight schedule, I only managed one or two sessions. Yet during the roughly two-and-a-half-hour standing performance on Friday evening, I felt no strain whatsoever. In the final hour, to help the performers see clearly, I even added a circular light to the baton—and still experienced none of the weakness or noticeable arm soreness I’d felt before. I knew this was all thanks to my Master’s blessing. After the event, however, a blister appeared on my palm, precisely where I gripped the baton. With another day of activities ahead, I repeatedly punctured the blister with a needle to drain the pus. Yet the next morning, the blister had grown larger. It was too late to puncture it again, so I thought to myself, “It seems I'm destined to eliminate a lot of karma today. I'll just go with the flow.”
Miraculously, throughout the entire day of standing performances and parades, I didn't feel a single twinge of pain. As we neared the end, I suddenly remembered the blister on my hand. Yet, having experienced no pain all day, I was instantly filled with a profound sense of Master's immense compassion. At that moment, the dream and process from sixteen years ago—when Master guided me to join the band and become its drum major—flashed before my eyes like a movie reel. Reflecting on how I later left the band, only for Master to guide me back through various means, even directly transmitting messages into my mind through stereo sound, I felt profound shame. Master had worried so much for me. Recalling these past scenes, tears welled up in my eyes. After the performance, I discovered the blisters on my hands had been rubbed smooth, their pus soaked into the white gloves. Yet throughout the entire day's activities, I felt no pain whatsoever. It was truly beyond belief.
Like Master in wrote Hong Yin II 《Master-Disciple Grace》：
Master-Disciple Grace
Violent evil has raged four years
With a steady helm, bearings are not lost
Fa disciples experience evil’s trials
Heavy pressure does not change their will
Master and disciples have no use for sentiment
Buddha’s grace transforms heaven and earth
Disciples’ righteous thoughts are strong
Master has the power to turn the tide
February 1, 2004
Before the Saturday event began, there was a small incident. While waiting with several fellow practitioners, an elderly Western gentleman approached. At first, he asked about the swastika 卍 symbol. Assuming he mistook it for Hitler's symbol like others before, I immediately began explaining. But before I could finish, he asked, “Is this symbol rotating?” I said yes. Then he started talking to me about cultivation and character. Looking me straight in the eyes with sincerity, he said, “You are a knowledgeable person, a wise person. Don't concern yourself with others' opinions of you; just focus on your inner self.” I was stunned—wasn't this Master using his words to enlighten me? Not seeking others' approval, only striving to be true to my own conscience—wasn't this urging me to let go of “fame”? Wasn't this calling me to constantly look inward and cultivate myself? Then he told me: “Don't harbor extravagant desires, for you already possess everything and are truly blessed. Therefore, don't even entertain the thought of a single wish.” He repeated these two points three times, insisting I remember them. I said I remembered, for I took his words as divine enlightenment spoken through him. Hearing this, he smiled and said, “It is my honor to serve as God's messenger.”
I suspect my master was using him to enlighten me about issues I hadn't noticed or taken seriously lately. I need to focus more on my inner self, constantly looking inward rather than seeking others' approval. Regarding his second point, I suddenly recalled that just days ago, while burning incense for Master, I had made a wish. Though superficially motivated by wanting to save time for better cultivation projects, digging deeper revealed an underlying desire. What was I seeking? Fame, gain, comfort—in essence, fewer human troubles so I could practice the Fa comfortably. But cultivation isn't about comfort; navigating human challenges is part of our cultivation journey. Dafa disciples should approach all human affairs with natural acceptance. Since we cannot see the true causes behind events, we must not force changes or expect outcomes beyond nature's course.
Like Master said in 《Teachings at the Conference in Europe》
May 30–31, 1998 ~ Frankfurt, Germany
“The reason for this lies in a saying in the cultivation world:
‘Pursue nothing and gain naturally.’ That’s the best state of mind.”
Therefore, I strive to be as free from expectations as possible, always trusting that whatever Master arranges for us is undoubtedly the best possible arrangement.
During this trip, on the road and in restaurants, I have clarified the truth to Chinese people, and successfully helped 8 Chinese quit the CCP. This journey truly was no coincidence. Since my project work rarely involves travel, I didn’t have such opportunities to clarify the truth face-to-face in a long time. It felt as though Master was guiding those with karmic connections to me. In short, this journey has truly given me so much. I am profoundly grateful to our infinitely compassionate Master and for every chance to participate in the orchestra. I will cherish every moment that allows me to improve, maintain righteous thoughts at all times, and treasure every opportunity to join the band’s activities.
Finally, I will share a passage from Master's teachings to encourage fellow practitioners:
“Who are the ones that are cultivating? Who are the people who are truly walking on a path toward godhood? Who are the people who can truly succeed at cultivation? In all of history, from the past on to the present, only you have done this! ”
(Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference, February 26, 2005)
Grateful to the most compassionate and magnificent Master in the boundless universe! Grateful to my beloved fellow practitioners!
The above are some humble insights from my journey to Vienna. Should there be any inaccuracies, I humbly request fellow practitioners to kindly point them out.
Heshi
Yingchun
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