Greetings, revered Master!

Greetings, fellow Falun Dafa practitioners!

I am a new member of the Tian Guo Marching Band. I would like to share some of my experiences.

Decision to Join the Tian Guo Marching Band

I had some musical experience from when I was younger, but I stopped practising music when I got older. After obtaining the Fa, I misunderstood Master's teachings and stopped many activities, thinking they were just attachments. It didn't occur to me that, as well as letting go of attachments, we can use the various skills we have learnt to validate the Fa and clarify the truth. When I saw the Tian Guo Marching Band, I realised that we could save sentient beings using music. However, I still didn't consider joining. I had many preconceptions, such as thinking that I was too old to learn a new instrument, that I wouldn't be good enough for the Band, and that I could even hinder the project if I didn't perform well. I was afraid of playing in front of other people or on the street. When our National Falun Dafa Association coordinator learnt that I wanted to join the Band, he congratulated me and said that I might be the first Slovakian in the Band. I had anxious thoughts again: why did I have to be the first one? Were there really no Slovakians yet? I remembered how practitioners fearlessly went to appeal in Beijing; they all wanted to go by themselves, regardless of whether others would go. I wouldn't even be arrested in Europe for appealing, yet I still have such selfish thoughts. I was also scared that other practitioners would view me differently. Indeed, I was once asked if I wouldn´t hold a banner in parades anymore if I played in the Band. I realised that I must also have had a human notion that the Marching Band was a special project; otherwise, I wouldn´t receive such questions, and I wouldn't have been scared to join, thinking I wasn't good enough. It is dangerous to harbour such notions about particular projects or practitioners.

Although the paths of different practitioners are different, our sacred mission is the same. It is also selfish to think of myself as inferior instead of selflessly doing whatever I can to save sentient beings. A fellow practitioner from the Band encouraged me to join, and every Band member I've ever known has tried to encourage me as well over the years. Last summer, I finally made a decision and let go of these irrational fears, including the fear of having these fears. I had no idea where I would practise, given that I live in a shared flat with six other girls from my school. I also had no idea when I would practise, because my classes are very time-consuming and often finish late. In addition, I had no idea where I would get the money for the parades. When I asked a fellow practitioner what it takes to play with the Marching Band, he told me: “Your heart for saving sentient beings.” So I told myself that if I am to play in the Band, I´ll do my best to do it well. If I´m not meant to join the Band, it is okay: other practitioners can do it, and it doesn´t have to be me. I will clarify the truth in other ways. Whatever Master arranged for me, I will follow, and I won´t think about it anymore.

Master had Arranged Everything

From the beginning, I used to practise outside so as not to disturb anyone. But as the weather got colder, I sometimes struggled with my desire for comfort and didn't want to go. I reminded myself that it was not me who didn't want to go, but just an attachment, and that I should go because I need to be responsible when it comes to regular practice — it doesn't matter how I feel. I dressed in more layers, put Tian Guo music on my earphones, and marched along to the place where I used to practise. The lyrics of Song Bao encouraged me:

“The wheels are turning – be quick! Truth is being delivered here. There is no time to fear snowstorms or heavy rain, no time to fear the burning sun. The wheels are turning – be quick! Truth is being delivered here. Who fears high mountains and long journeys? It´s reaching every home. Singing this song, my heart smiles with joy, so noble it feels, warm light shining from above.”

I realised that when I don't pay much attention to external circumstances or my feelings, and just keep taking one step forward, one after another, I'm not really troubled. I knew this in theory before, but now I could live by it, and I had become very optimistic and active. I woke up each day with the joy of knowing I had another day to seize for cultivation.

When my head teacher at school learnt that I practised outside, she allowed me to practise at school. My school is located in a former monastery, and we have catacombs that are used as storage rooms. Given that they are underground, they are perfectly soundproofed. This solved the problem of where to practise when the weather was bad, as well as the issue that I usually only had time to practise in the late evening. In the catacombs, however, it didn't matter; even in the middle of the night, no one would hear me, so I could practise anytime I wanted. Thank you, Master, for this arrangement!

I also didn't know how I would manage the finances I'd need for the parades, as I can't have a regular job due to my studies. At first, I only saved money by restraining myself. When I agreed with myself not to buy sweets or drink too much tea, and to sit instead of having a ticket for a sleeping car when travelling home by night train, I realised that I actually felt much freer, and that little comforts such as having good tea are not supposed to be the source of my wellbeing.

I also learnt to cook better, as that was cheaper than eating in the school canteen, and I saved this money for the parades. This helped me to stop being attached to tasty food and to be content with just filling my stomach. Cooking takes some time, and I realised that I was always busy with my thoughts, constantly calculating every moment — an attachment to time. This approach was not effective, even though I thought I was seizing every moment, because my mind was too preoccupied. Ironically, I started to feel as though I had much more time when I had to spend extra time cooking by myself, as this forced me to slow down and avoid rushing. Although I didn't have a plan, Master did.

Every time I needed to travel to a parade, just enough money would magically appear in the form of a school scholarship or a temporary job that didn't interfere with my studies. This enabled me to clarify the truth in various environments, and some of the jobs also helped me gain experience for other projects. All the apparent obstacles were precious gifts that helped me free myself from attachments and realise that with righteous intent, there is always a way. Thank you, Master!

Learning a New Instrument Helps Me Eliminate Attachments

I chose to learn the baritone horn because I was told that the Band needed more players for that instrument. Learning a new instrument is a very interesting experience, as I had to start from scratch. I didn't put any pressure on myself or have any expectations of what I should already know; I just took one step after another diligently, humbly, and without pursuing results. As I was completely new to it, I wasn't troubled by feelings of shame, guilt, or the fear of making mistakes as much as I am in situations where I feel I should already know better. I realised that I could take this approach to being a beginner in other circumstances too. When I started practising cultivation, I was brave and humble, knowing that I was new and had many attachments to overcome. I was strict but patient and compassionate with myself, improving bit by bit.

However, I realised that I had turned for the worse, as over time I could no longer tolerate struggling for a long time, thinking that I should already be able to do better. Attachments to guilt, shame, and saving face often got in my way, which made it harder for me to improve, which in turn fed these attachments and made them seem reasonable. So, when I believed these thoughts, it was difficult to dispel them. However, in the Band, I learnt that we always need to move forward. If I mess up a note, I can't dwell on it because the Band and the song continue, and there are still many more notes to play well. If I cried over the part I played incorrectly, I wouldn't be able to play the rest well. It is also not truly looking within if I just blame myself. When I feel too bad about my shortcomings instead of just improving, it is actually my ego that cannot stand it. Master said:

“When you can’t accomplish what you set out to, you stubbornly insist on your own way, you lose your appetite and sleep over it, and you are basically having your emotions controlled by others and your life led by others. You lead a tiring life without waking up to it, living for others. If you can really take one step back and let go, then it’s like “With green mountains, there is no fear of lacking firewood,” and although that’s an ordinary saying, if you can take a step back, you will find your horizon broadened endlessly and your perspective changed completely. Steel your will to let it go, and your realm will change immediately. In that state you will find yourself light and spry. This is Ren. But I ask that you study the Fa more and reach realms higher than this.”

(Teachings at the Conference in the Western U.S.)

My baritone teacher often reminds me about cultivation, even though he is not a practitioner. I think Master is leaving me hints by speaking through him. He told me not to try to avoid getting water in the tubes of my horn because it's impossible to stop our breath from condensing inside. It's not a big problem, though, as I can just open the tubes and let the water out. I realised that I can simply let go of my attachments instead of fighting against them like crazy, because it is impossible for me not to have attachments at all, and they have to manifest somehow, so I can notice them and eliminate them.

He also told me that a melody exists even before we play it. Instead of guessing blindly with our instruments, we can have the melody firmly in our minds, and our instruments will only say it aloud. On the baritone, I only have four valves, so many notes are played with the same fingering but a different blow. He told me that it would be easier to play C if I thought of C than if I thought of G, and I realised that it's important to keep righteous thoughts in mind when playing so that I can communicate the righteous message. Over time, my selfish thoughts started to interfere with my playing as well.

For example, I would think that a piece was too difficult for me and that I couldn't play it. My teacher didn't care, though, and made me try again and again and again until I could play it. Before my first parade, he told me: "To touch people's hearts, you have to be vast. I want you to play for others. Don't think the whole world is just about you and your mistakes; nobody cares when you mess up.” I realised that, instead of projecting my anxiety onto the people, I should play for them:


 “Good people, do you know? Truth is the greatest treasure of all. When good and bad can be told apart, blessings follow after the dream ends. Good people, do you know? Truth is the greatest treasure of all. Remember, good is the Falun way; ahead lies a bright, golden path.”
(Song Bao)

Song Bao is also the most difficult piece for me to play because there are a lot of afterbeats, which often confuse me while I'm marching. During the Easter rehearsals, I could follow the rest of the lower brass group, but I struggled to play it precisely on my own with a metronome. A fellow practitioner said that we should all watch the conductor and not follow each other, because there are too many of us and it's impossible to be in sync if we follow one another without a shared direction. We are also far apart, so if I wait to hear others playing before I play, I will lag behind. I need to know by myself what to play and when.

I realised that I also need to measure everything against the Fa and follow our Master instead of blindly following other practitioners, or doing things to please others, or out of fear of making a mistake. If we all follow Master, we will naturally cooperate well as one body. When my Dad first heard me practising Song Bao with the orchestra recording, I was all over the place and not playing when I should. He asked, “Don't you know how to contribute where it's needed without being told exactly what to do?” I realised that I need to take responsibility for my own cultivation. I'm no longer a child; I don't need to be told what to do all the time — I should rather study the Fa better and then I will know what to do.

Letting Go of Myself at the Parades and Focusing on Saving Sentient Beings

I passed the music test shortly before the Falun Dafa Day parade, but I hadn't thought about the uniform in advance. Although I knew we had to buy the shoes, socks, and belt ourselves, the night before travelling, I realised that I hadn't done so, and that I didn't have a complete uniform. Feeling ashamed, I wrote a long message to the coordinator apologising for being so irresponsible. Once again, I had the opportunity to put my ego aside and do what was necessary for the parade. The response I received was just a few words, focusing solely on finding a solution to the problem. I realised that I should also focus more on solutions than obstacles, and when meeting with difficulties, always maintain a compassionate heart.

When I first put on the uniform and stood in front of the mirror in my room, my roommate, who was a fellow practitioner, asked me if I liked how I looked in it. My first thought was that I was barely visible under the uniform: the trousers were slightly too big for me, my long hair was strictly tied into a bun, and because I am so short, people wouldn´t even see my face, but only the hat from above. I realised this was a very selfish and vain thought. When we perform, there should be no sense of self. I am a particle of Dafa and a Band member, and I perform as part of the Band, not to show off or validate myself. Also, our uniform was designed by Master, so it's the best. I like our uniform.

At the beginning of my first parade, I got cramps and forgot all the songs I had learnt. I got anxious again, wondering why I couldn't remember, and worrying that I would play badly and ruin the sound of the Band. But I quickly realised that I was thinking of myself again, when I had come to save sentient beings. I told myself that even if I didn't play at all, I wouldn't talk to myself in my head; I would go with the Band as one body and have righteous thoughts. I recited the lyrics of the songs in my head, and shortly afterwards, a miracle happened. My fingers played correctly without me needing to think about it. I felt very light and unburdened, and my baritone lost its weight, as if someone else carried it for me.

A fellow practitioner showed me a painting of the Marching Band created by another practitioner. In the painting, there are many Divine beings going with the Band to awaken the world´s people. I realised that the skills we use to save sentient beings are a gift from Master, and that they come from the wisdom of Dafa. Therefore, I should practice diligently, but I shouldn´t think so much about how I play. The artist who created the painting is from Vietnam, and I realised that big events such as parades cannot be held there, but that they can be held in Europe, so we should cherish them. That practitioner used painting to validate the Fa, and if we can hold parades, we should seize this opportunity and use our instruments, banners, and flyers. When selfish thoughts come, it helps me to think of our mission instead. I will improve and try to do better.

This is just my limited understanding at my current level of cultivation. Please kindly point out anything inappropriate. 

Thank you, Master!

Thank you, fellow practitioners!