Master is Right Beside Me

I first saw the Tian Guo Marching Band in Frankfurt in 2019. At that time, I had no thoughts of joining the band, because I had no musical background and felt that this project had little to do with me. It wasn't until 2022 that I received another recruitment email from the band through a group message. I also heard from other band members that the band was short on people, so I decided to give it a try. After a simple test, the coordinator chose the tuba for me—one of the main reasons was because the band was in need of tuba players. At the time, there were only one or two people playing it.

In the beginning, it was a bit difficult for me to learn. I contacted one music teacher, watched tutorial videos online, and the coordinator of the brass section also gave me a lot of guidance. During my first year playing with the band, I was still very nervous and unsure. But starting from the second year, regardless of winter or summer, I persisted in practicing at least three times a week, for at least one hour each time.

Master mentioned in 《Fa Teaching Given at the 2010 New York Fa Conference 》“Do it wholeheartedly. If you are going to do it, do it well. Otherwise, don’t do it. If you do it poorly, the evil will laugh at you, Dafa disciples’ reputations will be hurt, and it will have undesirable consequences. So, whatever it is you do, you really must do it with all due seriousness.”

Since I signed up to join the band, I must take it seriously and not treat it half-heartedly. As practice time accumulated, my mastery of the instrument also improved. Now, I have the confidence to play it well and to fulfill its proper role in the band.

When I first started training, I grumbled and complained, thinking the instrument was too heavy and wondering if I could choose a lighter one. But looking back now, this instrument is actually very suitable for me. First, its music notes are simple and barely have any sixteenth notes, which is perfect for someone like me who lacks a sense of tempo. Second, its mouthpiece is large, making it easy to learn—very suitable for a beginner like me. Thank you, Master, for this arrangement!

1. I Want to Participate in All the Activities

Every year, our band organizes one or two workshops and around six parades. If conditions allow, I want to participate in every single one.

First, the workshop. To me, they are not just about practicing music together—they provide a precious environment for practitioners to be together.

Master said in《Teachings at the Conference in Singapore》(1998) : “ That environment of ours is most precious. No other environment in the world is so pure like ours.”

During the workshop, we practice the exercises together, study the Fa together, and even eat together in the cafeteria. Our conversations reflect the way cultivators are supposed to speak. Seeing how simple, pure, and motivated everyone is, all striving to do well in the band project, I feel truly inspired. The whole atmosphere is filled with righteous energy. It is not music that brings us together—it is Dafa cultivation that unites us. Music is only the surface; cultivation is our true essence. The environment of being together with every practitioner is truly precious.

Then there are the parades. I don’t want to miss a single one. I practice my instrument almost every week throughout the year, and if I were to miss a parade, wouldn’t that be a waste of all my time and effort? Actually, being able to participate in every parade is not about me supporting the band or doing something for the band. On the contrary—it is the band that is supporting me, providing me with such a precious opportunity.

Master said in 《Stay Out of Danger》(2023) :“ Don’t mistakenly think that when you have helped to raise awareness about Dafa and the persecution, joined in Dafa activities, or participated in Dafa projects, you have done something for Dafa or for me. That is my providing you with ways to save and help one another, to rescue people together, and at the same time save yourselves; so during these latter days, beings are able to help save one another. You are not doing these things for the Great Way, Dafa.”

Thank you, Master, for arranging this opportunity for me to fulfill my pledge through the Tian Guo Marching Band project. Especially for a new member like me, every opportunity to participate in a parade is invaluable.

2. Exposing My Attachment of Showing Off and Combative Mentality

When I first joined the band, I had altercations with fellow practitioners, and at times, I debated with others as well. Several impolite words may seem small, but behind them was my strong combative mentality—a desire to argue over who was right or wrong.

The first thing that was exposed was my heart of showing off—wanting to display how well I understood things, how deep my insights were, and thinking that others didn’t grasp the Fa as clearly as I did. That I studied the Fa better than them.

Master warned us in 《Zhuan Falun》(2019):“ which makes you think you’re special and that you have learned my Falun Dafa really well or even better than others—meaning you are ahead of them. But even just thinking that way isn’t right.”

In those arguments, I was merely showing off my “understanding,” not sincerely trying to communicate or improve together with fellow practitioners. I wasn’t truly cultivating. I must do better going forward.

Secondly, this also exposed my combative mentality—insisting on being right, forcing others to agree with my opinions, trying to make others do things following my way. This is actually a manifestation of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s violent fighting mentality. Why do I need to force others to agree with me? Why not be tolerant and accommodating? Why didn’t I look inward?

Master said in 《Zhuan Falun》 (2019): “By contrast, if you are always a contentious person and getting into disagreements with people, then I think it’s inevitable that you will fall into an argument when issues come up.”

Master also said in a more recent Jingwen 《A Wake-Up Call》(2024): “To be able to regard anyone and everyone with compassion, to have love for all people, really isn’t something the average person can achieve. Harder still is to have a sense of compassion toward all living things in everything you do. But that is something practitioners of Dafa have to be able to do!”

Even now, I still harbor this negative combative mentality and negative party culture. Since it has been exposed, I must truly cultivate and eliminate them.

3. Master Is Right Beside Me

For last year’s parade in Athens, I didn’t start booking my flight until two months in advance, only to find that a ticket from Frankfurt Airport—the nearest and most convenient airport for me—was nearly 400 euros. I decided instead to book a cheap flight from Vienna. Even after including the train fare, the total cost was only 200 euros—I saved half the money. The Athens parade schedule was packed, and I felt quite exhausted. As soon as the parade ended, the second day, I rushed to get back. But just thinking about having to take a train later for another ten-plus hours after arriving in Vienna was really challenging.

At check-in, however, I was informed that my flight had been overbooked. They gave me a boarding pass, but it didn’t include a seat. At the boarding gate, there were three of us without assigned seats. In the end, the other two were allowed to board, and I was the ONLY one left behind. I became anxious and rushed to speak with the staff. They explained that they would arrange a free alternative for me. They first suggested: “How about flying to Zurich first, then to Vienna?” I asked, “Is there a route that goes to Frankfurt first?” The staff checked—and sure enough, there was a ticket to Frankfurt first, then on to Vienna.

And just like that, I ended up flying directly to Frankfurt and arrived home more than ten hours earlier than my previous schedule. From being the ONLY one left behind at the boarding gate, feeling alone and helpless, to an unexpected turnaround—flying straight home—it was truly a miracle. My heart was warm with gratitude. I could really feel that Master was right beside me. Once, a non-practitioner friend asked me, “Why do you practice Falun Dafa?” After all is said and done, the most honest and heartfelt answer I can give is one sentence: “Because I have a Master!”

Finally, please let me share a line from the Shen Yun Song "Who Am I?" 《Hong Yin III》 (2006) to encourage us all:

"I came to understand who I am

And realized I should hasten my steps

on the divine path."

Thank you, fellow practitioners!

Thank you, Master!

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