My Cultivation Journey With the Tian Guo Marching Band

I joined the Tian Guo Marching Band around June 2007. Initially, I didn’t know that I was to coordinate the marching band for the UK, and that we were to become part of the European Divine Land Marching Band. A practitioner who had been to Ireland to give an introduction to the band came back and told me to join as she wouldn’t have the time to take it further, and asked me to gather practitioners in the UK who were interested in playing music. I was aware that it was our Compassionate Master who had created the Divine Land Marching Band, and that taking part in this important project would give me the chance to help Master in saving sentient beings. I also realized that there would be plenty of opportunities for Xinxing improvement ahead.

So new instruments were purchased and were distributed at the airport to a group of practitioners, and we all boarded a plane to Germany to attend a workshop. Some of us hadn’t even unwrapped the instruments or had ever played a note on them yet.

I was very excited when I got a French horn, but I didn’t know how to play it. My expectation was that I would be taught how to play the instrument at the workshop. I was quite disappointed when that wasn’t the case. I then had negative thoughts about the European coordinators. “What a waste of time, money, and the journey for attending the workshop,” I thought. I felt that I had attained only a blank sheet of paper.

However, when I heard the European practitioners playing “Fa Gu Fa Hao” for the first time, the magnificent sound, especially coming from the trumpet, mesmerized me. I enlightened to the fact that it was my selfishness that caused me to have bad thoughts about the European coordinators. Where was my compassion? Why was I so moved by trivial matters?

Master said in ‘Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa' - Fa Teaching Given at the 2011 Washington DC Metro Area Fa Conference:

“I have thus said before that Dafa disciples, being cultivators, should view problems in the opposite manner from how human beings do. Some people are unhappy when they meet with unpleasant things. Then aren’t you a human being? How are you any different? When you encounter unpleasant things, it is precisely time to cultivate yourself, to cultivate your mind.”

Making the trip to Germany had been a test in my cultivation to help me upgrade my Xinxing and discard various attachments. In order to be able to help Master in saving sentient beings through the Divine Land Marching Band, I had to invest time in learning and practicing, even though I was very busy with other projects at the time.

At the workshop, it was delightful to see a few of our little European practitioners performing on their mini-sized drums. Returning to the UK, we were humming the tune of “Fa Gu Fa Hao” and also trying to march as we were heading towards the arrival hall.

One of the European band coordinators said that he would come to the UK to hold a 3-day workshop for us later in the month. Over 20 practitioners took part in this UK workshop, and each decided on which instrument they wanted to play. I chose the clarinet, the same as my wife and another practitioner who lives near us, so that we could learn and practice together.

We learnt theory at the workshop, and 3 pieces of music. Although my skill level was low, it was improving with practice. Having played a Chinese flute before, I was able to understand the Chinese notation in musical scores, but I was struggling with the western notation symbols. When it came to marching, we used a broom as a mace. Miraculously, a dozen of us were allowed to join the European parades in London and Edinburgh just 2 months after the workshop.

Master told us in Zhuan Falun, Chapter 9 (2000):

“When it is difficult to endure, try to endure it. When it looks impossible and is said to be impossible, give it a try and see if it is possible.”

Thank you Master for giving me the chance to join the Divine Land Marching Band parades, and to assist you in saving sentient beings.

London and Edinburgh Parades

These were my first and second UK parades with the Divine Land Marching Band. Going through the process of joining the TGYT had given me chances to find my shortcomings.

I was surprised at the time that permission had been granted to parade in Leicester Square Gardens only, which is one street away from Chinatown. To my disappointment, it was a small square and it was strange having to march around a garden in a circle, and soon the front of the parade had caught up with the back and was even overtaking it. I saw that policemen were watching our parade, so I asked the band members to do FZN so that I could request for the band to go into Chinatown. Permission was granted, but closed-circuit television (CCTV) had to be set up before we could proceed. One European practitioner came up to me and adamantly said that we don’t want CCTV recording us. I was annoyed by her reaction in front of the officials, and my quick temper snapped and I told her to keep quiet and have righteous thoughts. Later on, I realised that the practitioner had mistaken CCTV to mean the ‘Chinese Central Television’ network. I should have explained the terminology to her compassionately and not raised my voice, as every one of us had the same goal—to become one body and to assist Master in saving sentient beings.

Master said in Zhuan Falun, Chapter 4 (2000) – Transformation of Karma:

“During the process of transforming karma, to keep yourself under control—unlike an everyday person who would mess things up—you should always maintain a heart of benevolence and a mind of kindness. If you suddenly bump into a problem, you will be able to take care of it properly. When you always maintain a heart of benevolence and compassion, you will have time or room to buffer the confrontation and think, should a problem arise suddenly.”

When the band entered Chinatown, the magnificent sound of the music was heard by everyone, and made people pop their heads out from restaurant windows to watch. People in the streets gazed in awe. I had tears in my eyes as the energy of practitioners’ one body was immense. This was the magnificent display of Dafa's miraculous power. Later that afternoon we made our way to Edinburgh for the 2nd parade.

Joining Practice Sessions and Parades

As the UK band members lived far away from each other, it was difficult to get together to practice very often. Initially, only 3 of us who played the clarinet could practice together—mostly at my house just before local Fa study. The three of us often travelled together to Europe, taking part in workshops and parades. Later on, I encouraged more people to join and we practiced in a park, or I hired a hall in London, to make it easier for people to travel to. The number of band members increased, and we had some young practitioners too. I was grateful for another European coordinator who came to the UK and held further workshops for us.

Soon there were more than the 3 of us joining parades in Europe. However, one day my heart sank after hearing a fellow practitioner’s sharing that she felt she had been forced to join the band.

Master said in Zhuan Falun, Chapter 1:

“If you do not want to practice cultivation, no one can force you—that would be the same as doing a wrong deed. Who can force you to change your heart?”

My understanding from Master’s teaching was that each of us should upgrade our own Xinxing through cultivation, and do the 3 things well. I stayed calm and did not cause any conflicts between us. Today, she is still cultivating and playing with the band.

Group Fa Study on Sonant

Master’s poem from Hong Yin I – “Solid Cultivation” – October 7, 1994:

“Study Fa, obtain Fa,

Compare in studying, compare in cultivating,

Examine each and every deed,

Accomplishing is cultivating.”

For many years now we have held TGYT Fa study online every Tuesday evening. Initially, many people joined, including coordinators. However, it has now declined to a mere handful. My understanding is that we should study as a group at least once a week—not as a mere formality, but as a form of self-cultivation, strengthening our righteous thoughts to raise our levels and feel the energy as one body.

I felt that the more I study the Fa in a group, the more concentrated I am, and the calmer I become. I have to look inside to figure out why attendance is so low.

Changing My Fa Instrument

I enjoyed listening to the sounds coming from the trumpet, therefore I decided to buy the instrument and joined the trumpet group. My attachments grew, however, as I wanted to be able to play in the shortest possible time—but I lacked the musical skills. I went for lessons with a teacher, who wanted me to start from the basics rather than help me to master the marching band pieces. My impatience grew when I couldn’t master the rhythm and melody, or play in harmony. I didn’t endure the hardship of learning with the correct wish: that of playing our sacred music at a standard that would touch ordinary people’s hearts, thus allowing them to be saved.

Master said in the 2018 Fa Teaching Given in Washington, D.C.:

“What I am ultimately trying to convey to you is that it was all for this affair that you came here! So you have no choice [but to do all of this well]; there is really no other way! That’s the case for Dafa disciples. For ordinary people it’s fine to reincarnate however they may. But that’s not an option for you, as you are here for Dafa and its great undertaking. So if you don’t do well you will be left with regrets. And I especially want to remind our veteran Dafa disciples not to slack off.”

The main European coordinator suggested that I change instrument to baritone, as we lacked baritone players in the band. I was disappointed at first, thinking that it would cost me more travelling with a baritone from the UK to Europe. That was a manifestation of negative thoughts—thinking of myself first rather than the one body.

Lastly, I would like to end my sharing with Masters Hong Yin II (Version B) poem:

“The Master-Disciple Bond” - February 1, 2004

“Four years has the wild evil surged

A steady helm has assured the right course

The Disciples of Fa have gone through evil trials

And though great the pressure, their wills are unbowed

There is no affect between master and disciple

The Buddha’s grace remolds Heaven and Earth

When disciples have ample righteous thoughts

Master has the power to turn the tide”

Thank you Master! Thank you fellow practitioners!

Please kindly point out anything inappropriate in this sharing.