The practitioners who advance wave upon wave to safeguard the Law raise their levels. To resume the group practice and Law study form that Master has left for Falun Dafa practitioners, one must start from oneself right away. In the early morning of January 28, I went to our old group practice site to do the exercises. Several practitioners were already practicing there. The number of practitioners going out to practice is increasing. Once one has let go of life and death, there is nothing to fear.
Then came the test. In the morning of the Chinese New Year's Day, we were arrested while doing the exercises. We didn't eat or drink for 24 hours, but everyone was very energetic and beamed with smiles. We were sent into different cells. Most of the jailed were Falun Dafa practitioners. We recited LUNYU and HONGYIN (poems written by Master) and practiced the exercises together. Although being monitored all the time, we were not handcuffed or shackled. This is the proof of rectifying people's minds with the Law. Of course, more tests were underway.
1. Being unmoved can subdue ten thousand moves.
"One unmoved can subdue ten thousand moves." The unmoved is one's heart. On January 5 of the lunar year, my brothers, my son and the district public security chief came to see me. Supposedly nobody is allowed to visit before the verdict. I knew my family had bribed them. The public security chief told me that I could be released in two days if I promised to give up Falun Gong. I refused, and they were very disappointed. Two days later, even the head of the police station came to persuade me. I calmly told him the big changes that Falun Dafa had brought to my mind and body; Falun Dafa is the orthodox Law, not an evil cult. The district public security chief was mad at me, saying that it took him several days and much effort to get the head of the police station to come. I explained and asked for his understanding that I was not being unreasonable; I just cannot give up the ultimate Law of the universe.
At 4 p.m. that day, more than twenty of my family members and relatives came in and surrounded me. They tried to persuade me one after another, using both hard and soft tactics. They put my 7-month-old grandson in my arms. I had only one thought, "I must pass this test and never turn into a traitor." They then came up and dragged me, but I was firmly determined not to write any promise. They were crying and nobody would take the baby from me. "I'll take the baby with me to the cell then," I said. This worked and I took the opportunity to go back to the cell and passed the test.
2. Experience sharing makes our mind more upright.
Under such harsh circumstances, three of us practitioners lived in one cell and exchanged experiences and understandings every day. This is impossible outside the prison. Everyone learned a lot from others and made progress every day. On January 9 of the lunar year, many people came in with video cameras and lights. The government tried to find a model case of transformation, so they told us, "Whoever gives up practicing Falun Gong can be released right away." They then asked us, "Do you still want to practice?" "Yes!" we replied. The guard couldn't help but saying to them, "See! If they want to give up, they won't be in here."
This scene shook everyone's heart. If it is not the Law of mighty virtue, how can our hearts be so pure and calm? Without sharing experiences and learning from each other, how can we be of one heart and so firm in mind?
3. Spreading the great law in prison is yet to finish.
The chief prisoner of our cell was sentenced to two years because of corruption. Since last October, she has met many Dafa practitioners, including Ph.D.s, Masters, graduate students, high-level intellectuals, workers, and farmers. At first she had no knowledge of Falun Dafa practitioners and tried to make fun of them. She pretended to be interested in cultivation and asked practitioners to show her the exercises. She then called the guards to scold them. The practitioners were all firm in mind and calmly explained the principles, which made the guards angry and made her laugh. As time passed by, however, she realized practitioners are quite different from other prisoners. Every time Falun Dafa practitioners were sent in, she understood a little more about cultivation. She listened to their reciting as if she were reading the book Zhuan Falun. Thinking of all the phenomena in the society and her own experiences, she gradually developed the idea of cultivation.
When we were sent to the cell at 11 p.m. on the Chinese New Year's Day, there was no bedding available. It was very cold, but she gave her own bedding to us. The guard didn't allow her to give it to us and scolded her. She replied sincerely, "They are also humans. I hate to see this. I want to follow Zhen-Shan-Ren, too." She said to me, "You are all from the countryside. You look pure and kind. I am different from Falun Dafa practitioners; my mind is very complex and changes fast."
The guards tried to use her and often asked her, "Who is the head of practitioners in the cell? Who leads them to go out practicing? Who contacts others? Who brings in the books? What do they talk about?" They also told her that it was her opportunity to perform good service to atone for her crimes. She told them, "There is no organization or contacts. They are showing that Falun Dafa is right. The TV always says Falun Gong is evil, that it caused many deaths and rendered one to kill others. Actually Master Li Hongzhi never let them do this. Some didn't keep a righteous mind and didn't follow Falun Dafa's requirements; as a result, they were taken advantage of by the demons."
Although she only got to know Falun Dafa for a short time and hasn't learned the Law much, she has very good enlightenment quality. Once we were eating apples. A big and bright apple she ate was rotten inside. She shared what she enlightened to, "I am like this rotten apple, nice in appearance but bad and dirty inside. Master said that humans are like rotten apples that are to be thrown away. I don't want to be a rotten apple any more."
Once the director of the prison and some guards asked her, "What do you think of Falun Gong? Do you think Falun Gong practitioners can really follow Zhen-Shan-Ren?" "Yes, they do," she replied. "I believe all Falun Dafa practitioners are good people. The government has always called on people to learn from heroes and role models, but you don't need to call on the practitioners. Think about it, if every one of the 1.2 billion Chinese people does one good deed, what would the society be like? Whatever you say about Master Li, with one book, Zhuan Falun, he is turning the whole world around and making all practitioners look inward and cultivate their hearts all the time to be good persons. You say he is bad, but can you achieve this? Let me sing a song for you, 'If everyone gives a little kindness, the world will become a better place.' Now, if only you can give a little bit of kindness to Falun Dafa practitioners!" She hummed another song, "If neither you nor I want to be a soldier, who will protect our motherland and our home?" She made her point clear. If practitioners don't safeguard the Law, who will? The director of the prison sent her back to the cell without a word.
After learning more from the practitioners, she understood that Falun Dafa not only teaches people to be good, but, most importantly, it brings to light the real purpose of being a human, which is to return to one's original true self and one's most benevolent nature. After realizing that Falun Dafa cultivates both mind and body, she started to learn the exercises.
During the first few days, whenever the guards found her practicing the exercises, they would scold her, "What are you doing? Practicing Falun Gong? You are supposed to watch them and you are practicing too ?!" She would then dare not to continue. This kind of interference lasted for several days until she enlightened that she should continue to do group practice with us instead of giving in to the guards. After she changed her reactions, the interference stopped.
One night she suddenly told me, "Tomorrow is my birthday." I said to her, "Happy birthday. I wish you more diligent progress in cultivation every day. Let's have a special celebration of your birthday." She said seriously to me, "I want to change my birthday to April 30, when I will be released from jail. The first thing I will do once I get out of here is to read Zhuan Falun. I want to be a genuine disciple of Master Li."
I was moved by her words. I don't think I am as good as she is in finding my own shortcomings. When I was set free, she urged me to get all the books of Falun Dafa ready for her. A practitioner who was released later told me that in the newly adjusted environment, she's doing better and better.
I was set free with a "not guilty" verdict. I believe I have taken a step forward on the road leading to completion.
A Beijing Falun Dafa practitioner
April 1, 2000
(Translated on Apr. 10, 2000)
All content published on this website is copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
Category: Accounts of Persecution
