(Clearwisdom.net June 21, 2003)
On March 13th, 2003, seven policemen and one other person suddenly entered my home. With the excuse of searching for counterfeit money, they searched everywhere. I immediately asked them to show their Search Warrant. One policeman said, "He is only a child, do not show him." Another policeman, as if he was not afraid, took it out. I looked at it carefully. There was no date and no indication of the beginning or the completion of the search. I said, "Ah! It is a "permanent" Search Warrant." At once I pointed this out and they were immediately nervous and stopped searching. They went into the clinic room. I thought that I should go there to expose them in front of everyone. But when I got there, they already had taken my father away. They also took away a copy of Zhuan Falun. I realized that they came here to search for Falun Dafa materials to compile "evidence" against my dad in order to arrest him.
I realized that I must go to the Police Substation to request his release, so I asked a relative to go with me. We went to the Police Office first, then to the Police Substation. The evil policemen said that we needed to go to the "610 Office"* to make the request. Finally we found the "610 Office." There was one person there. I asked: "Was there a Falun Gong practitioner arrested here? I am here to ask for the release of this person." He said: "We are not in charge of releasing anyone. You must go to your local Police Substation." I said: "Then at least tell me how he is and where he is." He said: "You do not need to know all this, just stay home and wait for news. It does no good to ask for his release. The police just accept such requests for the sake of appearances. Just go home." I did not give in. Then another person came in. He said: "These days anyone who practices Falun Gong is in trouble. If a book was found in your home, he will be sentenced to at least one year in a labor camp. Who are you?" I, with righteous thoughts and righteous actions, straightened my back and told them: "I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. I obtained the Fa in 1997. In 2002, I was expelled from school because I tried to clarify the truth to people there. Schools belong to the education system and the administrators know that this is an issue of freedom of belief. However, because of orders from above, they had no choice but to expel Falun Gong practitioners. They told me that as long as I admitted that I was wrong and wrote a so-called 'Letter of Regret' the school would welcome me back any time. I said, 'I will forever practice Falun Dafa. There is nothing wrong with practicing Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa is good.'" After they heard this story, they were touched and were also thinking. At this time, someone came and said that there was an urgent meeting. We had to leave. I asked my relative whether I said anything wrong. My relative said: "I did not hear any mistakes. I saw them raise their thumbs towards you when they were closing the door after you and heard them say to each other, 'this guy is truly capable!'"
On the way home, I remembered what Teacher said in the "Fa-lecture at the Conference in Florida, U.S.A.":
"As you know, initially, during the period after July 20, 1999, the persecution inside China was terribly severe, and no one dared say even one fair word about us. But now Falun Gong students dare to go see the persons directly responsible for the persecution, and they dare to go directly see people of different ranks. "You're persecuting me, so I came to tell you about the truth. "Dafa disciples have even rectified the Fa considerably in large areas, in many areas."
In the beginning, I did not dare to believe this! As soon as I got home, Mom returned as well. Mom also went to ask for Dad's release and spoke to the police in the Police Station and in the Police Substation: "A doctor is taking care of patients and did not do anything wrong. He is a good person. Why did you arrest a good person?" I realized that as long as you have righteous thoughts and righteous actions, the evil is afraid of you. I think Dad had a wrong thought. I did not agree with what he said "if seven to eight policemen come to catch you, then you will definitely be taken away." I know that the policemen here are not very evil. If there is no order from above, they do not bother you when they see Falun Dafa books and materials. However, if you have this one unrighteous thought, then you are admitting that the old forces can take away a Falun Dafa practitioner. There is a female practitioner here. Seven to eight policemen also went to her home. However, due to her righteous thoughts and the protection of family members who refused to co-operate, and who totally denied the old forces arrangement, she was not taken away.
Teacher said in the "Fa-Lecture During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference:"
"Speaking from another angle, my disciples, when the old forces are able to do what they want to do, isn't that because you've silently consented to what they want to do? When they tell you to go you go, when they tell you to write something you write it, when they tell you to do something you just do it, and when they arrest and sentence you, you just helplessly, silently consent to it."
I definitely could not passively accept the careless, brutal persecution by the evil. My request for the release of my Dad was not for the sake of appearances. I wanted to find more people to go to the government office to appeal and hold a hunger strike. I first called my uncle, who is also a Falun Dafa practitioner. He rationally told me that such a way is not going to work. Now I also realized that it would be very irrational. The next afternoon, there was an old man who came to receive treatment from my Dad. When I told him the facts (about my Dad's arrest), he sighed continuously and then proposed an idea: "The method of collecting signatures from the townspeople to ask for his release is a good method. I am willing to give my signature." I thought carefully. Practitioners from outside of China have successfully rescued many Falun Dafa practitioners. Furthermore, this activity of rescuing loved ones can also be elevated to the level of truth clarification and saving sentient beings. Mom said: "This is only a process. Fundamentally, whether your Dad can be released is still up to your Dad." I made up my mind. Fundamentally, this is for validating the Fa, clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings. Mom said that we should discuss this with other practitioners. The other practitioners said: "This approach is very good. You as a child, collecting signatures for your Dad, shows your heart of caring for your parents and your compassion for sentient beings. People in the world will understand and feel sympathetic. So it will have a good effect. However, inside China things are different from outside of China. You must pay attention to safety. If someone does not want to give their signature, do not try to force him or her to do so. Falun Dafa has its dignity. In order to avoid interference or disturbance from the police along the way, you should start with people who live farther away. Try to skip the homes of the officials. It is especially important to avoid taking the signatures of practitioners. Please do not let practitioners lead you to get signatures. Most importantly, you should do this with righteous thoughts and righteous actions." The cultivators truly are thinking about all aspects!
I went to store to buy pens and paper. The lady in the store is a friend of my sister. She asked me how old I am. I said I am twenty-three. The lady was very surprised and said: "I thought you are only sixteen to seventeen. My skin is not even as fair and fine as yours." I said: "I was not like this before. I was dark and thin, with pimples all over my face. My uncle gave me a nickname: 'dried little one.' I became fair and gained weight after practicing Falun Dafa." She smiled and said: "Now your uncle cannot call you the dried little one anymore." I then told her the facts about "The Fabricated Case of the Self Immolation in Tiananmen Square." I also told her that the reason I was buying pens and paper is because I was trying to rescue my Dad. I asked for her signature and she happily gave it.
After I got home, I started to collect signatures. I first rode my bike to a village. After I parked my bike, I walked into the first home in the village. I introduced myself first and then asked for her signature. When the lady heard that her house was the first, she said: "I will give my signature after others have given theirs." Chinese do not like to be the first, even if it is for good cause. Furthermore, when she heard that this signature was for Falun Gong, she was afraid to give it. I went to two more homes and the same situation occurred. In the fourth house, there were four to five students from junior high. One of them knew my dad. He immediately gave his signature and also persuaded other classmates to do so. One of them did not want to give his finger print and said: "If you give your finger print, then even eighteen cows can not pull it back." When I heard this I thought that this is not him selling himself [this is because in old China when someone was given to another family or orphanage, they gave their fingerprints as a final seal of the deal]. I immediately sent forth righteous thoughts and said: "This is a great thing you are doing for your eternal life." The two classmates who were still hesitating pressed down their fingerprint. I was very happy.
After leaving this house I tried many houses, but the doors were all locked. I was feeling sorry for them. I then entered a house with five to six people. After I explained the situation, only one of them said: "Come, I will give you my signature." The others did not respond. At this time, a man came in and asked me what I was doing there. I told him: "My dad was treating patients at home two days ago but was taken away because he practiced Falun Gong." They were very surprised, saying, "He did not go out to spread fliers, right?" I said, "Right." They said: "This is very irrational." I said: "The police had a search warrant that had no date." They were silent and did not say anything. The uncle asked me whether I practice. I said I do and also told them how I was kicked out of school. They were all very sympathetic and almost cried. I asked them one by one to give their signatures. In fear of the evil power of the Jiang regime, they were afraid to support this. They all advised me: "Please do not say that you also practice, since there is a three to five thousand Yuan** reward for reporting a Falun Gong practitioner; also do not mention that your Dad was arrested because of practicing Falun Gong." I had very strong righteous thoughts and said steadfastly: "I will not hide the fact, since I want to tell people that practicing Falun Dafa is trying to be a better person. My Dad's illegal arrest is also a result of wanting to be a better person. They were very surprised and wondered why I was so stubborn. I said: "I am also a Falun Dafa practitioner. Furthermore, Falun Dafa teaches us to cultivate Truth, Compassion and Tolerance. My Dad was arrested because of his cultivation of truth. I will not go against this principle." They were suddenly clear that Falun Dafa is really truthful. When I saw the purpose of truth clarification was accomplished, I joined my two hands in front of my chest (Heshi) as I left.
After leaving, I still could hear them discussing and sighing inside. I knew they now understood the truth, although they did not give their signatures. My heart was feeling very comfortable and broad. I was thinking along the way: there are many people who feel that the persecution of Falun Dafa has nothing to do with them. Now this is put in front of them and they need to think carefully about whether they should support it or not, whether these cultivators are good or not. In the meantime, this is also examining the effect of truth clarification by a Falun Dafa practitioner. My heart was not steady and was moved by others. Some said, "Why practice it, since it is not food, nor drink; if the government does not allow, then do not practice it." In fact, there are many Chinese that do not understand why Falun Dafa practitioners give up their families and jobs to go to Tiananmen to appeal. Why do they continue to practice it even when they were caught, locked up, and even facing death? In fact this is because these Chinese people did not obtain the truth as did the Falun Dafa practitioners, directly from the Teacher, so they do not have the inner longing after obtaining the truth.
After walking through several more houses, my righteous thoughts were weakened. My heart of laziness came up and I thought that if I do not mention about Dad being a Falun Dafa practitioner, it would be a lot easier. Now looking back, it is truly the compassionate guidance from Master who arranged the most righteous path. When I met more people, even before I mentioned it, they said: "Is this about practicing Falun Gong? Come and I will sign." When signing, they also said: "He is truly a righteous good person. He most deserves help." I went through seven to eight houses and everyone said so, as if to purposely point it out to me. My heart became steady: if I do not mention my father is a Falun Dafa practitioner, how do I clarify the truth? When I arrived at the next house, the man was very glad to hear this and said: "The more people, the more power. Let my wife also sign it." He also said: "If not for my bad leg, I would take you with me. How about this, when you come tomorrow morning, I will take you to those who did not sign and force them to sign." I immediately said: "Thank you, but Falun Dafa does not force anyone!" "Oh, is this so?" At that time, the dog in their house suddenly gave a hard bite on my leg. It was all due to Master's protection, the bite did not even break the skin. This alarmed me enough to cause me to carry a stick for the next two days while collecting signatures. The man also took me to his brother's home and let his brother sign. There was an old lady who hesitated for a long while. I did not want to leave her out, so I waited for a long time. She signed after her son came home. But I had not walked more then several steps when she came to take her signature away after listening to her neighbors. At that time, the sky was almost dark. I walked to ten more houses. Noticing that almost all houses were visited in this village, I went home. I counted the signatures to be over 50. Mom and I were very happy. The next day, as I was about to leave, the old lady came by. She complained that her daughter-in-law was upset at her and her son for signing and also did not believe that their signatures were adequately removed, so she wanted the signature sheet back. I was concerned that they would rip up the signature sheet, so I let her smear their signatures again. I was feeling very bad. Now when I think about this, I say to myself: she lives such a tough life because she does not have faith in herself.
In the second village, there was a lady I knew. Unexpectedly, she said: "We will not sign. Your family members work and make money, why practice this? Go away, go away." There was a relative of another practitioner. He signed without any hesitation and also encouraged me. This is like night and day compared with the old lady. I feel that it is not because of the connection of being a relative that one gives the signature, but it is based on the eternal kindness and compassion one has. I was going to ask one practitioner in the village where the house of the village official was, but he was not home. His family said that he would return in the afternoon. I decided to go to the next village first. Half way there I returned. I thought, it does not matter who the person is, whoever I meet, I will clarify the truth to them. I went to a house. Only a teenager girl was there. I knew that it is not possible that she knows my dad. I felt I should still use this opportunity to clarify truth to her. I told her: "Chinese kids are too dependent upon others. You should have your own ideas and support righteousness." I also clarified the truth to her briefly. She did not sign. It was not my intent to get her signature; my wish was to let her arrange her position in the future. As I walked along, I went into the house of an old classmate. The whole family gave their signatures. My old classmate also took me through two streets. Many people asked me: "Is this going to work?" I said: "This is the most effective way in China in the past several thousand years. I believe the government will listen to the voice of the people." Many of them were concerned that such signature collections may be of no use to the Jiang Regime dictatorship, and that if not handled properly would be used to charge those who signed with political crimes of "joined rally, anti-party, anti-government, etc.," but many of them still signed to show their support for righteousness.
(To be continued)
* "610 Office" is an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems.
** Yuan is the Chinese currency. The average monthly salary of an urban worker in China is 500 Yuan.