[The following article appears in the book Hearts and Minds Uplifted--The Power of Falun Dafa, first published by the Clearwisdom editors in 2006. The many short stories in this book were written by people of all ages, from many countries, and from all walks of life. They are all very personal and unique, and yet they share a common theme: the tremendous spiritual growth that comes from practicing Falun Gong. For more information or to order Hearts and Minds Uplifted, please see: http://www.mhbooks.org/mhbooks/index.php?target=products&product_id=29937&sl=EN ]
In October 1999, I received a prison sentence and suddenly became a convict. Originally, even the prosecutor said that I should be found innocent. My lawyer also said that I was innocent and that if I were to be found guilty, he would not charge me a penny. Nevertheless, I was found guilty and the next thing I knew, I was in prison. I could find no one to share my pain or listen to my complaints. I felt heartbroken.
In December 1999, several groups of Falun Gong practitioners were sent to the same prison simply for upholding their faith. At that time I did not understand the practitioners' efforts in their cultivation practice. Together with other inmates, I laughed at them, thinking that they could find nothing better to do but bring trouble upon themselves. I even said that Falun Gong practitioners had mental problems. I also speculated that they were politically motivated. After I was moved to different cells, these questions were gradually resolved. During my time in the prison, I was moved seven times. Each move provided an opportunity to meet more practitioners.
Prison is pure hell. Everything, from daily life to people's thinking, is very different from the outside world. Inmates fight for food, spread gossip and mock each other. In prison, people do whatever they can to make themselves feel good at others' expense. The only exceptions were the Falun Gong practitioners. They never fought back when attacked, either physically or verbally. They cared for other people. They placed value on virtue and good deeds. They also clarified the truth about Falun Gong, patiently advising the criminal inmates to become good people.
In the seven months I spent in prison, all the practitioners I knew were the same way. Regardless of their education level, they all demonstrated a high moral standard. They had a great capacity to tolerate differences in people, and they all were able to endure tremendous hardships. Their sincere manner and compassion were most memorable. After spending time with Falun Gong practitioners, I was amazed that I could meet such good people in such a dark place. Under their great Teacher's guidance, they were practicing a wonderful cultivation. I secretly admired them. Falun Gong practitioners are the most fortunate people in the world.
This experience taught me an important lesson. I established an upright understanding of the world and found the true meaning of life. I saw a light in the darkness and found truth in that boundless sea of misery. I am grateful to those who put me in prison, even though their motives were personal revenge. How else could I have ever met so many Falun Gong practitioners? Without this experience, I would have taken more wrong turns in life and committed more bad deeds. This prison term for me was a blessing in disguise. Why do I say this? Because I have learned Falun Gong! I will tell my family and friends about the persecution. I will invite them to practice Falun Gong. I will tell everyone to remember Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I will tell them that Falun Dafa is great.
Now people around me tell me that I am a different person. They say that I have more respect for people. That is because when I was in prison, I read Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Gong. After I heard Falun Gong practitioners clarifying the truth about the persecution, I vowed to start practicing Falun Gong after getting out. Later on, I became a Falun Gong practitioner myself.
Now I am telling everyone my own experience: Please try to find out more about Falun Gong practitioners. Please come to learn the truth about Falun Gong!
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Category: Beginning Cultivation
