(Clearwisdom.net) Being Fortunate to Obtain the Fa
In autumn 1998, my daughter came to visit her father and me. She had just started practicing Falun Gong several months before, and she had changed tremendously-- both physically and mentally. She wanted her weak and ill father to practice Falun Gong, so she brought us all of the Dafa books published at that time. She did not ask me to read any particular book. I happened to pick up the book Zhuan Falun first. Upon opening the book, I could see from the photo that Master is so compassionate and peaceful. After reading it, my perception was that "It's a scripture." I was also surprised because I had never read any scriptures in my life. So how did I know that it was a scripture? The more I read it, the more I felt that it was a book that teaches people to cultivate. I immediately joined my daughter in practicing Falun Gong. That kind of happiness was beyond words! I was 78 years old that year.
My daughter left after a short stay with us. My husband and I studied the Fa and did the exercises at home. We did not know that there was a practice site near our home. Not until early 1999 did we start doing the exercises at the practice site and attending the group Fa study. The third morning, after we returned home from doing the exercises, it seemed that symptoms of my chronic illness (dizziness) suddenly occurred. The world turned giddily before my eyes; I vomited and had diarrhea. I knew Master was cleansing my body and I was not scared. Instead, I was quite happy. The symptoms disappeared soon, and this old illness has never recurred since.
I had serious presbyopia and cataracts, which caused me to have blurred vision. After practicing Falun Gong, I read the Fa daily. My eyes became brighter, and I did not feel tired. Now, even while staring at a computer every day, my eyes do not feel tired. My eyesight is getting better and better and I no longer need eye drops.
I also had a serious premature heart disease. My heartbeat was irregular, but I did not pay much attention to it. After I started practicing, my daughter (a doctor) once felt my pulse. To her surprise, my premature heart disease had disappeared, and my heartbeat was regular! To prove this, she did a 24-hour electrocardiogram (ECG) for me; the results were great.
I've had a problem with my hip and knee joints since I was young. When I grew older, there were many large and small fatty tumors around my knee joints, causing deformation of the joints. Any change in weather would lead to its recurrence and pain, and I would have lower limb edema. When it was serious, my legs were so swollen that I had difficulty lifting them. I understood that I had too much karma, but I could not let Master endure it for me, I knew I must endure some. I also realized that what I endured was small. For my old age, my health became better and better, and such a serious joint disease was cured without medication--it is a miracle that could only occur in Dafa cultivation.
I also had other health problems such as spasm of limbs, long-term constipation, insomnia, poor appetite, and so on. Now, I'm free of these problems. I'm 88 years old. I can see and hear clearly, and my back is straight. I can eat well, sleep well, and walk freely. I'm energetic and also have learned to use a computer to make "truth-clarification" materials. I work six to seven hours a day without feeling tired. Master has made all this possible; I'm so happy to be able to cultivate in Dafa!
Making it Through the Test of Sentimentality
As the persecution started, my husband was terrified because of his experience with the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) several political movements during the past decades. He felt that the "Cultural Revolution" had returned. He said, "I'm so frightened that I tremble. I cannot practice Falun Gong anymore." He also asked me not to practice, and he did not allow me to meet with other fellow practitioners. Our practice site dissolved. The assistant of our practice site was criticized by his workplace authorities and stopped practicing. The environment changed all of a sudden, but my heart remained unaffected.
Six months later, my husband fell into a coma due to "cerebral infarction." After emergency treatment, he was able to get out of bed to urinate that same night. However, he did not realize that his quick recovery was a blessing from his cultivation. He failed to grasp the chance to continue his cultivation in Dafa, and he once again missed the opportunity to be saved. After that, his mind was sometimes clear, and sometimes it was foggy. He lost control of his bladder and bowels. He passed away three years later.
My husband and I lived together for 68 years, and we had a deep affection for one another. During the days after I lost my husband, I missed him so much. However, I thought of what Master said,
"The birth, aging, sickness, and death ordinary people go through all have underlying causes," ("The Third Talk" in Zhuan Falun)
"Cultivation is something you do right in the thick of tribulations. They'll test whether you can sever your emotions and desires, and they'll see if you can take them lightly. If you're attached to those things you won't be able to finish your cultivation." ("The Fourth Talk" in Zhuan Falun)
I regarded myself as a practitioner, and I was soon awakened from my grief. I wholeheartedly devoted myself to the cultivation of Dafa.
During the three years when I accompanied my husband to the hospital, thanks to fellow practitioners' help, I could obtain Master's new articles in a timely manner. However, I seldom had time to do the exercises; I felt that I lagged behind my fellow practitioners. It took me one year to be able to do the sitting meditation in the lotus position. I was 84 years old then. (I can do the sitting meditation in the lotus position for an hour now.)
Clarifying the Truth
With Dafa's guidance, I soon walked out of the shadow of my husband's death. Besides studying the Fa and doing the exercises, the first thing I do is to go out to clarify the truth. At the beginning, while facing unfamiliar people, I could not utter a word. There also were not many truth clarification materials available at the time. I started to write out truth clarification messages with brushes. I cut a large red paper into strips 13 cm long and 5 cm wide, and then I wrote: "Falun Dafa is good," "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good," "Falun Dafa is the righteous Fa," "Treating Dafa kindly will receive good rewards" on them. After that, I went out to post these truth clarification messages on walls, underpasses, and lantern poles. Later on, I was able to get printed truth clarification materials such as flyers, brochures, and truth clarification posters. I delivered these materials door-to-door to people.
With the progress of Fa-rectification and my deeper understanding of the Fa through Fa study, my truth clarification skills became more mature. With Master's care and protection, and under the power of my righteous thoughts, I went out every day. I always came across many predestined people who happily accepted the materials I handed them. Some people took the initiative to ask for materials from me, and they thanked me for it. So long as I did truth clarification work, my legs always felt light, and I did not feel tired after walking for several hours.
Sometimes I would meet people whose minds were seriously poisoned by the CCP; they had a bad attitude. I only felt sad for them, but I did not feel any grievance.
I found that the CCP's dark paws extended to the education field. Primary and middle school textbooks included contents that slander Dafa and poison the minds of teenagers. I wrote to school principals and teachers, and I enclosed related truth clarification materials. I also wrote to persons-in-charge at police departments, prisons, labor camp bureaus, and forced labor camps to clarify the truth to them. I mailed truth clarification materials to renowned persons in different provinces. Fellow practitioners and my family members helped me get several thick Yellow Pages and address books, making it easier for me to mail truth clarification materials to people from all walks of life.
Making Truth Clarification Materials
From "Minghui Weekly," I often read articles about the difficulties practitioners at materials production sites have met with, and I have been thinking of doing something to help. With the blossoming of materials production sites in many places, Master helped me realize my wish. In the second half of 2003, a coordinator suggested setting up a materials production site in my home. I felt it was a great idea; my home is spacious, and only a nanny and I live there. The most important thing was that it was what I had hoped for. I agreed to do so with happiness.
I was 83 years old then, and I started to learn how to operate my computer. With help and patience from practitioners who know the technical skills, I gradually learned to print all kinds of truth clarification materials, make truth clarification amulets (1), and burn CDs. Now I am practically an expert on printing. For an older lady like me, who has never gone to school before, this fully manifests and verifies the miracle of Dafa.
I take good care of my computer and printer; they are my Fa weapons. I call them "Mingming" (clear) and "Huihui" (wisdom). They accompany me to do the exercises and study the Fa. While working, we listen to Dafa music together. When their work load was heavy and could not guarantee the printing quality, I often sent forth righteous thoughts for them and told them, "Mingming and Huihui, you are beings with souls. Now it is the Fa-rectification period, you are fortunate to be selected as Fa weapons and to become a particle of Dafa. All Dafa practitioners seize the time to clarify the truth and offer salvation to sentient beings; you should also work hard and diligently, produce more materials with good quality, and make your contribution to the salvation of sentient beings." It is really miraculous. After I said all these words, they immediately printed materials with good quality! I praised them, "Thank you! You have been working hard!" In the past six years our materials production site has never stopped working due to a problem with the machines.
In my work room I put up a picture of Master and Falun emblems. I pay my respects every day with incense and fresh fruit. I study the Fa, do the exercises, and send righteous thoughts at Master's feet. When fellow practitioners come, they pay respect to Master first. They have said that the field in my work room is peaceful and pure, and it has great energy. Every time I go out to clarify the truth, I say goodbye to Master first and request Master to strengthen me. Every time, I have returned home safe and sound.
I'm 88 years old this year. My original lifespan may have long ended; Dafa has prolonged my life. I will definitely steadfastly do well the three things, firmly believe in Master and Dafa, and walk well the last leg of my return journey.
Fellow practitioners please point out anything inappropriate in my understanding with compassion and help correct it.
Written on October 15, 2008
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