(Clearwisdom.net) The persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been going on for over nine years. Yet many practitioners are still being detained in forced labor camps, prisons, and brainwashing centers. Even if we still have omissions in our cultivation, we cannot allow the evil to take advantage of our loopholes to persecute us. Only when we improve as a whole body can we end this persecution.
I suffered persecution in different places, including two detention centers, two brainwashing centers, and one labor camp, for a total of four years. I'd like to share some of my experiences of getting through the persecution.
1. Doing the Three Things Well
Since I began my cultivation in 1997, I've paid close attention to Fa study. I usually set aside at least two hours every day to study the Fa, even amidst the persecution. While in detention, we were not allowed to keep Dafa books with us. Some of us wrote down Master's articles we could recall from memory, while other practitioners outside sneaked copies of Master's articles and books to us. One day the guard searched all of my pockets. I had a copy of Zhuan Falun in one of my pockets. The guard looked inside this pocket, but, miraculously, he just couldn't see the book. Another practitioner was able to maintain very strong righteous thoughts. As a result, the guard did not dare to search him even though he had Zhuan Falun in his pocket. While in detention, I memorized three chapters of Zhuan Falun, Hong Yin, Hong Yin II, and over ten of Master's articles.
I clarified the facts to the guards as well as the detainees assigned to monitor the practitioners. Many of them became supportive of us after learning the truth about Dafa. One of them even secretly delivered Master's articles and other materials to us on a regular basis.
I spent about three hours sending forth righteous thoughts every day. When I was being tortured, I always reminded myself to send forth righteous thoughts. When my fellow practitioners were being tortured, I sent forth righteous thoughts to strengthen them.
2. Looking Within
We often talk about looking within. In my opinion, if we really could comprehend the meaning of looking within, the persecution would have ended long ago. While in detention, every thought of ours was under the scrutiny of the evil elements. Any loophole would be taken advantage of by the evil. I had a feeling that even though I tried to expel unrighteous thoughts, the evil in other dimensions never stopped their efforts to stir up my bad thoughts. Whenever I had thoughts of doubt about Dafa, the evil would immediately attack me, manipulating the guards to bombard me with warped notions day and night. At one point I couldn't stand the torture anymore, and I developed the thought of giving up. The captain immediately came to talk to me, as if he could read my mind. Fortunately, I was able to wake up and strengthen my righteous thoughts with Master's hints. However, if I had not loosened my guard, I would not have had to endure additional persecution. In such an environment filled with evil, we must not slack off. Instead we must look within at all times, paying attention to our thoughts and actions. We must send forth righteous thoughts to eliminate our human notions and attachments. As I see it, looking within is, in fact, having our true nature take effect and enabling our righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil. At the same time, looking within enables Master to protect us and the evil is not allowed to persecute us.
3. Strengthening Our Belief in Dafa
If we really have unshakable belief in Dafa, the evil does not dare to touch us. Why can't we achieve such status? In my opinion, our human notions and attachments are the obstacles. When we are being persecuted, these attachments will latch onto our mind. If we do not maintain a strong main consciousness, we will be interfered with. I have come to the realization that any type of interference or persecution is aimed at shaking our faith in Dafa. Whenever we have the slightest bit of doubt about Dafa, the evil will immediately take advantage of this. Therefore, I always ask Master to help me when I suspect unrighteous thoughts are surfacing in my mind. I often think to myself that I will never waver in my belief in Dafa. When I was being tortured, I tried to maintain a calm state of mind and asked Master for help. I had a dream in which Master told me that fear and being "reformed" (meaning giving up cultivation) was very dangerous. After I woke up from the dream, I strengthened my belief in Dafa and I was determined to stand up to the persecution. With this thought, I was able to get through each day of my persecution. I was delighted to find that, after I passed each test and tribulation, I saw a different world.
4. Strengthening the Coordination among Fellow Practitioners
When being detained, practitioners were closely monitored and communication among practitioners was banned. In order to protest the persecution and strengthen our faith in Dafa, coordination and communication among practitioners is of great importance. The main communication channel we tried to create was face-to-face. The other one was by exchanging letters. Sometimes when we saw each other from afar, a gesture or simple eye contact was also enough to render support. Whenever there was a chance, we shared our experiences of protesting the persecution.
Why is the evil afraid of practitioners banding together? Isn't it scared of practitioners' coordination and the forming of a solid, unified body? When I was arrested for the first time in May 2000, over 40 practitioners were detained in three rooms. Several practitioners were able to break out of the rooms and requested unconditional release. The police were extremely frightened and tried their best to drag us back into the rooms, but we held hands and the police just could not move us. Later the police chief gave orders to separate us one by one. The CCP often used this tactic, namely, separating practitioners first and then working on each individual practitioner. They usually concealed the news of the persecution of any individual practitioner. Therefore, we should take the initiative to find out the persecution facts before we can even help detained practitioners. When we are being persecuted, we should try to inform other practitioners by any means. Some practitioners dared not reveal to others anything about their persecution. As a result, they were not able to obtain help from other practitioners, causing their persecution to be prolonged. When the police were beating a practitioner, the practitioner shouted "The police are beating people!" In unison many other practitioners shouted together to stop the beating. The police immediately walked away. During all these years of persecution, I have asked other practitioners to help me many times. The result was very effective, and sometimes it even helped me avoid being persecuted.
At present, every bit of time we have is given to us by compassionate Master. It is for us to establish our mighty virtue. It is also a chance for practitioners lagging behind to catch up. In my opinion, the largest issue right now is that we need to strengthen the coordination and collaboration among practitioners to form one body. If we can work well together, that is the manifestation of Dafa's power in the human world. Thanks to our revered Master, I have made it this far. I'd like to also thank my fellow practitioners for their help and support.
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Category: Clarifying the Truth
