(Clearwisdom.net) I loved to read as a child. It was a time of extreme deprivation in terms of material and spiritual nourishment. I read any book within my reach, especially those that were banned by the communist party. Gradually I began to search for the meaning of life. Having lived through numerous political campaigns I thought, "How boring it would be if we always had to live in an environment like this!" I read Chinese and Western classics, but was also brainwashed with communist propaganda. I was egotistical and arrogant and thought I could be amazing in a certain field.
Desperation
Reality, however, was cruel. When the ideal turned into the fabricated fantasy, I only wanted to settle down with a good husband for the rest of my life.
The man I married was a gambler. Disappointed, I pursued a hedonistic lifestyle. I joined my husband at the gambling table and threw my life away. I smoked, played mah-jong, and bickered with people. Over time we lost too much money to continue gambling, and our health deteriorated. I asked myself, "Is this the life I want? If not, where is the way out?"
Obtaining Dafa
Prior to 1999, my husband often spoke of Falun Gong. He mentioned his colleagues discussing the supernatural qualities of Falun Gong and really believed it. My mind was deeply poisoned by party culture. I had lots of doubts. I thought it had nothing to do with me and just went on with my life. Since I loved to read, however, I borrowed a Falun Gong book and read it. I read it twice, but did not see anything special, so I put it away.
After the persecution began in 1999, the police arrested my husband's colleague who practiced Falun Gong. My husband brought his Falun Gong books and hid them in our home. When the colleague was released from the detention center he brought more Falun Gong books to our home. We kept the books and were not afraid, since we didn't believe the lies on TV attacking Falun Gong. We read the books prior to the persecution and knew the colleague became a very good person through the practice. However, we were still very much addicted to gambling and did not have time to think about Falun Gong. He was later fired for his belief and his life was difficult, yet he came to us time and time again to expose the government's lies and explain the facts. Each time we knew he was going to come we tried to avoid the encounter, but sometimes we had to meet with him since he was a friend, and yet our focus remained on the mah-jong table. Now that I think about it, I feel ashamed. How could I have been so deeply lost?
My life hit rock bottom in 2004, when we lost all of our money, gambling. My husband smoked six packs of cigarettes a day. His teeth were black. He had diarrhea and was often weak. I had violent migraines and chest pains in addition to chronic cholecystitis and gallstones. We fought all the time; divorce was brought up. I had not worked for more than a decade. We had no children. I had reached a dead-end.
My husband has the better enlightenment quality and he finally decided to practice Falun Gong after the colleague spoke with him many times. I remember it vividly; it was May 5, 2004, the day my family turned over a new leaf. Seeing the changes that came over him him, I decided to practice, on September 1, 2004.
A new life
We instantly experienced the divine powers of Falun Dafa. Since my husband began practicing the cultivation, he never touched another cigarette or mah-jong, and never cursed again. He had not taken his job seriously and either left early or went to work late; mah-jong was the only thing on his mind. Now he works very hard and practices the exercises and studies the Fa when he comes home. He does lots of household chores and shows great concern for me. He also takes wonderful care of his parents. I got a terrific husband because of Falun Dafa, even though I tried every trick before to change him into someone I liked, and nothing worked. I am infinitely grateful toward Master, Falun Dafa and fellow practitioners.
Since beginning Dafa practice I easily found a good job: stable, with a good salary. My enlightenment quality is poor but I never relented in Fa study and practicing the exercises. Over time, I learned how to guide my behavior with Fa principles and not to mind other people's faults when conflicts arose between my colleagues and me. I would accept assignments other people did not want to take and would try my best to be kind whenever there was a problem. My colleagues all gave me positive marks.
I rarely showed any care toward parents on either side before practicing Falun Gong. I got married in another city. My mother died when I was young, and my father lived alone in our hometown. While I was addicted to gambling I did not visit my father for several years and never called him. After I began cultivation I knew I had done a poor job and I tried my best to make it up to him. I invited my father to come live with us and explained the wonders of Dafa to him. He saw that we were productive and hardworking and was happy for us. After he went home I often sent him money and called to check on him. My mother-in-law had a stroke and had mobility problems, so we often visited her and I helped her take showers. I washed her clothes and bedding and cleaned her room. I spoke with my in-laws about Dafa. They were initially afraid because of the purges they had been through; but when they saw our conduct, they believed what we said and agreed to quit the Party. I became well known for my extraordinary care of my parents-in-law.
Master has arranged the best path for us
I experienced the true wonders of Dafa in the early stage of cultivation. When I practiced the exercises I felt small Faluns spinning on the tip of my fingers, and sweet secretions in my mouth. It was a great feeling. When I went through sickness karma I would run a fever that spiked at 100.4 0F, but I would still go to work as usual. All of my illnesses disappeared. Master scooped us from hell and redeemed us for all of our crimes, and has arranged the best path for each of us.
I had done so many bad things prior to practicing Dafa and in countless previous lives, and I had always complained about fate. But now we are fortunate. For example, we applied for an interest rate rebate on our old house prior to the deadline and were the only household that received approval, even though a group of us in the residential district applied at the same time. Our house was also the only one that was renovated from among similar houses in our neighborhood. Lots of "coincidences" happened after we practiced Dafa. I know that Master changed our lives and gave us the best.
Since I began practicing Dafa I often cry with tears of joy. Words cannot express my gratitude toward Master, Dafa and other practitioners. When I see people struggling in misery or attacking Dafa out of ignorance, my heart aches for them. I want to tell everyone: please learn the facts and practice Falun Dafa. Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance are the source of happiness wherein lie the eternity of your existence!
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