(Clearwisdom.net) This story starts ten years ago. At that time I was a graduate student in China. One day one of my friends who was fond of qigong sent me an e-mail telling me he had started a new qigong practice and had benefited from it more than from any other qigong. I replied and told him I'd like to know more about it.
One month later he mailed me the books of the practice, Falun Gong and Zhuan Falun. I read the books and found answers to questions I'd long had about life, the universe, space and much more. I came to understand the root cause of illness, why we have troubles in our lives, and how to deal with and overcome the difficulties we encounter. The principles inherent in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance gave me insights. My mind expanded, and my wisdom was enriched. The more I see everything around me, the more I can feel the magic and greatness of the universe - how the compassionate universe created happiness for all the beings here. And when I see every person around me, I feel more and more from the bottom of my heart that I should treat him or her kindly and compassionately. I should try my best to cultivate and raise my level towards ultimate selflessness and altruism.
We had a practice site in front of the campus entrance then, so I joined and discussed the questions I had in my personal cultivation with other practitioners there.
After Practicing Falun Gong for Two Months, Ms. Wang Recovered from Her Cough and Became Healthy
Ms. Wang, about 70 years old, came to the practice site the same day I did. She had suffered from hypothyroidism and asthma for 15 years. After practicing Falun Gong for two months, her cough disappeared, and she went from being emaciated and sallow to having a rosy complexion, full of energy. I commented, "Ms. Wang, you've improved tremendously! Look at how healthy you are now! If it had not happened before my eyes, I would never believe that you used to rely on thyroid tablets and oxygen to sustain your life." She smiled at me, saying that she was also amazed by the changes. Now when she walked, she felt her body to be light and energetic. She also told me that she ran into a former colleague who thought she had met Ms. Wang's ghost. Her colleague expected Ms. Wang would never recover and thought she had already died.
Ms. Wang's life used to be rough. Because she was born into a wealthy family, she was severely criticized and persecuted during the Cultural Revolution. Her mind was greatly harmed by the long-term hardships she endured. With depression and feelings of loneliness, her old age became one of suffering from many illnesses. When she was close to death, her friend recommended Falun Gong to her. She said the first time she watched Master's lectures she was deeply touched by the teaching that "Zhen-Shan-Ren is the sole criterion to discern good and bad people." (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun) She felt Master Li's extreme wisdom, that He was able to explain so many profound principles in very simple words, and that He was leading people with great courage to return to goodness by His own example in such a materialistic society. She read one lecture of Zhuan Falun every day and cultivated her xinxing according to the teachings in the book. This is the reason why she could recover so quickly from her illnesses
Strong-minded Ms. Chen Learned to Treat Other People Compassionately; Her Husband Started to Practice Falun Dafa
Ms. Chen retired ahead of time because she had diabetes and many other illnesses. Introduced to Falun Gong by her relatives, she learned the exercises, which she thought to be very good. Later on she studied Zhuan Falun. Having finished the book, she understood the reasons for her many illnesses. The principle inherent in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance taught her that, in order to recover from illnesses and maintain a healthy body, one must consider others first and treat them kindly and compassionately. She also learned to look inward and be tolerant of others. Conducting herself as a practitioner according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, she now smiles at other people from the bottom of her heart; they changed their attitudes toward her.
Interestingly, since her husband witnessed the incredible changes in her, he thought Falun Gong was a really special practice and began to read Zhuan Falun. Being an expert in the physics field, Mr. Chen was greatly impressed by the principles discussed in the book regarding the universe, time and space, the human body, and life. He realized that Falun Gong isn't simply a type of qigong with good effects in healing illnesses, but that it is based on broad and profound principles that provide people with great enlightenment possibilities and improves one's wisdom. Mr. Chen began Falun Dafa practice, and the couple cultivated together diligently. Prior to the persecution, I saw them correcting other people's exercise the movements and teaching new practitioners the exercises every day.
I Understood the True Criteria for Being Human
After I started to practice Falun Gong, others thought I became much stronger. My realization is that even if I stay up very late at night, as long as I study the Fa and do the exercises, I don't feel tired at all and can continue to do heavy physical labor in the daytime. People think I look ten years younger than my real age. I know it's all the results of cultivating my xinxing and getting rid of my attachments according to the principles taught in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
After July 1999 I refused to give up practicing Falun Gong and was illegally arrested. The communist regime greatly interfered with my job and the development of my career. My family members and friends were terrified; many of them suggested I go abroad to advance in my career. After several years of trying I was finally able to leave China.
Shocked by the Truth, My Wife Also Started to Practice Dafa
My wife used to have a religious belief, but she couldn't understand the scriptures. She knew the scriptures were good, but she couldn't conduct herself according to the scriptural teachings in her daily life. She became easily nervous and irritated and couldn't control her temper. On the question of whether to learn more about Falun Gong and start to practice it, she was quite fearful and dared not. Later on she read information from The Epoch Times newspaper that several lawyers who stood up to defend the persecuted Falun Gong practitioners were subjected to the same cruel persecution as the practitioners. She also read the investigative organ harvesting report by two Canadian lawyers, detailing the crimes of harvesting organs from incarcerated, living Falun Gong practitioners and was greatly shocked. After that she started to study Falun Gong to understand why so many practitioners still stand up for justice and insist on practicing cultivation according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, despite the brutal persecution.
Having read Master's lectures, she understood that everything is inherent in the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance; that the language in the books that teaches people to be kind is so simple and easy to understand; that the reason why a person practices Falun Gong reflects one's mindset, to be a good person; and that there is nothing to fear with the wish to be a good person.
Having understood the truth, she experienced miracles. At first when she watched the Fa-teaching lectures, her lower abdomen swelled and hurt. She realized that Master was purifying her body, and that it was the result of the Fa's supernatural abilities. After a while all the discomfort disappeared. The third day after she did the exercises she felt her entire body to be light. The lumbar intervertebral disc and the pain she had in her lower back after confinement were cured. She became energetic and relaxed. She is no longer irritable and anxious; instead, she has become tolerant and patient.
Right now my whole family practices Falun Gong. We always read Zhuan Falun and do the exercises together. We often share our cultivation experiences and discuss how to cultivate ourselves better, be more diligent, and get rid of our attachments.
Modern scientific theories can't explain everything I have experienced, but what I have witnessed is real. No matter whether or not you believe in those magical experiences, after you read Zhuan Falun, you will benefit. Falun Dafa benefits everyone.