(Minghui.org) I'm in my 70s. I was lucky to have started practicing Falun Dafa on the 18th day of the Chinese New Year in 1996. After reading Zhuan Falun, I underwent great changes mentally and physically. Falun Dafa's broad and immense, profound inner meaning has helped me find the true meaning of life.
Dafa Cultivates Compassion
Throughout over a decade and a half of cultivation practice, I have been striving to conduct myself according to the Fa teachings at every moment and in everything I do, hoping to become someone who benefits others. For example, I help others when they encounter difficulties.
During the winter of 2000 we had a storm that lasted several days, and mud that had been dug out of the drainage was piled alongside the road for 1500 meters (about a mile). The road was the main path that leads to the market. After more than a week, it still hadn't been taken care of. I thought to myself, “It's getting close to the Chinese New Year, and there will be a lot of traffic on that road. Having all this mud piled on the road is really inconvenient!” Therefore, I shoveled the mud to the roadside, section by section. I cleared about 300 meters of road in five hours on the first day, and finished clearing the entire 1500 meters during the following two days.
Many people knew that I practiced Falun Gong, and all said, “How wonderful Falun Gong practitioners are! They always think of others.”
My cotton production was always better than anyone else's, especially after I started practicing Falun Gong. In October 2009, the township leaders invited me to teach cotton technology in an “Improve Cotton Production” meeting. I shared my experiences growing cotton with the farmers at the meeting. At the time, my cotton had matured but I did not have time to harvest it, and it disappeared overnight. The village leaders told me, “Cotton prices are so high this year, and so much of your cotton has been stolen. Why aren't you mad?” I said, “Falun Dafa cultivates compassion. Whoever did this must be badly in need of money. If I had known they were going to pick the cotton at night, I would have prepared some food for them.”
Bringing Up the Next Generations Using Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance
My son graduated from college and found a job in the government where he was in charge of personnel. Serving the public, he abided by the law and never accepted gifts.
One day, an old woman came to his office in tears. She said her son was about to get a divorce. She wept, “It's not because they don't love each other any longer, it's because my son has not been able to resolve the issue of his job location for a long time...” My son evaluated the case and made sure it was under his jurisdiction. He did research, talked to the incumbent and former supervisors, obtained approvals, and finally solved her son's job issue within six months. The old woman was thrilled.
On the day before Chinese New Year's Eve, the old woman brought 500 yuan and gifts to my son, but he told her, “Please enjoy them yourself for the New Year.” She kneeled down and begged my son to accept them. My son helped her up and walked her home with the money and gifts. The old woman said as they walked along, “It's rare to find such a good person that won't accept gifts. I had to give numerous gifts for my other requests and didn't even get what I asked for.”
Later on, it was known in my son's workplace: “No wonder he is so kind. His parents practice Falun Gong.”
In the fall of 1997, the orange tree in my yard was full of fruit. Children often came to pick the oranges without permission. One day, my four-year-old grandson ran into a group of such kids, who ran away and dropped the fruit. My grandson chased after them and yelled, “Don't run away! Take home the oranges you picked.” The children kept running, but one of them heard him. He came back, picked up some oranges, and was ready to leave, when my grandson said, “Take all you've picked.”
When I came back from the fields in the afternoon, that boy's mother came to my home and thanked us. She said, “Your practice of Falun Gong has taught your grandson to be good. When my son picked your oranges, your grandson didn't curse him and even offered them to him to take. He is a great kid.” My grandson told me about what had happened in the evening. I asked him what made him do that, and he answered, “That boy didn't have any oranges at home, and all he wanted was to eat some oranges. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance teaches people to think about others, right, Grandpa?” I'm glad my grandson could benefit from the precept and example.
The Police Ask, “Can We Practice This Gong?”
After Jiang started the persecution of Falun Gong in 1999, we appealed with the provincial government and Beijing.
One day, five cadres, including the secretary of the county Political and Legal Affairs Committee, the director of the police station, and the Party secretary of the village, came to my home, which attracted many onlookers. The cadres told me not to appeal anymore and not to practice Falun Gong. I said loudly, “Falun Gong teaches people to be kind, improves health, and restores morality. Is there anything wrong with any of that? We appeal to help the leaders understand Falun Gong, otherwise the leaders make wrong statements. Isn't that bad? My fellow villagers, am I right?” They answered together, “Right!” The cadres didn't want me to say anything more, so they left in a hurry.
On April 8, 2010, three police officers broke into my home, snatched all my Dafa books and exercise tapes, arrested me, and took me to the police station. I remained very calm and maintained a serene expression on my face. This is how the interrogation went:
Question: Why do you have to practice Falun Gong and not other qigongs?
Answer: Average qigong can only keep you fit. Falun Gong is a cultivation practice based in the Buddha school. Other qigong does not compare with Falun Gong.
Question: Why do you encourage people to quit the Party?
Answer: When you joined the Party, the Youth League, and/or the Young Pioneers, you raised your hand and swore that you would give your life to it. You have thus been branded with the mark of the beast. When some day the heavens start the destruction of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), none of the party members that have the mark of the beast will be spared. We persuade people to quit the party so as to save them! Tell me how can that be wrong?
These five or six aggressive police officers listened and gradually began to smile.
Question: Did your illnesses disappear after you practiced Falun Gong? Can we practice it?
Answer: Falun Dafa is a righteous cultivation practice. As soon as you truly practice cultivation and follow the standards of a practitioner, Master Li will purify your body and help you eliminate karma. If you regard yourself as a practitioner at every moment and constantly improve your xinxing, your illnesses will gradually disappear. Master Li spread the Fa to save sentient beings. Anyone can practice it. As long as you conduct yourself according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and cultivate yourself.”
One of them said, “Ok, you can go home now. We'd like to read the books we took from you and take turns watching the lecture videos. It's good that we're allowed to practice.”
In the winter of 2001, when the persecution was most severe, another practitioner and I went to Bayi Township over six miles away to distribute truth-clarification materials. The road was muddy, and we stumbled a few times. As soon as we were finished in one big village, we suddenly ran into five or six police officers on the road. We passed them without letting it affect us., but we didn't get very far before a police officer called to stop us. I immediately sent forth strong righteous thoughts. I asked Master Li to strengthen us and to not allow the evil to get close. Indeed, the police officer only walked a few steps toward us before others dragged him back. At the time, we still had a lot of materials with us. We were very grateful to our esteemed Master for his merciful protection.
During the last 16 years, we have lived through a lot, including the sinister persecution, with ups and downs. Through it all we have had faith in Dafa and Master, and we have made it through steadfastly, walking the path toward godhood!
From the Call for Submissions to Commemorate the Twentieth Anniversary of Falun Dafa’s Introduction
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