(Minghui.org) I am unable to write because I am illiterate, but another practitioner was kind enough to write down my cultivation experiences for me so that I could share them with everyone.
Recovering from a Stroke
I am 76 years old. I started practicing Falun Gong in May 1996. My grandson lost his mother 25 days after he was born and was left in my care. I was in poor health at the time. I wasn't able to straighten my right arm because of a stroke. I wanted to give the poor baby the best care I could, but I needed help myself. It was a terrible feeling.
One day a local Falun Gong volunteer assistant suggested I practice Falun Gong for my post-stroke symptoms. I immediately agreed. I was willing to try anything that could restore my health.
When I started learning the Falun Gong exercises, I told the volunteer assistant, “My family has a history of strokes. I had a stroke and I will never be able to straighten my right elbow again.” He said, “Just focus on practicing the Falun Gong exercises. You will be well again.”
It couldn't hurt to try, I thought. I might not be able to do the exercises correctly, but I agreed with Master Li's teachings when I listened to the audio recordings of His lectures. (Master Li Hongzhi is the founder of Falun Gong and is respectfully referred to as Master).
I started to retch and have diarrhea after practicing the sitting meditation for three days. I knew from Master's lectures that he was cleansing my body. Sure enough, I was able to straighten my right elbow afterwards. I felt refreshed. My body felt light, no longer laden with illness. It felt great to be free of illness!
I knew I had found a righteous cultivation practice and a great Master. I was very diligent in my cultivation. I would join a study group every day and listen to other practitioners read the Falun Gong books. I would join the group practice every morning to practice the exercises. I cannot read, but I listened to Master's lecture recordings every day – sometimes up to four hours a day. I will never get tired of listening to Master's lectures.
Learning to Read
I really wanted to read when I saw other practitioners reading the Falun Gong books. Some people said it would be impossible for an old person to learn to read, but I was determined.
Master said,
“Let’s say, for example, there is a person who can’t read, and yet he sees that all other practitioners are moving forward, reading the books, or even memorizing the Fa. He thinks, 'I can't even read a word. What can I do?' He’s deeply worried. His righteous thoughts are genuinely from his true heart. Many people in this situation study very hard and find that they are gradually able to read. There have been many examples of this. One student who was not able to read was very anxious. Over and over again, he wondered, 'What should I do?' He fell asleep with his head on top of the book. While half asleep and half awake he found that all the characters in the book turned golden and each word flew into his brain. After he woke up, he could read the entire book, and yet he had never had any schooling. A person who didn’t even know how to write his name could now read every word in Zhuan Falun.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Canada”)
The same miracle happened to me.
When I looked at Zhuan Falun, I saw red, orange, and blue in the text and light flashing on the pages. This is indeed a book to treasure! I felt so lucky. I shall cherish the opportunity to practice Falun Gong. I resolved to conduct myself like a cultivator and follow Falun Gong's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Master requires us to become better people. Master is righteous, so I decided that I must become righteous, too. I no longer fuss over personal loss. I no longer complain when people take advantage of me. I no longer throw fits. I have become more calm, tolerant, and forgiving. I have also become more thoughtful and considerate.
Persevering in my Faith in Falun Gong
Everything changed on July 20, 1999. While I was enjoying practicing, the Chinese Communist regime announced its decision to ban Falun Gong. I persevered in my faith in Falun Gong and was impervious to the pressure from all directions.
When China's state-run media broadcast footage of people who claimed to be Falun Gong practitioners setting themselves on fire at Tiananmen Square, I knew immediately it was a propaganda stunt [to instigate people's resentment towards Falun Gong] because Falun Gong forbids us from harming anyone, least of all ourselves. I knew that those people shown in the footage must have been paid to participate in such a stunt.
[Note: An independent documentary “ False Fire ” analyzed the footage of the self-immolation act in 2001 and confirmed it was a hoax.]
Master is the most compassionate person. No one who practices Falun Gong will take his own nor anyone else's life. I refused to believe the false report. Master is the most righteous man on earth. He has taught us to be better people. He is like a father to me.
I was not afraid to tell people the truth about Falun Gong even though the Chinese regime arrests and imprisons those who share uncensored information about Falun Gong. Master is beside me at all times. He watches over me and protects me. I have never stopped practicing Falun Gong or studying the teachings despite the threat of persecution. I have never stopped handing out materials with important facts about Falun Gong. I have been working with other practitioners to clarify the truth about Falun Gong, informing Chinese people about the regime's propaganda.
[Note: The Chinese regime destroyed all Falun Gong books in 1999, so Falun Gong practitioners have to print information themselves to let people know the truth about Falun Gong and the regime's atrocities.]
I learned from Master's “Fa-Lecture During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference” that sending righteous thoughts and clarifying the truth should be part of our cultivation practice. I make sure I include them in my daily life. I have been sending righteous thoughts every day. I have never stopped clarifying the truth about Falun Gong to people. I post flyers in public places, hand out materials, and even clarify the truth directly to people.
Clarifying the facts about the persecution of Falun Gong is most important to me. In doing so, I have met all kinds of different people who present opportunities for me to improve myself.
I was handing out materials one day when a middle-aged man tapped me on the shoulder: “Give me a copy.” He was referring to the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party that I was handing out.
[Note: Falun Gong practitioners have no political agenda nor any wish to overthrow the Chinese regime. The book explains the Communist Party's long history of deceit so that people who grew up inundated by the Chinese regime's propaganda will be more open to the fact that the Party has lied about Falun Gong and has been concealing its persecution of innocent practitioners, including its heinous crime of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners and selling them for profit. Please refer to “ Bloody Harvest: Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China , ” an independent investigation report authored by David Matas, Esq. and Hon. David Kilgour, Esq, for more information.]
After I gave him a copy, he said, “Come with me. What is an old lady doing with a book like this?”
I was not afraid, so I went with him. I was doing the most righteous thing in the world. Master was watching over me.
“It's a great book. Everyone will want to read it. I couldn't straighten my right elbow after I had a stroke, but I am completely healthy now because of Falun Gong. Who would want to give up such a great practice?” I told him.
The man led me out of the market and into a deserted area with no one else around. He asked me to give him 200 yuan and hinted that he would report me to the police if I didn't.
“I have no income because my husband passed away. I live with my oldest son. If you want money, you will have to come home with me and ask for money yourself.”
He gave up and left. I assume he was afraid of potential witnesses. When I ran into him again in a local market, he was afraid to even make eye contact. It is exactly like Master mentioned,
“In practicing cultivation of our school, you will not have any problems as long as you can conduct your xinxing well, since one righteous mind can subdue one hundred evils.” (Zhuan Falun)
I was handing out materials in a local market one day when a police officer came up to me and took my messenger bag from the front basket of my bicycle. I was not afraid.
Master said,
“Under trying circumstances of any type, you must all keep steady in thought. Just by staying unaffected you will be able to handle all situations.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Conference in the Midwest-U.S.”)
I could always make a new bag, but I could not reproduce what was inside it. It contained a list of people who had agreed to quit the Chinese Communist Party and/or its affiliated student organizations. That was the most important item in the bag. I could not lose it. [Note: Falun Gong practitioners do not encourage current and past members of the Communist Party to quit the Party for the purpose of subversion, but to spare them from the fate that awaits totalitarian regimes that have committed severe human rights violations, such as the Nazis.]
But the police officer turned around. He returned my bag and smiled at me. “Go on now. Be careful. Some people might report you.”
“Thank you,” I said.
I am sure he will be rewarded for his kindness. I am very happy for him.
I was handing out materials outside a supermarket one day when a man took a copy of the Nine Commentaries and entered the supermarket. He might have reported me to the police because a police car arrived soon after.
There was another practitioner with me. She was worried, but I told her, “Leave now. I will be fine.”
I had handed out all the materials I had with me. I was not afraid. I left the supermarket calmly. The police did not stop or notice me. I arrived home safely.
Teacher said,
“If you are not afraid, the factor that would make you afraid will cease to exist.” (“Eliminate Your Last Attachment(s)” in Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Hosting a Study Group at Home
It is not easy for me to travel around at my age, so I organized a study group at my home. We study Falun Gong books for two hours every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Our study group is very popular. Some practitioners will travel from far away to come here and study with us. We never skip a day, even if it is a sensitive day. We share our cultivation experiences and insights after we study. We also stock up on materials that we may need to hand out later.
The study group has been of great benefit to everyone's cultivation practice. We have been working together as one to save people from the lies propagated by the regime.
Teacher said,
“If Dafa disciples can manage to pool their strength together in one concerted effort, and act with extremely strong righteous thoughts, think about it, that will truly amount to divine beings being present in this world. It would be simply terrifying to the evil! ” (“20th Anniversary Fa Teaching”)
We may still have a long way to go, but I have complete faith in Master and Falun Gong. I will follow Master's teachings wholeheartedly and rectify my each and every thought. I shall do the three things well and cultivate myself diligently so that future posterity will know that even an old, uneducated woman is capable of cultivation. I shall live up to the title of Falun Gong practitioner in the Fa-rectification period. I shall do my best and not let Master down.
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