(Minghui.org) I grew up in a family that quarreled endlessly, leaving me confused and aimless, and I ended up spending my adolescent years drinking every day. I even took drugs and gambled.
The turning point came after I got married and had a near death experience. It was then that I started to believe what my mother-in-law had told me, and began practicing Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa).
Bitter Childhood
I was born in the 1980s, into a family that bickered non-stop. I had a stubborn grandfather and an unreasonable grandmother, who quarreled over trivial things, with neither giving in. I also had an alcoholic father and an elder sister who behaved recklessly, which often created turmoil in the family.
I came home from school one day to find our home a mess. I was frightened. I learned that my father and sister had been fighting again. One had taken a knife, the other a stool, and our home became a battlefield. The tableware, bowls, and cups were smashed, and my father had even smashed the television.
My mother wiped away her tears and struggled to get by while the disharmony in our family was causing great damage. I felt lost and wretched.
My father again smashed the television in front of me one day. I was in despair and took a bottle of medicine to my room. I was about to swallow all of it when my family saw me and snatched it away.
Making Poor Choices as an Adult
My childhood was one of fear and worry, and I grew up with no ambition. I was cynical, easily irritated, weary of life, and disgusted with the world.
I finally left home at the age of 16, and went to Qingdao City. My heart suddenly let go of the shackles, and I thought, “I'm finally free.” Other than working every day, my life consisted of eating, drinking, and playing. I felt that I was living naturally and unrestrained. Within a few years, I developed many bad habits and spent a lot of money. I drank every day, and later took drugs and gambled.
I consciously knew that I shouldn't live this way, and regretted that I had taken this path. I wanted to turn back, but felt unable to, so I just went on.
A Turning Point
When I was older, a classmate introduced me to the man I married. We dated for a time before I learned that his parents practiced Falun Gong. I had been poisoned by propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), so I did not have a good impression of Falun Gong.
I was resistant in my heart. “I must change them after we're married,” I thought. “I'll convince them to no longer practice.”
We got married, and in order to maintain our marriage, I cut back on my bad habits to a certain degree—but not completely. For example, when I was unhappy, my bad habits and drug addiction often surfaced. Since my in-law's finances were not good, I squandered tens of thousands of yuan that my family had given to me as a dowry.
However, I didn't let my parents visit my husband's home, because I did not want them to know that my parents-in-law practiced Falun Gong.
After staying with my in-laws for a period of time, I realized that they were not like what had been reported on television and in the newspapers. They were hardworking, and kind to everyone. When I was with them, I felt their sincere affection.
When I was pregnant, my mother-in-law did everything possible to buy good food, to make sure I was well nourished, even though the family was financially challenged. Although they treated me very well, I still did not believe them when they told me about Falun Gong.
Returning to the Right Path
My child was born when swine flu was going around, and I got pneumonia and had a high fever. I was treated in the hospital, but to no avail. I was to the point of almost dying, and placed on oxygen. Looking at my newborn, I was frightened. It was the first time that I had ever felt so close to death.
My mother-in-law felt my pain and asked me to recite, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good... Falun Dafa is good,” which, she said, could help me obtain blessings from divine beings. However, I didn't listen.
Just then a nurse came over, smiled, and said, “When you recite 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good... Falun Dafa is good,' it will really help restore your health.”
This shocked me, and I just stared at her. I wondered... had the CCP really slandered Falun Gong? Why did so many highly educated and high-ranking people practice it?
After thinking it over, I decided to listen to the nurse, and recited, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good... Falun Dafa is good.” I even fell asleep as I was saying it. When I woke up, my fever was gone, I felt better, and the dangerous symptoms had disappeared.
I was excited, and knew that I wanted to learn more about Falun Gong as soon as I was discharged. I decided to read the book Zhuan Falun.
I read every sentence carefully. After reading only two paragraphs, I felt that the things mentioned in the book were indeed good. This was the first time that I had ever read anything so broad and profound.
As I read, a miracle happened. I felt spinning everywhere in my body, and the sensation became stronger and stronger. I had heard my mother-in-law say that Master installs Falun for cultivators, and I was moved to tears knowing that this feeling was the sacred Falun.
Everything I had believed over the years about atheism, and the lies fabricated by the CCP, evaporated after my personal experience with Falun Gong. That day, I walked into Dafa cultivation, started following Master's teachings of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and quit my bad habits.
I came to know the meaning of life and sensed a life full of hope. I had never felt so at ease and happy. Now, each time I return home, I talk to my parents about the wonderfulness of Dafa.
I am grateful to compassionate Master Li Hongzhi for saving me. To save others who have been poisoned by the lies, I have started to tell people about Falun Gong. I have tried to become a true Falun Gong disciple by stepping on the path to return to my true self.
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