(Minghui.org) I began to practice Falun Gong in November 1997. I borrowed Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Gong, from a co-worker's mother and read it in two days.
The book taught me that the true purpose of one's life is to return to one's origin, and that one needs to endure hardships to cultivate. But the latter did not stop me from practicing Falun Gong.
In fact, that night I felt many Falun (law wheels) rotating around my body. I felt very light and illness-free.
Appealing for the Right to Practice Falun Gong
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) banned Falun Gong on July 20, 1999, and has persecuted it ever since. I was at a loss when it all began, but in September 2000 a fellow practitioner shared experiences with me. Therefore, I thought that I should go to Beijing to appeal for the right to practice Falun Gong.
I intended to go to the appeals office first; however, I stopped at the police department instead. Two soldiers guarded the entrance. Officials gave me access to a room where I met a group of people who accepted my appeal's letter.
While they read my letter, they also asked me some questions, which I answered by talking about Falun Gong, how it teaches people to be good, and how I had benefited from the practice.
They nodded their heads and said that they understood. However, they contacted the local police station from my area, and I was taken back to my hometown and detained in a detention center. I told them during the interrogation that I went to appeal for the right to practice Falun Gong. I was released after 33 days.
Reported and Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison
I mailed letters with information about Falun Gong to people in 2005 and 2006. Someone reported me to the police and I was arrested. I send forth righteous thoughts and talked to the guards about the practice, but they did not want to hear anything I said. Instead, they tortured me with a method called Carrying a Sword Over the Back (they pulled one arm over my shoulder and handcuffed it to the other arm behind my back).
Victims sometimes faint after about 20 minutes. They opened the handcuffs every so often, but both my hands turned numb. I was so afraid that I had betrayed practitioners and good people who had helped to make Falun Gong materials.
My conscience bothered me, and I felt that I did not assist Teacher to rectify the Fa but rather helped the evil. I wanted to compensate for the losses I caused. I recited Teacher's new articles and gradually regained righteous thoughts. I did the exercises, talked to people about Falun Gong, and helped them withdraw from the CCP and its affiliates.
I was later taken to court. I defended myself and pleaded not guilty, but was still sentenced to a three-year prison term.
No Interference When Talking about Falun Gong
Practitioners have developed a cultivation environment despite the persecution these past years. Therefore, in the prison the environment has sometimes become relaxed. This is not to say that the persecution has stopped, but rather, when our righteous thoughts are very strong, the environment is rectified. I cannot remember how many collaborators I had to face, but I always talked to them about Falun Gong. There were also many guards, and I became friends with most of them.
Some came to understand the truth and quit the CCP. Even when I was taken to another ward, the person in charge looked the other way when I talked to the inmates about Falun Gong.
I told all the inmates that they should quit the CCP. “When you joined the Young Pioneers, Youth League and the Party, you swore life-long allegiance,” I said. “This is like a mental shackle and something only an evil cult would do. This is a manifestation of evilness.”
Many agreed and 15 inmates quit.
Anything That Happens Can Turn Into a Good Thing
When inmates passed my window, I would tell them, “Please remember 'Falun Gong is wonderful! Truth-Compassion-Forbearance is wonderful!' One may receive good fortune by doing so.” When they passed again, someone shouted “Falun Gong is wonderful!”
When our ward was searched, an armed guard found a hand-written article by Teacher in my blanket. I wanted to give this to someone who understood the facts. I was a bit afraid and wondered if I would be monitored going forward. I held the thought that no one was allowed to monitor me. But it was as if this article was never found.
An armed guard then searched other cells and nodded when he entered my ward. He said, “Falun Gong is wonderful!”
Teacher protects us at all times as long as we do well and hold strong righteous thoughts. Anything that happens can turn into a good thing.
Whenever fellow practitioners ran into difficulty, I offered my help. I remember when a guard forced a practitioner to do hard labor. I told this practitioner that no practitioner has committed a crime and thus should never be held in the labor camp. He understood what I hinted at and went on a hunger strike to protest the persecution. This guard no longer forced him to do the labor.
Using Every Opportunity to Talk about Falun Gong
After I was released my situation changed, as the closest practitioner now lived 10 miles from me. Because I was persecuted multiple times, my family was afraid for me.
I wanted to study how to use the Internet, but I did not have the wherewithal to purchase the equipment. Still, I was determined to let nothing deter me, and I used every opportunity to talk to my co-workers about Falun Gong, asked them to withdraw from the CCP, and I distributed Shen Yun DVDs and theNine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party.
I will continue to do everything Teacher asked of us without any fear. People need to awaken to the facts of Falun Gong, and I will not miss any opportunity.
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Category: Clarifying the Truth
