(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Gong in 1998. Over the years, I faced those who persecuted me with righteous thoughts and thus changed the environment around me.
One Sentence Can Dissolve Evil
I gave a brochure with information about Falun Gong to a shop owner in May 2001. He reported me to police. I was arrested and my home ransacked. I was later sentenced to three years in a forced labor camp.
The suppressive atmosphere in the camp was unforgettable and is still fresh in my mind. A guard stripped me naked to search me and informed me of the prison rules.
I went to the duty office to get instructions but did not announce myself before I entered. The head guard wanted to punish me and asked another guard to join him, telling him to close the door. I thought: “I am not a criminal, but an innocent citizen who was illegally detained for my belief. I don't need to announce myself.”
While I looked them in the eyes, I said without any fear, “The law enforcement system claims that it is civilized. Is physical punishment a civilized act?” They didn't touch me and changed their attitude towards me.
The minute I arrived at the labor camp I recited many of the articles from Essentials for Further Advancement. I also wrote them on paper and passed them to other detained practitioners.
A guard discovered that an inmate helped me deliver Master's words. They called me to the office and demanded that I give them the practitioner's name.
I held the thought, “Passing Master Li's writings to fellow practitioners is done to help them strengthen themselves in the face of persecution. Neither I nor other practitioners should be persecuted further for our belief.” With this righteous thought, my fear and any pressure I felt disappeared in no time.
I felt myself becoming larger and larger, while the guards looked so tiny and insignificant before me. I refused to cooperate with them. The head guard suddenly lost her motivation in trying to threaten me and ordered some inmates to take me back to my cell.
That is when I truly understood the meaning of what Master said,
“If thoughts are righteous,evil will collapse.”(“What's to Fear?” from Hong Yin II)
My workplace assigned me to work in another city after I was released from the labor camp. I was lonely and missed the practitioners from my hometown. Ilonged to access the Minghui website to download Falun Gong materials and make brochures for distribution. But I knew it was a dream because I didn't know anything about computers.
Then, a local practitioner called me. He told me that a practitioner from my hometown had told him to get in touch with me. He said that he was responsible for producing Falun Gong materials for his area. He taught me how to use a computer, surf the Internet, print materials and burn DVDs.
I bought the required equipment and started my own materials production site.
There were many difficulties in the beginning, but eventually I became technologically savvy. Many times when I ran into a problem I asked Master for help, and told the equipment in my mind, “You are a life that has come here for the Fa; it's your honor to work with a practitioner to produce informational materials. Please do your duty well.” I turned the computer off and then restarted it. I no longer had any problems.
Besides studying the Fa, doing the exercises and sending forth righteous thoughts daily, I made and distributed up to 300 copies of Falun Gong materials every week. I usually distributed them in the evening. First I went to the nearby neighborhoods, then the districts and suburban areas that were further away.
I had some fear at first, but it weakened over time. I noticed that my memory and sense of direction had improved, and I remembered everywhere I had been, even if I had been there only once. This helped me to not get lost, although many areas were new to me. Even though I didn't look at the time or check the bus schedules, I was always able to catch the last bus home.
I once sprained my ankle. It hurt badly and I couldn't move. I recited “Falun Gong is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” while asking Master for help. A few minutes later, I was able to wiggle my foot a bit. Slowly I got up and walked in small painful steps.
After a short rest, I managed to distribute the remainder of my materials. My ankle was in pain, but by the time I had distributed all the materials it no longer hurt.
Many seemingly insignificant things have happened to me over the past 16 years. I will always keep in mind that I am a practitioner, which is the most precious thing.