(Minghui.org) Last year, when my husband and I distributed information about Falun Gong and the persecution, we were recorded by a surveillance camera. Although we encountered hints, I felt that we would have no trouble because we had strong righteous thoughts, so we did not move the materials out of our home in time.
The police came and took our computer, printer, DVD burner, Dafa books and a large amount of informational materials about Falun Gong. Claiming that we were producing and distributing “illegal information,” they detained us and tried to escalate the persecution against us.
I'd like to share some of the lessons I learned through this experience.
I spent the first few days in the detention center reviewing my cultivation experiences over the years and whether I had really lived up to the principles. I found a lot of deficiencies.
In the past, I had attachments to comfort, ego, money, emotion, and validating myself. I decided to eliminate them even though the process was heart-wrenching. Whenever other practitioners pointed them out, I listened and did not try to defend myself. I felt that I had improved.
Looking back, I could not remember what they said. I felt that during any form of tribulation, including illness karma, we should pay attention to whatever others point out. Due to emotion and various notions, however, most practitioners aren't initially willing to accept suggestions.
The detention center was overcrowded, damp, and dark. Many detainees became ill, and the sicknesses spread quickly. With more than 20 people crowded into my small cell, I was determined to eliminate my attachment to comfort.
At home, I was fond of sleep and unable to complete all five sets of exercises every day. After I was detained, I practiced the first four exercises each morning. Instead of taking a nap at noon, I sent righteous thoughts. I meditated every day without the music. The detainees were amazed that I was so healthy and had a great complexion even in the dire environment.
With Master's help, I recalled some of the Dafa teachings, including Hong Yin, Hong Yin Vol. III, Zhuan Falun, and other lectures. Every day I studied the Fa from memory. I enlightened that practitioners’ lives are precious only because they are based on the Fa.
Many detainees said that the detention center's difficult environment caused them to behave abnormally. For example, hot water was limited and only available for a short time, so one had to scramble to get any.
The detainees would fight over a scrap of cardboard. The cardboard boxes from instant noodles became precious because people sat or slept on them instead of on the bare, damp floor. Sometimes when I fell asleep, I accidentally touched the next person. She deliberately shoved her knuckles into my abdomen. In order to avoid disturbing her, I tried to sleep on my side.
One detainee who used to own a business said, “You're kind to those who deliberately make trouble for you, and you look within yourself to see if you've caused the problem. If they treated me that way, I would fight with them. You really are a moral person. You truly follow Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. I admire you a lot.”
When I was abducted and taken to the detention center, the other practitioners and I shouted, “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” When I had to have my photo taken for an ID card, I combed my hair and smiled. I said, “Take a good photo of me. I want to bring the message of ‘Falun Dafa is good’ and ‘Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good' to the people here.”
During my year in that harsh environment, this photo always reminded me to maintain my righteous thoughts and that I was there to save sentient beings.
I know that many fellow practitioners participated in efforts to rescue us. They and our families hired lawyers, which put pressure on the police, prosecutors, and judges. The lawyers clarified the facts about Falun Gong from a legal perspective during the hearing and trial.
The lawyers brought me letters from my family and other practitioners, which encouraged me in that difficult environment. I was able to hold on to my righteous thoughts and behave as a practitioner in court.
One of my cellmates said, “Your hearing will be held soon.” I replied, “It’s not that they are going to conduct a hearing on me. I'm going to clarify the truth to them.”
The morning of the trial, when I did the first set of exercises, I recited the verses. I enlightened that I should deal with the trial in the state of a divine being. When my husband and I entered the courtroom, we shouted, “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!”
I said, “Judges, prosecutors, and everyone here are predestined to be here today. Please remember that Falun Dafa is good and that the world needs Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance!” The judge did not stop me and immediately granted our lawyer’s request to remove our handcuffs.
The judge asked why I practiced. I said, “Falun Gong's principles indeed uplift morality. They show me how to be a genuinely good person, and good people benefit society.”
The lawyer pointed out the legal violations by the police and presented a precise and powerful defense for us. I described my suffering in the detention center. My family noticed that two people were moved to tears.
When it was my turn to speak, I said, “I'm saddened for the Chinese people because the cruel persecution is being covered up. Because we tried to clarify the truth and save people, my husband was deprived of sleep, tortured, and subjected to brainwashing. His persecutors tried to force him to renounce his faith.”
I also warned them not to participate in the persecution. I submitted my letter that described the persecution we'd suffered and asked the judge to read it.
I pointed to the defendant's place as I left the court and said, “Jiang Zemin (the former CCP leader who initiated the persecution) will sit in this spot one day. Do not continue to be accomplices. Instead you should all file lawsuits against Jiang. Quit your memberships in the Chinese Community Party (CCP)!”
On the way back, I told the police, “The CCP has damaged Chinese people's consciences and our ancient culture. People do not dare to speak the truth. Now only Falun Gong practitioners tell the truth. Don't think this issue has nothing to do with you. You have families and need to think about your future.”
As I went over the hearing record, I noticed the secretary did not write down our defense statements. I made corrections and wrote, “Falun Dafa is good!” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!”
A court police officer said, “You are brave!” After listening to the trial, a prison guard said I was “selfless and fearless.”
The day the verdict was announced, I remembered the lawyer mentioned that it might be four years. I immediately asked Master Li (the founder of Falun Gong) to strengthen me, and I eliminated that negative thought. I asked myself, “Do I believe in Master and the Fa?” I sent righteous thoughts and calmed down. When we arrived at the court, my only thought was to save people.
When I stepped into the courtroom, I said, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good! Falun Dafa is good! Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have filed criminal complaints against Jiang Zemin. In several countries he has been charged with crimes against humanity, torture, and genocide. Instead of prosecuting sexual crimes, gambling, and drug abuse, you punish us good people.”
While I talked to the police, my husband continued to clarify the truth. The judge said, “Announce the verdict.” The court did not accept the prosecutor's charges, and I was sentenced to one year in prison. A few months later, I was released from the detention center.
My second day at the detention center, I developed symptoms of high blood pressure. I refused medicine and instead asked to be released.
The prison doctors said that patients with high blood pressure could have a stroke or even die. I had no signs of illness. I firmly believed in the power of Dafa. My cellmates and the police were amazed as I remained optimistic and healthy despite the terrible conditions. Even young detainees frequently visited the doctor. One detainee said that I was amazing because her husband had a blood pressure of 170 and took medicine every day but often fainted. She contrasted his condition with mine.
A cellmate told me that her mother was hospitalized for high blood pressure. She said, “I believe Falun Gong is great because you are healthy and kind to others. Patients with high blood pressure are not like you at all.” She repeatedly told me that she would practice Falun Gong after she was released.
An elderly woman also filed a lawsuit against Jiang Zemin. She said, “You are strong. People are terrified when they're incarcerated here. But you can still practice.”
I kept clarifying the truth through my actions and words. In the beginning, the detainees said some negative things because they had been misled by the CCP's propaganda defaming Falun Gong. Nevertheless, I was kind to them. People who are detained inevitably had issues, and I was happy to chat with them and clarify the truth. They all knew I was a good person.
In the end, more than 100 people agreed to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations, and more than twelve people filed criminal complaints against Jiang Zemin.
I felt the most pitiful people were the police, prosecutors, and judges who don't understand that they are doing bad things by persecuting innocent people.
Our family members are hit hard when we practitioners are illegally arrested. They mailed many letters to the police station, domestic security police, judges, and prosecutors. They described how the persecution harmed our families. It was said that many people wept after reading them.
Local practitioners also mailed letters to the police, prosecutors, and judges and advised them not to be involved in the persecution. Our lawyers submitted legal documents and went to the police and court to demand our release. In addition, local practitioners kept sending righteous thoughts. With Master’s help and everyone's cooperation, the persecution of us was disintegrated.
The day I was released, I shouted, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” and “Falun Dafa is good!” while I walked out of the detention center.
Later, a practitioner whose celestial eye was open said, “When the gate of the detention center opened, many deities were there to welcome you. So many deities accompanied you! It was very solemn.” She said she was moved whenever she recalled that scene.
However badly the old forces persecuted me, I never wavered in my belief in Dafa. I am proud to be a practitioner. No matter how bad the situation seemed, I maintained righteous thoughts. Master will help us, and the environment will change.
My sentence was reduced with Master's blessing. This also gave the lawyers hope, as they had become pessimistic after attending many trials in which the CCP broke the law in the persecution. One of them said, “We lawyers are still amazed when we talk about your case.”
(Presented during The 16th Online China Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference on Minghui.org)