(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa in 1997. Throughout the years I've experienced the joy of learning Dafa, happiness when I did well in my cultivation, and 8 years of trials and tribulations in prison. I wish to thank Master Li Hongzhi for protecting me. I'd like to tell you my story.
After the persecution began on July 20, 1999, I was able to do well the three things we are supposed to do with other practitioners. In 2006 I was followed, arrested, and sentenced to the province’s women’s prison. In the thick of the persecution, all of my human notions surfaced. I was tortured and under tremendous pressure. Against my conscience, I signed the guarantee statement. As soon as I signed it, I knew I’d made a mistake. I decided to begin memorizing the Fa. The more I memorized, the more clear-headed I became. I enlightened that it was not the real me who signed that statement. My true self only wanted Dafa. I had to pull myself together and walk my path well.
Even Prison Can Be a Cultivation Environment
The conditions in the prison were horrific and I had difficulty coping. I had trouble sleeping and eating, so my health deteriorated. I passed out once while I was showering and was taken to the clinic. The guard said that I looked like I was dead. I believed that the old forces were making things worse because I had signed a guarantee statement, but I refused to accept this. I sent righteous thoughts and also continued to recite the Fa silently. As I got better, the guards made me do hard labor for half a day. There were a few Falun Dafa practitioners in the workshop, but we were not allowed to talk. One of them sat next to me. I could feel that she had strong righteous thoughts when we made eye contact; it seemed that she was encouraging me. She sat with her legs crossed while she worked.
I thought, “Why don't I do that? If she can do it, I can do it, too.” I was hesitant at first, but then I realized that I had to take the first step. I silently recited the teachings I'd memorized and sent righteous thoughts as I sat with my legs crossed. As soon as my righteous thoughts increased, my physical condition improved. My cellmates noticed that I looked healthy within a few days, and they were all amazed by the power of Dafa.
I was kind to everyone in my ward. I helped them and put them before myself, even though they sometimes took advantage of me. I was always positive and upbeat. Gradually they learned from me and we got along really well. They came to understand Dafa and identified with what we believed in. Except for one lady who had a mental illness, everyone in my ward would say, “Falun Dafa is good” with me. If they had a bad day, they would seek me out to chat. I advised them using the principles of Dafa. The guard said that she knew that whichever ward I was in would be peaceful.
One day, a guard noticed me sitting with my legs crossed. She insisted that I put them down. I calmly asked her, “How does the way I sit bother anyone?” She couldn't reply. I continued to send righteous thoughts. The following day, the head of the ward summoned me. I knew that I was in for a test. She said, “It's prison policy that no one can sit with their legs crossed. Stop or you'll be placed in solitary confinement.” I calmed myself and sent righteous thoughts at the same time. I said, “What difference does it make, here or in solitary confinement?” She chuckled and let me go. Every human being has a kind side. If we treat people with kindness, they will respond in kind. She probably understood the truth. I heard that she was later promoted and no longer participated in the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners.
Doing the Exercises
There were several elderly women in my ward. The head was about my mother's age. She was hard to get along with so everyone avoided her. I tried to be nice to her as she was old, so she was friendly to me. She was told to watch me. She covered for me and told the guards that I was doing well. Since it was hard for her to sleep on the upper bunk, the guards made an exception and let me exchange my lower bunk for hers. They usually never allowed Falun Dafa practitioners to sleep on the upper bunks. One day, when it was time for a nap, I realized that I could do the meditation exercise. I was so grateful my tears flowed. I knew Master had arranged it. He is looking after his disciples all the time. After that, I was able to send righteous thoughts and do the exercises in bed. Although I did not sleep much, I was full of energy during the day. I also sat with my legs crossed while I recited the Fa. My health got better and the environment kept improving.
My Attachment to Sentimentality
My husband is a kind person. After I was arrested, he never missed a chance to visit me. He knew Falun Dafa was good so he never blamed me. He always made sure that I was fine before he left. Our son came with him sometimes. Once when he was visiting me, the guard who was responsible for “transforming” me said, “If you say that Falun Dafa is bad, you can go home with your son.” I refused. My son knew that Falun Dafa was good, but he wanted me to come home. He said, “Mom, why don't you do that? Life is so tough here. You've only served half your sentence. You'll be here for years. All you have to do is to say one sentence.” I said, “Mom is a Dafa practitioner. We believe in being truthful. I won't say anything against my conscience.” He said, “You can just say it. What difference does it make? I know Falun Dafa is good. Just say it and get out of here.” I said, “I cannot be untruthful.”
He left disheartened. My husband became depressed and began drinking. His health deteriorated. I was sad when I heard this. I knew it was a test of my sentimentality. All these trials were targeting my attachments. The outcome depended on how my heart was moved. As a Falun Dafa practitioner, I must let go of all my human attachments. If I did everything righteously, my environment would improve. I trusted that these were tribulations and would pass.
I began practicing Falun Dafa with my parents in 1997. As they were getting older and I was being persecuted, they let up in their cultivation. My father would go to a hospital if he had symptoms of sickness karma. He was hospitalized several times. Once my mother cried on the phone, “Your father is dying. He does not have much time left. You'd better get out soon or you won't see him again.” I knew it was a test of my sentimentality. I would not yield because I wanted to get out. My heart could not be moved. I was very determined and calmly told my mother, “Mom, this is an illusion. Dad will be fine.” Mother suddenly calmed down and said, “Okay. If you say so.” With this righteous thought, my father was fine.
A Final Test
When I had two years left of my sentence, several “helpers” and members of the local 610 Office came to talk to me. The 610 Office agent said, “You are about to be freed. Don't practice Falun Dafa after you're released.” I replied, “Why not? It's such a good practice.” He was furious and verbally abused me. He said that they’d traveled a long distance on such a hot summer day to see me, and I was not even grateful. I knew that they were angry because they were accountable to their supervisors. I thought they were pathetic because they were being pressured to do something bad.
I was not intimidated or upset. I looked at them calmly and said, “Who has asked you to come?” They were stunned; they didn't expect me, a little woman, to stand up to them. They did not say anything. Little did they realize that I had not been “transformed” after being held for so many years.
When I had 7 months left, the authorities demanded that I write a guarantee so I could go home early. I refused. They locked me in the Strict Control Room with three inmates watching me and pressuring me to write the guarantee statement. When I refused, they took away my food or my toilet paper. But I did not waver. They were at their wit's end.
One young officer came to talk to me. She was my son's age. She was attractive and everyone called her the “beautiful sargent.” She said, “You shouldn't be here. Wouldn't you rather get out early and do the exercises at home?” I thanked her for her concern. Then I told her that I had made a mistake by signing a guarantee statement, and I would not make another. I had to do the right thing—I was a Falun Dafa practitioner. She liked to chat with me. She told me that she had started to read Zhuan Falun but could not get past the first few pages. I told her that I had read it about a thousand times. She thought I was well-educated. Actually, I only finished middle school. I spoke well because Master had given me wisdom. She had many questions that I tried to answer.
The day before I was to leave, she came to say goodbye. I reminded her, “Please read Zhuan Falun from the beginning to the end, at least once, without any prejudice.” She promised that she would.
The day I was released, my family and the staff of the local 610 Office came to pick me up. As soon as I got into the vehicle, I could feel it was filled with evil. I sent righteous thoughts and the 610 Office members fell asleep. They did not say anything to me. We got home without incident. Soon afterward I opened a clothing store in which I can clarify the truth and save people. With Master's protection, my family is doing very well.
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