(Minghui.org) Before I began attending college, my school gave each student an “Application for College Study” brochure. In addition to some personal information, it told students to declare: “I am not a Falun Dafa practitioner.” The brochure listed Falun Gong and several other groups as illegal organizations.
My heart sank. If I did what the brochure suggested, it would be the same as a pledge to stop practicing Falun Dafa. But this was a required prerequisite for attending college classes. If I did not write the statement, then my college life would be over before it even started. As a Dafa practitioner, I must not write this. What should I do? While I was debating with myself, the person who gave me the brochure pressured me to do it, and said that everyone must fill out all the fields. Any missteps would go into my school files.
I recalled Master's lecture about a graduate student refusing to kill 500 lab mice, which was a requirement in order to get his degree. If one is worried about not getting their degree, being unemployed, and other personal interests, these things will indeed become hurdles. I refused to be taken hostage by this requirement.
Master said:
“Even if someone were to grasp all of mankind’s knowledge, he would still remain an everyday person.” (“What is Wisdom,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
I could not see myself having a future without Falun Dafa. A college degree was nothing compared to upholding my faith. My determination was unshakable. Even without a degree, I could start my own business. I will have a great life with Master’s protection.
Master said:
“I often see students like this: “You don't let me do the exercises, but I insist on doing them. You don't let me study, but I insist on studying. I just won't listen to you evil beings. All you can do is threaten me with death, right?”” (“Teaching and Explaining the Fa at the Metropolitan New York Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. III)
The student who refused to kill lab mice passed the life-and-death test. I could also pass this test.
Master also said:
“If something is yours, nobody will take it away, and if something isn’t yours, you won’t be able to get it even by fighting for it.” (Lecture Seven, Zhuan Falun)
My life is arranged by Master, and my college life is part of a predestined arrangement. How could ordinary people change that? The school administration is not capable, nor the old forces which were behind this. I refused to denounce my faith.
Master told us:
“You should be able to overcome all of them. As long as you improve your character, you will be able to overcome them—it’s only that you might not want to overcome them. If you want to overcome them you can.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)
Since I chose to improve my character, and eliminate my attachments, I would surely pass this test.
I started to answer the question honestly and without reservation. I was not worried about what they thought, or the impact on my college qualifications.
Master said:
“What's important for cultivators is righteous thoughts. When you have strong righteous thoughts, you are able to withstand anything and do anything. That's because you are a cultivator: someone who is on a divine path and who is not controlled by the factors of ordinary people or low-level principles.” (Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles)
This demand from ordinary people was nothing, and they could not do anything to me. I didn’t care who would come to see me, a teacher, a party secretary, a dean or the college president. I would tell them the truth.
The administrator was surprised to see my honest answer and asked me why I wrote it. I said that it was the truth. Later a teacher came and asked me the same question. I began to tell him the facts about the persecution. I mentioned Document 50 published by China General Administration of Press and Publication. I told him that Falun Dafa is not illegal. The teacher left quietly. I never heard from him again.
My college life was not affected by my honest answer. The issue was never raised again.
Looking back, I overcame my initial panic after recalling Master’s teaching. After all, the teachers and the president were just everyday people. They gave me a chance to clarify the truth when they asked about my answer.
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