(Minghui.org) My mother talked to me about Falun Dafa when I was only five years old. She taught me the five exercises as well. The seed of cultivation took root in my heart.
I read the book Zhuan Falun when I was in elementary and middle school, thus I had a vague idea about cultivation. Still, at school, I was a trouble maker who often got into fights and thus, I was not popular with my classmates and teachers.
Fortunately, Dafa later changed the course of my life after I became a genuine practitioner. Even when I was not yet a cultivator, Master was already watching out for me. Some incredible incidents occurred during my youth.
I liked looking at images of Buddhas in picture books and wanted to wear the pendants they were wearing. More so, I wished for protection from the Buddhas.
One day, I made a pendant by wrapping a folded Falun Dafa pamphlet with a piece of red paper. With the homemade pendant around my neck, I went swimming in the river. After I got home that day, I saw three red characters, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” imprinted on my chest. I will never forget that magical event. Whenever I thought about that day, my heart would be filled with respect toward Teacher Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa. It gave me determination and confidence to stay diligent in my cultivation.
I graduated from vocational school in 2010. As I was getting ready to leave for a job in another city, my mother said to me, “This book, Zhuan Falun is for you. You must read it often, cultivate your heart, don’t be a trouble maker anymore.” That was when I became a genuine Falun Dafa practitioner.
While working at a factory, no matter how busy my days were, I stayed diligent in doing the three things in cultivation and I was quite happy. One day in 2011, as I was getting ready to go out to distribute Falun Dafa pamphlets, the security guard reported on me. I was arrested and sent to a detention center. I was only 17 years old at the time.
The torture I went through at the detention center was horrific. I was chained with shackles, had hot chili water sprayed onto my face and was not allowed to sleep. With a steady faith in Master, I did not yield to threats, refused signing any documents and would not sing songs that praised the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
At court, the judge asked me to admit my guilt. I said, “I did not commit a crime, what do I have to admit!” The judge replied, “So, if you still believe Falun Dafa is good, then your punishment will not be light!” I told him, “Do what you want, I am not guilty.” I was sentenced to ten months in prison.
I was released from detention in 2012, but police harassment has continued to this day. Finding a way to earn a livelihood was hard. I tried to work as a taxi driver and deliveryman, but my financial accounts were all shut down.
Life is so hard living under the CCP’s regime. Fortunately, there are plans made for me by a higher power.
With help from another practitioner, I moved to a different city and worked as a salesman at an electronic appliance company in early 2020. Somehow, local police found out where I worked and pressured my employer to terminate me. Not only that, the police made me leave the city.
Under pressure and fear, I went back to my hometown. I did whatever small jobs I could find. Often times I went hungry. Under such circumstances, I still remembered Dafa. I studied the Fa whenever I could and took every opportunity to improve my xinxing. I recited the Fa in my mind when I was delivering food and told myself, “I walk on the path of cultivation and cultivate even when I am walking.”
My circumstances turned around in September 2020. A former customer sought me out and I helped him import a large shipment of appliances. I had never imagined having nearly 400,000 yuan (about 57,000 in US dollars) of earnings in just a few months. I also met my wife around this time, and she started to practice Falun Dafa with me.
Cultivating Dafa brought blessings. When I was terminated from my job in early 2020, I had hatred toward those who were involved. After studying the Fa for a while, I let go of the hatred.
Master has said, “…so I was left with no choice but to go along with their ploys and turn their ploys against them.” (Teachings Given on Lantern Festival Day, 2003)
The evil old forces persecute Falun Dafa practitioners, however, Master has made plans for our cultivation. If I were not chased back to my hometown, then I would not have started doing import and export business, and I would not have met my wife. Master’s plans are extraordinary!
How I met my wife was also interesting. We met in 2017. At the time, she had kidney disease. Modern medicine could not offer a cure, so I introduced Falun Dafa to her. Within one week, her lab results all went back to normal. She was impressed by Dafa’s superpower and grateful for Master’s salvation.
For various reasons, we broke up. She stopped cultivation. Soon her past health problems started again. She sent me a text message in 2020: “It does not matter if I recover, or if Master is still watching over me, I will cultivate to the end. At least my xinxing will improve, that’s the most important thing.”
She asked for my help and our paths met again. Through cultivation, her xinxing improved and she regained her health. Walking long distances and hiking no longer tire her out. She used to be intolerant to cold; she is not anymore.
I have asked myself this same question many times: Do I regret practicing Falun Dafa because the persecution made a peaceful, normal life impossible for me? My answer has always been: No regret!
No matter what kind of hardships await me in the future, I will not give up on Dafa. Many improvements and attachments still need my attention. I will stay vigilant, live up to the expectations for a genuine Dafa practitioner, and always strive to be worthy of Master’s compassion.
I am grateful for Master and Dafa!