(Minghui.org) I began to cultivate Dafa in the spring of 2004 and am now in my 70s. Throughout these 17 years, I have been immersed in Dafa and felt extremely happy and grateful to Master Li (the founder of Falun Dafa).

Beginning the Practice

My son practiced Falun Dafa before the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began to persecute it. When the persecution began on July 20, 1999, my son was in Japan. Back then, he called home every week. He mostly talked about how wonderful Dafa is and its persecution by the CCP. He persuaded us not to believe the CCP's lies. However, we had been watching the propaganda on TV every day, and couldn’t take in any of the truth about Dafa. Moreover, we tried to talk him into giving up the practice, saying that the government didn’t allow people to practice, so we should listen to the government. 

Before my daughter went to the United States in Spring 2004, she had us do a full medical checkup. The results showed that I had a tumor and needed hospitalization. I was dumbfounded. When my son learned this news, he suggested that I learn Falun Dafa. Soon enough, he sent me an electronic copy of Zhuan Falun⸺the main teachings of Falun Dafa. 

After I printed the book, I realized that I couldn’t read most of it, due to my very limited education. I didn’t know how to write either. I never expected myself to be able to read and write in this lifetime. But subconsciously, I had a great feeling about this book. So, I began to ask others to help me read the book, character by character. Gradually I learned one sentence, then it became one paragraph. By the time I learned to read the first page of Zhuan Falun, more than a month had passed. 

At this time, I went back to the hospital for a follow-up. When the doctor in charge saw my results, he told me the tumor was gone. I couldn’t believe it. By reading only one page of Zhuan Falun, the tumor disappeared?! The doctor was also very surprised. However, the exam result was right there and clearly showed there was no tumor. 

Though I was close to being illiterate and didn’t quite understand what Master said, I put my heart into reading the Fa and took every single word to heart. I enlightened that it was because Master saw my sincerity that he removed my illness karma. 

I also had many other illnesses, such as neurosis, a stomach ulcer, and a gynecological disease. Due to my insomnia, I couldn’t do heavy work. I used to try and do what an acquaintance once told me: seek God and Buddha, as well as medical help. But none of my attempts worked. However, during the process of reading Zhuan Falun, all my illnesses went away. I felt extremely relaxed, and my body felt so light from being illness-free. 

During the process of studying the Fa, when I came across the term “consummation” in Zhuan Falun, I suddenly learned its inner meaning⸺Consummation means to go home with Master! Falun Dafa is what I’d been waiting for lifetime after lifetime. So I made up my mind to cultivate Dafa and follow Master to return home. 

Cultivating Dafa

I learned all five of the exercises when I went to Japan to visit my son in early 2005.  At the beginning, however, when I sat in the half-lotus position, I could only do so with both legs positioned very high. There was no way for me to sit in the full-lotus position. When sitting in the half-lotus position, I pressed my legs down by tying a bag of rice on them. Despite this, I stuck to doing the exercises every day. Gradually, my legs became flat in the half-lotus position. Then I started to work on sitting in the full-lotus position. With Master’s help, I was finally able to sit in the full lotus position for an hour after about two years. 

Since I began to cultivate late and studied the Fa slowly, I could only catch up by seizing the time to study the Fa more and do the exercises more. 

Dafa is truly miraculous. As long as one has the will to learn, Dafa can do anything. Through persistent Fa-study, and without noticing it, I could read all of Zhuan Falun. Then I began to read the new lectures. There were many new words to learn, and I kept asking for help from fellow practitioners and tried to memorize them. Gradually I mastered them. Now I study one chapter of Zhuan Falun every morning, followed by new lectures at night.

When Master published a new article, there were always words I didn’t know. But I soon learned them. 

At the truth-clarification site, to help people renounce their memberships to the CCP or its affiliates, we needed to give people a pseudonym or nickname they'd quit under. This process was rather miraculous for me. When I wanted to write the nickname, I could; however, the characters I wrote were crooked and hard to read, and sometimes the strokes were wrong. I took them home and showed them to my son. At times he couldn’t make them out and came to me for clarification. I told him what I intended to write, and he corrected them for me. As I continued, I managed to write more and more words. Although compared to other practitioners who received more education than me, I still lagged behind, but I did manage to write the pseudonyms or nicknames for people.

Through sharing with fellow practitioners, I learned that many practitioners could recite “On Dafa.” I also wanted to give it a try. But I didn’t know how to begin memorizing it and became worried. My son told me to begin memorizing two words and then adding two more words until I memorized a sentence. Then I moved on to the next, until I finally recited the whole “On Dafa.” On my way to the truth-clarification site, I repeatedly recited “On Dafa.” The feeling of being immersed in the Fa was truly wonderful.

I used to wear reading glasses when I did needlework. Since practicing, I still wore them when I read; I couldn’t see without them. Three years ago, I ran into a senior practitioner who was older than me, but didn’t wear glasses even when reading Zhuan Falun in small print. I was inspired. I thought to myself: Wasn’t Master giving me a hint? So I threw away my glasses, and never needed to wear glasses since.

“Cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one’s master.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun) 

I only had such an idea and a wish, then Master helped me to make it come true. 

Reported to the Police for Informing People about Falun Dafa

While in Japan, I learned to clarify the truth about Dafa. In the fall of 2006, I returned to China after my visa expired. I started working in a factory there. As soon as I had time, I’d clarify the truth to my coworkers. They were all willing to listen. Some of them even said, “When the persecution ends, we’ll learn Dafa from you.” 

After I clarified the truth in my village, I went to do the same in a nearby village, and onward to other villages. I made use of all kinds of opportunities to talk about the beauty of Dafa as well as facts about the persecution. For such a wonderful practice, I hoped more people could come to learn about it.

One day I went to shop at a market about 10 miles from my home. After I talked to all the vendors about Dafa, one vendor reported me to the police. The county police officers came to my home. Our village was fairly remote, and upon learning that police officers had come, many villagers came to see what was going on. This was also my first encounter with the police. I was nervous and scared. When I was asked if I practice Falun Dafa, my fear suddenly shot up. I was afraid to admit that I did, and only said, “I heard about it when I was in Japan. Dafa teaches people to be good. People who practice Dafa are in good health. People from many countries practice it. It's only here in China that we are not allowed to practice it.” When they heard me not saying that I practice, they left. 

I felt very regretful afterwards. When confronted by the evil, I didn’t dare to admit that I was a practitioner. Although I mentioned the fact that Dafa has spread throughout the world, it was still hard for me to get over the shame and remorse of not acknowledging I was a practitioner. If I had the opportunity again, I would have admitted to the world’s people in an upright manner that I am a practitioner. 

Later, when I went out to talk to people, I was a bit more careful. The receptivity of the people I spoke to helped me to determine what to say to them. It was only when I encountered kind-hearted people, that I’d talk a bit more. Under Master’s benevolent protection, I persistently did what I could in terms of truth-clarification. I didn’t carry any materials with me; it was instead through talking to people that I tried to awaken people’s consciences wherever I went. 

Police Ransack My Home

I returned to Japan at the end of 2007 to look after my granddaughter. When I called home during the New Year of 2008, I learned that police officers came to ransack my home the day after I left. They forcibly opened the entrance door, turned my home upside down with the purpose of collecting evidence that I practice Falun Dafa, and even broke some furniture. In the end, they confiscated a copy of Zhuan Falun and Master’s portraits. 

I have a relative who was a newspaper reporter. Through taping his phone calls, the police discovered that he had contact with me. They intimidated him and tried to bribe him through his boss, in order to force him to provide my contact information in Japan and extend their persecution overseas. Because he didn’t cooperate with them, he was forced to resign. For my safety, he kept cautioning me not to go back to China. From then on, I never went back. My mother is in her 90s and bedridden. She often called out my name and really missed me. However, I couldn’t go back to fulfill my filial duty.

Helping People Learn the Facts about the Persecution and Quit the Communist Party

A practitioner in mainland China shared that he initially didn’t know what to say when clarifying the truth to people about the persecution of Falun Dafa by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Yet he thought it’s still good even though he helped only one person a day quit the CCP. Later, he helped more and more people quit the CCP. I thought I had the same issue. Moreover, I didn’t know how to speak Mandarin. I set a goal to try to help one person quit the CCP every other day. I had the wish to awaken people’s consciences and help them quit the CCP. 

I asked for Master’s help. Soon enough, Master arranged for a fellow practitioner to bring me to Ikebukuro, a shopping and entertainment district in Tokyo, to raise awareness to Chinese people there. 

At first, I didn’t know what to say. What made it worse was that I only knew my own dialect, which was hard for most people to understand. One Shanghainese who was in his 30s often came to Ikebukuro. His dialect was similar to mine and he had no problem understanding me. Every time he came, I talked to him a bit. But I didn’t know how to say he should quit the CCP. Finally, he took the initiative to ask me to help him quit the CCP organizations. I knew it was Master encouraging me. This was also the first time I helped someone quit the CCP. From then on, I have helped more and more people quit. 

Master arranged for people with predestined relationships to come learn the truth from me. As a result, people were quitting the CCP every day, and more and more people decided to quit the CCP. The number of people I helped quit the CCP ranged from a dozen to a few dozen each day. I felt truly happy for the sentient beings that were saved, and sincerely wished them safety and happiness. 

Around 2010, I heard that more Chinese tourists were coming to Ginza. Thus, the practitioner coordinating this effort arranged for me to go there to talk to Chinese people visiting the site. Ginza Hakuchome has an overpass, where we could stay on rainy days. And many Chinese tourists came, especially when it rained. I have been clarifying the truth to tourists at this sightseeing spot every day for 10 years, regardless of the weather. There have been many touching experiences, from which I’d like to pick out a few to share. 

One time, a military person came to sightsee. He appeared to be quite arrogant and claimed he was a senior cadre of the army. I said, “It doesn't matter how high an official you are, or how much money you have, you want to ensure your safety, right? The CCP has committed many bad deeds, such as the persecution of Dafa. Heaven will eliminate it. Only by quitting the CCP, can one ensure one’s safety. I hope you will be safe and happy.” His face slowly changed and he agreed to quit the CCP.

Another time, four Chinese police officers came. I walked up to them and said, “Your police officers are safeguarding regular citizens. However, now Heaven will eliminate the CCP, I hope you will also be safe. Only by quitting the CCP can one ensure one’s safety.” In the end, all four of them decided to renounce their memberships in the CCP. 

One day a man in his 50s came to the site. As soon as he saw me, he said, “You came from Heaven.” He said his celestial eye was open and he could see many things. I told myself not to develop any zealotry. I thought, “Of all practitioners, who didn’t come from Heaven? I helped him quit the CCP just the same, which he gladly agreed to.” 

When Chinese tourists came to Ginza, they’d all pour out of the buses. Upon seeing so many Chinese people, I didn’t know how to begin. Then I decided to hold up a display board and walk among them in order to have them see it. The display board has pictures and words. Whoever was interested in seeing it would have a chance to be saved. 

Some tourists would sit and rest on the side of the road after having done their sightseeing. I then showed them the display board one by one. Many of them pointed at it and said, “Falun Dafa, Falun Dafa.” Then they’d talk about it. When I ran into some of them who were interested in listening to me, it was very likely they’d quit the CCP after that. 

Clarifying the truth at this tourist site is like the cultivator who had to wander about as described in the Dafa teachings:

Master said, 

“Wandering around in society is rather torturous. It must beg for food and run into different kinds of people who will scold, insult, or take advantage of it. It might encounter all kinds of things.” (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun)

For example, there was a young man in his 20s. When I handed a flyer to him, he grabbed it from me and quickly tore it apart. I stayed calm. Then I looked at him and said peacefully, “Young man, this will not do you any good. The flyer is for saving people.” I left him after that. After a while, he came back. When I saw that he took the initiative to take a flyer, I quickly said to him, “Please read it, and quickly quit the CCP to ensure your safety.” He nodded his head and agreed. 

Since February 2020, with the outbreak of the CCP virus, Ginza became a ghost town. Chinese tourists didn’t come anymore.

Given that, the coordinating practitioner made other arrangements. Since April 2020, we went to the Immigration Bureau to clarify the truth. We had less contact with Chinese people compared to before, so the number of people quitting the CCP dropped. Sometimes we helped only a few people quit the CCP; at most, we helped only a little over 30 quit. However, we saw an increase in the number of people who signed our petition supporting lawsuits against the former CCP leader Jiang Zemin for his role in instigating the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Since I wasn't going to the tourist site to clarify the truth, I thought about how to reach people from my hometown. At night, when I had time, I’d make calls to people. When they happened to have visitors, I took the opportunity to also help their visitors quit the CCP. My younger brother ran a factory, and he had visitors every day. So I often called on him. When I ran into people with predestined relationships, they’d quit. One time, I helped five of them. I also asked people who learned the truth to share it with their family members. As it was over the phone, some were still afraid to listen to me. I asked my granddaughter to write down the contents of the truth-clarification display board on a piece of paper for me, and I showed it via video and asked them to remember the phrases I was displaying. 

Overcoming Illness Karma Tribulations 

I have experienced a few illness-karma eliminations since I began to practice. One day when I was clarifying the truth at Ginza in 2018, I suddenly felt dizzy to the point where I could hardly stand up. I quickly found a place nearby to sit down and sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate interference. After I felt better, I headed home. It took a lot of effort to get home. I said to my son that I didn’t want to cook, as I couldn’t stand; I just wanted to take a nap. My son asked me to eat something first then rest. 

After I sent forth righteous thoughts to negate interference from the old forces, I felt a bit better. Since dinner wasn’t prepared, I changed my mind and wanted to cook dinner. My son suggested that I not worry about cooking, but take a shower and go to bed. However, I lacked the strength to walk to the bathroom. I thought I shouldn’t acknowledge any arrangement of the old forces. Using the wall to support myself, I walked in front of Master’s portrait and knelt down. I said to Master, “Master Li Hongzhi, please save me!” After that, I stood up and felt a lot better. Then I was able to walk to the bathroom to take a shower. After that, everything went back to normal. I had thought to myself that only Master had the final say on practitioners. 

A few other times, I had a high temperature. I was afraid that I’d have trouble doing the second set of the exercises⸺holding the wheel. So I asked for Master’s help. Then I was fine. 

Master helped eliminate most of the karma I created lifetime after lifetime. But in order to help me improve, he divided up the remainder into numerous pieces and left it at every stage to help me improve my level and eliminate karma. I truly appreciated Master. No matter what I ran into, I would never forget that I was a practitioner. 

Before I practiced Falun Dafa, I also encountered a few things that puzzled me. One such occurrence was a serious car accident I had in 1988. In the accident, my right foot was crushed by a car, breaking my ankle bones into pieces. I was taken to the hospital by ambulance, and put in a cast. The doctor in charge said my foot would be permanently disabled. I sighed to myself, thinking that I wouldn’t be able to walk. When the cast was opened a month later, the doctor said that it had healed very well and all the bone fragments that had been crushed had grown back, with only a scar left. The doctors found it unbelievable.

Upon recalling that occurrence, I realized that Master began to protect me long ago. When I went to the truth-clarification site where I had to carry a heavy load of materials, I had no complaints. Instead, I felt this was something I was supposed to do. It’s truly nothing compared to what Master has given me.

In my cultivation, there have been many things that I didn’t do well, especially when it came to looking inward and cultivating my xinxing. I felt I lagged behind. Going forward, I will try to improve my xinxing, and elevate myself amidst conflicts. When a conflict arises, it doesn’t happen accidentally. If I can set my mind right in it, I can do better. But if I only want to solve the conflict in the conflict itself, then I’d be stuck in humanness. 

I’d like to wrap up my sharing with:

“Born in sufferingStruggle to make a livingOnce obtaining DafaReturn – steps not stopping” (“The Will Is Firm,” Hong Yin IV)

This is my cultivation experience. Please kindly point out anything inappropriate.