(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa in March 1999, and I’m now 56 years old. Although I suffered a lot of hardship in the past, I finally found happiness after I began practicing Falun Dafa.
Life Was Difficult
My husband and I married when I was 18 years old. My mother-in-law and their family members strongly opposed it, and did not treat me well. I gave birth to our eldest daughter when I was 19. Given financial difficulties, my husband had to work away from home. After I gave birth, my eldest sister-in-law helped me, and did the cooking for ten days. During that time, my mother-in-law and two younger sisters-in-law treated me poorly. After ten days, I had to start cooking, wash the clothes, and do all the chores, in addition to taking care of my baby.
I raised two small pigs, and they were kept in an empty room. They sometimes ventured into my mother-in-law’s pigsty. My mother-in-law and my two sisters-in-law always drove them out of the pigsty, and one froze to death.
I gave birth to three daughters. When I was about to have my third daughter, my mother-in-law kicked us out of the house. At that time, my husband and I had only erected the basic framework of a house we were building. None of the walls were plastered, and the roof was not finished. There was just a layer of straw on top of the house. We had to move into the unfinished house which had no electricity or water. I was six months pregnant, but I had to get water outside the house. One month we barely had any food, and survived on potatoes.
I had a genetic heart condition, and fainted if I stood too long. I also suffered from rheumatic headaches, which were extremely debilitating. My head throbbed on windy days. Before the headaches started, my eyesight would deteriorate and I couldn’t see anything. The headaches were accompanied by nausea. All three of my children and I were also exposed to carbon monoxide, leaving us with lasting health issues. Afterwards, the children often had headaches.
I had a lump on my neck the size of a duck egg, which was diagnosed as a thyroid cyst. During the winter, I felt breathless, and had to frequently take breaks when I was washing a few pieces of clothing. I also had stomach issues, and experienced severe pain during my menstrual cycle.
When my husband drank too much, he verbally and physically abused me. In retaliation I spent my days playing mahjong, being idle, dancing, and drinking. I was in a state of despair.
I realized one day that I couldn’t continue like this. When I had that thought, I came across the precious book Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa.
Encountering Falun Dafa
My family ran out of rice each spring, and in 1999, we had to take out a loan to buy some. Since the rice would take a few days to arrive, I thought about borrowing some from a relative. I knew that she also faced a shortage of grain every spring, but nonetheless I felt compelled to visit her.
When I visited her I learned that she had been practicing Falun Dafa for three months, and I noticed Master’s image on the wall. I picked up her book, Zhuan Falun, and saw that the lotus flower on the cover seemed to glitter like a star. I wanted to read it, and I asked her to lend it to me. She said, “You wouldn’t understand it.” I insisted, and I brought the book home with me. For the next three nights I read the book from beginning to end.
The first time I finished reading Zhuan Falun, I knew I wanted to be a better person. I worked in the fields during the day and read the Fa at night. By the time I finished the first cycle of working and studying, I burned all the memorial tablets that had been placed in my home to attract spirits. I also took the Buddha statues, consecrated them as per Master’s instructions, to the temple. When I finished reading Zhuan Falun the first time, I knew that Falun Dafa was what I had been searching for all my life. Years ago, I thought about becoming a nun, and I even stayed in a temple for three days, but I felt disappointed and left. After reading Zhuan Falun, I couldn’t help but cry. The teachings are so amazing!
I’ve been steadfast in my cultivation, and haven’t wavered in the face of the relentless persecution, because I know that what I am practicing is the Buddha Fa.
Transformation From the Inside Out
I recovered from all my illnesses after I began practicing Falun Dafa. Even the lump on my neck disappeared.
I no longer resented my husband’s family—instead I treated them with kindness. My mother-in-law lived with my younger brother-in-law’s family. They used to burn coal but stopped because the family wanted to save money. One day, my mother-in-law called my husband, and said she was freezing. When we arrived at her place, we found her, in her 80s, with her hands and feet frozen. She burst into tears when she saw us. I asked my husband to bring her to our house and so she could sleep in a warm bed. When spring came and the weather warmed up, my mother-in-law went back to my younger brother-in-law’s home.
After my mother-in-law passed away, my younger brother-in-law’s family moved to the city, as my older brother and sisters-in-law also lived there. Whenever they returned to our hometown to pay respects to our ancestors, I prepared many dishes for them. They had no home to return to for holidays and family events, so we held family reunions in my home.
My husband’s family looked down on us in the past because I was illegally put in a forced labor camp for a year because I went to Beijing to speak up for Falun Dafa. My husband had to borrow 6,000 yuan to get me released. When I returned home, our family was burdened with the heavy debt. During our most difficult time, my second older brother-in-law lent us 10,000 yuan. My husband told him that as soon as we sold the corn, we would pay him back. However, right after my husband borrowed the money, he called to ask how much we could sell the corn for. My younger sister-in-law wouldn’t allow my husband to drive her new car, fearing he would damage it.
They were deeply moved by my sincere hospitality. They now visit us every Chinese New Year. This year, they bought me some clothes and even planned to celebrate my birthday. Falun Dafa has helped dissolve the grievances between my in-laws’ family and me.
My family has also benefited from Falun Dafa. After I started practicing, I put Falun Dafa first. I shared my experiences with the other villagers and also established a materials information production site in my home.
I was afraid at first to clarify the truth about Falun Dafa because I knew practitioners were being brutally persecuted. I later asked myself, “Have I told these people the truth about the persecution?” I hadn’t. Shakyamuni Buddha sacrificed his life to save sentient beings, so why couldn’t I? I wanted to save at least ten people from my village. If sacrificing my life was needed, then it would be worth it. With this determination, I overcame my fear and was able to clarify the truth, which brought blessings to my family.
Six years ago my husband slipped and fell from the roof while he was clearing snow. I witnessed it as I walked out of the storage shed. As he lay on the ground, he shouted my name. I quickly said to him, “Hurry, say ‘Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good’, and you’ll be fine.” His face was pale from fright. After he said the phrases he stood up and walked into the house. He went to the hospital for an examination. After resting for a few days, he was able to work again.
My husband shared a miraculous experience he had on the day of the accident. He said that when he was falling from the roof, in that split second he saw a large cushion in our yard with a thick layer of air underneath it, and he landed on it. I knew that Master had saved my husband’s life. If it wasn’t for Master’s help, he might have been paralyzed.
My husband later contracted brucellosis from raising sheep. After he read Zhuan Falun only once and received an anti-inflammatory injection that cost only 400 yuan, he miraculously recovered. A person in our village spent 30,000 yuan trying to cure the same disease, but he’s still sick.
My children have also benefited from Falun Dafa. Their spouses, as well as their in-laws, are all genuinely good people. Each of their families is well-off and in good health. I don’t need to worry about them, as I know they are under Master’s care, and everything is the best.
I’m now 56 years old. I own a business and a car. My health is great. Our family has come a long way from poverty to now owning our own house, and we even have some savings. My son-in-law bought me a fully automatic washing machine, which saved me a lot of time.
My relatives, friends, and neighbors hold me in high regard, especially two relatives who are government officials. The wife said to me, “How do you have such a broad mind? You’re truly capable of great things.” I explained my broad mind and good fortune were endowed to me by Falun Dafa.
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