(Minghui.org) The COVID pandemic intensified in China in mid-December 2022, and our city was no exception. Most shops, factories, and schools closed, and government agencies were also in a semi-paralyzed state. Doctors estimated that more than 80% of the population in our area was infected.

My wife and child both had COVID symptoms. They recovered quickly after sincerely reciting “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” and listening to recordings of Master Li Hongzhi’s lectures. I was still a bit puzzled as to why my family members, who were very supportive of my practicing Falun Dafa, showed COVID symptoms.

I went to visit a friend who was not a practitioner. All three of his family members were safe during the pandemic. He said that he was very happy when he heard that Jiang Zemin, the former leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), died on November 30, 2022. He looked for firecrackers to celebrate. The school made the teachers and students pay a silent tribute to Jiang on the seventh day of his death. My friend knew about this in advance, so he did not let his daughter go to school that day.

This reminded me that I did not want to let my child go to school that day either. But my wife pointed out our child missed many days due to the pandemic, and he should go. She said, “Just ask him not to attend the silent tribute.” We argued, and I did not insist. Now I feel very regretful.

I didn’t put enough weight on this matter, and didn’t stick to my position. Jiang, who caused disasters to the country and launched the persecution of Falun Dafa, died. His crimes should not be glorified, but the CCP made school teachers and students pay him a silent tribute.

Isn’t that giving energy to the dying CCP? Isn’t this just another persecution of the world’s people? Some family members of Dafa practitioners did not categorically refuse to participate, and they took part in the silent mourning. Didn’t they fail to discern between good and evil?

My non-practitioner friend had his daughter missed school and refused to show his support for the evil communist Party. He is full of such righteousness. Yet I’m a practitioner, and I felt ashamed that I did not stand my ground.

I then thought of another matter that gave me a heartfelt lesson.

I was invited to participate in an art exhibition in the latter half of 2020. The organizer said that the exhibition was sponsored by the local government. I agreed without looking into it further. I felt this was a unique opportunity to be in a show with so many wonderful painters. I was excited and began working hard to create my art works.

When the work was almost done, I saw the organizers’ brochure, which said that the exhibition celebrated the CCP’s centennial anniversary. I was shocked!

I know very well that in China all major celebrations of the Communist Party are orchestrated by the propaganda department, which included art and literary activities. The CCP uses the artists’ talents to flaunt it’s greatness. I don’t usually participate in any themed exhibitions which are closely linked to the Party and obviously flatter it.

But the organizer of the exhibition did not explain this in advance. When I learned that the exhibition was linked to the CCP’s centennial birthday, the preparations had already been made, and my name appeared on the exhibition’s promotional materials.

I was very troubled and could not make up my mind to back out, nor could I find an excuse to do so. A gust of cold air blew toward me in the corridor of the community center as I walked out of the studio one night. I shivered uncontrollably and wondered how it could be so cold in autumn this far south... I thought the breeze was just caused by the ventilation system and did not think about it further.

I then had a serious sickness karma tribulation. My head ached, I kept coughing, and had difficulty breathing for ten days. My body ached, and I had no appetite. I did not pay much attention at first, thinking this was just ordinary karma-elimination and it would soon be over. However, I did not expect to feel like I was dying when the symptoms intensified.

I could not read the Fa or even send forth righteous thoughts. I finally contacted other practitioners and asked them to help me. I gradually recovered after they sent forth righteous thoughts as a group for me. In the 20 years I’ve cultivated, I have never had such a serious tribulation. This time the evil truly came to end my life.

I realized afterwards that this tribulation was caused by my strong desire for fame and fortune. It was a trap designed by the old forces. They took advantage of my mistake to participate in a themed exhibition that was closely linked to glorifying the CCP. They wanted to take my life because I unintentionally supported the Party’s platform. If it wasn’t for Master’s merciful protection and fellow practitioners’ working together to help me, I may have died.

After these serious lessons, I have a better understanding of the meaning of the old sayings, “Heaven’s will cannot be violated” and “Good and evil cannot coexist.” In order to stay safe while heaven destroys the CCP, not only do people have to stay away from it, but they need to avoid the pitfall of unintentionally supporting it. We practitioners must be more vigilant and not so easily fooled.