(Minghui.org) I am a retired civil servant in my 70s. I was imprisoned from 2012 to 2014 for my belief in Falun Gong. That was 10 years ago. My employer learned about the detention last January. According to a government policy, they decided to stop my pension and ordered me to return the pension funds I’d received for the past 10 years, which amounted to 500,000 yuan.
When they informed me of this, the situation seemed dire. They came to my home with their official documents in hand. My family was in shock. Regular people would think that I would have no recourse, so I could only endure it. But for me, a Dafa practitioner who has cultivated for over 20 years, I knew that it was all to target my human attachments, and when I let go of my attachments, the illusions would disappear.
I thought of what Master said: “In Buddhism, it is said that every phenomenon in human society is illusory and unreal.” (Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun)
I fully negated the persecution and decided to walk only on the path arranged by Master and use this as an opportunity to save people.
I recalled that Master said:
“When you encounter a tribulation, that great compassion will help you overcome it. At the same time, my Law Bodies will look after you and protect your life, but you will still have to go through the ordeal.” (Karma, Falun Gong)
I stayed calm. I knew Master was protecting me, and I said to him in my heart, “Master, I will pass this test. I can’t let sentient beings commit a sin against Dafa, I will save them.”
I began to write a letter of reply. I asked fellow practitioners to check the law, and I included information about the law in my truth-clarification letter. I included four points: 1. Falun Gong was not included in the list of cults identified by the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China in 2000; 2. In 2010, the National Press and Publication Administration of China lifted its ban on the publication and circulation of Falun Gong books and materials; 3. The Constitution guarantees freedom of belief, so it is legal to believe in Falun Gong in China, and the sentence imposed on me by the court was illegal; 4. The Statute of Limitations in China is three years, and it has been over 10 years since I was sentenced in 2012. Thus, it is invalid to fine me in 2022 for a sentence I served 10 years ago.
I then wrote a second letter, stating that the “No.104 Document” issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China in 2010 did not comply with the laws and the Constitution and was therefore invalid. That document was “ultra vires”—that ministry had no legal authority to issue it and therefore no legal authority to stop my pension.
Then I wrote a third letter to explain what Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) has meant to me. I also told them that, since I’ve been a practitioner, I’ve taken personal gain lightly and refused all extra benefits that clients offered me, which was not because I was a fool but because my moral and ethical standards had improved by cultivating.
In all three letters, I laid out the issue kindly and calmly, which reflected my compassion and sincerity, in order to dissolve the evil influences and awaken the consciences of whoever read them.
After I sent the letters, I concentrated on studying the Fa, looking inward, and sending forth strong righteous thoughts. I did so to entirely dissolve my attachments to benefits, as well as to selfishness, meanness, unwillingness to pay out, etc. I used to complain that I was paid less than my co-workers with the same educational background. I seemingly didn’t care, but I actually resented unconsciously when I was not included on the promotion list at work. This situation was a good chance to remove all these attachments. I thought I should also dig out all the dirty thoughts and their manifestations from deep in my heart.
Although I received a good pension, I was overly frugal. I always bought discounted groceries and would not throw away vegetables that had begun to rot. I just washed them and ate them. I dressed very simply and almost never bought new clothes. I wore the clothes my daughter no longer wanted. When my socks got a hole in them, I mended them and wore them some more. I had more than 10 pairs of new socks and some new clothes in my wardrobe, but I only wore them when they were outdated. I had thought it was a traditional value; I didn’t realize it was also due to the evil Party’s propaganda that promoted “being plain in one’s style of living.” After I realized this, I immediately rectified myself.
One time when I was sending forth righteous thoughts, I felt I was gigantic and had elevated to a higher level; the evil could not touch me and was eliminated. My pension has now been reinstated. The seemingly inevitable and malicious attempt at persecution evaporated.
I understood through this experience that we must believe in Master and the Fa, do things in line with the requirements of the Fa, have a compassionate mindset to saving sentient beings, and always look inward and rectify ourselves. At the same time, we should make use of the law and clearly clarify that it is legal to practice Falun Dafa, which is very important.
Looking back on my cultivation path, I know that every step embodies Master’s care, efforts, and undertaking. I am grateful for Master’s compassionate salvation. I will cultivate more diligently, try to cultivate myself well, and save more people.
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