(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa on June 12, 1998. I am now 67 years old.
Finding What I Was Looking for: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance
Before I practiced Falun Dafa I suffered from a lot of illnesses, including back pain, leg pain, adnexitis, headaches, and insomnia. I had to take medicine every day. Then, I developed lumbar bone spurs, which were so long that they pressed on my nerves, so I had to undergo surgery to remove the spurs. The doctors said the operation was very risky, and that I might become paralyzed.
My husband was disabled. At that time, my children were still young. Despite my poor health, I had to do all the work in and around the house.
A friend gave me the book Zhuan Falun, the main text of Falun Dafa in May, 1998. She said, “Why don’t you practice Falun Dafa? It can elevate one’s character and improve one’s health.”
I didn’t quite believe what she said, so I didn’t read it right away. After about two weeks, I thought, “My friend brought this book, so it would be disrespectful if I didn’t even read it.” So I picked up Zhuan Falun, lay on my bed, and flipped through it.
To my surprise, I experienced the beauty of Falun Dafa after reading only one lecture. I slept incredibly well that night, and had never felt so comfortable.
“So, Zhuan Falun is a book about cultivation practice,” I thought. I then read the entire book and the words “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” in Zhuan Falun stayed in my mind. I thought, “This is what I am looking for! This is what I want! I will pray to the Master who wrote this book.” That day I read Zhuan Falun, I will never forget—it was June 12, 1998!
I found an exercise site near my home. I did the exercises in the morning and studied the Fa with fellow practitioners at night. I recovered from all my illnesses after about 20 days. My husband and children witnessed the greatness of Dafa and supported my practicing Dafa.
Steadfast in the Storm
On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched the persecution of Falun Dafa. Overnight, the state-owned media spread propaganda defaming Falun Gong (also called as Falun Dafa) and Master. I felt as if the sky was about to fall. A few of us decided to go to Beijing to appeal for Falun Dafa. However, the officers at the State Bureau of Petition arrested us and did not accept our petition. We then went to Tiananmen Square to tell people the truth about Falun Dafa. We were arrested and taken back to our hometown.
We were detained for half-a-month. On the 14th day, a police officer and a judge came to the detention center. They pressured every practitioner to sign a guarantee statement saying that they would give up practicing Falun Dafa, or else they would take practitioners to a forced labor camp.
When the officer and the judge asked me, “Will you continue to practice Falun Gong? If you give up, you can go home immediately, or we will send you to a forced labor camp tomorrow.”
I said, “Why would I not follow such a good practice?”
He said, “I don’t think you understand the point. Will you continue to practice Falun Gong? If you do not give it up, we will take you to a forced labor camp.”
I said, “As long as I have one breath, I will continue to practice no matter what happens in the future.”
The officer growled, “You’re such a stubborn person!”
At that moment, an official-looking man came in. The policeman called him the Director. The policeman told him, “This stubborn person said she would continue to practice forever.” The director approached me, patted me on the shoulder and said, “You are really a good person. If people want to make friends, they should make friends with people like this. When you get out, I will make friends with you.” After that, he left without looking back. The officer and the judge were stunned and could not say a word.
At that time, I thought the director was being sarcastic. Later, when I mentioned this to other practitioners, they said, “That wasn’t sarcasm, it was Master using his mouth to encourage you.”
When we returned to the cell, practitioners shared how they had answered. Some said that they signed the guarantee statement right away. Some said they used word games to trick them. I told them what I had just told the police, and most of them said, “You’re finished; you won’t be able to go home, and you will be taken to a forced labor camp!”
The police began to release practitioners the following afternoon. I was the first one to be taken home.
Given this incident, I realized that if we let go of life and death and hold fast to our righteous thoughts, no one will dare touch us. When we are on the Fa, Master will be able to help us!
Talking to People about Dafa
Ever since Master taught that Dafa practitioners should do the three things well, and that they should tell others the truth about the persecution to save sentient beings, I have been doing so. At first, I only distributed truth-clarification materials because I was too afraid to talk to people about Falun Dafa face-to-face. Later, after studying the Fa a lot, I realized that practitioners have a mission and responsibility, so I started to talk to people about Dafa face-to-face.
While doing so, I slowly got rid of my fear. I went from not daring to speak to going out every day, including the CCP’s sensitive dates. I could persuade more than 20 to 30 people daily to quit the CCP and its youth organizations. No matter what, I insisted on going out in all weather. My character has been constantly improving through the process.
One day, I saw a young man in his 30s or 40s sitting on the roadside with two suitcases. He looked very sad. I greeted him and said, “Young man, I’d like to give you a book to keep you safe.” He said, “I don’t want to read it. I am very upset.” I asked, “What’s wrong? Tell me.” He said, “Are you a Falun Gong practitioner?” I said, “Yes.”
He said, “I know you are all good people. Let me tell you, sister, I have been in prison and in there I interacted with Falun Gong practitioners, so I know you are all good people. I really came across something difficult and I want to talk to you about it.”
He said, “After I left the prison, I met a woman on the internet and dated her. She was divorced and had a daughter. We were not married yet, but we have lived together for three years. I’ve given her all my savings and wages, which amounted to almost 200,000 yuan. I bought her the best food and clothes that I could afford. She now wants to break up with me. I was so angry when she told me that I almost passed out. I don’t want to live anymore. I just wanted to kill her and commit suicide. I just quit my job and am trying to find her to get my money back. I will kill her if she does not pay my money back.”
I said, “Young man, don’t be like this! Be calm. Everything has a karmic reason. Nothing is coincidental. You have to think twice before doing anything! You’re still young. Maybe you owed her from a previous life. Maybe there’s a better girl waiting for you in the future. Besides, money is nothing. You can always make money as long as you are alive. Is your life only worth 200,000 yuan? Silly boy, don’t think about it. Put it behind you. Besides, if you are destined for each other, maybe she will come back to you soon.”
A smile appeared on the young man’s face. I went on to tell him more about the persecution of Dafa and suggested he quit the CCP organizations. He agreed and thanked me.
I gave him an amulet, which he immediately put around his neck. I saw that he looked so different from when I first saw him. I told him that if he recited, “Falun Dafa is good; Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,” perhaps things would turn around for the better. He said, “I believe you, and I’ll recite it. Sister, It’s getting late. Please stay safe and go home.”
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