(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Dafa with my younger sister in 1997, when I was 12 years old.
I later learned that my cousin, her mother-in-law, and father-in-law also practiced. My sister and I often went to their home to watch videos of the exercises and Master Li’s lectures.
Family Tribulations
When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) broadcast the staged “Tiananmen Self-Immolation” hoax on TV in 2001, my parents were terrified and forbade us from practicing. I hid all my Dafa books and wasted more than two years because I stopped cultivating.
When I was in high school, I often found truth-clarification flyers about Falun Dafa on my way to school. I remember one experience sharing article that made me cry every time I read it. Following one of the flyer’s instructions on how to access blocked websites, I finally got onto Minghui.org. Master’s new lectures deeply moved me, as did the articles written by practitioners.
I took out the Dafa books I’d hid and read them secretly whenever I had time. I realized how profound Dafa’s teachings are! Why hadn’t I seen this before? This is the truth of the universe—the meaning of life! I wanted to tell my parents about it.
Because of my immaturity, I was attached to sentimentality when I clarified the truth and didn’t fully grasp how to send righteous thoughts. I couldn’t eliminate the evil factors interfering with my mother, so she became hysterical and took away all our Dafa books. Even when I refused to eat for three days, she wouldn’t give in. She called my grandfather to come over. He said, “If you refuse to eat, we’ll send you to the police station.”
When I started working, my mother cursed me after I got home and sometimes even hit my sister and me. At work, I maintained a positive mindset, validated the Fa and helped my coworkers quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Many times, my mother locked us out when we came home. One winter, my sister and I had to sleep in a small storage room.
My mother’s sisters lived nearby. When she was tired, she would call them over to join her in criticizing us. The house was crowded with aunts, cousins, and relatives, and they all took turns berating us. My aunts often tried to introduce us to potential partners, and whenever we tried to clarify the truth to them, it led to more arguments and even beatings.
We eventually rented a place for a year. During that time, we reconnected with some practitioners who often shared their experiences with me and helped me improve my xinxing. I later met my husband, who is also a practitioner. I was finally able to move out and practice cultivation without interference.
Treating My Mother Kindly
My mother fell last year, and we took her to the hospital for a checkup. The result showed a brain tumor that required surgery. She was shocked and said, “I’ve never done anything bad in my life or taken advantage of anyone—how could I have this illness?”
I thought, no matter what karma my mother may have accumulated during her previous lifetimes, she is now a Falun Dafa practitioners’ mother—we must help her understand the truth. My sister and I discussed what to say, and we strengthened our righteous thoughts—we were determined to not let human emotions sway us.
After the diagnosis, my aunts and cousins called me over to discuss treatment options. My cousin said, “Your mom got sick because of you two.” She went on about how we didn’t date, how my mother couldn’t sleep, and other things, implying her illness was all our fault.
I thought, this was a good chance to tell them about Falun Dafa. I said, “Is it wrong to believe in Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance? No one in history has succeeded in persecuting upright religions. Those who persecuted Christianity suffered. If my mom hadn’t accumulated so much karma, she wouldn’t have to suffer like this. If she can truly understand the truth, she’ll get better. Please stop saying these things—it’s bad for you.” My cousin left the room.
The day before surgery, my mother had her head shaved. Looking at her pale, frail face, I said, “Mom, you wonder why you got this illness. In ancient times, emperors respected Heaven and divine beings and never dared to slander the Buddha Law. One emperor was punished for doing so.”
She snapped, “So I’m being punished for slandering your Dafa!” I replied, “Mom, your surgery is tomorrow—please remember, ‘Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.’” She pushed me away with all her strength and refused to listen.
As my mother was about to be wheeled into the operating room, I rushed over and whispered in her ear, “Mom, please remember what I told you yesterday.” I wept as the door closed. I thought of how my mother descended into this world at great risk. I couldn’t hold back my sorrow.
The surgery went very well, and the tumor was completely removed. However, the doctor said the disease might return within a year, as there is no medical cure. My mother’s brain tumor was the most malignant type. I didn’t hide the truth from her—I told her the result, and she broke down.
My sister and I took good care of our mother. She didn’t like food from stores, so we bought groceries and cooked what she liked every day. We washed her feet—something we never did before. When we were young, Mother was very strict with us and never praised us, she only criticized. I rarely saw her smile. Because of this, I didn’t know how to express care or warmth.
I told my mother, “If I hadn’t practiced Falun Dafa, I would have really hated you. It was my fault. I didn’t explain the truth to you clearly and that caused you to commit sins against Dafa, and you’ve suffered as a result.” My mother was moved, perhaps because it was the first time she heard me admit I was wrong—it touched her heart.
I comforted my mother and helped her feel the kindness and compassion of Dafa practitioners. Based on how much she could accept, I gradually told her about the goodness and beauty of Dafa. This helped open her heart little by little. One day, I gave her Master’s lecture series recordings to listen to. She put on the earphones and listened when she went to sleep for several nights in a row. I was so moved that it felt like I was dreaming.
After the surgery, the hospital recommended radiation and chemotherapy. The day before treatment began, I said, “Mom, you used to do things against Dafa—you tore up Dafa books and slandered Master. I truly want you to be well. Please write a solemn declaration. It will lessen your karma.” I read her a declaration statement I prepared and asked her to sign it. She did and said softly, “I know you don’t want me to die.”
After the radiation and chemotherapy ended, my mother didn’t have any adverse reactions—everything was normal. She even took morning and evening walks with my father. I told her, “Whenever you have time, recite ‘Falun Dafa is good; Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.’” She replied, “I remember.” Her mood was even better than it was before she got sick. I thought, she made the right choice, and her awakened side was rejoicing for her new life.
Saving My Relatives
It was almost Chinese New Year, so my sister and I discussed how to tell our relatives about Falun Dafa. Some of them had been misled by the CCP’s propaganda and committed wrongdoings against Dafa. We decided we must save them and make up for the harm caused by our mother’s actions. We prepared more than 10 boxes of fruit and other gifts, brought a video player loaded with truth-clarifying videos, and visited all of them. Within a few days, we had gone to see 10 families. They were very happy to see us, accepted what we brought, and agreed to withdraw from the CCP’s organizations.
I also thought of my cousin. After she quit practicing Dafa and turned to Buddhism, she not only attacked Dafa, but often hit or scolded my sister and me. I was full of resentment for her, but asked myself, “Do I really wish for her to be lost forever? That’s not what I want. I want to save her!” Seeing my wish, Master arranged an opportunity—my cousin invited my sister to her home to do a beauty treatment for her, and I went along.
I brought Master’s articles addressed to the world: “How Humankind Came To Be,” “Why Save Sentient Beings” and “Why This World Is a Realm of Unknowing.” As we were about to leave, I told my cousin, “This is for you. It’s really good.” She sneered, “I don’t want it.” I said, “Just take a look. If you don’t want it afterward, you can give it back to me.” She replied, “Alright, just leave it there.”
Two months passed, and I saw my cousin again. I asked, “Did you read what I gave you?” She said, “I read all of it.” I put my arms around her and said, “I just want you to be safe. You once joined the Youth League—do you want me to help you withdraw?” She was no longer angry. She smiled and said, “No need for now.” Though she didn’t agree at that time, I was overjoyed to see her smiling. That laid the foundation for me to talk to her again.
On my way home, I thought about how my cousin now had hope. All the resentment I once had disappeared. Master gave me another chance to improve my xinxing and save people. As it hit me that I had dissolved the past grudges between us, tears streamed down my face.
Being More Diligent
My mother’s temper recently worsened. She started scolding people and got angry for no reason. Whenever she yelled, memories of her scolding me years ago resurfaced. I realized these weren’t my true thoughts—this was the old forces trying to stir up my resentment and exploit my weaknesses. If I fell for it and started hating my mother again, the old forces would have an excuse to harm her. I must deny all their arrangements and look within to eliminate resentment.
I suddenly wondered, “Can my mother really be saved?” A thought came to my mind, “That depends on how well you do.” I calmed my mind; it felt as if I received the answer. I knew Master was enlightening me and giving me confidence. I must constantly look inward, cultivate myself well, and not view things with human notions or attachments. I must let go of everything and only follow Master’s arrangements.
Looking back on all these years of family tribulations, life truly has been hard. My attachments to sentiment only made the tribulations more severe. The main reason was that my compassion was not yet sufficient.
I must remember what Master said,
“Mercy can melt heaven and earth into springRighteous thought can save people of the world”(“Fa Rectifies the Cosmos” in Hong Yin II)
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
Category: Cultivation Insights
