(Minghui.org) I lived in the provincial capital in spring 1996. I was a soldier and I also worked for a qigong association. My home was in a suburban agricultural district with over 300,0000 residents. Various qigongs were practiced in my region, but not Falun Dafa.
Two old friends from the qigong community visited me right after the 1996 Chinese New Year. They said that a college student from another city gave them a book, Zhuan Falun,and taught them some exercises. They read the book and said it was very good, so they wanted me to take a look and we could discuss it.
When I opened the book I saw the photo Master Li (founder of Falun Dafa). He looked young, kind, and friendly. I read Lunyu and was drawn to the words “Buddha Fa.” I read all night and felt this book was a treasure. The language was direct and easy to understand, yet the principles were profound and every sentence touched my heart. I felt the meanings were boundless.
I was very happy since I learned from the book that the purpose of life was to return to one’s origin. The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance were universal values, and looking within would make me a good, and better person. I also found answers to many questions I had in the past, such as how to distinguish between good and bad people. What are the causes of loss and gain? Why do people get sick or experience hardship? Everything was so clear.
By the time I finished reading I was in tears. Looking at Master’s portrait, I said, “Master, I have been looking for you for a long time. Please accept me as a practitioner. I will cultivate well and tell others about Dafa.”
I did two things the next day. First I resigned from the qigong association. Second, I went to the two friends, and the three of us discussed our understandings of Falun Dafa. We were were very excited and wanted to let more people to know about Dafa so they could also benefit.
So we started by telling our family, friends, and people we knew who were interested in qigong. We told them that Falun Dafa was extraordinary, and that the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are great. Most of them were happy to hear what we said, and they also wanted to practice Dafa. But we only had one book, nothing else. How could we help so many people learn Dafa?
Something happened while we were wondering what to do. I commuted home one day, and a doctor surnamed Su said there was a qigong system called Falun Dafa. He said the practice was very good and a neighbor practiced it. I was thrilled and immediately went with him to see the neighbor.
It was an older couple living in another district. The husband was a teacher and the wife was a nurse in the provincial hospital. When they heard we needed additional copies of Zhuan Falun they immediately said they’d help. Practitioners at their practice site ordered Dafa books and materials for us. Volunteer assistants from their practice site came and helped us establish a practice site.
Afterward many Dafa books, including Zhuan Falun, Master’s video lectures, audio lectures, exercise introductory video, and exercise music, were available in my area. In addition to music cassettes of Pudu and Jishi, we also had materials that introduced Dafa. Falun Dafa quickly spread in my region, from the urban areas to the countryside.
It was just as Master said:
“Dafa is being spread far and wide. Those who hear about it are looking for it. Those who have obtained it are delighted with it. The number of cultivators is increasing daily and becoming countless.” (“Seeking Discipleship with Teacher,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
“Those who really have a predestined relationship and can enlighten will come one after another, entering the Dao and obtaining the Fa.” (“Enlightenment,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
Many people came to learn Falun Dafa. Sometimes entire families, sometimes husband and wife, sometimes mothers and their children, or grandfathers brought their grandchildren… Numerous practice sites were established across 12 townships and two farms in our district.
Some local practitioners paid out of pocket to produce more than 20 banners for us. We also held numerous Nine-day Falun Dafa classes so people could watch Master’s video lectures. Within several months, over 4,000 copies of Zhuan Falun were purchased through the practice sites in my district. Falun Dafa banners were seen everywhere, and Dafa music was heard everywhere.
I was a heavy smoker. When I met the nurse mentioned above for the first time, I took out a cigarette and smoked it. She asked, “Have you read the book? How could you still smoke?!” I was a little upset by her direct comment, but I also realized she was concerned about me.
I put out the cigarette, and replied, “Thank you for reminding me. From you I saw the importance of truthfulness and I will for sure practice Dafa well.”
Many of my health problems subsequently disappeared. I also became more positive and worry-free. Master gave me a new life.
We held the first experience-sharing conference in my district in May 1997. Among nearly 1,000 participants, over 100 were from a nearby military industrial enterprise. There were also officials from the National People’s Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). The articles were submitted from the villages, and contained all kinds of stories. Some people had recovered from illnesses, some talked about how they became better people, and citizens. Eight practitioners read their cultivation stories during the conference.
A manager of a grain depot was an alcoholic, and everyone called him drunkard. He was so drunk he once fell off his motorcycle, and was bruised and unconscious. As soon as he woke up the following day, he continued drinking. His wife could not tolerate it, and asked for a divorce, but he did not change. Just as his family was falling apart he began to practice Dafa. He quit drinking and the family was saved. Everyone around him was surprised, from coworkers to relatives. “Falun Dafa is indeed miraculous. Even a drunkard like him could change,” one of them remarked.
One woman had been diagnosed with a uterine fibroid the size of a child’s fist. The doctor recommended surgery, but it would cost 20,000 yuan. Her son had just been admitted to college and they didn’t have money for the tuition. The mother decided to skip the surgery since she wanted her son to get a degree. Shortly after she began practicing Dafa, she had a dream in which she felt her body change. The next morning she felt relaxed and very energetic. An examination showed the uterine fibroid was gone. The doctors were amazed.
Another woman said she and her mother-in-law used to be enemies, and they constantly fought. After she began practicing Dafa, both women changed dramatically, and became close like mother and daughter. Impressed by their changes, neighbors and relatives all learned how great Falun Dafa is.
Although we had only practiced Dafa for about one year, there were countless stories. Husbands became responsible for their families, wives began taking good care of their husbands, the elderly turned generous, and the young learned to be good…
After the conference, the practice sites in my district published a newsletter. I saved five copies and planned to share them with the assistance center in the city. That night I had a vivid dream.
In the dream, Master was sitting in a chair smiling at me, and I was thrilled. “Master, my entire family is happy practicing Falun Dafa. As a volunteer assistant, I want to thank you on behalf of 300,000 residents in the district,” I said. “I heard Master was also in the army before. Since I am a solider, let me give Master a military salute.” So I saluted Master respectfully. At that time, I felt that was the most respectful way to treat Master.
Master stood up and greeted me with a smile. Then someone came looking for him. I followed, and said, “Master, we just had an experience-sharing conference and published a newsletter. I saved five copies for the assistance center in the city.”
“Sounds good. Please do that,” Master replied. “Okay, I will do it tomorrow,” I said.
I had some regrets since I hadn’t been able to attend Master’s lecture series. My dreaming of Master made me very happy. We immediately delivered the newsletter to the assistance center in the city, which was passed on to the Falun Dafa Research Society in Beijing. The story of that daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law mentioned above was also written in Minghui books.
There’s an ancient saying, that one has to be very fortunate to be born as a human being and encounter a righteous way that can guide people. Master did not come to my city to give us a lecture, but he did not leave us behind. From one book, many people in my district learned about Dafa and benefited from the practice. Master put lots of effort into looking after us, lifetime after lifetime, and taking care of us during our cultivation. We are grateful for everything.
A practitioner in another city told me a story. A woman in her 80s did not practice Dafa, but she liked listening to the Dafa music, Pudu and Jishi, played by the practitioner who lived next door. She became severely ill, but miraculously survived. She said, “I went to the netherworld, but the King of Hell did not accept me, saying I listened to the divine melodies.” The woman lived 10 more years and peacefully passed away.
Many practitioners were persecuted after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began to suppress Falun Dafa in 1999. Two of them who were close to me lost their lives. One of them was a teacher who was in charge of an assistance center. Another was a female teacher. Both of lost their lives in their 40s.
But the suppression will not stop us. We know Falun Dafa is great, and we personally benefited. It is important for us to continue to align ourselves with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, help people learn the facts, and return to our true homes with Master.
Thank you Master
(Selected submission in celebration of 2026 World Falun Dafa Day on Minghui.org)