(Minghui.org) Does the divine exist? Answers to this question vary greatly among individuals. Jiang Xiaorou, a popular Chinese internet influencer, learned a lesson the hard way.
Jiang, a native of Hunan Province, gained popularity by promoting “anti-superstition and paranormal exploration.” Her bold approach quickly gained popularity, and she amassed 1.28 million followers in a short period of time. Claiming to “debunk superstition,” Jiang gradually escalated her efforts from exploring abandoned buildings to other activities.
In an effort to prove “there are no deities in the world,” she once publicly smashed a supposedly consecrated Guanyin statue with a hammer. She even boasted to her followers in front of the camera, “Wait and see how long I live. If something really happens to me, I’ll treat you to a feast, okay?” Many netizens commented on the online video, warning her not to insult the divine like this. However, she refused to listen.
Jiang was involved in a devastating traffic accident on July 15, 2026. Despite more than 20 days of rescue efforts, she unfortunately passed away at the age of 24, due to the severe injuries she had sustained. Many netizens lamented, “Smashing a Guanyin statue will bring retribution,” Another remarked, “Even if Bodhisattva does not punish you, other deities or the ghosts will not let you go—because the divine does exist.”
Ancient Examples
Jiang’s tragedy stemmed from her arrogance and disrespect for the divine—a lesson echoed throughout ancient China. According to Mingxiang Ji, Mingxiang Temple in Fengzhou City (modern-day Shaanxi Province) once housed several gold-gilded Buddha statues. During the chaos of war in the Southern Dynasties, desperate refugees scraped the gold off the statues to buy food and other necessities, eventually stripping them bare. Soon after, those who had scraped the gold began to suffer from “unbearable itching all over their bodies.” In their agony they scraped at their skin with objects until their flesh was exposed, but the itching persisted. They continued scraping until their bones were exposed, and in the end they died tragically in the street. “The calamity of destroying the Buddha statues was thus revealed,” the book concluded.
In 648, during the Tang Dynasty’s campaign against Kucha (modern-day Xinjiang), an officer named Xue Guxun, who was in charge of the warehouses, noticed a golden Buddha statue in a temple after the Tang army had conquered Kucha. He scraped the gold off with a knife, and within a few days all his eyebrows had completely fallen out. When the army returned to Yizhou, Xue repented before the Buddha statue and used the gold he had scraped from it to perform a meritorious deed. Not long after, his eyebrows miraculously grew back.
Lessons in the Modern Era
For over 2,000 years, Chinese people believed that “good is rewarded with good, and evil begets evil.” However, after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seized power, it debunked traditional culture as part of the “Four Olds” and destroyed it through campaigns like the Cultural Revolution. The cultural upheaval has continued to today, exemplified since July 1999 by the CCP’s ongoing suppression of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
By blindly following the persecution policy against innocent Falun Gong practitioners, many CCP officials have met with consequences. Pan Shi, the director of Liucheng Police Station in Chaoyang County, Liaoning Province, had been persecuting Falun Gong practitioners for many years. He ignored kind words from practitioners and he received an award for “advanced model” by the Chaoyang City 610 Office for his bad deeds. “I’m not afraid of retribution. I’ll beat and arrest them (Falun Gong practitioners) as much as I want,” he boasted. “I’m sticking with the Party forever.” Less than two months after he made these remarks, the once healthy officer suddenly died on his 41st birthday.
Jiang Ping, a police officer from the Domestic Security Brigade of Bazhong City in Sichuan Province, also ignored Falun Gong practitioners who suggested he stop participating in the persecution. “I have personally arrested so many of you, and I am still living a more comfortable life than you. Where is the karmic retribution? I don’t believe it,” he said. On the eve of the 2019 Chinese New Year, Jiang suddenly collapsed and died.
Jiang Renwu, the director of the Domestic Security Brigade in Yueyang City, Hunan Province, repeatedly taunted Falun Gong practitioners and said. “You all say I will suffer retribution, but why has it not happened?” In October 2019, Jiang was diagnosed with cancer and died.
A search on the Chinese version of the Minghui.org website for “I am not afraid of retribution” yielded 1,826 results. This explains how the CCP’s doctrines brainwashed officials and instigated them to harm the innocent, which in turn lead to dire consequences.
Learning From One’s Mistakes
When one is clear-minded, righteous thoughts and actions can also change a person’s fate. Consider the case of a Domestic Security Brigade officer in Butuo County, Sichuan Province who once fined a Falun Gong practitioner over 10,000 yuan. Not long after, he overturned his car in an accident and although he suffered only minor injuries, the repair costs of the car were over 10,000 yuan.
A Falun Gong practitioner reminded him that this accident was a warning of karmic retribution from the divine. Both the fine and the repair cost were over 10,000 yuan, and if he didn’t change, he might lose his life next time! The Domestic Security Brigade captain immediately understood, thanked the practitioner, and promised not to repeat his actions.
Another officer who was a police station chief had actively participated in the persecution and had arrested many Falun Gong practitioners. Practitioners earnestly explained to him the facts about Falun Gong, and advised him to stop being involved in the persecution, but he refused to listen.
This officer later fell ill and was diagnosed with cancer, with a low chance of recovery. In despair, he suddenly remembered what Falun Gong practitioners had said—believing in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance could save one’s life. After reading some confiscated Dafa pamphlets in his office, a glimmer of hope appeared in his heart.
The officer found a copy of Zhuan Falun and decided to read it. He then learned the exercises from a practitioner and began practicing Falun Gong. From then on, he helped Falun Gong practitioners in various ways. His cancer was cured and his work also went smoothly.
From ancient times to today’s modern society, whether it is a 24-year-old influencer or officers involved in the persecution of Falun Gong, a common theme emerges—following one’s conscience will bring blessings, and straying from it may lead to misfortune.
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Category: News Commentary
