(Clearwisdom.net) I am currently 56 years old. Before taking up the practice of Falun Gong in July 1995, I had numerous physical ailments. I suffered from cardiac disease, acute arthritis, a malfunctioning lymphatic system, periodic flu, migraines, and irregular menstruation. Adding to my health problems was the fact that my husband was never sober. I wept every day, as life was miserable.
In the midst of my misery, a colleague told me that my sickness would disappear if I practiced Falun Gong.
After starting the practice, everyday after work I practiced the exercises with my colleagues, and every night I studied Zhuan Falun late into the evening.
"When a person insults somebody, he thinks he's come out on top and let off steam. But there's a law in this universe, called "a person doesn't gain anything if he doesn't lose"--to gain, you have to lose, and if you don't lose you'll be made to lose. Who enforces this? It's the nature of the universe that does. So only wanting to gain just won't do it."
(Zhuan Falun)
The above paragraph captured my attention.
At work or at home, I had been known to use convoluted arguments. I always made sure that I won in the end, regardless whether I was right or wrong. Hence, no one liked arguing with me. The following is an example. I worked at a leather clothing factory which finished work at 11:30 a.m. As I was a fast worker, I quickly finished my assigned workload, sometimes by 9:30, or sometimes by 10 o'clock. I would leave and do my day's shopping, then go home to cook dinner. Once when they could not find me at the factory, a colleague reported to the manager saying that I went shopping. I argued my way out by saying that I did not work any less, and I was not delaying the production. So, there was nothing wrong with me leaving early.
Often at home, whenever I found my children or husband not doing things right, I would throw a tantrum, and make a scene using abusive language. The whole neighborhood could not stand my behavior. One neighbor came over to help settle our fights. I simply pushed her out of the door, telling her to mind her own business. Since then, no one dared to come around anymore.
After taking up the practice of Falun Dafa, there was a big change in my xinxing. I always put others before myself, I was more conscientious at work, and I developed a very good relationship with my colleagues and supervisor.
Before I started learning Falun Dafa, I used to take home trimmings of leather cuttings and used them to make jackets, pants, and gloves for my husband and children.
One day, after reading the paragraph in Zhuan Falun:
"He used to take home pieces of towels from the mill, and so did all the other employees. After he learned our practice, he not only stopped taking things home, but also brought back what he took home before."
I decided to return what I took from the factory back to the manager. At first, I was reluctant, as the manager would know that I stole them from the factory. Besides, others did the same, and I would get all the others in trouble as well.
However, I returned to the factory all the left over leather pieces, which were worth about 5,000 yuan.
I said to the manager, "I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. Our Teacher taught us not to do things like this." The manager and the factory superintendent, surprised at my action, said to me, "Well, you are about to retire soon. Would you like an award or a bonus from us for this action?" I told them that I didn't want either.
After retiring I had more time at home. When neighbors needed help, I did not hesitate in giving a helping hand. My home is under a stairway and in a convenient location to other units. Whenever older people had difficulties managing their shopping bags up the stairs, I helped them out. Every month, our residence collects a maintenance fee. But no one came to do the regular cleanup. So, I offered to clean the whole compound every morning. In the summer, I got my children to help with the weeding, and in the winter, clearing the ice. The whole neighborhood said, "Falun Gong practitioners are good people."
On the morning of November 8, 2005, Xiao Gao of the 610 Office, together with over twenty other people from the local police station, security office, the housing board, etc., barged into my home. They tore down Teacher's portrait, confiscated my Falun Dafa books and CDs, and took me for brainwashing. Following my arrest, my pension was stopped as well. All of a sudden, we lost our income. Our survival solely relied on the pension, as my daughter did not have a job and my son-in-law was laid off.
While they were taking me away, I heard the bystanders say, "Why do good people get arrested. Does Chinese Communist Party have nothing to do? They allow crooks to arrest the good guys."
When the persecution of the Falun Gong practice started in July 1999, I went to Beijing to protest and was arrested several times. Altogether, I have been fined over 20,000 yuan.
Looking at the whole thing from another perspective, I have changed from a selfish and covetous person into someone who constantly looks inward to try to improve. How could I not protest? When good people are sent for brainwashing, how can such a society be progressing in the right direction?