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I Have Finally Made a Decisive Step

Oct. 16, 2009 |   By Xiaoli, a practitioner from Liaoning

(Clearwisdom.net) My sister and I are both practitioners. Because we were preoccupied with ordinary people's affairs and seriously lacking in solidFa study, we were riddled with personal frictions for a long time without searching inside for cultivation flaws. The evil forces took advantage of our loopholes, and, as a result, my sister was arrested. It was a scary scene. Over ten policemen surrounded my sister, with cameras shooting away at her. At that moment, my heart wavered because insufficient Fa study rendered my righteous thoughts weak and feeble. My first thought was to hide what was in my purse because I feared that I would also be exposed and taken away. At that moment, I could not recall one word of Master's, forgot to send forth righteous thoughts, and was left at the mercy of my selfishness.

They took my sister and left me helpless. When I read on the Internet about fellow practitioners being arrested, it pained me, but not to this extent, which shocked me. Never had I expected it to happen to me. I felt that the heavens had crashed and that I was extremely guilty. I was to blame for her arrest. If only I had been a bit more diligent, if only I could have discussed more Fa with her, she would have been all right. She always told me to be more diligent and study the Fa more. I, on the other hand, felt she was being brusque and would not listen to her. We frequently fought over trivial matters. When frictions and conflicts occurred, I would use my human mentality to judge things, focusing only on her faults and never taking a good look at myself.

I cried nonstop, telling myself that I had not protected her well enough. I was totally drowning in sentimentality.

Three days after my sister was arrested, her husband was called away by the police. Afterwards, he came to my house. He stared at us, interrogated us as if he were a cop himself, and cursed at us. I couldn't take it anymore. I forgot what Master said inZhuan Falun:

"when a problem arises, if it does not irritate a person psychologically, it does not count or is useless and cannot make him or her improve."

Not being able to hold my temper, I got into a fight with him.

I transferred all Dafa-related materials in the house somewhere else. We took our child and moved into the company dormitory. My boss and colleagues were afraid to be involved. Even my husband, under enormous pressure, said negative things. I tried my best to clarify the truth to them. No one listened.

I hired a lawyer, who quit after his first visit to my sister. I didn't know what to do. When I was at a loss my mother called, telling me not to be afraid and that all our fellow practitioners were trying to help. They even hired a righteous lawyer who was to call me in a few days. I was moved to tears. Many thanks to compassionate Master and to my respected fellow practitioners---you fortified me with strength and righteous thoughts.

It was several days before the lawyer called. I got anxious and called my mom again. She said she would come over the next day and go with me to request my sister's release. I was burdened with fear, not daring to go home, let alone go to the cops to request my sister's release. Fellow practitioners suggested having my mother over to strengthen my righteous thoughts. Yet my heart was still palpitating, because my sister's husband's threat kept bothering me because he had told the police everything and that they would come to get me. I knew it was targeting my fear. I kept trying encourage myself, looking inside while sending forth righteous thoughts.

The first time I went with my mom to request my sister's release, I went despite my husband's objection. On my way there, he called, saying that my sister's husband didn't want to go and that we should not go, either. I kept going. He called again, telling me that my daughter had a high fever and I needed to come back to take care of her. Such pressure and interference! Before arriving at the detention center, my husband text-messaged me, "I am having a sick feeling about this. You should hurry away. Listen to me." My hands got sweaty. Seeing my reaction, my mother said, "You'd better go back then." I immediately fled. Looking back, I know that everything happened because of my fear and that I had failed this test yet again. I knew it was my cultivation path and that I had to pass this test. Later on, I told my mother that I would go to the detention center again the next day.

The next day, she and I went to the public security bureau. Still a bit nervous, I tried my best to keep my heart steady. The officer in charge was not in but was expected to be back in the afternoon. I stayed nearby to send forth righteous thoughts. In the afternoon, we made another attempt, but none of the officers in charge was in. I got agitated, telling them that we would not leave until we saw him. I questioned the legalities and on what grounds they had arrested my sister, who was merely trying to be a healthier and better person. Mother camped at the gate of the public security bureau that night. The next day I arrived before the office opened. No sooner had I had a few words with my mother than the officer in charge made his appearance. He had a peculiar look on his face. We explained the facts to him very calmly and then demanded to see my sister. He replied, "She is going to be released in a few days; you cannot see her now." We did not trust him and could not wait. We continued to approach our lawyer and did what we were supposed to do. Finally, I made this step forward. In a few days, my sister was released with righteous thoughts.

Through our efforts in requesting my sister's release, I came to see the power of righteous thoughts and the strength of one body. Thanks to our great and compassionate Master who had not given up on us---two undeserving disciples. We are humbled in the face of Master's grand compassion in saving us and we are also grateful for the selfless help from our fellow practitioners.

10/02/2009