(Clearwisdom.net) I am a Falun Gong practitioner from Shandong Province. Before I practiced Falun Gong, I had many kinds of illnesses. I often had chills and took medicine every day. At 40 years old, I looked as if I was 60. One day, while at work, my kneecap was injured. As a result, I needed an operation. However, because the doctor was not at the hospital at that time, the injury was left untreated. Due to the severe leg pain, I needed an injection every day in order to relieve the pain.
I had a neighbor who was a doctor. One day, I went to this neighbor's home to get a shot. He told me: "You have hope." He then gave me a book which had articles written by Falun Gong practitioners who shared their cultivation experiences and understandings. Because I was illiterate, I couldn't understand the contents in the book. So I waited for my children to read them to me after they got home from school. As my children were reading the articles to me, I noticed that what is taught in the book is very profound. I found out that many people who had incurable illnesses were healed after they took up the practice, and I was very touched by practitioners' experiences. The next day, I went to the local practice site in my area and learned to practice the exercises with many other practitioners.
On the third day, through a practitioner, I went to the assistant's home to watch Master's video lectures. Ten minutes later, I felt severe stomach pains and understood that my body was being purified. After I got home, I had diarrhea throughout the night. I also had a fever and chills. However, on the fourth day, I felt that I had completely recovered and I could also do many household chores. Thus, my confidence in the practice increased. Since then, I have embarked on a journey to cultivate in Falun Dafa.
During the group Fa-study, I listened to practitioners earnestly when they read Zhuan Falun. One week later, I was able to recite Lunyu. However, when I wanted to read the book by myself, I couldn't, because my children were not home. I was very anxious. I told myself: I must not rely on others, but to memorize the words in Zhuan Falun, so that I can read it by myself. Since that time, I would pick up the book and read it on my own whenever I had time. Slowly, I tried to memorize every word in the book. When I didn't understand the characters, I would ask my husband. When I went to the group Fa-study, I tried to memorize every word that practitioners read. After I got home, I would re-read those words I just learned. Gradually, whenever I picked up the book, I felt that the characters changed shapes. They were framed in gold. Since then, I have been able to recognize all the words in Zhuan Falun. Every time I read the book, I feel that there is someone reading the book for me. I no longer need anyone to help me to study the Fa. What's more amazing is that the injury in my kneecap has disappeared. I feel as if I am floating on a cloud like a heavenly being.
After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), under the rule of Jiang Zemin, started persecuting Falun Gong, I went to Being to appeal in late 2000. I practiced the exercises at Tiananmen Square where there were many police officers. Within a short period of time, the police threw a group of us into a police car. They sent us back to our localities and detained us for more than a month. After I was released and returned home, my husband's work place sent someone to monitor me every day. They didn't allow me go out to do the exercises or study the Fa. They told me that if I kept practicing, they would expel my children from school and fine me heavily. In order to escape harassment, I practiced the exercises and studied the Fa at home. Gradually, I managed to go out to hand out truth-clarification materials and tell people to quit the CCP.
However, recently, due to some family matters, I became less diligent and slacked off in doing the three things. As a result, I was taken advantage of by the evil factors. My sickness karma surfaced and I experienced the symptoms of a stroke. I felt that half of my body couldn't move and I also lost control in excretory functions. I started looking inside: Although I study the Fa every day, I couldn't truly meet the standard of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I was very attached to human sentimentality and lacked compassion for the people with whom I dealt. I couldn't take being criticized by others, and it would set me off if I was. Much like the kind of people that Master talked about in "Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles." I discovered that I have a lot of shortcomings and weaknesses. I realized that although I have cultivated for a long time, I still have so many attachments. This is the main cause of the illness tribulation. My family was very concerned about my condition. Nonetheless, I told myself: "Master is here with me. The Fa is here with me. Whether I live or die, it is up to Master. And, to the say the least, my life is given and created by the Fa." After I sent out this righteous thought, I felt I was surrounded by a field of energy. I felt I was more relaxed. When practitioners got home from work, they would come to my house and study the Fa with me. Gradually, my health improved. One week later, I could go up and down the stairs. One month later, I had completely recovered. At age 60, I could easily carry a 60-pound-bag of flour to the fourth floor and I didn't feel tired at all. My family was shocked to see this and they all felt that Falun Dafa is truly wonderful. They swore that they would cultivate in Dafa to the very end. Now, I have become more diligent in doing the three things and I cultivate myself solidly.
Cultivation practice is not a child's play. Doing the three things well is not idle talk. We must cultivate ourselves solidly. Only then can we meet the standard of a genuine Dafa disciple.