(Clearwisdom.net) Greetings, Teacher! Greetings, fellow practitioners!
I started practicing Falun Gong after attending Teacher's lectures in Zhengzhou City that started on June 11, 1994. I then attended Teacher's lectures in Jinan City. After attending the two sets of lectures, myriads of illnesses, including insomnia and a mouth infection, disappeared without the use of any medical treatments. I had practiced qigong for many years before I started Falun Gong, but they failed to cure my illnesses. More importantly, Falun Gong taught me the meaning of life, the true reason why mankind is on earth, and has helped me to find the reason why I had failed to improve my xinxing level after many years of practice.
When I returned home from Master's lectures, I traveled with fellow practitioners to many towns and counties to introduce the practice to people. Before the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) banned Falun Gong on July 20, 1999, more than 10,000 people, in about three different locations, were practicing in my hometown. If the CCP had not banned Falun Gong, more people would have been practicing, and more people would have benefited from the practice. The CCP ruined the opportunity for countless people to obtain the Fa.
I became a "public enemy of the state" after the persecution began on July 20, 1999, because I refused to renounce my belief. As a result, I was sentenced to seven years in prison. At nearly 70 years of age, I was thrown into prison for exercising my freedom of belief.
It has been 17 years since I began practicing Falun Dafa, and I have persevered in my faith under the protection of our compassionate Teacher. I would like to report my cultivation to Teacher and share with fellow practitioners my humble experiences during the persecution.
I was sentenced to prison on December 28, 2001. When the guards ordered me to undertake janitorial work and process cotton, I refused. I was taken to the hospital for a health check, and my blood pressure was very high. The doctor announced that I was critically ill and that I must stay in bed. I knew that Teacher was protecting me. I recited Teacher's article in my heart while I lay in bed.
Teacher said,
"The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts." ("Drive Out Interference" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I decided to memorize Teacher's book Zhuan Falun, and managed to memorize six lectures. One day I suddenly remembered what Teacher said,
"Think about it, everyone: One can develop supernormal abilities through cultivation practice. In the world today, six supernormal abilities are recognized, yet they are not limited to these alone. I would say that over ten thousand genuine supernormal abilities exist. As a person sits there, without moving his hands or feet, he is able to do what others cannot do even with their hands and feet, and he can see the actual truth of each dimension in the universe." (Zhuan Falun)
Teacher said,
"In fact, let me tell you that when you truly practice cultivation, you have already at the beginning developed many supernormal abilities. You have already reached this high level, so you have many supernormal abilities." (Zhuan Falun)
It suddenly dawned on me that I could use righteous thoughts to direct my supernormal abilities. I could use righteous thoughts to end this illegal prison sentence and return home!
I sent forth righteous thoughts every day. I reminded myself repeatedly, "I refuse to acknowledge any arrangement made by the old forces. I am a practitioner. The old forces are not entitled to make any arrangements for me. Even if I had signed a pact with the old forces in the past, I refuse to acknowledge it and will deny it. I shall follow only Teacher's arrangements, and walk only on the path Teacher has arranged for me. I shall never allow the old forces to exploit my loopholes."
I did this every day, never missing a day. Several months later, a prison guard asked me to renounce my belief in exchange for being released to get medical treatment. I refused. The guard then threatened me, "You will never get out of here if you don't renounce your belief in Falun Gong in writing." I thought, "Only Teacher will decide whether I will get out of here. You have no power over me. Teacher shall have me released. I shall get out of here. I am most righteous in my belief. I have not done anything wrong. Why would I want to renounce Falun Gong? I will not do it!"
I continued sending forth righteous thoughts. After several weeks, they started to apply for my release so that I could get medical treatment. I continued to send forth righteous thoughts and begged Teacher to reinforce my righteous thoughts. I was released in less than two years, even though I was sentenced to seven years.
There were two incidents in prison that taught me the significance of sending righteous thoughts.
There was a TV next to my bed in the cell, which broadcast programs containing the CCP's propaganda all day. It was nearly impossible to sleep or memorize the Fa. I started sending forth righteous thoughts daily. In my heart, I said to the TV, "For your own future, you must help Falun Gong and must not service the CCP. From now on, don't send out any sound or pictures." Soon the TV stopped working and was removed from the room.
A prison guard then sent an inmate over to continually sing songs that praised the CCP. I started to send forth righteous thoughts to stop her from singing. Another guard soon came over and reproached her. She then stopped singing the songs.
I could finally relate to Teacher's words, "Dafa Disciples' Righteous Thoughts are Powerful" (Essentials for Further Advancement II)
For seven years, since I was released, I have never sought any medical treatment. I study the Fa, practice the exercises, and send forth righteous thoughts at set times every day. I go out and talk to people about Falun Gong to save them from the CCP's lies every day. In the past few years, I have told more than 10,000 people about Falun Gong, and have been making steady progress on the path of cultivation.
The end of the Fa-rectification is near. There is limited time left. I must be diligent in doing the three things in order to follow Teacher and return to my true home.
