(Clearwisdom.net) Beginning in August 1998, the life of Sasaki Setuko changed dramatically. The illnesses that she had suffered with for decades disappeared, and, at age 56, she was finally able to learn to read. She also began to enjoy a happy family life. Sasaki told everyone that it was Falun Dafa that brought these positive changes to her life. She hopes that others will come to practice Falun Dafa so that they, too, can benefit from this wonderful practice!
A Harsh Beginning
During the Second World War, the Japanese relocated some of its citizens to Manchuria China. This was an attempt to establish future, long-term settlement in this country. Sasaki accompanied her parents to live in China. After the Japanese were defeated, some of the Japanese children were left behind in China. Sasaki was one of them. She was adopted by a Chinese couple who had a big family. Although she survived, they had no money to put her through school. She had to go to work when she was just 16 years old. She did all kinds of hard labor, such as loading freight at a railway station.
In the 1980s, the Japanese government allowed the Japanese orphans, who were now middle aged, to return to Japan. Their families were allowed to go back to Japan with them and they were given Japanese citizenship. Sasaki finally returned to Japan with her family. She had many different illnesses such as tuberculosis, cirrhosis, stomach problems, arthritis, and other chronic health issues. She had to have a massage every morning just so she could get up and move around. She could not even make dinner. Nothing was right. As a result of her health problems, she was short tempered and easily angered. Her children were all afraid of her, and her husband became quite concerned. Even though she was finally able to return to Japan, nothing could make her happy. She thought to herself, “Let me live until age 55, when my youngest child will probably be married. Then I can go.”
Learning to Read as a Result of Studying Falun Dafa
In August 1998, Sasaki's elder daughter met the wife of her colleague Mr. Li. Ms. Li was formerly very sick with many ailments, but now she looked very healthy and energetic. Sasaki's daughter asked her what her secret to good health was. Ms. Li told her that it was because she practiced Falun Dafa. Sasaki’s daughter was very happy to hear that and told her mother to try Falun Dafa right away.
After Sasaki talked with Ms. Li and watched Mr. Li Hongzhi’s lectures, she felt very good and was determined to take up the practice. When she picked up her cigarette as usual to relax, she found it tasteless and had no desire to smoke anymore. Her smoking habit of 30 years disappeared just like that! She was so happy!
However, when she picked up the book of Dafa, Zhuan Falun, she was worried. She did not know how to read. She thought, “I can’t read. How am I going to cultivate?” Sasaki, then 56, made up her mind that she would learn to read. She wanted very much to be able to read Teacher Li's books. So she asked her husband, her children, and her friends to teach her to read. She was so anxious about learning to read that she would cry when she couldn’t memorize the characters. Often she had her daughter teach her how to read. Her daughter would joke with her, “It seems that I am the one cultivating, not you.” She replied, “Dafa is so good. When I become healthier, our whole family will benefit.”
Sasaki especially likes group study on the weekends when she can listen to other practitioners reading and at the same time learn many new characters. Gradually, she found that she could slowly read Zhuan Falun herself. At group studies, she could read along with the others. Then when they took turns to read, she could read it on her own, too. Everyone was pleasantly surprised that Auntie Sasaki was able to read Zhuan Falun. It was like magic! Her family didn’t think she could learn and they were all very impressed with her success.
Helping Others Learn about Falun Dafa
As she continued to practice and study with others, she found that her ailments disappeared. She is now close to 70 years old and has become healthy and energetic. In addition, she is no longer short tempered and instead is kind and humble. Sasaki is always ready to reflect on how she can do better in every situation that she comes across.
Often Sasaki participates in community events and makes a lot of friends. She tells them about her own experiences and that Falun Dafa is good. She shares truthful information about Falun Dafa, so people will not be poisoned by the propaganda of the Chinese government.
Sasaki also hopes that more Japanese will come to learn the truth and start practicing Falun Dafa, so she has produced some informational pamphlets and organized group practice to teach newcomers. They now have established a practice site where several practitioners exercise and study the Fa together.
Two Chinese at the practice site could not read either. Their families were very poor when they were little and they did not attend school. They wanted to read Dafa books, but couldn’t. Sasaki could relate to their feelings, so she took it upon herself to read with them and teach them the characters. She said, “I couldn’t read before, and now I am teaching other people how to read. I never would have imagined such a thing!”
Having witnessed the positive changes in his wife, Sasaki’s husband was so convinced of the benefits of practicing Falun Dafa that he began the practice as well. In July 1999, the Chinese Communist Party started to persecute practitioners of Falun Dafa. Sasaki's husband knew that the propaganda was devised to deceive people. He decided to practice anyway, because he knew it to be good for him.
In the past 14 years, practicing Falun Dafa has become their way of life. The husband and wife encourage each other to do better and be more diligent in their cultivation. What a happy family life has resulted!
Category: Beginning Cultivation
