(Clearwisdom.net) By the time I was almost 50, I was well known for having to take many medications because I had so many illnesses.

At the height of the popularity of qigong in the 1990s, I attended a qigong class with the intent to find a treatment for my ailments. The class taught us exercises for healing and fitness and how to cure others' illnesses. I developed the wrong thought that I could not only cure myself but also do a good thing by alleviating others' suffering. I thought this would be good. I practiced this qigong and gave treatments to others at same time. I gradually noticed that my own illnesses were not cured. In addition, after I treated others, I felt very uncomfortable. I wondered, since I practiced qigong diligently and also contributed to helping others, why didn't my gong (cultivation energy) improve? Why did I still have diseases? I soon quit practicing that type of qigong.

When I later started studying Zhuan Falun, I read Master's words,

“When you heal other people’s illnesses, they also have qi in their bodies. Perhaps their qi will heal your diseases! How can one’s qi dominate that of another person? Qi cannot heal illness at all. In addition, when you treat a patient, you and your patient form a field through which the patient’s pathogenic qi will all come to your body. You have as much of it as your patient does, though it is rooted in the patient’s body. Too much pathogenic qi can cause you to become ill as well.”

I then understood the reason for my not recovering from illness.

Because of my experience with the bad qigong practice, I politely rejected Falun Gong the first time that someone tried to introduce it to me. I had been disappointed with the previous qigong. How I regret that decision when I think of it now!

Two years ago, I suffered a back injury and was diagnosed with a herniated lumbar disc with disc protrusion, synovitis, and spinal distortion. I then started my difficult journey of looking for a cure. I went to some local hospitals and was treated with different methods, including massage, acupuncture, and local medication treatments. The symptoms of my back injury were sometimes alleviated but sometimes it was worse. I later felt that I could hardly stand up, and when I walked it seemed that my feet were very heavy. Not only did the back pain become worse, but my legs were also painful. I then went to two large hospitals in Beijing and I had a similar diagnosis, which was severe lumbar calcification and there was the possibility that I would develop paralysis when the lumbar pressed on the sciatic nerve. I needed surgery, but I did not want to do it at that time, although I knew that sooner or later I would have to. I was afraid of complications from surgery and selected the conservative treatment without surgery. I came back home very disappointed.

Back at home, I started the acupuncture treatment again. During each treatment, needles would be put into both sides of my spine, my back, hip, and both legs down to my ankles. Each time, dozens of needles were used. When I was receiving treatment, I had to lie face down for over an hour. I also received other physical therapy treatments including being heated with an electric instrument, and warmed with a warm water bag. Sometimes when my back pain occurred, I felt that my whole body was broken and my back was as cold as ice. Every time I received the high temperature treatment, it needed to be at a very high temperature. Once the temperature decreased, I felt uncomfortable. The skin on my back turned a different color because of the heat. A family member said, “Your skin is burnt and the color has changed with it and it looks like a map. It is like dead skin.” I, however, could not feel that.

I struggled with the pain for six months, during which time I was confined to bed. Sometimes, I could sit for a little while and then I would immediately lie down because I was in so much pain. I could see that my husband was exhausted because of me and was very worried. I was very sad. How could I stand this forever? Would I have to be taken care of by others for the rest of my life?

Fortunately, Master arranged for a practitioner to come to me again and bring me the book Zhuan Falun. The practitioner taught me to recite, “Falun Dafa is good,” and, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” In this way I started practicing Falun Gong.

When I started studying the Fa, I was too sleepy to finish one page. Sometimes I fell asleep and continued to read when I woke up. I gradually noticed that the pain in my back was alleviated when I read. It was always like this, that I slept and read until I finished reading Zhuan Falun the first time through. I understood that I fell asleep because there was a problem in my brain and Master was adjusting my brain.

A few days later, a practitioner brought me a tape of Master's lecture in Guangzhou. When the practitioner helped me to play the tape (in those days when I went to bed, I first had to sit on the bed and then, with my hands, drag each leg onto the bed) I was surprised that I could get onto the bed so easily. I had previously only heard of the miraculous nature of Falun Dafa, and now I could verify it myself.

When I could stand, the practitioner started teaching me the exercises. By the second day, I'd learned the first four exercises, and followed along with Master's exercise teaching tape. When I finished the fourth set of exercises, I suddenly felt cold all over my body. I felt sick and almost threw up and also had symptoms like I was catching a cold. I then cried with joy because I knew that Master was cleansing my body.

For the next two months, each time I did exercises, I would sweat like I had just had a shower. The sweat came from the top of my head and ran down my face and neck. It sometimes would go into my ears and even down to my feet. It is hard to imagine for a person who has not practiced Falun Dafa. Each time I finished my exercises, I had to use a towel to dry off.

One year after I started practicing Falun Gong, not only was my back pain gone, but also I didn't need any medications any more. I became a very happy Falun Dafa disciple. I had only the thought of treating my illnesses when I began practicing, yet Master's Fa, so broad and immense, cleansed my heart and answered a lot of puzzling questions in my life. From the Fa, I came to know how we came to this world, why we are human beings, and the purpose of being a human being. I now know the goal of my life. When I realized that all the suffering in life was for obtaining the Fa today, I felt relieved. All of the suffering was alleviated.

Master asks us, as cultivators, to assimilate to the characteristic of the universe –Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Master says,

“When you always maintain a heart of benevolence and compassion, you will have time or room to buffer the confrontation and think, should a problem arise suddenly. If you always think about competing with others and fighting back and forth, I would say that you will start a fight with others whenever there is a problem—this is guaranteed. ” (Zhuan Falun)

He also says,

“Then, when you run into a problem, you will be able to do well because it gives you room to buffer the confrontation. You should always be benevolent and kind to others, and consider others when doing anything. Whenever you encounter a problem, you should first consider whether others can put up with this matter or if it will hurt anyone. In doing so, there will not be any problems. Therefore, in cultivation practice you should follow a higher and higher standard for yourself.”(Zhuan Falun)

I learned tolerance, and whatever I encountered, I would not be so angry. Master also said,

“We have also said that if every one of us cultivates his inner self, examines his own xinxing to look for the causes of wrongdoing so as to do better next time, and considers others first when taking any action, human society would become better and ethical standards would again rise. The spiritual civilization would also become better, and so would public security. Perhaps there would not be any police. No one would need to be governed, as everyone would discipline him or herself and search their inner self. Wouldn’t you say this would be great? ”(Zhuan Falun)

I am hoping to be such a person, and each time I think of this passage, I feel warm in my heart. Master teaches us to be good and kind. How wonderful it would be if every sentient being would act according to Master's teaching.

A few days before I planned to write down my sharing, I suddenly remembered one of my dreams that I'd had more than ten years ago. I dreamed that there was a big hole in the sky. I looked up towards the hole and wanted to see what Heaven looked like. A big object flew across me like a blue-green flying dragon. I immediately tried to grasp its tail and hoped it would bring me to Heaven, but I failed and it flew away. Disappointed, I then saw a thick and long rope sticking out of the hole to Heaven. I was excited and grasped it firmly and started climbing towards Heaven. Even now I recall it so clearly and it is so real, like it appeared in front of my eyes. Actually, it is the ladder to Heaven that Master has given me. How could I have any excuses to not believe in Master and not grasp this time to cultivate diligently?