(Clearwisdom.net) I belong to that group of practitioners who never experienced any discernible changes during the early stages of my cultivation. I did, however, change tremendously in several aspects after cultivating for some time.
I developed breast cancer in 1993. I was just 32 years old and was desperate to survive. I had major surgery and was having chemotherapy for an extended period of time. I was given many types of drugs that were extremely toxic (such as those derived from the bodies of poisonous animals). I also practiced two forms of qigong. But after two or three years, my condition was the same. I was extremely weak, could not stand firmly, and my face had a greenish color.
It was in 1996 when my aunt, who practices Falun Gong, gave me a life-saving book – Zhuan Falun. I immediately realized that practicing cultivation could change one's fate after reading it. I knew that I had found my savior.
Soon after I began practicing Falun Gong, I realized that Teacher had picked me up from hell. I used to be very worried about my health and often asked my doctor how long I would be able to live. After practicing Dafa, I stopped worrying about my health. My mind was at ease and I no longer was afraid of death. I had two hard-to-cure diseases that both disappeared after I started practicing Dafa. One was pharyngitis that I'd had since I was a kid. My throat almost always hurt year after year. My condition caused me to develop colds and frequent coughing and none of the drugs I took were able to cure it. After I started practicing Dafa, the pharyngitis emerged severely several times and then suddenly disappeared. I was asymptomatic for over ten years. I also suffered from constipation. Three days, five days, or even a week without a bowel movement was normal for me. Later it caused hemorrhoids and an anal fissures. These conditions created a great deal of pain and excessive bleeding from my rectum. I tried drinking water while my stomach was empty, consuming highly-concentrated fiber, as well as other drugs, but nothing worked. However, soon after I began practicing Dafa, the constipation was gone. I have remained without any medical problems for over ten years.
My body became strong once again and my skin became smooth and vibrant. Practicing Dafa completely changed me inside and out.
My Relationship with My Mother-In-Law Changes as a Result of Cultivation
In the preceding paragraphs, I talked about how my health magically improved from practicing Falun Gong. There is something else that is miraculous. Even now when I tell people the facts about Falun Gong, I still talk about the amazing changes I have experienced, and everyone is convinced. These changes relate to my relationship with my mother-in-law.
My mother-in-law is very dominant in our home. Although my father-in-law holds a very important position at work, my mother in law often yells at him. One of our relatives said she is like an empress in our home. She has severe heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, and no one at home dares to argue with her. I have a sincere and tolerant personality which was formed growing up with my family. But even so, I could not get used to her behavior after I married my husband and moved in with his family. We had to stay in his parents' house because we earn meager salaries and could not afford to have our own apartment. My husband travels a lot for his work. Once when he was away, I needed something on the top shelf that I could not reach, so I asked my father-in-law for help. To my surprise, my mother-in-law made a very harsh comment about me. After that I never dared to ask my father-in-law for any help anymore. My husband is very nice to me and thus my mother-in-law got quite jealous. She wanted my husband to follow her around every day and thus often said mean and harsh words. I was doing all the shopping, cooking, washing dishes, and cleaning up the kitchen every day and did whatever she told me to do. But I could not get even one kind word in return from her. She often said bad things about me and even told me to get out of her home. Someone told me the things that she said about me behind my back and I felt so wronged. I was so angry that my whole body started shivering. My temper was actually not very good either and I was not afraid of arguing, especially when I thought I was right. But she had many illnesses and I did not want to make her mad because that could make her even more sick. Although I did not say anything in front of her, I did speak poorly of her behind her back. When I talked to my co-workers or my own family about how “bad” she was, I could go on and on and couldn't even stop myself.
After I started practicing cultivation, I started using Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to guide my thoughts and actions. I realized that in order to resolve the conflicts between me and my mother-in-law, I must search within and cultivate within. I was shocked at what I found. Measuring my actions with Dafa, I was actually pretty “bad.” First of all, I lived in their home for a long time but never paid them. My reasoning was that they had substantial earnings and did not need money. On the other hand, we were poor, and I was doing all the housework such as shopping and cooking. But in reality I was taking advantage of them. Secondly, we behaved quite badly in their home. My child screamed a lot and my husband and I also argued loudly from time to time. This made my mother-in-law not able to rest well, and I did not even feel sorry about it, but instead I often thought about how troublesome she was. Thirdly, in my heart I always looked down upon her. I felt that she was selfish and greedy. Compared with the Fa, all of my wrongdoings really made me feel quite ashamed of myself.
I knew that “Accomplishing is cultivating” (“Solid Cultivation” from Hong Yin, translation version B), so I immediately corrected myself. Not very long after I began practicing Dafa, we were assigned housing and we moved out of their home. Although we don't live or eat there anymore, I continue to give them money every month, and I have been doing so for over ten years. Although they don't need extra money, I feel that I should make up for what I owed them in the past. Also, whenever I get good food or other nice things, regardless of whether I bought them myself or they were given to us from work, I always first give them to my mother-in-law, and then my child if anything is left. Every Chinese New Year I buy clothes for both my mother and mother-in-law, and the ones I buy for my mother-in-law are always better than the ones for my mother. (This is also because my mother-in-law lives in a big city and needs nicer clothing; while my mother lives in a smaller city and dresses more casually.) Lastly, I deeply and genuinely respect my mother-in-law. I confess my past wrongdoings to her whenever the time is appropriate and I ask for her forgiveness. When I see her virtue being displayed or if she has done some kind things, I sincerely praise her and she always smiles happily.
I felt much relief after I corrected myself. But to my surprise, not long after I had corrected myself, my mother-in-law's attitude toward me also changed 180 degrees. She smiles whenever she sees me. She cooks good food for us whenever we go there and often complains that we don't visit her enough. I never hear anything mean or harsh anymore. Her neighbors, relatives, and friends all have such great things to say about me. I was shocked by Dafa's power and Teacher's compassion. I assimilated to the Fa on this matter and everything changed so much more easily. Just a few days ago, I heard my mother-in-law say, “My daughter-in-law treats me better than my own daughters.” If I didn't practice Dafa, how could all this be possible?
Witnessing the “Buddha's Light Shines Everywhere”
Since I have been practicing Falun Gong, I always use the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance as a guide for whatever I do. In over ten years of cultivating, I have found that I really have no enemies. I used to be very jealous about everything and this has made both my body and mind very worn and tired. After I eliminated jealousy, I was surprised to see that each person actually has so many virtues and everyone is better than me in some area. I praise them and wish them only good things. I feel this truly from my heart, and as a result, feel that I can naturally communicate with them. Then, I am often able to successfully clarify the facts of the persecution with them. Before cultivation, when others enjoyed success or received a raise, I would offer them my congratulations, while in my mind I was cursing them. Jealousy made my heart very heavy. Now, I can really be happy for them, because I know that this is the fortune that they are supposed to receive in their lives. Sometimes I cannot even believe myself that my awful attachment of jealousy is so weak now. Dafa can melt people's attachments so easily.
At work, I haven given up the pursuit of selfish gains and instead consider others' needs before my own. On the surface I seem to be too soft. But in reality I often still end up gaining. Gradually, my supervisors have leaned to trust me more and more and my co-workers respect me more and more. One time I had a chance to go to Hong Kong but I let someone else go. Soon after, my supervisor chose me to go to the United States. Especially with my co-workers who understand the persecution and have relinquished their membership in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), it seems that our relationships are now more mature. We are like family and feel great joy in our hearts when we see each other. It is very hard for ordinary people to understand.
My mother-in-law changes caregivers very often, but every one of them gets along with me very well. I only go there on the weekends, but only after seeing them a few times, we become like sisters. Some have even cried when I had to go and some still call me often. For someone who has Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in her heart, who would not want to be close with her? For those who have understood the truth and quit the CCP, their knowing side will really appreciate us.
I sometimes hear my relatives talk about someone who is easy to get along with and someone else who is not, etc. I say that I can get along with anyone and they never doubt me. My ordinary cultivation story confirmed what Teacher said, “The Buddha-light illuminates everywhere and rectifies all abnormalities.” (Zhuan Falun, 2000 Translation Version)
Category: Improving Oneself
