(Clearwisdom.net) I remember it was autumn 1997 when I received a package containing several Dafa books. The sender was concerned about my illnesses and thought reading the books might help improve my health. In the beginning I turned a blind eye to the advice and didn’t even bother to turn a page. Later on, realizing that the sender genuinely cared about me, I picked up the book Zhuan Falun out of politeness.
Fortunate to Obtain the Fa
As soon as I began to read Lunyu I was awestruck by the profound principles. I knew right away it was no ordinary Qigong book, but one that taught people to be good and even reach higher realms. I eagerly read on and was able to understand many questions that I had wondered about but never had answers to in the past. Moreover, I was elated to find out that I could practice Falun Dafa in everyday society without having to become a monk. This was exactly what I was looking for! I couldn’t hold back my tears as I held Zhuan Falun.
Before I knew it my chest pain subsided and I no longer coughed up blood. Ever since I began cultivation, I have never needed any more pills or injections.
The night of February 4, 1998, when I was doing the Falun Standing Stance, I suddenly saw stone steps winding their way up to the top of a mountain on which sat an ancient, golden temple soaring into the sky. Many ancient Chinese characters were engraved on the stone walls lining the road but I knew none of them. I also saw a metal ladder reaching into the sky. When I looked down I saw a bottomless abyss—extremely frightening. I knew Master was hinting to me that the ladder was provided for sentient beings to go to heaven.
I successfully memorized Lunyu in 40 minutes the afternoon of March 13, 1998. Master also gave me another encouragement that day. I was never able to keep my legs down near the floor during meditation, let alone cross them. That afternoon, however, I put one leg on top of the other for 62 minutes.
I was an introvert to begin with, so I chose to cultivate all by myself when I first started. Local practitioners talked to me many times, but I still insisted on going solo. After studying Master’s teachings on the importance of participating in group Fa study and exercises, I finally started to join practitioners for Fa study in July 1998. My vanity, however, prevented me from doing the group exercises with them until a long time later. Back then I didn’t want others to know that I couldn’t cross my legs properly. As a matter of fact, I was only able to do the lotus position for less than 30 minutes when the persecution began on July 20, 1999. I was very determined in cultivating Dafa for the rest of my life, though, and I recited Lunyu the moment I opened my eyes every morning.
Determined to Cultivate Dafa
After the “April 25th Peaceful Appeal,” I had a hunch that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would come up with some trick to suppress its innocent citizens. I was determined to hold firm to my belief, no matter how things would unfold in the future, and began to memorize Zhuan Falun to help keep the Fa in my heart at all times.
When the CCP started to openly persecute Falun Gong in July 1999, I often reminded myself with the following poem from Master:
“Steadfastly cultivate Dafa, the will unflinching
The raising of levels is what’s fundamental
In the face of tests one’s true nature is revealed
Achieve Consummation, becoming a Buddha, Dao, or God”
(“True Nature Revealed” in Essentials for Further Advancement II)
At the same time I began a systematic process of memorizing all of Master’s teachings, including Zhuan Falun, Zhuan Falun (Volume II), The Great Consummation Way of Falun Dafa, Essentials for Further Advancement, Hong Yin and every article written by Master. With Master’s strengthening, I was able to get these teachings memorized in a short time. I also felt an incredibly strong energy field around me. Once I saw a round character about the size of a rice bowl spinning in front of my head. Another time my entire face and head felt like an open book. When I touched my head, the book scene disappeared.
I finally reached my goal of crossing my legs on top of each other for half an hour by the end of 1999, thanks to compassionate Master. I said in my heart afterwards, “Master, I must achieve the one hour goal!” Several days later I succeeded. Even though I shed tears because of the pain, I sat there in the lotus position for 60 minutes. From then on I was able to keep my legs crossed during Fa study.
Clarifying the Facts
I launched my truth-clarification efforts just a few days after the persecution began. I spoke face-to-face with a then-head of the street committee on July 25, 1999. Next I called my relatives and friends, telling them of the benefits of Dafa and advising them not to listen to communist regime's lies. Of course, due to my shallow understanding of the Fa, sometimes I wasn’t rational enough and argued with people during the process. Later on I also began to write letters to numerous regime offices in different provinces. I focused on the benefits of Falun Gong and on the loopholes of the staged “Self-immolation” in Tiananmen Square.
After the publication of “Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Western U.S. Fa Conference,” I read it repeatedly and managed to memorize it quickly. Master helped me realize many principles, and I began to have a clear idea of how to comprehend Dafa and do truth-clarification with rationality.
In the next few years I often memorized the Fa and sent righteous thoughts with other practitioners. We persisted in group Fa-study every day except Sunday. In addition, each of us read the Fa at home on a daily basis. With the Fa as guide, we were able to do the three things relatively well.
I also made sure to send righteous thoughts more than a dozen times every day. Most nights I slept for 2-3 hours, and some days I only rested for one hour. However, I was very energetic and my truth-clarification efforts went well.
I can’t even remember how many times Master has saved me from danger. One day, another practitioner and I were walking back from doing truth-clarification when we arrived at the intersection of three roads. We intended to take the middle road, which was big, well maintained, and closest to home. But as soon as we set foot on that road, we felt like we were being electrically shocked and couldn’t move. After a few tries, we had no alternative but to take the other small road. Three days later we learned that several practitioners had been arrested on that big road the day we returned home. It turned out the police were ambushing practitioners on that road after discovering some banners. Master was protecting us from being captured by the police!
Another time the same practitioner and I got lost in a wooded, mountainous area. We crossed over several hilltops but didn’t see which way to go. There was no one around to ask, which only made us even more anxious. We asked Master to please provide guidance. After we made a few more turns we suddenly noticed tracks on the grass. Finally we were able to follow the tracks to path. At the bottom of the mountain we saw dozens of workers doing roadwork. When they found truth-clarification messages pasted on the light poles and trees they shouted with surprise, “Look! Falun Gong!” We told them it was the CCP that fabricated lies to defame Falun Gong, and Falun Gong only teaches people to be good, following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. A foreman said, “We know Falun Gong is good. We have several practitioners living with us, and they’re all good people.” One worker asked if he could have a flyer ,and suddenly everyone wanted one. An elderly man held out his quivering hands, saying, “Please give me one.” Even today I can still remember the longing expression in his eyes. The people read the words on the flyer aloud, “Falun Dafa is good; Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” Many of them said they’d practice Falun Gong in the future.
Looking Within to Cultivate Myself
As I raised my cultivation level, I began to encounter sharper conflicts, many of which came from my family. My daughter-in-law would not let me tell others I was a practitioner, and my sisters complained that I was selfish. One brother-in-law even pounded the table and yelled, “If you get arrested, all of us will be implicated!” I kept sending righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil communist specter controlling them and at the same time patiently advised them to learn about the truth about Falun Gong.
I put truth-clarification materials in their bags and asked them to calm down and read them. Most of them later did the three withdrawals. After reading Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and other materials, the brother-in-law who had yelled at me even passed it on. My sisters now help me purchase materials to make flyers and sometimes go out with me to distribute truth-clarification materials.
My husband was supportive of my cultivation during the first two years of persecution. As I got busier and busier with the progress of Fa-rectification, I spent less and less time at home. He was worried about me and didn’t want me to go out. Even though he had quit the CCP, he was still haunted by his horrible experiences during the Cultural Revolution. Once he threatened to file for divorce and wanted me to go with him to the courthouse there and then, but practitioners asked me to attend an experience sharing conference that same day. I chose to go to the conference instead and arrived at the destination without any problems by sending righteous thoughts along the way. When I returned home that night I was pleasantly surprised to find my favorite dish on the dining table. My husband had cooked it especially for me.
During my cooperation and coordination with fellow practitioners all these years there were times when we ran into conflicts. I was able to get over it most of the time. But this past year turned out to be extremely difficult for me. I felt misunderstood by some practitioners and was very upset that they said bad things about me in front of visiting practitioners. In my eyes they were no different than bullies. I tried to defend myself, but it didn’t work. Other times I managed to stay quiet, though I was crying in my heart.
Master said in “Fa Teaching Given in Manhattan” (2006):
“And maybe the person really did treat you wrongfully. But, those words weren’t necessarily said by that person. Perhaps they were said by me. (Everyone laughs) I want to see how you handle things at the time. When you butt heads with that person, it actually equates to butting heads with me. (Master laughs) (Everyone laughs, applauds) That’s all for today. I can completely remove the material substance for you, but the habits that were formed are something you definitely have to remove—definitely, absolutely. (Applause)”
It took me a long time to really understand what Master intended to let us know in the above-mentioned passage and truly regret missing the opportunity to improve myself when conflicts arose. I knew Master kept telling us to look within to cultivate ourselves, but I tended to forget this principle in my cultivation. I was inclined to fix my eyes on other people’s shortcomings. I even talked about fellow practitioners behind their backs, which further strengthened the bad factors interfering with them in their fields.
I felt ashamed. Failing to follow the requirements of the Fa is not genuinely cultivating. I began to seriously look within to dig out my attachments.
There is not much time left for Fa-rectification period cultivation. I will strive to do well in Fa-study and keep pace with the progress of Fa-rectification.
Thank you, Master. Thank you, my fellow practitioners. Please point out anything inappropriate.
