(Clearwisdom.net) I began practicing Falun Dafa in October 1999, during a period of time when the persecution was most severe. Before then, I had poor health. Only one month after I began practicing, my body felt relaxed all over. I encountered various tribulations as I was going through both personal cultivation and Fa-rectification cultivation. I knew deep inside that I had to study the Fa steadfastly in order to pass the tests. As a result, no matter where I went, I always brought with me Dafa books and truth-clarification materials.
My son and I went to Beijing in 2010 to work as migrant workers. At the end of the year, we had some time off, and planned to go back home. The night before our trip, my son dreamed of a fish trying to escape a net. The next day, in the waiting room of the train station, I was explaining to passengers about the persecution of Falun Gong when the train station police noticed me. They searched me and found Dafa books, so they barred me from boarding the train. I told them that I had bought a ticket, and questioned why I wasn't allowed to take the train. One person said that it was because the Chinese Communist Party did not allow people to practice Falun Gong. I didn't back off. I said, “What's wrong with practicing Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance? Falun Gong is an upright practice. It teaches people to be kind. I already bought my ticket. You have no right to bar me from boarding.” They insisted. I shouted, “The self-immolations on Tiananmen Square were staged. It was a lie. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are good! Falun Dafa is great! Give us back our freedom.”
There were a lot of people in the waiting room. The police saw that they couldn't win, so they grabbed my arms and forced me to the railway police station. They started interrogating me and taking notes. They asked about my education. I told them that I had never attended school. They asked who else I had told about the persecution of Falun Gong. I said I told my boss, and explained that I did so when my boss gave me 300 extra yuan salary by mistake. When I returned the money to him, he said that I should just keep it. I told him that I couldn't take money that didn't belong to me, since I was a Falun Gong practitioner. I follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. If I took the money, I would have not been truthful. My boss was surprised that an uneducated person from the countryside like me would say something like that. He was impressed and said, “Your teacher is truly amazing. So many people became good because of him.”
The police continued questioning me. I could tell they were just going through a list of set questions. I strengthened my righteous thoughts and said, “You should stop asking and stop writing. Otherwise your arm and hand will both be sore.” He was skeptical. He said, “Don't try to trick me. People from the 610 Office are coming soon. Let's talk about your situation first.” I said calmly, “I am doing this for your own good.” I continued to send forth righteous thoughts. He stopped taking notes. After dinner, the six police officers each had different duties. I recited the Fa, sent forth righteous thoughts, and did the exercises. They didn't do anything to stop me.
The next day, a police officer from my region came to the police station to pick me up. I knew I would be separated from my son temporarily, so I told him that I would be home soon, and that he should tell his father not to spend money to bribe anyone to get me out. On the way to my hometown, I continued to clarify the facts to others and told them the wonders of Falun Dafa. I also explained the facts about the self-immolations on Tiananmen Square. The police told me that I needed to pay more than 2,000 yuan for gas used on the trip. I might have accepted this at the beginning of the persecution. As I became more mature, I was able to use the Fa principles to know what was true kindness and what was true evil. I told them solemnly, “I shouldn't have to pay for this. The Chinese Communist Party uses a large portion of the GDP to persecute good people. This is a violation of heavenly laws!” They also admitted their dissatisfaction with the Communist Party. A policewoman wanted to change my mind using emotion. She said, “Because of you, your children are unable to find good spouses.” I responded that each child had his or her destiny, and I believed that they all would have a good future because they had formed predestined relationships with Dafa.
At the county police station, they poured me a glass of water and wanted to take notes during my interrogation. I said nothing. They said that if I refused to say anything, they would just copy the old notes taken before at the railroad police station. They handed me the old notes to review. I only had one thought: I didn't break any law, and I refused to confess any crime. I tore the notes into pieces without even reading them. The police were angry. They took me to the local detention center. Over the next month, I was interrogated, and I refused to cooperate. All I did was recite the Fa and send forth righteous thoughts. When I recited,
“When disciples have ample righteous thoughts
Master has the power to turn back the tide,”
(“The Master-Disciple Bond,” from Hong Yin Vol. II, Translation Version A)
Tears streamed down my face. From then on, I refused to wear the prison uniform.
On February 11, the detention center told me that I was allowed to ask my family to send gifts [for the Chinese New Year]. I didn't ask for anything. I remembered Master's words,
“...in order to save you the Buddha once begged for food among everyday people? Today, I once again make the door wide open, and teach this Dafa to save you. I have never felt bitter for the numerous hardships I have suffered. Then what do you have that still can’t be abandoned?” (“True Cultivation,” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
What is the big deal if I had to beg for food for a few days? Before, I was attached to food. This was a good opportunity to eliminate the attachment. During the Chinese New Year, I sang the songs “Falun Dafa is Good,” “The Opening of Heaven's Gate of Ten Thousand Years,” and others for the other detainees. They all enjoyed hearing me sing.
On February 20, I dreamed of golden lotus flowers surrounded by a tall wall. In my dream, I jumped over the wall. The next day, it was time for my informal trial. I kept sending forth righteous thoughts. The police said, “You can't keep quiet forever! If you don't want to tell the truth, just say some lies. “I said, “I practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. How can I lie?” Then I continued to send forth righteous thoughts. He said, “I'll just write down that you refused to say anything. Don't regret it!” At this moment, his cell phone rang. After he answered the call, he ended the interrogation. I was released two days later.
This tribulation lasted about two months. Although I was able to pass the tests with righteous thoughts, I learned a few lessons. First of all, I had inadvertently acknowledged the evil and was taken advantage of. I also realized that I would not be able to pass the tests without complete faith in Master and the Fa, and without being completely selfless. As future guardians of the cosmos, Dafa disciples must meet the standard. Let's remember Master's words,
“...the entire cultivation process for a practitioner is one of constantly giving up human attachments.” (Zhuan Falun)
These are just some of my understandings. Please point out anything inappropriate.