(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa on March 20, 1999. That day, I met my neighbor who said that he had been practicing Falun Dafa. He invited me to his home, taught me the five sets of exercises, and gave me the book, Essentials for Further Advancement. After reading it, I realized it was a great book and regretted obtaining the Fa so late.
I was forced to retire by a back injury while working at a factory. I also had hyperostosis and chronic neck pain, among other illnesses. But when I read Essentials for Further Advancement, I really enjoyed it and forgot about all the pain. The next day, I went to the local Fa study site, bought a copy of the book Zhuan Falun, and learned the five sets of exercises. That evening, I felt Falun rotating in my stomach and on my legs. Fellow practitioners told me it was because Master was adjusting my body. When I practiced the exercises the next morning, I felt Falun rotating on my legs and struggled to stay standing. All of my illnesses have since disappeared.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began the persecution of Falun Gong on July 20, 1999. When I went to appeal to the government, all of my Dafa materials at home were confiscated. When I returned home and found out what had happened, the pain was unbearable. However, they could not take away the Fa in my heart. I began to recite Master's poem,
“Dafa does not leave the body,
The heart harbors Zhen-Shan-Ren;
In the world is a great Arhat,
Spirits and ghosts fear greatly.”
(“Mighty Virtue,” from Hong Yin)
When I walked along the street, I hummed the Dafa music, “Pudu” and “Jishi.” I later re-obtained Zhuan Falun and the exercise music from others, so I could again study the Fa and practice the exercises.
The exercise music I obtained was 30 minutes for the standing exercises and 60 minutes for meditation. However, during one period of time, they became 40 minutes and 80 minutes, respectively. I realized it was Master's hint for me to lengthen my exercise duration. Learning Dafa is so miraculous!
I persisted in doing the three things well so as to better assist Master in Fa-rectification and saving sentient beings. Each morning, I study at least one Fa lecture. After breakfast, I go out to clarify the truth. I send forth righteous thoughts at least ten times per day. In the afternoon, I read sharing articles on the Minghui website, or study the Fa. In the evening, I practice the exercises. At midnight, I send forth righteous thoughts again. I maintain this schedule every day.
I started clarifying the truth face-to-face in 2008. I persisted in all seasons and weather conditions, and never missed doing it during festivals or the so-called “sensitive days.” My principle is that whether I talk to as few as one or as many as ten, I will just try to save all the people I meet. I met all kinds of people while clarifying the truth. Some agreed to quit the CCP, some didn't want to quit. Some cursed at me, and others wanted to beat me. Some threatened to report me to the police, and I ran into plainclothes police officers who tried to arrest me. Under Master's protection, I safely emerged from all the dangerous situations.
One time while I was waiting for the bus, a woman was standing close by. I thought she may have a predestined relationship, so I began to clarify the truth to her. She responded in a good manner. When she boarded her bus, she still hadn't done the three withdrawals [withdrawing from the CCP, the CCP Youth League, and the CCP Young Pioneers] yet, so I boarded the same bus and saw that all the seats were taken except the one in front of her. I immediately realized it was left by Master so that I could save her. In the end, she agreed to do the three withdrawals and thanked me. After I got off the bus, I concluded that we practitioners just do some walking and talking, while everything else is done by Master. It is true that, “Cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one’s master.” (Lecture One from Zhuan Falun)
One day at noon, on my way home, a freight van hit me and knocked me to the ground. When I came to, two young people helped me up. I thanked them and clarified the truth to them. They agreed to do the three withdrawals. I also let the driver go. A woman who witnessed the event said she clearly saw that I was not to blame for the accident. She also asked about my age. When I told her I was in my seventies, she was amazed that such an elderly person could simply let the driver go, and not go to the hospital. She commented that not many people were like me in today's society. I also clarified the truth to her, and she did the three withdrawals as well. After leaving, I thought that it was all due to Master's protection; otherwise, I could have died. My heart was full of gratitude toward Master.
On one winter day, while I clarified the truth to two elderly people, someone behind me suddenly wrapped his arm around my neck and said, “You do nothing but talk about Falun Gong all the time and persuade people to quit the Party. Let's go, I'll take you to the police station!” At that time, I had very strong righteous thoughts. I was not afraid and tried to see him clearly. When I turned around, he laughed and loosened his hand, saying, “Go ahead and talk!” Then, he left. I continued to clarify the truth to those two people until they both did the three withdrawals.
Master said,
“The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts.” (“Drive Out Interference” from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I never panic when facing unexpected situations in truth-clarification. This came from my following Master's instruction to study the Fa more, and my strong belief in Master and the Fa. Reading sharing articles by fellow practitioners also helps me greatly.
I still have many attachments. I will eliminate all of them by firmly acting in line with Master's teachings and doing the three things well. I will try my best to fulfill my mission in the salvation of sentient beings and follow Master to return home.
