(Minghui.org) Greetings, revered Master! Greetings, fellow practitioners!
I have been through many tribulations and tests since I began my cultivation. More than I could possibly write about. With Master's benevolent protection and Dafa's guidance, I have been able to stay steadfast in the Fa. I would like to tell about a few of my experiences.
1. Coming for the Fa
I had a tough childhood. My father passed away in an accident when I was just four years of age. My mother struggled to make ends meet. She worked as a cook for a forestry station far away from home. So at the tender age of eight, I was, more often than not, alone and on my own.
I had a miraculous experience when I was nine. It was a Sunday. Having run out of food for three days, I headed out to the forestry station way up the mountain to look for my mother. After walking about eight miles up the mountain, I got lost. I cried and called out in desperation. Suddenly, I noticed a group of temples of various sizes all around me. They all had statues of Buddha or Bodhisattva.
Time passed and now it was completely dark. I cried and called out again, filled with fear. Then I heard a voice say, “Walk 81 steps to a ditch. Climb up the ditch. Then you should see your mother.” I followed these directions. I walked in the dark for 81 steps. I came to a ditch. Then a strong light shined on me. It was two forestry workers who found me. By the time they carried me to my mother, it was ten o'clock.
It was a miracle. There were snakes, tigers, and wolves on the mountain. I was on the mountain for 14 hours, but I did not encounter any danger at all. I didn't even see a bird!
I never forgot that experience. After learning Falun Dafa, I understood that I came to the human world to wait for Dafa's salvation and that all the suffering I experienced was caused by bad things I did in my previous lives. I enlightened to the reason for being human: to return to our original, true self. Teacher has been protecting me since I was born.
I am sincerely thankful for Teacher saving me. It is a great glory for me to be a Dafa disciple in the Fa-rectification period.
2. Learning Dafa to Understand Why
On February 18, 1998, I was fortunate to obtain the Dafa books Zhuan Falun, the Great Consummation Way of Falun Dafa, Lecture in Sydney, Zhuan Falun Fajie - The Law of Zhuan Falun Explained, and two large pictures of Teacher and Falun. I hung the photographs in the center of the living room wall. I lit incense and put fruit in front of them to show my respect. Then I knelt in front of Teacher's photo and humbly asked Teacher to take me as his disciple.
I started reading The Great Consummation Way of Falun Dafa. When I read:
“Falun Dafa cultivators must cultivate their character, along with performing the movements. Those who focus solely on the exercises but neglect character cultivation will not be acknowledged as Falun Dafa disciples. Dafa students thus need to make studying the Law and reading the books the essential part of their daily cultivation.” (“Appendix I What is Expected of Falun Dafa Assistance Centers,” The Great Consummation Way of Falun Dafa).
I immediately knew that we needed to cultivate our xinxing and read the book Zhuan Falun, which told us how.
Later I understood that we had accumulated many attachments, karma, and other bad things in the human world. Studying the Fa is the only way to purify ourselves. Before the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started persecuting Falun Gong, I had read Zhuan Falun nearly 100 times and could recite Zhuan Falun and Essentials for Further Advancement.
A week after I obtained the Dafa books, I went to a practitioner's home to watch Teacher's Fa lecture video. When a Buddha rose up on the TV, my tears flowed. This is who I saw in the temples on the mountain when I was nine. It was Teacher. Teacher had been watching me and protecting me. I was so excited.
The first time I watched the video of Teacher's Fa lectures at Dalian City, from the start to finish, all I saw on the TV was a golden Buddha. I thought this was how the video was made. The next time I watched it, I noticed it was Teacher who gave the lecture.
I followed The Great Consummation Way of Falun Dafa to do the exercises accurately. I joined an exercise group and did the exercises twice a day. We shared experiences and promoted Dafa. I was fully immersed in the Buddha Law.
3. Doing What Dafa Disciples Should Do
Jiang Zemin and his faction started persecuting Falun Gong on July 20, 1999. Our exercise site was ordered to disband. A week later, the police station told us to hand in all Falun Gong materials to companies or organizations that each person belonged to. There were 60 practitioners at our exercise site. Some of the practitioners felt the pressure and handed in their books.
I went to the office where they were collecting the books. (I didn't bring any books with me.) No one was there. I saw three big stacks of books. I felt terribly sad. Teacher went through such hardships to come down to the human world to save sentient beings, but people were deceived by the CCP and Teacher was wronged. I found in the stacks 13 copies of Zhuan Falun and three photos of Teacher. I wanted to take them, but there were people and police officers just outside the room.
So I decided to hide the books in the desk drawers in that office. Throughout the day, I went in and out of that office and was able to take some of the books with me each time. I was able to retrieve all the books and photos and take them home. I gave them to practitioners who did not have a book.
One day 14 police officers rushed into my home. They had handcuffs and a camcorder. They ransacked my home. I went out to the hallway and shouted that thieves were in my home. People who heard me came to see. The police stopped their ransacking.
They began to question me. The director of the domestic security bureau said that I must behave and answer them honestly. He banged the handcuffs on the table. Then he said they would record the conversation on paper as well as videotape it.
I calmed myself down. I knew Teacher told us to be truthful. Morality has slid down so much--I was once like that. Now, by practicing Dafa I was able to reset my standards to be a good person under Teacher's guidance. Wasn't that a good thing? No matter how much the government was against Falun Gong, I would continue. My Teacher is good, and Dafa is righteous. There is nothing wrong in practicing Falun Gong and living by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
I told them many stories about the benefits people experienced by practicing Falun Gong. I talked to them for three hours non-stop. The police didn't videotape anything or write down anything, nor did they arrest me. They said they didn't know that Falun Gong was good and asked me for a book to read. I knew it was due to Teacher's protection that I was able to conquer the evil with strong righteous thoughts. A few years later, I met up with some of those officers. I clarified the facts of Falun Gong to them and helped them to quit the CCP.
The police were monitoring me, but I continued to tell people about the persecution of Dafa. The police have taken me to their office many times and put me in a brainwashing center. I've never complied with the evil or signed any promises to stop practicing.
One evening in 2003, a practitioner brought a lot of truth-clarification materials from another city. Since we couldn't produce such materials on our own, several dozen practitioners came to our Fa study site to share them. We were very happy. The evil then took advantage of our attachments.
I was stopped by two police cars as I carried some of the materials on my way home that night. Many practitioners were arrested, and we were taken to a police station. The materials were piled up on a desk. I said to myself, “We need to get the materials out.” I asked Teacher to strengthen me and give me wisdom. I sent out a strong righteous thought: “Dafa materials are to save people. We don't allow the evil to take them. We need to get them out of here.”
Gradually the police officers left one by one, leaving only two behind. They wanted to go eat, so they locked the entrance gate and left. I realized this was arranged by Master. I took two bags of materials upstairs and put them in the desk drawers. I kept sending forth righteous thoughts. When I returned, a practitioner said that there were many Falun rotating around me and a big Falun rotating above my head. I knew Teacher was encouraging us. It took us 30 minutes to finish. When we were done, the two officers returned.
The next day we were taken to the county detention center. Three days later, most of us were released. Myself and a few others were taken to another detention center. We refused to wear the uniform or recite the regulations. Instead, we recited the Fa and taught nine inmates the exercises. We told them the truth about Falun Gong and taught them Lunyu, Hong Yin, and Dafa songs. When we met them a few years later, they had all quit the CCP.
4. Validating Dafa
When I clarify the truth, I keep reminding myself that my every thought must be on the Fa. I should never forget my mission to save sentient beings.
Every time I went out, I carried a bag full of Dafa materials (DVDs, pamphlets, stickers, and amulets). Later I added the truth-clarification cell phone to my inventory. Whenever there was an opportunity, I talked to people about Falun Gong and advised them to quite the CCP. On my way to the Fa study site, I would text truth-clarification messages from the cell phone.
Once while talking to the owner of a shoe store, she began to curse me and threatened to call the police. I had to leave. I felt sad and wondered what I did wrong to trigger such a negative reaction from her.
That night, before going to bed, I looked within and found that I didn't have enough benevolence. I sent forth righteous thoughts: “Teacher, please strengthen me to let her understand the truth and eliminate the evil factors that block people from listening to the truth.”
The next day I returned to her store. With a deep calm inside and a smile on my face, I explained to her what Falun Gong is and about the staged Tiananmen Square self-immolation and the CCP's lies. “Some day heaven will go after the CCP. I hope that you understand the truth and that you and your family will be safe. That is why I came back today.”
Her face softened as I talked. She told me that she understood and that I was very kind. Before I left, she told me to be careful and I thanked her for her compassion. Another life had been saved!
Another time a fellow practitioner took me to a meeting at the shrine of their ancestors. We brought a box of 2013 Shen Yun DVDs and some materials. At the dining hall, I went from table to table to tell people the facts about Falun Gong and give them the DVD. The entire box was nearly empty after two hours.
I saw a fellow practitioner surrounded by some people. Some of them were angry and cursing him. One person had his phone out to call the police. My first thought was that Dafa disciples are divine beings, no one can hurt a Dafa disciple.
I went over and gently held down the man's cell phone. I told him that persecuting a Dafa practitioner is a crime and that even a god would not allow such a crime. Being good to a Dafa practitioner, on the other hand, would bring him virtue and good fortune. I continued to clarify the truth to him and told him that the Shen Yun performance illustrates Chinese traditional culture and that watching it can purify a person's soul and bring back higher moral standards. Was it wrong for a practitioner to give him such a wonderful gift at this fabulous gathering?
A few younger people who were watching supported me. They asked the person to put away his phone and said they admired the practitioners for what they did. The man calmed down. I went back to the group and continued to hand out Shen Yun DVDs. Our plan was completed.
On a hot summer day I went to a mountain to distribute materials. I spent a whole day there. On my way home, I realized that I had not had any lunch. When I got home, my husband asked where I had been and told me both my brother and sister had tried to call me. They told him they wanted to wish me a happy birthday. I told him my phone was turned off. He had cooked me ribs, so we ate dinner. I felt I had spent my birthday helping more people understand the truth about Dafa. That was my birthday wish, along with the persecution ending and our great benevolent Teacher returning to China.
5. Improving by Producing Truth-clarification Materials
I live in a mountainous area. It is relatively underdeveloped compared to the cities. We were short of truth-clarification materials, and we never got the Minghui articles on time.
One day after studying the Fa, I put my hands together in front of my chest respectfully to honor Teacher. I then spoke to Teacher: “Teacher, please strengthen me. Saving sentient beings is our sacred mission. I want to produce truth-clarification materials in our area.”
The next day I talked to some fellow practitioners and bought a computer and a printer. None of us knew how to use them. We didn't know what to do. Then I remembered that I have Teacher and I have the Fa. Nothing can stop a Dafa disciple. We sent forth righteous thoughts to the computer and the printer: “You are also lives in the universe. Please rectify your lives to validate the Fa. Let's collaborate to do the most sacred thing in assisting Teacher to rectify the Fa and save sentient beings. Then we will follow Teacher home.”
Later a practitioner who knew technology patiently showed me what to do. I learned how to download, print, edit, and copy-edit. Another practitioner showed me how to install double operating systems and how to install and manage operating systems for other practitioners. He also taught me how to keep righteous thoughts and maintain the safety of the material production center. My center has been smoothly running since then. Thank you, Teacher!
6. Eliminating the Attachment of Validating Self
As I became capable of doing more and more, different human attachments started to surface. Most noticeably were my attachments to doing things, competition, favoritism, and fame. I also became very opinionated. Other practitioners came to rely on me heavily and showered me with praise. I found myself enjoying this admiration. My attachment to showing off brought potential danger to fellow practitioners.
I was fortunate that some practitioners kindly made me aware of this. I looked within and found many attachments that had been covered up. I felt bad that I had neglected to look within. I just got caught up with doing so much and thinking of it as cultivation. I put a practitioner in tribulations for the past several months. I created confusion for fellow practitioners and caused loss to Dafa and the group as a whole.
I was full of regret. I must rectify myself in the Fa; get rid of the attachment of showing off; and let other practitioners undertake some Dafa projects so that we can fulfill our prehistoric vows and enhance as a whole.
There are hardships on the cultivation path. Teacher taught us:
“Those ordeals and the suffering, no matter how great or harsh you find them to be, are good things, because they take place solely on account of your cultivation. A person can eliminate karma and shed human attachments when he goes through ordeals, and through ordeals he can improve.” ("Fa Teaching at the 2008 New York Conference")
I will do well the three things, make solid progress with every step, and never forget my mission to the human world: save sentient beings!
Thank you, Teacher, for your saving grace! Thank you, fellow practitioners, for your help!
Heshi!
