(Minghui.org) I am a new Dafa practitioner from a remote mountain region of Liaoning Province. I am 75 years of age and have not had much education. I began practicing Falun Dafa just over three years ago.
After just a few weeks of studying Dafa, I recovered from diseases that had never been cured before.
I grew up in a very poor family with eight children. My father labored long and hard. I was burdened with many diseases which were said to be incurable. At 17 years of age I often fainted, but my parents did not have any money for medical help. My parents had no hope for me and were certain I would die young.
I then married a young man of 18 who was also from a very poor family. I still had very bad health and was carried to his home. He took good care of me and truly saved my life.
For nearly 20 years I could not eat a real meal because of the diseases I had and the stomach problems they created. I only drank milk and ate crackers soaked in water. I rarely ate vegetables and could not eat fish, meat, or eggs. My daughter made egg soup for me, and I could only eat one bite. I was always thin and pale. I was often in tears because of my poor health.
Then life became even more difficult about 15 years ago. My husband was run over by a large truck. He survived the accident but was no longer able to work. He could only walk with a cane. Now, along with my own poor health, I had to take care of him. I was depressed and wondered why my life was so miserable. I felt life was not worth living. We would sit together in tears, not knowing what to say. And yet I felt like I needed to cheer up and comfort him.
Three years ago, a Falun Gong practitioner heard about my situation and came to my home to clarify the truth to me. She told me to remember and repeat, “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” She also invited me to study the Fa with them. I recited the words she taught me for three days and began to feel better. I went to see her and told her that I wanted to do the exercises with them. That was how I began my practice of Dafa.
I could only listen to Master's Fa lectures and watch Master's video of Fa lectures, because I did not know how to read and write. The more I listened, the more I loved it, and in two days, I finished listening to Master's Fa lectures. I felt excited and at peace. All the diseases I had had for so long were now gone.
I understood that being a human being is not the purpose of coming to this world. The main purpose is to return to my true self. I understood why I had to suffer so much. Master has been taking care of me ever since I was born, helping me get rid of karma and getting me ready to obtain the Fa when the time came. My eyes filled with tears when I saw our Master on the Fa lecture videotapes my fellow practitioner gave me to watch. Master looked so familiar, like a long-lost father returned to me! After watching all the videotapes of Master's Fa lectures, I joined the group Fa study.
A Mature Woman in Her 70s Can Read Zhuan Falun
My fellow practitioner gave me a copy of Zhuan Falun. I could not read, so I listened as others read the book. I returned home that night and turned on the light. Holding Zhuan Falun in my hands, I looked at Master's portrait. My tears flowed, and I cried out, “Master, I finally found you. I will never stray. I do not know how to read--how can I study the Fa? Please help me learn how to study the Fa.” Tears ran down my face while I was holding the book in my hands. I don't know when I fell asleep.
The next day I went to the group Fa study. Each person read a page. When it was my turn, although it was not very smooth, I began to read. Everyone froze. I couldn't help but cry. I pressed by palms together and thanked Master. It was Master who gave me the wisdom and let me know how to read those words. At 72, I could read and study the Fa! Everyone else began to understand what was happening and were so happy, with tears in their eyes. We all pressed our palms together and thanked Master. Thank you, Master!
After Fa study, I went home, full of joy, to tell my husband that I could read, I could read Zhuan Falun! He saw me, happy as a child, and asked me to read something to him. I opened the book and could not recognize a single word. What was going on? I quickly ran to a fellow practitioner's home and asked her what was going on. She told me that my knowing how to read was for me to study the Fa, not to show off. Master was exposing my attachment. Then I understood.
The next day in the group Fa study, I could read again, and much more fluently. I totally understood that being able to read was meant for me to study the Fa.
Three years later, I can now read, even alone at home. Learning to do the exercises was difficult for me, especially putting my legs in the full lotus for the meditation. For 6 months I could only sit for 20 to 30 minutes. I would sweat and cry but kept trying. Regardless of how difficult, I told myself I had to learn it and do it well. I never faltered and finally succeeded.
I truly enjoyed the feeling of having no illness. I could eat anything, and I ate well. I could even work. I handled all the household jobs inside and outside. I was full of energy and smiled a lot.
I was over 70 and, for the first time, experienced life free of illness. I worried less and got a rosy glow to my face. My daughter-in-law would tell people that I looked at least ten years younger than my age. My husband does not practice Falun Gong, but he will sometimes read Zhuan Falun, truth-clarification materials, and often repeats, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” Now he is healthy and can also do some light work. Every day he goes outside for a walk and exercise.
Told by the Hospital that He Would Die, My Son Was Saved by Master
All of my family and relatives withdrew from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. My son is 50 years old now and has not started practicing Falun Gong yet. Earlier this year, he had a stroke and was in the hospital for a long time. The doctor then told my daughter-in-law that there was no cure for her husband, and he remained unconscious. He could not move, talk, or even open his eyes. The doctor advised my daughter-in-law to prepare for his death. My daughter-in-law cried. Then she traveled over 30 miles to bring my son to my home. She said, “Mom, you study Dafa. Please, can you save your son? He is only 50 years old.”
I did not worry. I believed in our Master and Dafa. With the help of fellow practitioners, I played Master's lectures for my son. I asked my husband and my daughter-in-law to recite together, “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion- Forbearance is good.” After listening to two lectures, my son woke up.
When he began to understand things, I played Master's video lectures and asked him to recite “Falun Dafa is good. Truth-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” Twenty days later he recovered. He could take care of his daily activities and could do some light work. Now, more than three months later, his condition is good. Sometimes he will even join our small group for Fa study. All of us, the entire family, are very happy.
My daughter told me that people who have strokes are given medication to prevent a relapse. I became concerned about my son having another stroke. I went to talk to the doctor about it, and, on my way home I fell. I got up without thinking about it. I did not enlighten to why I tripped.
The doctor attempted to give my son injections twice, without success. Again I went to see the doctor, and once again I tripped. I was on the ground and could not get up by myself. I was carried to the hospital and x-rayed--my tailbone was broken in three places. I had to stay in the hospital to be cared for. At the age of 75, the doctor was not very optimistic about my recovery. He thought that I might have to use a wheelchair for the remainder of my life. When I heard that I thought, "I have my Master taking care of me, I do not need to stay in the hospital. Furthermore, I don't need any treatment or medication." Then I went home.
On my way home, I looked within. Then I began to wonder why I had tripped in the first place and then a second time. I realized I had many attachments, such as to sentimentality, fear, selfishness, etc. But the true fundamental issue was that I did not believe in Master or the Fa. I asked my son to listen to Master's lectures and he recovered, but I was afraid that he would have a relapse. Wasn't that disbelief in Master and Dafa? My faith was in medicine of the human world. My first fall did not enlighten me to the truth of the matter. Master was giving me a hint. I did not understand how much Master had endured for me and my son, purifying our bodies.
I was full of remorse, as my eyes teared up. I told Master that I understood now that what I did was wrong. Then I asked Master for forgiveness. I will never waver again. I will be steadfast in my belief in Master and the Fa.
At home, I laid down on the bed. I could only move my arms. I listened to Master's Fa lectures and sent forth righteous thoughts. I used my arms to do the exercises. The next day, I could sit up and do the exercises. It was very painful, and I was both sweating and crying, but I persisted in doing the exercises while sitting. On the third day, I could stand up and do the exercises. After just one week, a fellow practitioner brought me some posters and asked whether I could go out to put them up. I said I could. I took it one step at a time, gritting my teeth. Holding on with one hand, I hung a poster with the other hand. I let out a huge sigh of relief and then went home. My fellow practitioner was waiting for me at home. Seeing me, she happily cried out, “You are recovered!"
I recovered and passed the test of life and death. We both went to group Fa study. Everyone was pleased I had recovered, and so quickly. We all cried out, "Master is taking care of us! Falun Dafa is good! Thank you, Master!" All of us at Fa study had tears in our eyes. We all agreed that we had to study the Fa well and do the three things to assist Master in Fa rectification. We must genuinely and truly believe in Master and the Fa. We realized that we had some common misunderstandings about seeing a doctor and seeking treatment. My straying from the Fa helped me to improve, and was also a learning experience for fellow practitioners. We all now have a better understanding of what it means to be a Dafa practitioner. This strengthened our belief in Master and the Fa.
I diligently did the three things well, and assisted Master in Fa validation. I always studied the Fa, did the exercises, and sent forth righteous thoughts. In the beginning I could only meditate in the cross-legged position for 20 minutes. With persistence I can now do the full lotus sitting meditation for 2 to 3 hours. Most days I do one hour and feel no pain.
I achieved good results when I shared stories of my own family while clarifying the truth to people.
Once while posting truth-clarification banners outside, the head of the village saw me and asked me what I was doing. I told him I was putting up Falun Gong materials. He asked me if I was afraid of being arrested, doing that in broad daylight. I told him I was doing a righteous thing: saving people.
Then I reminded him that he knew my family and what they had been through: My husband, now 76, is well and can still do physical labor. My son, who had a stroke, is totally recovered and lives well. I myself am 75. Most of my life I could not do anything, not even eat a regular meal. Look at me now! I am fully recovered. Recently I even planted a vegetable garden and climbed up the mountain to pick nuts. These are the benefits of Dafa. My illnesses, which could not be cured, were gone after studying Dafa for a few weeks. I went on to tell him that people cannot live without a conscience, that Dafa teaches people how to be good. There is no way for me to repay all the kindness Master and Dafa have bestowed upon me! Now I am telling others the truth, to save them.
I invited him to join me and come learn Dafa. I asked him if he had withdrawn from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. I could give him a pseudonym to help him withdraw. He said, “I have already asked one of your veteran practitioners to help me withdraw from the CCP. My whole family has." He went on to explain that he was concerned about my safety. He further explained that, because he wanted to protect me, he told the township and county that no one our village practiced Falun Gong. He said he would be responsible if there were any. I replied, “If you are not afraid, when the head of the township comes, bring him to my home and I will tell him the truth and help him to withdraw from the CCP and its affiliated organizations.”
My friends and relatives all say that Falun Dafa is amazing. Their families have undergone huge, incredible changes. What they have experienced is really like this saying:
"Falling into the world of human beings,“After passing the shady willow trees, there will be bright flowers and another village ahead!” (Zhuan Falun)
Suffering ups and downs;
Luckily encountering the master's salvation,
Please point out anything inappropriate. I have only been practicing Dafa for just over three years. I do not have a deep understanding of the Fa, and I have never written an experience sharing article before.