(Minghui.org) I am 78 years old and have lived in the United States for 21 years. I first heard of Falun Dafa when I went back to visit China in 1997, but I didn't start practicing. It wasn't until after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched its brutal persecution of Falun Gong in 1999 that I began seriously looking into the practice.
I went to visit my elder sister one day, her daughter-in-law gave me a copy of the book Zhuan Falun. I immediately knew that it was a precious book, and held it to my chest with both hands, not wanting to put it down. At that moment, I decided to start practicing Falun Dafa and stop doing other qigong practices.
After I began practicing Falun Dafa, my right arm, which I had injured in a fall, was miraculously healed. I had fallen down twice and injured my right arm both times. I didn't have health insurance, so I couldn't get it treated, and just had to bear the pain.
Once when I was doing the Falun Dafa meditation exercise, I felt a light sensation going up and down my right arm several times, and the pain in my arm then disappeared. I knew that Master was purifying my body.
Clarifying the Truth to Tourists at the Liberty Bell Center
Several senior practitioners and I have clarified the truth for several years now, and distributed informational materials about Falun Dafa and the persecution to Chinese tourists visiting the Liberty Bell, in the Liberty Bell Center on Independence Mall in Philadelphia.
We have been scolded and threatened by tour guides who believed the CCP's propaganda about Falun Dafa. One belligerent guide wouldn't stop berating us. I politely said, "Sir, please calm down, and don't curse, but rationally speak your mind.” However, he continued to be hostile and even threatened to hit us.
I said to him, “If you want to hit us, we won't stop you. Practitioners don't fight back when beaten, and don't swear back when sworn at.” He replied angrily, “You are not human.” I said, “Sir, you are right. This is the only thing you have said correctly today.” While all the tourists were quietly listening, I continued, “Falun Gong practitioners are on the path to godhood the moment they decide to cultivate and begin reading Zhuan Falun.” The tour guide walked away, angry and at a loss for words.
Tourists from China eagerly read and videotape the truth-clarification display at Liberty Bell Center on Independence Mall in Philadelphia
A few days after the incident with the belligerent tour guide, a female tour guide with her group told me not to disturb her “customers” by giving them brochures. She also tried to stop us from explaining the facts to the tourists.
I realized that it wasn't by accident that the guides were trying to stop us from clarifying the truth. They should clearly know what we were doing. I pointed at the tourists and said, “I know they are your customers. I would like to let you know that I want to save everyone who visits the Liberty Bell, including you.” Since then, I haven't experienced any more interference. I realized the truth in what Master said,
“However strong the righteous thoughts are, that’s how great the power is.” (“Also in a Few Words” from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
More and more sentient beings have awakened because of our perseverance in telling people the facts at tourist sites. People now give us friendly smiles and say, “You guys are great! Thank you.”
One time I explained the facts to a woman who was visiting a relative in the United States. She knew that the persecution of Falun Gong had been going on for more than ten years in China, and talked about the many crimes committed by Jiang Zemin. She took the materials and expressed hope that Falun Gong's good name would soon be restored.
When I advised her to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations, she did it using her real name. I told her that she would be blessed if she sincerely recited, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” I also encouraged her to share this with her relatives and friends.
I later talked to a gentleman and gave him a flyer. He quit the Party using his real name. He then introduced the lady next to him and said, “She is my wife. She quit the CCP more than a month ago. I didn't see you last time because I was busy taking pictures.”
Eliminating Tribulations
Not long after I started practicing, I experienced a tribulation. I was asked to participate in a parade in Pittsburg in 2003. A little more than a week before the parade, I fell at home and couldn't move. My son took me to the hospital and I was admitted for a week. When I was discharged, I had to use crutches to walk.
I still went to Pittsburgh to help out with the parade. I wasn't afraid or have any thought about being able to walk or not. However, fellow practitioners in Pittsburgh didn't ask me to do anything after seeing me. I joined the banner team, and walked to the gathering place. When the parade started, I walked to the Falun Dafa booth and filled my bag with truth-clarification materials. I then walked along with the parade procession, shouting, “Falun Dafa is good,” whenever I distributed a flyer.
We stopped in front of a group of young people, who I knew were students from a nearby college. I called out, “Falun Dafa is good!” to them. After we passed them, I heard many of them still yelling, “Falun Dafa is good!” Their raucous shouts sounded disrespectful, and not solemn. As a practitioner, I had to correct them even though I didn't know how to speak English. Although I felt a little awkward, I immediately turned back to the group. I raised my right hand and loudly said, “Falun Dafa is good,” with them. I then made a Heshi gesture with both hands and bowed. They immediately quieted down.
I helped other practitioners distribute flyers after I ran out. I walked briskly, feeling relaxed. I didn't look like someone who had just been discharged from the hospital and needed crutches. My tribulation had been completely eliminated, and I felt very comfortable. Master was encouraging me.
The above is my personal cultivation experience. Due to my limited level, please kindly point out anything that is incorrect.
