(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Gong in 1995. In 2011, I was preoccupied with looking for housing, renting an apartment, packing and moving, and I slacked off in my cultivation.
Due to lack of Fa study, I was hit with severe lower back pain. Several months passed. The problem remained. My lower back became deformed, and my hips tilted to one side.
Fellow practitioners helped me by sending forth righteous thoughts, but my situation didn't improve.
By April 2012, it became worse. I had severe pain down my leg, between my lower back and ankle. Every pore of mine felt like it was being stung by needles. The pain persisted without giving me a single break. I felt as if my skin was being peeled off.
At one point it became so severe that I couldn't relax no matter how I changed my position: lying on my back, lying on my stomach, lying on my side, sitting, kneeling... This excruciating pain lasted three days and two nights.
My younger sister also practices Falun Gong. I would get a little break when she sent forth righteous thoughts for me. But soon the pain came back. Tears rolled down my face as I shouted Master's name for help. I also called fellow practitioners over the phone, seeking more help.
As I hung up, I sensed something wrong. Wasn't I pursuing things externally? No, I had to look inward and send forth righteous thoughts on my own. I had to be righteous enough for Master to help me.
Since the pain wasn't relieved no matter whether I sat or lay down, I sat in the full lotus position with both legs crossed. I sent forth righteous thoughts and recited Master's Fa.
From Lunyu in Zhuan Falun to Hong Yin, I recited the Fa. Just the bits and pieces I could recall. An hour passed before I knew it. I realized that the pain had diminished.
However, it came back after a short while. I meditated again and sent forth righteous thoughts. I recited Master's Fa in “Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference:”
“... Master doesn't acknowledge them. And you shouldn't acknowledge them either. Do things well in an upright and dignified way, negate them, and strengthen your righteous thoughts some. "I'm Li Hongzhi's disciple, I don't want other arrangements or acknowledge them"--then they won't dare to do that. So it can all be resolved. When you can really do that, not just saying it but putting it into action, Master will definitely stand up for you. What's more, there are lots of Fa guardians around Master, there are lots of Buddhas, Daos, and Gods, and there are even greater beings, and they will all participate, because forced persecution that's not acknowledged is a crime, and the cosmos's old laws don't allow it either--irrational persecution absolutely is not allowed, and the old forces don't dare to do it if that is the situation. So you should do things as righteously as you can.”
I felt much better after another hour. By this time, fellow practitioners arrived, and asked me, “Is something wrong?” I said, “Nothing.” I told them briefly about the false symptoms shown on my body. I urged them: “Didn't you plan to install satellite dishes? Please go.”
“You go with them. They want you to go with them. There's space in the car,” my sister told me.
I knew that it was a hint from Master for me to step out of my home to continue to do what I should do. I shouldn't stay at home, acknowledging the arrangements of the old forces. I had been home for three days. Thus, I decided to step out and told my fellow practitioners that I would wait for them out in the car.
As I began to walk down the steps of my home, a wave of severe pain hit me. My legs lost strength; I knelt down on the steps. I looked back in the house and saw that no practitioners noticed it. They were busy getting ready for the trip.
Master's Fa “Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference” flashed in my mind:
“Do things well in an upright and dignified way, negate them, and strengthen your righteous thoughts some. “I'm Li Hongzhi's disciple, I don't want other arrangements or acknowledge them” – then they won't dare to do that. So it can all be resolved. When you can really do that, not just saying it but putting it into action, Master will definitely stand up for you.”
Enormous strength emerged in me. I held onto the door frame and stood up. With a firm step, I went out.
With one foot inside and one foot outside my home, I felt I was in a different realm. I knew I did the right thing – my whole body was relaxed. I knew that Master endured for me again.
In vain, I tried hard to hold back my tears. “Master has the power to turn the tide.” (“Master-Disciple Grace” from Hong Yin, Volume II) Thank you, Master!
We installed the satellite dish and went to a group Fa study at a practitioner's house. The group energy field soothed the fatigue and strain built up from resisting the severe pain for so many days. I returned home after 10 p.m. After a sound sleep, I had completely recovered by the next day.
With Master's protection and fellow practitioners' help and encouragement, the tribulation that tormented me for almost a year was gone in a day. I deeply appreciated that the key to overcoming tribulations is to firmly believe in Master and the Fa.
I further reflected on my cultivation. Why did this severe sickness karma interference occur? I understood that it was because I slacked off in Fa study and sending forth righteous thoughts.
Nonetheless, I was still producing my regular volumes of truth-clarification materials and printing over 10 sets of Dafa books. My heart was itchy to complete all the work. But I didn't act based on the Fa. Many books had unclear characters. I thus created karma by wasting Dafa resources. The printer often broke down, too. The more anxious I became, the more troubles arose.
In addition, my husband was also hospitalized during this time. I had to visit him often; this took away from my Fa study time. All of the above gave a handle for the old forces to latch onto and persecute me.
I learned the lesson the hard way. From now on, I must put Fa study as the first and foremost. No matter how busy I am, I shall maintain good quality Fa study and walk my path well. Cultivation is a very serious matter.
This is my first ever article submission. Please point out anything inappropriate in my sharing.
Thank you.