(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Gong in 1996, and the persecution began only three years later. I could not possibly have made it without Master's protection for the last twenty years: I have been arrested ten times, was held in brainwashing centers, held in prison for three and a half years, and had my house ransacked. I suffered through all sorts of torture while in prison and was traumatized both mentally and physically.
But I firmly believe that the path I have chosen is the correct one.
When I was a child, I read a story about a hunter named Hailibu. He was well-known for being a good person. One day, he met a deity who told him that there would soon be a flood in his village to eliminate evildoers and told him to go to a high mountain to stay safe. He was also warned that he should not let other villagers know the truth lest he become a rock.
He did not want to see his village suffer the effects of the flood and told them to find higher ground. But nobody believed him. Hailibu had no choice but to tell them about the deity. True to the deity's words, he was turned into a rock. Seeing this, the villagers finally believed him and ran for their lives; many of them were saved.
I was 12 then. I thought that if I ever ran into such a situation I would do the same: I would not be afraid to be turned into a rock.
Fifty years later, through cultivation, I realized that I had made a similar vow with Master in prehistory. Today, when I clarify the truth, I am fulfilling my vow.
When I went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong, I was arrested and escorted back to my hometown. I worked on letting go of fear and began talking to people about Falun Gong face-to-face. I told people about the wonders of Falun Gong and exposed the lies of the media.
When the “ Tiananmen Self Immolation” came out, it made the situation worse both in society as well as in my home. When another lie was broadcast on television regarding us killing people, my wife got angry and locked herself in her room. She left for our daughter's home the next day and did not return for years. During that time she wouldn't listen to any of my explanations, living mostly in fear.
My wife was so scared that she would not let me clarify the truth to others. When she finally returned home, our conflicts usually surfaced whenever I would bring up clarifying the truth. Clearly, the effects of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) propaganda ran deep.
But over the years, she's gotten better – now, she hardly ever tries to stop me from cultivating or clarifying the truth.
I understand that the purpose of clarifying the truth is to save people. After Master published “Let Go of Human Attachments and Save the World's People,” I tried my best to fulfill my duty. The compassion that I've cultivated within Dafa gave me a sense of urgency towards letting sentient beings choose a brighter future for themselves.
After the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published, I was able to persuade 700 people to quit the CCP and its other organizations.
I was arrested in January of 2006 because I was operating a material printing center. A dozen fellow practitioners and I were all sent to prison.
The atmosphere of terror and suppression inside the prison was suffocating. Our human rights were trampled on, and countless crimes were being committed. It was also a place where the 610 Office was allowed a free hand to be as brutal and indecent as humanly possible.
Under the double incentives of high bonuses and promotions, some police officers ignored their conscience and did their worst. They even encouraged other inmates to beat practitioners and mistreat them.
When I was incarcerated, four to six inmates took turns monitoring me 24/7. I was not allowed to talk, my bathroom visits were limited, and I was forced to sit for long periods of time on torture benches. My sleep was also tightly rationed to the point of deprivation. I was forced to do labor for 15 hours a day.
The inmate abused me at will; I lost my hearing due to their severe beatings. I was forced to stand in the sun in the midsummer heat for over 10 hours at a time. They almost suffocated me, pushed my head into dirty water for a long time... it seemed that they would do anything to make me give up my beliefs.
The prison was like a living hell; every second inside felt like a year. I weighed 138 pounds when I was sent to prison. After four months, I only weighed 90 pounds.
I never forgot that I was a Falun Gong practitioner and that I had a historic mission. I persuaded over 200 people to quit the CCP and its organizations while I was in prison. I continued with my job after I was released.
Master told us:
“Studying the Fa well, doing a good job of clarifying the facts, and saving sentient beings are your top priorities. If your righteous thoughts are amply strong, you will manage to do well the things that Dafa disciples are supposed to do.” (“To the Midwestern US Fa Conference”)
Since June of 2009, I have gone out to tell people about the persecution on a daily basis. On a good day, I can help several dozen people. I also use cash notes with Falun Gong information written on them.
I give out hundreds of Falun Gong flyers on a weekly basis. I am grateful for fellow practitioners who have worked so hard to make them.
I installed satellite equipment so that I could watch NTD broadcasts in my home; through this, I wanted people who visit us to learn the truth and make their own choice for the future.
In May of 2015, I saw that many fellow practitioners were filing lawsuits against Jiang Zemin, who launched the persecution. I also filed my case and mailed it to the supreme court.
On July 10, over 20 plainclothes officers came and raided my home. Luckily, I was able to get away. I returned home the next day and thought that, should they come back, I would stay and clarify the truth to them. After all, they too deserved to be saved.
I talked to them with compassion when they came again, and they have not harassed me since. Inspired, I went to visit the local 610 Office director and police chief, who were both receptive.
I knew that there were two people stationed near me to keep tabs on me, but I did not pay any attention to them. I was doing the right thing and no one should interfere.
Practitioners today are making history – with our monumental efforts to save people, over 290 million have already quit the CCP and its organizations. But there are still so many more people deceived by the propaganda and not aware of the truth. We still have a lot of work to do.
With such limited time left, let us remind each other to catch up with the pace of Fa-rectification and fulfill our vows.
This is my understanding at the current time; please kindly point out any shortcomings.