(Minghui.org) In 2000, I went to Tiananmen Square in Beijing and held up a banner to appeal for the right to practice Falun Gong. After being arrested and taken to the Tiananmen Police Station, I was transferred to my hometown and sent to a forced labor camp for three years.
Not Interested in Worldly Fame and Fortune
In the labor camp, I was detained as a Falun Gong organizer and held in isolation for more than two months. From the team leader to the deputy director, they all tried everything in their power to “transform” me.
The director of the labor camp then had me come to his office and suggested that we become friends. I asked him why he really wanted to see me.
“We've discussed all the Falun Gong practitioners who haven’t 'transformed' yet,” he said, “and I will be responsible for 'transforming' you and making you renounce Falun Gong.”
He told me that he had investigated my background, including my work history. “I found out that you were to be promoted to the position of deputy director but weren't because of your faith. I can't understand how you could ruin your promising future just for a belief.
“I was just informed about a new policy on the issue of Falun Gong. It says that, no matter what happened before, as long as you renounce Falun Gong, you will be restored to your former social status and your former position.”
He kept talking until he realized that I was not interested and agreed to listen to what I had to say.
Explaining Cultivation
“You do not understand what Falun Gong is,” I said, “nor what the teachings entail. If I had wanted some kind of 'social status,' I would not have started to cultivate.
“Shakyamuni was the prince and heir to the throne. But he abandoned his right of succession in order to practice the Dharma. In your opinion, this would be even more pathetic. However, Buddhism, which spread throughout the world, has been practiced for more than 2,500 years.”
The director said that he did not believe that because people only want to get rich and be successful.
I realized I needed to approach this from a different angle. I spoke of the improvement in my health and outlook after I started to cultivate and how my entire family benefited from this practice.
I told him that, for me, being “transformed,” which would mean giving up my faith, meant giving up my life. “Tell me,” I asked, “can I give up my life?”
He had nothing more to say now that he believed I was steadfast in my faith. But then he countered, “Because I am a Chinese Communist Party member, the Party assigned me to 'transform' you and I must do it. It is your business whether you 'transform' or not. I will come here every eight days and will continue to report to my superiors.”
No Regrets
When he spoke to me again, he said, “I saw the cell where they keep you. That is not where you should be. The inmates in that cell are either thieves, burglars or robbers. Some of them have been arrested many times in spite of their youth. Do you feel sad that you are with a group of gangsters?”
I pondered my response and said, “I was arrested solely because I insist on being a good person by following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Of course I should not be held here. But what can I do when you do not let me go?
“I am the only Falun Gong practitioner in the cell. The rest are what you call gangsters, but they all know that I am a good man. I have never fought with any of them. Although they have conflicts, they all treat me as a friend. They talk to me when they have problems. Some even said, 'Falun Gong is really good. After I'm released, I will practice Falun Gong, too.' So, although I should not be here, I am not lonely.
“It hurts to lose one's physical freedom, but the pain of losing one's freedom of spirit would be far greater. Although I am trapped, my spirit is still free. Although you are a 'director,' you are not mentally free. Even if you know that Falun Gong is good and can make you healthy, you dare not to say it is good, let alone practice it, because you cannot escape the spiritual shackles written into the Party's manifesto.”
We continued our discussion on a deeper level. In the end, I said, “People have their own lives and fates. My philosophy is that whether I could be a high ranking official or not will be decided by my fate. I will try my best to do well whatever my position. I will have no regrets. Could you do that?”
Before we were able to talk a third time, he lost his job. 11 Falun Gong practitioners had escaped from the labor camp. That very morning, the director was commended at a municipal ceremony for his considerable efforts in the persecution of Falun Gong.
Perhaps this was a divine hint to those who follow the CCP's demands and persecute Falun Gong practitioners that what goes around, comes around. We reap what we sow.
