(Minghui.org) I developed vitiligo in my twenties. White patches appeared on my chest and eventually spread across my entire body. Young women are concerned about their appearance, so naturally I was crushed.
I became obsessed with finding a cure. I tried every traditional and Western treatment available but nothing helped. The large number of medications I consumed and the various types of qigong exercises I tried did more harm than good. I was left with a weak body and a foul temper.
Just when my situation seemed most hopeless I found a copy of Zhuan Falun. I read the book in one go and was totally shaken. From the depths of my being I heard a voice say, “You will be healthy again!”
I was puzzled but felt encouraged. I now know that Master Li (the founder) was protecting me and had guided me to Dafa.
Studying the Fa and doing the exercises became part of my life. Surrounded by a peaceful and harmonious energy, I was calm and happy. My condition gradually vanished.
From Wanting to Transform Me to Protecting Me
On July 20, 1999, a former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) head started the relentless persecution of Falun Gong and practitioners. Schools have always been the top target places for the CCP's propaganda. I'm a middle school English teacher.
Our principal was called to a meeting at the Department of Education on July 20, 1999. Afterward, he shared the content of the meeting with me and pressured me to stop practicing Falun Gong.
I didn't know what to think. Falun Gong teaches us to be good people, so why were we abruptly being ordered to stop practicing? Like every person in China I had been raised under the CCP's influence, and thus I was brainwashed. I did not believe the CCP was that bad, that it could lie, betray or hurt good people. At that moment I glanced down at the English Literature book I was holding, and I suddenly read the sentence, “They will pay for everything they have done.” I felt Master Li was trying to enlighten me.
By September, the CCP escalated its pressure to force people to stop practicing Falun Gong. In addition to shouting at me and pounding the table, the principle recruited other school officials to help. I was not allowed to teach and my identification card was confiscated. They frequently visited me at home and disturbed my family. To take the pressure off my family and myself, against my better judgment, I wrote a letter slandering Falun Gong and Master Li. The harassment stopped.
I soon realized what I had done and was filled with regret. Master and Dafa saved me, yet I betrayed them.
A month later, the school administration told me to write a “thought report” on Falun Gong. I decided that standing up for Dafa was more important than my comfort and safety. I placed my letter of intent on the school principle's desk and said, “I don't want to lie to you; I want to be true to myself. There's nothing wrong with practicing Falun Gong. One day the entire world will know the truth about the persecution!”
Ordinarily, our school principal would not tolerate anyone disagreeing with him. I was surprised that not only did he not report me, he never harassed me about my belief again. Once he even tried to warn me ahead of an arrest. He was relieved after he found out I was fine.
Master said:
“What's important for cultivators is righteous thoughts. When you have strong righteous thoughts, you are able to withstand anything and do anything” (Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles)
“Falun Dafa is an upright Law. One right thought will subdue a hundred evils, provided that in the cultivator’s cultivation he maintains his character, abandons his attachments, and forgoes any incorrect pursuits, as prescribed by Dafa. Any wicked entity will be afraid, and anything not related to your improvement won’t dare to meddle with you or disturb you.” (The Great Way of Spiritual Perfection)
I applied the Falun Gong's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance at work. I've been appointed to teach the graduating class for many years. The principle once told me that he assigned his son to my class because I was the best teacher for the subject.
Even when the persecution was most severe, I was still nominated and received the most outstanding teacher award three years in a row.
Master said,
“But the realm you achieve in cultivation and the state of your cultivation will be reflected in your work; you will do very well and will always be a good person wherever you are.” (Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. Fa Conference)
Our School Secretary
Our school merged with another school in 2004. The new administrators did not pressure me to stop practicing Falun Gong until 2006.
In September 2006, my son started 7th grade in the same school I teach. After my son used the phrase, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” on one of his tests the school administrators were in a panic. The head secretary questioned me and I responded, “My son was raised with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and he did not do anything wrong by writing these words on a test. He does not know that those words are “politically sensitive.” Why is it wrong to be truthful, compassionate and tolerant?” The secretary said, “There's nothing wrong with it, but you just cannot say them or write them down.” I asked, “Don't you think that's odd?” He did not answer.
Just before a meeting, he warned me that due to pressure from top officials he would have to, “Talk about my Falun Gong issue.” I looked at him with compassion and said, “If you do that, will it benefit you or the other teachers? He did not bring it up during the meeting.
During another meeting, the secretary started to read a government-issued article which slandered Falun Gong. I happened to be sitting next to him and passed him a note. On the note, I told him Falun Gong is righteous, and the truth about the persecution is already well known throughout the world. He later told me that he was only following the “procedure.” I regretted not having enough courage to stand up and contradict him during the meeting.
I later told him more about Falun Gong and gave him software to view blocked websites. Afterward, I never heard him say a bad word about Dafa.
Master said:
“In clarifying the truth, when you hit upon a person's fundamental issues, and at the same time he feels that Dafa disciples are truly saving him, then I think the side of him that's clear about things will show itself.” (Fa-Lecture During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference)
New Principal Extends a Helping Hand
Our new principal made an announcement at our faculty meeting: “Students are not allowed to practice Falun Gong, especially school employees' children.” I knew his statement was directed at me.
After the meeting, I had a chat with him. I told him about my struggles with illness and how I benefited from practicing Falun Gong. I also emphasized the importance of severing any ties to the Chinese communist party organizations.
His attitude changed. He said he understood and he praised my work ethic.
I was arrested in July 2009 for talking about Falun Gong in public. The new principal took the 610 Office officials out for dinner with his own money and helped me get released from the detention center. I thanked him and said, “You and your family will be blessed for your kindness towards Dafa and me!” Our local police station chief said, “Your school principle always tries to stop us when we visit your school to check on you. He says a lot of nice things about you too.”
This principle was promoted and left our school in 2017. I sent a text to him and every employee in our school: “Thank you for everything you have done for me! Heaven will bless you!”
