(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, in 1996 and wish to share some of my cultivation experiences from when I was imprisoned.
After communist regime head Jiang Zemin launched the persecution of Falun Gong in July of 1999, officials from my village committee watched my every move. In the evenings, under the moonlight, I could see shadows cast on my windows. Jiang's slogan was to “eradicate Falun Gong in three months.” That was the first time in my life I felt my human rights had been violated.
Imprisoned in a Detention Center
I was imprisoned in a detention center in 2008. The abusive treatment I received at the detention center hurt me physically and mentally.
The winter that year was unusually cold. I didn't get the money and winter clothes my family sent me after they were confiscated by guards and other prisoners. The guards warned me not to report this to anyone, especially other guards.
Since I practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, I believed that I needed to bear any pain and tolerate anything regardless of whether the actions were right or wrong.
As the abuse worsened, my living conditions became humanly impossible. Death or “transformation” was the order from the central government.
One day, an inmate soaked my only warm items of clothing in the sink. The message was very clear: freeze to death or denounce Falun Gong. At that moment, I remembered Master said:
“Forbearance (ren) is not cowardice, much less is it resigning oneself to adversity.” (“Beyond the Limits of Forbearance”, Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I walked up to the inmate and, with a tone of compassionate dignity, said: “I am over 60 years old. You took the money and winter clothing my family sent me. I have very little to eat. You soaked my only warm garments in water. You want me to freeze to death. However, I know your family is going through difficult times and this is the first time you have done this, so I forgive you. I endure what an ordinary person cannot. I forgive you because of my compassion. Do not do this again. Evil can never affect the righteous.”
The inmate lowered his head. That was not the end of it. Another inmate reported me to the guard and falsely accused me of hitting people. The guard called me to his office: “You practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, how could you hit people? You have a foul temper for a 60-year-old.”
I replied: “[The inmate who soaked my clothes] stopped me from using the bathroom four times. Twice he threw my clothes on the floor and stepped on them. I tolerated these things, which was not easy.
“Do you know anyone who can suffer such things in silence? Only Falun Gong practitioners can. However, he did something that threatened my survival, I could freeze to death because he soaked my warm clothing. I can tell that you know Falun Gong practitioners are good people. Good people deserve respect and they should not be persecuted. You are already breaking the law by keeping me here. Furthermore, you don't provide me with livable conditions. I am cold and hungry. You work in law enforcement yet you and the others have broken the law.”
After a long silence, the guard said: “The Communist Party has never admitted any wrongdoing, ever. It does not matter how big the mistake is.”
After that day, I started to openly talk about Falun Gong to those around me. Now they say, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” Some expressed an interest in learning Falun Gong and many denounced any ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
My living environment changed for the better. I finally received the money and clothing my family sent. I made friends with the inmate who soaked my clothes. I shared my food with him and gave him some warm clothing. He was touched by my kindness and called me his “Falun Gong father.”
I have never purposely done anything to hurt anyone in my life. People in my village see me as a good person. After my time in the detention center, I was sentenced to eight years in prison for wanting to live by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
My mother was 96 when I was sentenced. She leaned on her cane by the road leading to our village every day, waiting for me to come home. She soon passed away.
In Prison
The CCP expected every Falun Gong practitioner in prison to be “transformed”. One night, when all the prisoners were locked in their cells, a couple of inmates working for the prison guards took me out to the stairwell. They said to me: “We will beat you to death if you don't transform.” They started hitting me. “Nobody will know if we beat you to death, nobody will see anything either.”
Upon hearing their words, I understood that Master Li (the founder) was using their words to tell me something. I shouted as loud as I could, “This evil action has to stop.” Everyone in the building heard me.
A section chief walked up to us. He started laughing. Apparently, the sight of an elderly man being beaten by a few prisoners looked hilarious to him. The effects of the sound of my screaming and his laughter were horrific. I refused to renounce my belief in Falun Gong.
One morning, a few prisoners working for the prison guards tried to drag me into the bathroom. There was no one else in the room. My instinct told me they wanted to force-feed me feces.
I am a Dafa practitioner and would not suffer such humiliation. Master's words appeared in my mind again:
“Forbearance (ren) is not cowardice, much less is it resigning oneself to adversity.” (“Beyond the Limits of Forbearance”, Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I resisted and struggled with them. There were video monitors and sound surveillance in the cell. Our every move was being watched. Yet, nobody came to intervene.
They underestimated me. They thought they could easily manipulate an elderly man. I have Master's protection, celestial warriors watch over me, and I am full of positive energy. I suddenly remembered Master's words:
“I am rooted in the universe. If anyone could harm you, he or she would be able to harm me. Put simply, that person would be able to harm this universe.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
With that thought, the prisoners I was struggling with let go of me. They looked like they had just received a jolt from an electric baton; they were breathless and pale. I remained upright and unharmed.
I pointed at one of them and said, “Your relative lives in my neighborhood.” I pointed at another prisoner: “I know where you live, you live very close to me. The two of you are like my neighbors, how could you do this? How will you dare to look at me after we are released? I have four children, do you think they will leave you alone?”
I spoke with compassion and dignity. They lowered their heads. I was tortured many times later, but those two did not participate.
Going Home
By the time I was released, my whole body was deformed from years of physical abuse. My mother and elder sister had passed away. My elder sister was a Falun Gong practitioner who was also persecuted. I went back to an empty home. I could not even find a change of clothes.
My nephew had kept my Falun Gong books for me when I was kidnapped. Out of fear of reprisal, he turned my books into the village chief. Those books are my life, I needed to get them back. With strong righteous thoughts and unyielding determination, I got all of my books back.
