(Minghui.org) I would like to share my experience clarifying the truth during the recent pandemic, as well as how we rescued arrested practitioners using righteous thoughts and with the help of hired defense lawyers.
Bringing Blessings to People During the Lockdown
Our area officially went into a lockdown on the fifth day of the Chinese New Year. Just a few days prior, when we learned of the local breakout of the CCP virus (coronavirus), a few of us coordinators met and agreed that even during this crisis, we should continue to clarify the truth and save people. This was a test for all Dafa practitioners. We planned to deliver different informational materials to local practitioners and encourage them to come up with creative ways to save people.
I partnered up with another practitioner and delivered what we called “New Year Bundles” to the villages and townships in our area. Each bundle, consisting of truth-clarification DVDs and Falun Dafa keepsakes, was presented in a nice holiday gift box.
We didn’t waste any time and started delivering them on the first day of the lockdown. The two of us worked well together. We jokingly referred to our masks as “props” and reminded each other to bring them when we set out each day. Each time we stopped at a checkpoint, we used our real names. At each checkpoint we were asked pretty much the same questions, such as where we were from, what we were doing out, where we were going, our address, our license plate number, etc. Our temperatures were measured, and our car was inspected and disinfected as well.
One time, the police at a checkpoint would not let us pass. He said it was the local government’s policy to protect the residents from contracting the virus from outsiders. We had no choice but to hand over our holiday bundles to the police to give to the local practitioner who came to pick them up.
I was kept at about 60 yards away from the local practitioner, but we quietly pressed our palms together to greet each other. The police took the gift boxes from me and asked, “Such big gift boxes. They must cost a lot of money!” I said, “Each box has an assortment of gifts and is precious. Please hold on tight and don’t drop them.” The police officer walked over and gave them to the local practitioner.
I ran into a similar situation when I was by myself. It was a cold winter day, and I rode my motorcycle through the snow to a distant town to distribute DVDs with New Tang Dynasty programs. I was stopped at a checkpoint and was told that as a preventive measure, no outsiders were allowed beyond that point. I had to call someone on the spot to pick up the gift boxes at the checkpoint.
A local practitioner came quickly and waited about 60 yards away. The police took the boxes from me, “What is this?” The gift boxes were in a cloth bag. “It’s medicine for the critically ill,” I replied. The officer asked, “What kind of illness?” I said, “Terminal illness.” He was curious, “How effective is it?” “It’s 100% effective.” He nodded, “This medicine must be very expensive.” I smiled, “Yes it’s very precious. Please give it to that person.” He delivered the precious bag of “medicine” to the local practitioner.
After we left the checkpoint, the practitioner who had just picked up the gifts called and told me that a half mile away from the checkpoint, there was an gap in the wooden fence that was inconspicuous and just big enough for a person to get through. He told me to meet him there. I started dropping off the materials there after that.
During the strictest part of lockdown, we managed to overcome various obstacles and made timely deliveries to our local practitioners. When we showed up, they were always surprised to see us and asked, “How did you get here?” We told them, “With Master’s help, we come and go as we wish.”
After studying Master’s new scripture “Rationality” many times, I became more clear on the true nature of the pandemic and Dafa practitioners’ responsibilities.
Master said,
“You are here not to alter history but to save people amid history’s gravest peril. Things such as clarifying the truth and encouraging people to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations and to sincerely repeat the true words are the best panacea and the best ways to save people. As people’s hearts change for the better, things will take a positive turn. The CCP is in its death throes and has thrown society into turmoil so as to harm people. Dafa disciples, don’t get caught up in the chaos. Hold on to the fundamentals—only then will you be able to see the chaos for what it is.” (“Rationality,” Team Blue Translation)
With the guidance of Master’s new scripture, our local practitioners were able to continue clarifying the truth during the lockdown, using different channels and taking great risks to save people. There have been many touching stories and courageous acts that inspired all of us.
Rescuing an Arrested Practitioner
I nearly walked into the home of a local practitioner while it was being ransacked. It was October 2017. The head of the local Domestic Security Division stopped me on the top of the stairs. “What are you doing here?” he asked. “I came to visit the grandma who lives here. She’s in poor health.” With a low voice, the division head said sternly, “You have no business here. Just go. Police from the provincial level are investigating a case here.” We clarified the truth to this division head many times before, and he was friendly with Dafa practitioners.
As I looked up, I saw through the open door that the practitioner’s elderly mother was sitting in the far corner of the room, mumbling her daughter’s name. Her daughter had already been taken away. I immediately knew what I almost walked into. I told the division head, “Grandma is in her 80s and in poor health. Please treat her nicely.” I quickly left and relayed the information to other local practitioners.
I explained to the family from many angles why the persecution was unlawful and encouraged them to join me and petition for her release. I told them this would help them accumulate great virtue and receiving blessings. I convinced them that petitioning is legal and a powerful way to rescue their relative. The next day, I went with the family to the provincial police department.
We were received by one of the officers from the ransack the day before, but he didn’t recognize me. When he asked how I was related to the practitioner, I said I was a cousin. I told him we were there to obtain more information on the arrest and to petition for her release. I told the officer how this practitioner had benefited physically and mentally from practicing Falun Dafa and how she was now known as a good wife and good mother among the neighbors. I told him she should be released right away.
The officer said, “Her case is a big one, and the order came directly from provincial officials. We’re only responsible for the arrest, and it’s up to the higher-ups whether she'll be released. We cannot make the decision. I heard her son and another Falun Gong were at her house when we arrested her, but we let those two get away.”
This arrested practitioner had very strong righteous thoughts and answered questions wisely during interrogation. She clarified the truth to the police whenever she could. We quickly hired a lawyer to represent her, and soon she was released on bail.
Stopping a 610 Office Official
A fellow practitioner’s prison term ended in spring 2018, and about 20 of us went to the province capital to pick him up on the day of release. When he walked out of the prison, he was met with by an official from his hometown’s 610 Office. The 610 official tried to get this practitioner to go with him back to his hometown because that’s where he’d have to re-register his residency. We all knew what this really meant—the practitioner would be put through brainwashing in his hometown.
The 20 of us went up to the official, clarified the truth to him and reasoned with him. I told him, “His term ended and he is now a free man. If you forcibly take him for residential registration and brainwashing, then it is a violation of the law. He has a month to apply for residential registration as long as he has the release paperwork.”
While we clarified the truth to the 610 official, he suddenly realized that the released practitioner was gone. He was furious and immediately called his supervisor. While he dialed, most practitioners left to avoid unnecessary arrests, and only five of us stayed.
A few minutes later, a police car came. The 610 officer pointed towards us and said, “They are all Falun Gong. I’m from so-and-so county’s Comprehensive Social Security Management Committee and am here to pick up a released Falun Gong practitioner. They distracted me and hid the practitioner. Help me find him.”
The police asked me, “How are you related to the practitioner?” I said, “We’re all his family and traveled more than 30 miles to pick him up. This 610 official tried to take him ,which is illegal. He is a free man now. Residential registration is his own business and cannot be forced. Please uphold justice and enforce the law.” The police waved his hand and said, “Okay. You can leave now.” He then left. The 610 official watched us leave and couldn’t do a thing.
This incident made it even more clear to us that when we have firm belief in Master and the Fa and have strong righteous thoughts and righteous actions, we will surely defeat evil and elevate in our cultivation.
Hiring Lawyers to Defend Practitioners
In 2011, we started hiring lawyers to defend practitioners in court. Of course, we always explain the purpose and the process to the family of the practitioner beforehand and make sure they are on board with it. Some family members held prejudice against Falun Dafa and were against the idea. I have been criticized and cursed by family members multiple times. Some even tried to report me to the police. I maintained a calm heart and tried to be understanding of them.
During the process of hiring a lawyer for a practitioner, we reached out to one of his family members to work out a date and time to meet with the lawyer. This family member is a veteran practitioner, but she avoided meeting with us. She told me she didn’t want to be seen with me in public because I had been in and out of the local police station, detention center, prison, and court. She thought it would be unsafe and she might get implicated.
Her words really hurt me, and I resented her. When I studied the Fa that night, Master’s words helped me calm down:
“As long as you improve your xinxing, you can overcome them. Unless you, yourself do not want to do so, you can make it, provided you want to overcome them. Therefore, from now on when you come across a conflict you should not consider it a coincidence. This is because when a conflict occurs, it will take place unexpectedly. But that is not a coincidence—it is for improving your xinxing. As long as you treat yourself as a practitioner, you can handle it properly.” (“Transformation of Karma,” Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun, 2014 Translation)
“Tempering the will is the key to truly raising your level.” (“Transformation of Karma,” Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun, 2014 Translation)
After I studied Master’s lecture, my resentment and feeling of being wronged were gone.
The case developed positively thanks to the hard work and coordination of the local practitioners as one body. The practitioner was acquitted of all charges and released.
Through hiring defense lawyers through the years, we’ve helped rescue practitioners and clarified the truth to law enforcement and judicial system officials. This has been critical in awakening the conscience of sentient beings.
I once witnessed the most inspiring and righteous defense given during an intermediate court hearing. An experienced lawyer argued against the charges comprehensively and flawlessly before pleading not guilty on behalf of our practitioner.
The lawyer declared, “Falun Gong is protected by the law of the country. There is no legal basis on which to bring charges against practitioners. The police officers and agencies involved in the arrest of my client have committed the crime of kidnapping, the facility that detained my client has committed unlawful detention, and the prosecutors, judges and the agencies they represent have committed favoritism and obstruction to the course of justice.” As soon as he was done, he was applauded with great enthusiasm. The judge and the prosecutors were dumbfounded and speechless.
The above is my personal experience in cultivation, and I ask fellow practitioners to kindly point out anything that’s inappropriate. Let us cultivate diligently under Master’s protection and cultivate well during this last stretch.
Thank you, Master. Thank you, fellow practitioners.
