(Minghui.org) I am a Falun Dafa practitioner who used to work in law enforcement. How I started to cultivate Falun Dafa is legendary. At the beginning of the persecution, just like most of my colleagues, I didn’t know about Dafa. I followed orders from my superiors and tried to force imprisoned practitioners to give up their belief.
I didn’t understand why practitioners were so persistent in their beliefs. A few of them tried to clarify the truth to me, but I refused to believe them. I now understand that I was brainwashed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and had lost my ability to discern right from wrong.
As I got to know practitioners better, I found them different from other people. They were honest, kind, forgiving, and tolerant. Facing the unjust persecution, they refused to give up their belief, even if their lives were threatened. I was touched by their spirit. They made me start to think about a question I’d had since I was little: What is the purpose of life?
Persecutor Takes Up Falun Gong
At work, each of us was given a copy of Zhuan Falun, hoping that we would find something that we could use to argue with and attack practitioners. But when I read the book, I felt a stream flowing through my heart. Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) was not like the state-run media portrayed it. The persecution was (and is) really wrong. It is a sensitive political issue. I didn’t dare to share my thoughts with my coworkers.
When I was reading Zhuan Falun, I had some illness symptoms and knew that Master was purifying my body. I recovered in two days. Not only was my body purified but my view of the world and life changed as well. I became a different person. Master said:
“...will be reincarnated in a very poor family. The child will begin to suffer from an early age. When it grows mature, the master will come back. Of course, the child cannot recognize him. Using supernormal abilities, the master will unlock its saved memory. It will at once recall everything. “Isn’t this my master?” The master will tell it: “Now, it’s time to start the practice.” Thus, after many years the master will pass the teachings to it.” (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun)
When I read this paragraph, my mind was suddenly opened. This was my Master! Happiness arose from the bottom of my heart.
I started to practice at the height of the persecution. This was a sharp turning point in my life. I felt so lucky to have this precious opportunity to become a Dafa disciple during the Fa-rectification period.
As a Dafa disciple, when Dafa is slandered, practitioners are being tortured, and the public is being deceived, I must step forward and clarify the truth. I understood this, but it was really difficult for me to do. My job was to suppress Falun Gong. How could I take such a step? It was a big test.
I studied the Fa carefully and realized which path I should take: I should make use of every opportunity to clarify the truth and expose the persecution. This is what a Dafa disciple should do.
I was arrested and sentenced to two years in 2015. Not only was I tortured mentally and physically, but my family also suffered significant financial losses. To rescue me, my son closed his promising business. Since I had not eliminated all my attachments to money, that was difficult to bear.
During that time, many of my attachments were exposed: to saving face, to personal gain, to competitiveness, to hatred, to jealousy, and so on. But, I was not scared. After I was released, I found a job and clarified the truth every chance I got, using my own experiences to tell people about the brutal persecution.
I heard that several of my supervisors where I used to work had passed away or were imprisoned for different reasons. I felt bad for them. For a long time, people like them have been used by the CCP to carry out the persecution and have therefore made boundless karma for themselves. As a former colleague, I felt I had a responsibility to clarify the truth to them.
It was difficult, because they had been brainwashed. Due to my attachments and fears, I didn’t do it right away. But I quickly rectified my thoughts.
Clarifying the Truth When Asking for Compensation
A few years ago, I talked to one of the directors where I now work, asking him not to persecute Falun Gong. He said that he had no choice, because he had to make a living. I was very sad—he didn’t know he was committing a crime and that will be consequences.
When a new director came on board, I wondered how to clarify the truth to him, how to awaken his enlightened side?
I went to his office and requested compensation for the salary that was withheld when I was imprisoned. He seemed indifferent, but I was not moved by his attitude. All I wanted to do was to clarify the truth to him. I talked to him many times. I told him how I have benefited from Falun Gong both physically and mentally, how my behavior and mind have changed, how I gave up attachments to fame and personal gain, stopped fighting, and started to think of others first.
I also told him that most of my former coworkers who were involved in the persecution had met with some kind of retribution. “Aren’t they also victims of this persecution,” I asked him, “even though they were simply carrying out orders?” I said that it was my responsibility to tell him that one’s ability to discern good from evil determines one’s fate.
I said that he should have a clear idea of what is good and what is evil and to choose a bright future for himself and his family. I gave him a letter that I’d written to all my former colleagues. His attitude changed, and he seemed pleased to take the letter.
I tried to find the best way to clarify the truth to him. I learned that he’d gone to law school so I brought the files about my case to his office. I asked him to look at them, since they were also truth-clarifying materials. The details of how I was persecuted and the lawyer’s defense were all in there.
After talking to him many times, my sincerity finally touched him. He read the file and told me, “You were wronged. You should appeal. I will help you get the salary that was withheld.” I told him that my sincerest wish was for him to know the truth about Falun Gong and the persecution.
The changes in the director were encouraging. I realized that I should clarify the truth to all the people around me, as long as I could get the chance to talk to them.
Using my quest for compensation as an excuse, I talked to people in many government offices. I also went to the local 610 Office. If it wasn’t for this excuse, I would not have had a chance to talk to those who worked there. I called the head of the 610 Office a few times. He was either on a trip or not in the office. I knew that he was trying to avoid me—the evil in other dimensions was trying to keep him from learning the truth.
One day I went to his office with another practitioner. Outside the building, I called his cellphone, and he said he was out of town. We managed to get into the building and found him in his office. He was a little embarrassed to see us.
When I told him why I was there, he said that there was no policy that would allow him to compensate me. I then started to talk about Falun Gong. He interrupted me and said, “What have you gained from Falun Gong? You even lost your salary.” I tried to answer him, but he said, “If you continue, I will have to ask you to leave.” He was badly polluted by the CCP’s brainwashing. We had to leave.
We went to another government office. The director there gave us some suggestions. I thanked her and said, “Don’t have a negative understanding of Falun Gong. We just try to live by Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.” She said, “I am not against Falun Gong. It’s your choice.”
Finally, we went to the city finance department of the city. An officer there learned the truth from us. She tried to help by introducing me to several officers, which gave me a good chance to clarify the truth to more people. One of them was the head of the department. He explained in detail how to deal with the paperwork at each step. I thanked him. I gave him the letter I wrote to clarify the truth and said, “Please read it. All my experiences are in it.” I could tell that he was sympathetic and wanted to help me.
The last step of the compensation process was to obtain the signature of the deputy mayor, so I went to talk to him. When I could not find him, I wrote him a letter.
Getting Back My Belongings from the Police
When I was arrested in 2015, the police took many of my belongings, including a computer and a printer. After I was released, I decided to ask them to return all the items they’d confiscated and use that circumstance to clarify the truth to them.
At the station, I greeted the chief and police officers as old friends. I had no hatred or grudge. I wanted them to see a practitioner’s compassion and forgiveness. They accepted what I said and agreed that we should have freedom of belief. They didn’t understand why practitioners hang up banners and posters in public places—they thought it was vandalism. I explained that the state-run media lies about Falun Gong, so the public has no way to know the truth. So practitioners have to use their own money to make materials to expose the persecution.
The chief was nice. He said, “Your visit shows that you trust me.” I said, “I am here to tell you not to get involved in the persecution anymore. If you do, you will be a scapegoat.” He smiled and said, “A few months ago, two Falun Gong practitioners were reported for hanging banners in public. They were brought here. We completed the written record of the investigation and then let them go.”
I said I was happy he’d made the right choice. He then told me that all my belongings had been sent to a higher level police department. “It has been two years. I cannot guarantee that your belongings are still there,” he said. “If they are gone, I will buy you a new computer and printer out of my own pocket.”
I thanked him and gave him the truth-clarifying letter I’d written. Later, he did, indeed, buy me a new printer with his own money.
Clarifying the Truth During the Process of Appealing
In 2018 I decided to appeal to the city court to have my case re-tried. The judge of the city intermediate court refused to accept it because it involved Falun Gong. He also refused to tell me his name. I decided I needed to clarify the truth to the judges.
I called the head of the court and told him that one of his judges had turned me down multiple times, which was illegal. I told him that, if I got turned down again, I would appeal to a higher level court. I said, “Xi Jinping [the head of the CCP] is coming to Heilongjiang soon. If you don’t take my case, I will try my best to make some noise during his visit.” He tried to calm me down and told me to mail my files to him.
The postal clerk refused to process my mail. “This is about Falun Gong. If I mail it out, I could lose my job.” I had to send the files via express mail.
A month later, the head of the court assigned two judges to my case. I talked to them for a long time, explaining why I wanted a retrial. I told them that, throughout history, all the persecutions of righteous beliefs failed and those responsible were punished. “I hope you can tell good from evil and will not be the CCP’s scapegoat. Treating Falun Gong practitioners fairly will bring you a bright future,” I said.
Two days later, I was told that my appeal had been rejected and the original sentence upheld. Although the appeal failed, I had chances to talk to many of the court staff. One of the judges was my age. I told her about my experiences and how my family supported me. I said to her, “My husband tried his best to rescue me, because he believed that I had done nothing wrong.” The judge was touched. She said one of her friends from college, a very nice guy, is also a practitioner. I told her about the evil history of the CCP. She was happy to quit the Party with my help.
During this process, I met many government officials. If I had a chance, I clarified the truth to them in person. If there was no chance for me to talk, I gave them the letter I wrote. I tried my best to awaken their conscience and let them see the beauty of Dafa and a Dafa disciple’s kindness.
I have also eliminated many attachments during this process, including anxiety, anger, and the pursuit of fairness. Now I am calm and peaceful, and I always prioritize clarifying the truth.
Looking back at my 20 years of cultivation, there was a lot of joy despite the tribulations. I was so lucky to obtain the Fa. I have become more mature in cultivation with Master’s guidance and protection. Thank you, Master, for giving me such a sacred mission that will lead me to consummation.
