(Clearwisdom.net) "Falun Gong is the pillar of our village." This is a favorite saying a village Party cadre in Wuxue City, Hubei Province, told a Party representative who was sent to investigate Falun Gong in April 2004. The story is still widely told in the 10 to 15 kilometers surrounding the village.
There were over 20 Falun Gong practitioners in the village before the persecution started on July 20, 1999. These practitioners persevered in following the principles of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" and the teachings of Master Li to "...consider others first, so as to attain the righteous Enlightenment of selflessness and altruism."... ("Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature," Essentials for Further Advancement), and to become good people. In the village, practitioners are widely praised with favorable comments due to their model behavior in participating in the repayment of the village contract with the central government, the village's cooperative medical bill, and various other social public welfare undertakings.
In April 2004, during the rice planting season, the long road that lead into the village had deteriorated due to lack of maintenance and the rain. The road was over 100 meters and had developed a ditch one meter wide. It was very inconvenient for the villagers to go in and out of the village and for the school-age children to go to school. Over ten practitioners in the village brought their own tools and began to repair the road. What they did inspired the other villagers to join in the repair work which was completed in one week. They not only repaired the hole, they overfilled it about a foot or two higher.
About one month later, the higher authorities sent people to investigate Falun Gong. The village Party cadre pointed to the repaired pavement and told the investigator, "Falun Gong is the pillar of our village. Look at this road. It was they who took the lead to repair it. They've always taken the lead to tend to village matters, including the repayment of the contract between the village and the central government, or paying for the village cooperative medicine. The only matter they do not take the lead in is their own rice fields. The quality of the cotton they sell is top-notch because they choose only high quality cotton. They make sure that the cotton is dried properly. The other thing is that over the past few years, we haven't seen any of these young or elderly practitioners become sick or have to visit doctors. This saves a large amount of medical expense for the village. Falun Gong is really great! As much as I've tried, I can't find fault with them. Honestly, if everyone behaves like these practitioners, society will be peaceful and happy. It will be an easy job for you leaders too, right?" The investigator could not say anything but kept nodding his head. The higher authorities never send any more investigators.
It has been over ten years now. The practitioners in the village continue to work quietly and contribute to the village and society.
October 1, 2007
