(Clearwisdom.net) I began practicing Falun Gong in May 1998. At the time, I suffered from atrophic gastritis and an esophageal growth. I went to several hospitals but was told there was no treatment for my situation. In this anxiety-ridden state, I was eager to learn a good qigong practice to save my life. I subsequently started practicing Falun Gong after learning about it through one of my friends.
Fortunate to Learn the Fa, I Always Have Master's Protection
Once I began cultivating Falun Gong, all of my illnesses disappeared. I felt fine and grew healthier and looked well. Even my skin took on a healthier, ruddy look. I am about 70 now but I look more like 50. I am very grateful to Master Li.
In late December 1998, As I rode my bicycle across the road, I was hit by a car, and thrown about six meters. It was a very serious accident, but I did not feel any pain and I didn't have a scratch on me. Later, I told the driver that I was a Falun Dafa practitioner and he could go without paying me anything. The driver was grateful and surprised.
I returned home and ran to Master's portrait. I knelt down and cried. I understood that it was all due to Master's compassionate protection. At the same time, I understood that Master's words in Zhuan Falun are gospel. I firmly believe in Master and Falun Dafa. I decided, "No matter what, I will follow Master." I am very diligent in conducting myself according to the Fa.
The persecution began after I had been practicing for more than a year. Since then, practitioners have used all kinds of methods to appeal for Falun Gong. I have had a second chance at life thanks to Master and Falun Dafa, and I have never wavered an inch and have clarified the truth of Falun Gong by explaining how I have benefited to the government. I wrote a long letter to the Prime Minister of China, and I signed my own name, workplace, address and so on in the letter.
When the authorities found out about me I was detained for a night. Two guards monitored me. I told them about the benefits I had received after I began cultivating Falun Gong and showed them the fifth exercise. Normally, I had to push my knees to sit in the lotus position, but I was surprised how easy it was for me that time. Afterwards, I realized that it was Master who had encouraged and helped me. I wanted to protect Master and the Fa.
Going to Tiananmen Square to Validate the Fa
Practitioners came from all over the country to Tiananmen Square to appeal on behalf of Falun Dafa. On June 24, 2000, I told my wife that I had some things I needed to do, but that I would go to Tiananmen Square to appeal for Falun Dafa once I had finished doing those chores. But my wife said, "What are you waiting for? You can go right now." I understood that those were Master's words coming through my wife's mouth. So, I decided to go to Beijing right away. I took paper to write, "Falun Dafa Is Good, Master Li Is Good." And I took a copy of Zhuan Falun for my trip to Tiananmen Square.
In the afternoon on the second day, there were a lot of police cars on Tiananmen Square.
The police officers were standing in a circle. The mood on the Square was gruesome. I stood and waited for other practitioners. After a while, I saw there was no one else and then I thought, "What can I do? What am I still waiting for?" I immediately decided to do what I had to do. I put the paper on which I had written, "Falun Dafa Is Good, Master Li Is Good" on the ground in front of me and sat in the lotus position. All my thoughts disappeared, and I then reaffirmed my belief in Master Li and Falun Dafa.
I sat down to do the fifth exercise and stretched out my hands. I heard cars coming straight towards me, but I continued doing the fifth exercise. Afterwards, a police officer pulled me to my feet and scolded me. The officer said, "I know that Falun Gong is good, but you can do it in your home and no one will know." I replied, "I use this method to show Falun Gong is good. Our Master is the best." I was taken into the police car and illegally imprisoned with other practitioners. Later, I noticed differences between practitioners when we recited together.
Validating the Fa in a Detention Center
After I went to Beijing to stand up for Dafa, I wrote some truth-clarification materials to help people understand the truth about Falun Gong. I worked hard and wrote day and night. I wrote more than 80 copies in one day. I changed my handwriting because I was afraid that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would recognize it, but this thought was a strong attachment.
I was sent to a detention center because of the handwriting on those truth-clarification materials in late 2003. The prisoners tried to get me to sign a guarantee statement, promising not to cultivate. I refused, and answered them by telling them about the lies by the CCP that appeared on television. They then wrote Master's name on the ground and told me to tramp on it. I refused and used my hand to erase Master's name.
Then they moved me to a monitored room. The head of prisoners likes to beat people there, but he not only told the other prisoners not to hit me, he gave me no work to do, so I sent forth righteous thoughts during this time.
While I was detained I did not obey the CCP officers. CCP officials ordered the detention center staff to brainwash me, but I did not succumb. I sent forth righteous thoughts every day and silently asked for Master's help. One day I thought, "I cannot stay here any more. I should go out to clarify the truth about Falun Gong." I started a hunger strike to protest my persecution. The head of the prisoners tried to get me to eat, saying, "You should you eat something, you could get sick from this." But I replied, "I am fine, it's okay." Five days later, the detention center told my family that they could take me home the following day.
Once again I could feel Mater's compassionate protection and the burden I placed on him over the hunger strike. I often feel hungry and uncomfortable if I do not have every meal, but I did not feel hungry during the hunger strike. It was a very comfortable feeling. It must be incredible for human beings. Master helped me through this burden because of my firm determination to practice Falun Dafa.
Keeping Righteous Thoughts and Breaking Through the Persecution
I was afraid to distribute truth-clarification materials. Instead, I sent the materials downtown and to the countryside by mail. As time passed, my attachment to this fear weakened, but I considered that it was bound to be repeated, so I put truth-clarification materials in a packet and taped them to the front door of every building and family home.
It was easy to send the materials downtown and into the countryside and villages around me. But a person who did not understand the truth about Falun Gong reported me to the authorities. I was sent to the village committee and they took 80 copies of materials from me and sent me to a Public Security Department.
I clarified the truth about Falun Gong when I walked with the officers. I told them about the changes in me after practicing Falun Gong. They did not write anything down but when I had finished they ordered me to sign a paper, but I refused. I told them that they were wrong to take me there. They had no idea and walked out of the office. I was not afraid and my emotions were very stable. It was about noon. The police officer took me to the front door to my awaiting family.
I was at the Public Security Department for more than two hours before I was released. I was surprised, but I thought,
"There is no affect between master and disciple
The Buddha's grace remolds Heaven and Earth
When disciples have ample righteous thoughts
Master has the power to turn back the tide"
("The Master-Disciple Bond" from Hong Yin II, translation version A)
Immediately I felt Master's compassionate protection. Master will do everything for disciples if we follow only the Fa, and don't acknowledge the evil's commands. Why are we afraid? If we do the three things well and save sentient beings, we do not need to worry about anything at all.
Looking Inside and Improving to Better Save Sentient Beings
In October 2007, police officers confiscated some property from my house. They had waited for me until after seven o'clock at night. I avoided arrest thanks of Master's compassionate protection.
I normally don't go out much, but that day I decided to leave my home. In the afternoon, I took a message about a practitioner who had been illegally arrested and his property confiscated, and I thought I should notify other practitioners. Normally it did not take long to do this. But I had to wait a long time for the bus that time. I thus avoided being arrested, but I left home for a while to avoid further persecution.
Looking inside I enlightened to something. I had not followed Master with regard to the three withdrawals statements (withdrawing from the Communist Party, the Communist Youth League, and the Young Pioneers). I just told the facts to close friends, former classmates, and coworkers, and this had a great effect on having them quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. But I clarified less to coworkers and leaders in my surrounding areas. My real attachment was to self-protection.
If you work diligently, you will meet someone Master has arranged for you to meet. I have had some experiences with this. Once I had something to do, and I made a request in front of Master's portrait before I went out, saying, "I hope I meet someone who has a predestined relationship with me. I will clarify the truth and help the person quit the CCP." I later met a person I used to work with. He was with six other people and they wanted me to join them. I knew they were waiting for me to speak the truth about Falun Gong. Half an hour later, most of them understood the true situation of Falun Gong.
As I walked and neared my destination I met a former coworker. I clarified the truth about Falun Gong. Then I met two more people...
On my way my home, I clarified the truth to a person who had worked on my house seven years earlier. I had clarified the truth to ten people and I had done something I should do. I understand that if we remain centered in the Fa, keeping the goal of Fa rectification in mind and follow Master, then our great and compassionate Master will show and arrange something for us.
"I say that because during the journey you will have hardships, tests of every sort, unforeseen ordeals, and you will have unexpected interference from all kinds of attachments and emotion." ("Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference")
I am suffering through an ordeal now. But I remember what Master said,
"Whatever you experience during your cultivation--whether good or bad--is good, for it comes about only because you are cultivating." ("To the Chicago Fa Conference")
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!
Heshi.
