(Clearwisdom.net) I started practicing Falun Gong in 2004 and want to report some of my cultivation experiences to Master and fellow practitioners.
Something good came out of something bad--how I obtained Dafa
I was laid off from work in 2003 and went to work as a manager for my mother, a realtor. My duties included collecting money from developers. In February 2004 I got into an argument with a developer when I demanded the money he owed us and impulsively ordered subordinates to attack the developer, injuring him. I was arrested and taken to a detention center, where I was held for 28 days.
One night a Falun Gong practitioner was brought into my cell. Interestingly, she happened to be my next-door neighbor, and my husband was her boss. I knew from my husband that she was a good person and how she was persecuted, but I could not understand why she refused to give up Falun Gong. At that time I did not care about Falun Gong, so I only casually chatted with her. I liked to read, and she liked to do the exercises, so we each did our own things. Three days passed, and one day, the light in our cell went out at night, so I could not read. I had no choice but to talk with her.
Since we were acquaintances, we spoke about everything, from husbands to children and work. In the end, we talked about Falun Gong. Following the conversation I felt I understood a little about it. The next day, a guard brought light bulbs, but of the three he tried, without exception, all of them exploded. With nothing else to do, the next evening we talked some more. I completely understood her. She wrote down Master Li's poem "An Upright Person" and I memorized it. I recited it when I woke up in the middle of the night and could not fall asleep, and my heart felt much lighter.
The guard checked the wiring two days later since changing light bulbs did not work. The wiring was good, so he assumed it would work at night but it still did not. The practitioner sharing my cell got ready to do the sitting meditation, and I asked her whether her legs hurt. She said it hurt when she first got started, but it no longer did. When she saw me sitting in bed with my legs crossed, she said my legs were level and I could probably go straight to the full lotus position. I became interested and asked her to help me. She gently pulled my left leg on top of my right leg and then told me to close my eyes and touch my upper palate with the tip of my tongue. I did, and at that moment I felt the most tender and relaxing feeling in my life, almost as if I had forgotten about myself. It was a feeling beyond words, but, in fact, it was a manifestation of Master's greatness and compassion.
I immediately felt I had found the way, Falun Dafa, to transcend the miseries of this world. A strong thought emerged, "I want to cultivate Falun Dafa!" Now I know why I often asked deep in my heart, "What is the meaning of life?" I had found the answer. My eyes are brimming with tears as I write these words. Master, I have finally found you! You are dearer to me than my family! When I was determined to practice Falun Dafa the light came back on the fourth day. I realized Master did so much for me, a disciple who is lost in this world. I began studying the Fa and doing the exercises.
Overcoming barriers
After I left the detention center I secretly studied the Fa and did the exercises, and I conducted myself according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. My family was upset about my incarceration. My mother hit me and blamed me for not dealing with it in an appropriate way, and my husband blamed me for losing face for him and refused to speak to me for several months. I was frustrated and studied the Fa a lot, which set a solid foundation for passing future tests. One might encounter tribulations in any area when one wants to cultivate, and mine came from family, from work, and from other sources.
I kept my doing the exercises a secret from my family, especially my husband, fearing their disapproval. The woman who taught me the exercises worked at the same place as my husband. He tried to avoid Falun Gong after seeing what had happened to her. One day my mother-in-law stumbled upon my books and exercise tapes and told my husband about it. He telephoned me and demanded I return home immediately. His voice was shaking with anger. I had a premonition that a tornado was going to hit, and I tried my best to remain calm as I stepped in the door. Although my husband screamed at me, I only said, "I want to be a good person," and then just let him vent. Seeing that I did not respond, he grew quiet and went to bed and snored soon after, as if nothing had happened. I knew that Master saw I could endure, so he endured it for me. The evil manipulated my husband, just as Master said,
"So, with our good thoughts, everything we've done to validate the Fa and expose the evil has shown our disciples' magnificence and mercy. Meanwhile, we have to eliminate the evil things, period, because they damage the cosmos and damage sentient beings." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2001 Canada Fa Conference", Guiding the Voyage)
I did not resort to confrontation and instead was kind to him. When we visited my mother during the 2005 Chinese New Year, Master tested me through my mother, who asked me in front of my husband whether or not I would continue to practice Falun Gong. I said without hesitation, "Yes." My husband's face changed instantly, but I remained calm. After we got home, he burned my Falun Gong books and exercise tapes. I felt horrible after I learned about it, but I did not get angry with him. Then he refused to speak to me for more than five months and acted as if I did not exist. I thought this was an excellent opportunity to remove my desire to lust and emotions. He eventually gave up, and I passed this test. Yet it was not the end of my tribulations.
One night in 2006 my husband came home, his face flushed from drinking, and demanded to know whether I had spoken with our daughter about Falun Gong. He said the police were looking for me, and he wanted to kick me out. I remained calm, and our daughter screamed and cried, saying she would never let him kick me out of our home. He immediately grew quiet. I tried to comfort her and told her not to cry and said I would not easily move out. He knew he was wrong and went to sleep. Soon he began snoring. I know it is just as Master said,
"It is real anger from the bottom of her heart, because whoever has acquired the karma feels uncomfortable. It is guaranteed to be this way." (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun, 2000 translation version)
I remained calm. When I went to work the next day I thought I should speak with him more and clarify certain things with him, but he refused to listen. I sent him a cell phone text message in which I said, "I don't blame you for anything, because I know it's hard for you, too. I will agree with any decision you make, but I will not bring you any trouble, because I am a good person who lives according Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. If anything happens to me, [don't worry about me because] it's just as if I died." I felt huge relief after sending it. He completely changed and spoke to me in a kind voice. He never interfered with my Dafa work again.
Explaining the facts--Dafa gives me wisdom
After I began to practice Falun Gong in the detention center, I told the woman who taught me the exercises that we should first tell people about Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance before we mention Falun Gong. Once people acknowledge these principles, we can gradually tell them about Falun Gong, since they are universal principles.
The Communist Party never dares to admit that Falun Gong speaks of Truthfulness- Compassion-Forbearance, and it demonizes Falun Gong publicly. If people would acknowledge the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the negative information in their heads would be eliminated bit-by-bit, since Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is the Fa.
When she said Master was using me to remind her of this, I felt Dafa had opened my wisdom. For the past five years I have done the same thing when explaining Falun Gong to people, which has proven to work, and a lot of precious people were saved. I have formed the habit of speaking with strangers as well as acquaintances.
The above are only some of my experiences. My gratitude toward Master is truly overwhelming. Please point out anything inappropriate.
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners! Heshi.
