(Minghui.org) I was orphaned at a young age, and I am now 67 years old. I was previously illiterate and in poor health, but I am now able to read, easily learn new skills and enjoy good health, all thanks to practicing Falun Gong.
Although my wife and daughter were practicing Falun Gong, I did not start cultivating in Falun Gong until April 5, 1999, because I did not want to give up alcohol.
A practitioner advised my wife to put up a poster with instructions on how to perform the five sets of exercises, to help motivate me to learn the exercises. After finishing chores, I often followed the instructions while waiting for my wife and daughter to return home from a practice site. I stopped the instant I heard them return.
During my first attempt at meditation, I was able to sit for half an hour. The heat flowing up and down my body felt incredibly comforting. This went on for a while. One day, while deep in the sitting meditation, my wife and daughter caught me doing the exercises!
My Body Was Cleansed
I used to love drinking alcohol, and was very proud of my well-stocked wine cabinet, filled with various alcoholic beverages and drinking accessories. I had even decorated my wine cabinet with colorful lights. Two days after she found me practicing the exercises, I spotted my wife inspecting the cabinet with a critical eye. When I asked why she was doing so, my wife replied, “I am trying to determine if this wine cabinet is a good place.”
“What for?” I asked.
“It is an ideal spot to place Master Li’s (the founder of Falun Gong) picture,” she replied. My wife retrieved Master’s picture from a locked storage box. Impressed by Master’s handsome features, I could not resist hugging the picture tightly in my arms.
I then disposed of everything in the cabinet. Afraid that her request had roused my anger, my wife tried to stop me. “I will not be drinking in future,” I explained, “So, why should I keep all these? It is much better to use the cabinet to store Master’s picture!” I have not had a drink with alcohol since then.
Every morning my wife stood before Master’s picture, silently bringing her palms together with her eyes closed. Although uncertain of the meaning behind this, I mimicked my wife’s actions with respect for Master in my heart. Soon after, I felt a rotating sensation throughout my body. Only after reading the Fa did I realize Master had cleansed my body.
From Illiteracy to Literacy
The first time I visited the exercise site was after attending my yangko dance (folk dance) group session. Dressed in full yangko dance regalia, including colored shawls and a fan, I told practitioners at the practice site, “I would like to practice.” One practitioner taught me the sitting meditation. Practitioners were amazed at how quickly I had picked up the exercise movements, until I explained that I had been practicing at home.
It rained the following day, hence my wife, daughter and elder sister decided to read Zhuan Falun at home. As I was illiterate, I sat beside them, listening intently. However, I was overcome by intense drowsiness. Afraid that my drowsy state would disturb them, I decided to take a nap. While half asleep, I felt a force hit my head. This happened twice, but neither my wife or I could explain it.
The rain continued, and they continued to read Zhuan Falun. I listened until the drowsiness drove me to bed. This time, a force tugged painfully at my eyelids, only stopping after I woke up and got out of bed. My wife told me that Master was hinting that I study the Fa.
During the next yangko dance session, my arm felt strangely weak, and I was unable to lift my fan. I decided to quit the yangko dance sessions and participate in the Fa study sessions.
Gradually, I began to recognize the words in Zhuan Falun and slowly gained the ability to read. Now, I am able to read all Falun Gong books.
Falun Gong Opened My Wisdom
After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began persecuting Falun Gong, fellow practitioners began to participate in Fa-rectification activities.
Nine practitioners decided to learn equipment repair techniques at my home. These techniques were essential for repair and maintenance of equipment used in our truth clarification work.
I provided food, and I had to clean up after the meal, so I was late in joining the activities. I thought, ‘If Master could open my wisdom, I would be able to catch up easily.” Master must have heard my plea, for I started learning and remembering the techniques much faster and caught up with everyone else.
Reduced Sentence for Believing in Falun Gong
I was illegally arrested during the winter of 2013 and was taken to a detention center. Police at the facility chained me to an iron chair for 33 hours, depriving me of food, drink and warm clothes. However, I felt warm and well, although my guard complained of the cold despite wearing a down jacket.
I looked inwards and realized that I was wrong to blindly follow the orders by the guards instead of the Fa. My actions had caused trouble for Master. I apologized and asked Master to rescue me. I then saw Master's fashen standing by my side, examining me. Seconds later, the iron shackles sprang open.
I continued to practice the exercises in the detention center. Four of my fellow detainees were imprisoned for murder. A murderer was permanently shackled to fifteen kilograms (thirty-three pounds) of iron chains. Before he fell asleep next to me at night, I talked to him about Falun Gong. I also advised him to quit the CCP, so that he would not be harmed when the time came for the CCP to face retribution for its evil deeds.
“If you recite 'Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” every day, your death sentence will be overturned” I told him.
Amazed, he asked, “Really?”
“Of course,” I confidently replied. Within half a month, the prison guards lightened his chains to two kilograms (4.4 pounds).
A new detainee who was a drug addict, once day joined us. He told us he was unable to bathe in cold water because he would suffer severe headaches and joint pain afterwards. I told him, "Abusing drugs can change people into ghosts. Learn Falun Gong: it can cure you.” Other inmates greeted my statement with laughter of disbelief until I told them to stop laughing. Surprised, they calmed down and listened as I told them about the goodness of Falun Gong.
I told them the story about the murderer whose iron weights had been reduced. He corroborated my story, and he told them that Falun Gong was protecting him.
I told the inmates that I would be released home that day. Naturally, my words were also met with disbelief. At 7:00 p.m. guards announced that I was free to return home.
All inmates burst into tears. One inmate exclaimed: “You have treated us kindly. You taught us how to be good people and even used the money your family sent to buy food for us. We will search for practitioners when we are released and start practicing Falun Gong!”
The guard also praised my good character. Before leaving, I instructed him to frequently repeat “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!”
