(Clearwisdom.net) Having had poor health in the past, I was depressed and troubled. In order to find a way to relieve the pain, I read the Bible, Dao De Jing, and other books. I was particularly interested in Dao De Jing. I didn't just read it, I memorized the book. However, I still had many questions and didn't know how to cultivate. Feeling that I was born in a bad time and didn't live in the period of sages who came down to save people, I was filled with regret.
Attaining the Fa and cultivating in immense joy
In the early summer of 1996, someone gave me a book called Zhuan Falun. I read it and felt it was what I had been searching for many years! I never imagined having such good fortune to be able to form the predestined relationship with Master and the universal Dafa of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Shortly after learning the practice, I became the assistant in my area. From that moment on, Fa-study, exercises, and Fa promotion were my biggest joy of each day. I got up before 4:00 a.m. everyday and went to the group exercise site with my audio player, waiting for practitioners to come to do the exercises. After eating dinner, I went to the group Fa-study site ahead of time to prepare. After a period of cultivation, I had no illnesses and my body felt light. In addition to that, I became open-hearted, without worry or depression. I felt I was the happiest man in the world.
In order to benefit more people, I gave Dafa books to many of my acquaintances. I bought a video player to help people with studying the Fa and learning the exercises. When I saw new practitioners continuously joining in and all of us striving forward diligently, I was very happy. Studying the Fa, memorizing the Fa, believing in Master, and believing in the Fa--this period of diligence built a strong foundation for my later cultivation.
Safeguarding the Fa is Dafa practitioner's duty
On July 20, 1999, the CCP began persecuting Dafa practitioners without restraint. I knew then that I must safeguard Dafa, so I decided to go to Beijing to appeal.
During my first trip to Beijing, I was caught at the train station. The authorities sent me back and illegally detained me at my workplace for several days. I took that lesson on a superficial level and felt that walking to Beijing would be better. It would be harder for the authorities to catch me. I decided to walk to Beijing and to stay overnight outside rather than in a hotel to save money and also for safety. I bought two big plastic sheets: one I would lay underneath me as a pad for sleeping, the other would be a cover. I planned to leave on April 5, 2000, of the Chinese lunar calender. The afternoon before my trip, another practitioner came and wanted to go with me. I was happy to have some company.
After having lunch on April 5, we began our journey to Beijing to safeguard the Fa. Reciting Hong Yin while taking to the road, we walked about 25 kilometers. The first day, the other practitioner's feet had blisters and he couldn't walk anymore. The next day, we had no choice but to take a long-distance bus, but everything went unexpectedly well. We arrived in Beijing the same day. On the journey, we met a male practitioner from another county. We felt that, although staying in a hotel would be more comfortable, it would also be easier to get caught. It was very difficult to reach Beijing, and we had to fulfill the purpose for coming. At night, we decided to sleep in the fields. The two big plastic sheets I brought helped a lot. Three of us lay on one sheet and used the other sheet as a cover. The early April night in Beijing was still cool, but we slept very well.
Just as I expected, on the night of April 7, the authorities conducted a wide search. Many practitioners who stayed in hotels were arrested before getting to Tiananmen Square. April 8 of the lunar calendar year was Master's birthday. After we had breakfast, we went to Tiananmen Square to validate the Fa and fulfill our purpose.
Police officers from my county arrested both of us and other practitioners who had come to Beijing to safeguard the Fa. We were instructed to sign our names and then be delivered to the detention center. When it was my turn to sign, I said that I did not commit any crime, so I refused to sign. They wanted to handcuff me. I thought that if I did not even fear death, why should I fear being handcuffed? I extended both of my hands to them. They looked shocked. One leader said, "It's all right." They stopped trying to handcuff me or forcing me to sign my name.
At the detention center, I recited the Fa, did the exercises, and clarified the truth as usual. In order to stop me from doing the exercises, they tied my hands and feet with a chain to my bed for three days and nights. After the chain was loosened, I did the exercises as usual. Then they handcuffed my hands to the window bar. After they opened the lock, I continued to do the exercises. They used those methods on me for a long time before leaving me alone. I knew that it was Master who helped me win out and overcome these difficulties.
Clarifying the truth, helping people to withdraw from the CCP, saving sentient beings
Clarifying the truth and persuading people to withdraw from the wicked Communist Party are done for the purpose of saving sentient beings that have been poisoned or harmed by the evil. They are significant responsibilities, so Master requires us to do them well. During the first couple of years, we lacked truth-clarifying materials. My communication skills weren't good, and I didn't like talking, so I wrote things down. When I accumulated enough materials, I would go out to distribute them. One night I was in a village distributing materials, and the patrol caught me. They didn't know the truth about Dafa and held my arms tightly. They shouted some nonsense, and I yelled, "Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!" I also seized that opportunity to clarify the truth. I said, "All the people here are like family to me, and I am following Master's guidance to save you all." Once I said that, they released me and told me to leave quickly to avoid being seen by the police. I walked dozens of meters, made three circles, and went back. I continued to distribute materials until it was dawn. When I got home, it was 2:00 a.m.
Later I realized my shortcomings. I had been going out alone more and not coordinating much with other practitioners as one body. As the Fa-rectification process moved forward, more and more materials became available. I changed my old ways of doing things and paid more attention to coordinating with other practitioners. I did what I could in handing out materials, clarifying the truth face to face, and helping people withdraw from the CCP. Sometimes, I went to the market to clarify the truth. The more I did it, the more I felt comfortable doing it. I learned many lessons and accumulated experience along the way. When I encountered problems or hurdles, I didn't became discouraged. I sent forth righteous thoughts more and looked within. When things went smoothly, I didn't grow complacent, but realized that it was all because of Dafa's mighty power taking effect and Master's assistance. All we did were things on the surface. Compared to other practitioners, I fall short in many ways and must put in more effort to catch up.
Openly and nobly cultivating until the end
Studying the Fa, especially memorizing the Fa, benefited me a lot. Sometimes I recited the Fa while walking down the street. Not only did I learn the Fa, but I didn't feel tired at all. With firm belief in Dafa and Master, I never wavered in those years of hardship, no matter what tribulation or difficulty I faced.
My monthly salary in the past never fell below 2,000 yuan. But since the year 2000, because I insisted on cultivating Dafa, the authorities instructed my company to stop paying me. I didn't take it to heart. I was immersed in Dafa, and money is nothing compared to what I attained. Besides, with good physical health, I was able to make a living with my own hands.
In this material world, everybody pursues money. Many of them didn't understand me. The leaders of my company often said that as long as I promised not to practice Falun Gong, they would give me my pay. My families and friends also urged me, "You can just say that you won't practice anymore and get your salary. Then you can practice at home in secret. Won't that be all right?" I replied, "My salary is a payment for my long years of service to society. They should pay me regardless. It is a citizen's rights. Looking back in history, both inside and outside China, many honorable men preferred honor to life. Today, true Dafa disciples use their lives to safeguard the universal way of 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.' Even if they handed me all the money in this world, I wouldn't give up cultivation. Nothing in this world can move the heart of a true cultivator. The Constitution says specifically that citizens have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom to appeal for justice. These are the rights of a citizen. What's wrong with cultivating 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance?' I will cultivate openly and nobly, no need to be secretive."
I feel that, as long as I can take the Fa as teacher and be persistent in cultivating to the end, it doesn't matter how many years one has to live. Human life is short, and time flies. To have been born in China, assimilate and cultivate in Dafa, I am very fortunate. I am grateful for this precious cultivation opportunity given by Master, who has endured many hardships. I know that I haven't done enough compared to fellow practitioners. My attachments to fear and comfort, my mentality of showing off and other human notions haven't been eliminated at the root. In the future, I will study the Fa more, look within, do things according to Master's requirements, and follow Master's steps of Fa-rectification closely. The closer to the end, the more diligent I should be.
The above are only some of my experiences in cultivation. If there is anything inappropriate, please point it out.
