(Clearwisdom.net) I am a veteran practitioner who started practicing Falun Gong in 1995. Over the years, with Teacher's compassionate help and care, I have gradually rectified myself and learned how to walk on the path to divinity.
Today I heard somebody say that "none of the practitioners who were taken to brainwashing centers could get out with righteous thoughts." I felt that this was a deviated idea. On the contrary, many practitioners in Wuhan were able to leave brainwashing centers and other evil places because of their righteous thoughts. Based on my personal experience, if practitioners have strong righteous thoughts, steadfastly believe in Teacher and the Fa, and relinquish their attachments and have heartfelt compassion to save people, they can leave those evil places. The following is my personal experience. Fellow practitioners, please kindly point out anything that is improper.
In September 2008, a local computer school was illegally closed. About five practitioners who used to work there were arrested. I worked there before and know a young teacher who came to Wuhan from another city. I used to take care of him because he was living away from his family. One day he was also arrested. His parents were really worried and called me for help. I promised that I would do what I could to get him out. For a long time, I thought that my righteous thoughts were quite strong, so I went to the district court house and 610 Office by myself. However, I was arrested and taken to the local brainwashing center.
On the way to the brainwashing center, I thought to myself, "I have strong righteous thoughts, so why was I arrested? Why was sending forth righteous thoughts not able to suppress the evil?" I calmed down and started to look inward for hidden attachments. I realized that I had a sentimental attachment to the young teacher. I treated him like he was my son. Other people said that he was my adopted son. His parents also considered me his adopted mother. But I didn't provide enough guidance to him to improve himself in cultivation. I also found that I had the mentality of showing off. I thought I had strong righteous thoughts. So without consulting with the local coordinator, I went to the 610 Office and the courthouse by myself. I wanted to show that I was strong and not fearful. After identifying these and other attachments, I sent forth righteous thoughts and asked Teacher to help further strengthen my righteous thoughts, eliminate the evil in other dimensions, and eradicate the evil factors that controlled the people who were sending me to the brainwashing center.
At the brainwashing center, I clarified the facts about Falun Gong to collaborators (former practitioners who have turned against Falun Gong under brainwashing and torture) and police officers, and told them why they should stop participating in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
One day I told the head of the 610 Office that I should be allowed to go home. He said: "Write a statement (promising to stop practicing Falun Gong), and we'll let you go home." I thought to myself: "I should write something to clear up their misconceptions about Falun Gong. Knowing the truth will help them understand the importance of stopping the persecution." In my statement I wrote about how I started to practice Falun Gong; how Dafa purified my body and my mind, allowing me to regain good health and become a better person; how Jiang Zemin and the CCP lied to people about Falun Gong; how they started the persecution, and how the persecution has brought disaster to the Chinese people. I gave them what I had written. One policeman said: "What is this?" I said: "This is my statement. Practicing Falun Gong made me a better person. I am full of hope and optimism about life. Jiang Zemin and the CCP want to destroy all the good things." He didn't refute what I said.
That night, I had a dream in which I was sleeping in bed, and many people surrounded me. One person said: "Only when you let go of human notions can you walk on the path of divinity." I recited this sentence and woke up. I remembered that this is what Teacher said in the the video "Fa Teaching Given to the Australian Practitioners." I realized that Teacher was giving me a hint. I looked inward to find my human notions and attachments. I found that I was not very brave when clarifying the truth to people. I had deeply hidden fears, and this was a reflection of my selfishness. I still had sentimental attachments, the mentality of fighting, showing off, etc. I was determined to get rid of all these human notions and attachments.
Two days after I found these attachments, I had severe pain in my stomach. It was so bad that I couldn't help rolling around on my bed. At first, the police at the brainwashing center thought I was faking it in order to get released. When I started throwing up, they realized that I was truly sick. They wanted to send me to the hospital to get intravenous fluids and medicine. I refused to go to the hospital and told them I should go home. The next day, a person there said to me: "Just write a statement quickly. I guarantee that you will be released in five minutes. If you don't do it, they will transfer you to the provincial brainwashing center where the policemen are violent." I thought to myself: "What you said does not count. I am a Dafa practitioner. My Teacher decides what happens to me. I will go home." One day later, I was sent home.
Through this incident, I truly understand that as long as every single thought and act are based on the Fa, as long as I enlighten to the Fa from the Fa, believe in Teacher and the Fa, remove human attachments and selfishness, and treat myself as a true practitioner, Teacher will help and guide my cultivation. Teacher said: "Cultivation is up to you, gong is up to the master." (Zhuan Falun)
Teacher is compassionate, but I shouldn't relax in cultivation and hold on to human notions and attachments. I want to reach Consummation under Teacher's guidance.
