(Clearwisdom.net) After Falun Dafa was introduced to the public in 1992, in a short few years, it spread throughout China like wildfire. Those with predestined relationships "come one after another, entering the Dao and obtaining the Fa. " ("Enlightenment," Essentials for Further Advancement) I would like to share a few cultivation stories before the persecution began in 1999 to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the introduction of Falun Dafa to the public.

1. A person with a spinal injury rode a bicycle

Those who began practicing in the early 1990s knew that Master used supernormal abilities to heal many illnesses in order to introduce people to Falun Dafa. People with serious heart diseases, cancer, and high blood pressure all returned to health. A person who was paralyzed from the waist down was able to stand up on the spot. His family members were so grateful they bowed on the ground and refused to get up. Those who saw it all said that Master was a living Buddha. Many of these incidents have been recorded elsewhere.

Such miracles also occurred at our group practice site. A person's spine was injured so he had been on bed rest for six or seven years. He had seen many doctors who were unable to help him. As a last resort, he began practicing Falun Gong. The practitioners at the practice site all encouraged and helped him. After cultivating for a few days, he was able to stand up and walk. We were all moved by Master and Dafa's great mercy.

His family members wept with joy. They brought a bicycle and asked him to ride it to show everyone in the village the miracle of Falun Dafa. Pretty soon, everyone in the area had heard the news. Some people went to his home just to see him in person. When they saw with their own eyes how he had recovered, more and more people wanted to practice Falun Dafa. Many new practice sites emerged. At the practice sites, there were new practitioners almost every day.

2. Long-held grudges dissolved

There were two practitioners at the same practice site. Before cultivation, there were a lot of conflicts between their families due to business dealings. After a while, deep grudges developed between the families. The families did not even speak to each other for a long time.

Fortunately, these two people both became practitioners. At the site, the practitioners shared with each other often, and their xinxing improved. They realized that the ability to look inward is the fundamental difference between a cultivator and an ordinary person. The Fa principles opened their minds. Through studying the Fa and sharing together, the two practitioners dissolved their conflicts. Others who witnessed it were also in awe of the tolerance and integrity the Fa brought to its practitioners.

Master said,

"Since such an immense Fa is being taught in human society, think about how remarkably easy it is to assimilate one person. Let me draw a most simple analogy: If a piece of sawdust drops into a furnace of molten steel, it will vanish in a twinkling. It would be effortless for an immense Fa such as ours to assimilate a person like you, to eliminate your karma, to remove your improper thoughts, and so forth."("Lecture at the First Conference in North America")

My understanding is that any shortcoming and attachment of ours is like a piece of sawdust. As long as we want to change, everything will be rectified in the Fa. This is the power of Dafa.

3. A practitioner offers help to impoverished students

Another practitioner had been a schoolteacher for over 20 years. The heavy workload wrecked her health and she was suffering neck pains, back pains, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other illnesses. The physical pains also affected her work.

She became a practitioner in 1996. Shortly after, all her illnesses were gone. She learned what it meant to be completely healthy again. From her personal experience, she told others the benefits of the practice. Meanwhile, she was able to be a more dedicated teacher because of her new-found energy and health.

One day, she heard that an impoverished student from the mountain areas had to drop out of school due to a change in his family situation. The student was looking for help in order to return to school. When she heard about it, she took 500 yuan out of her own paycheck to mail to the agency that was facilitating assistance to this boy. When the agency employees asked her for her name and address, she told them she was a Falun Gong practitioner. She said with sincerity, "Master teaches us to be selfless, kind to others, and not to care about personal gains. That's why I did this." The next day, the newspaper reported that this student was able to return to school thanks to an anonymous donor who was a Falun Gong practitioner.

Actually, this practitioner was not rich herself, either. Her parents were peasants, and she had a lot of other expenses. Even after the persecution started and she was forced to leave her post as a teacher, she was still willing to help others. Once, she ran into a student who lived in a far-away town. He spent all his money on medical bills and had no money to go home. He was just standing there, weeping. The practitioner brought 300 yuan immediately to assist the student.

These are but a few true snapshots of Falun Gong practitioners who benefited both physically and mentally from the practice. As we celebrate the tenth World Falun Dafa Day, we still recall the days when practitioners were able to practice in public in large numbers. Thanks to the upright teachings, "The Buddha light illuminates everywhere and rectifies all abnormalities." Everywhere in China, society was renewed and people regained their sense of morality. From the microscopic to the cosmic, everything was vibrant with a new energy.

Then the persecution happened. Countless practitioners guarded the Fa with their firm faith. In their efforts to end the persecution, they have clarified the facts widely so that more and more people can see the truth about the persecution and the true nature of the Chinese Communist Party.

The dawn is near. No matter what evil means the government employs, it is unable to change disciples' strong faith in Master and in Dafa. The persecution is not able to break our determination to cultivate. "Never in history has someone who persecuted those with upright faiths ever succeeded."("Coercion Cannot Change People's Hearts," Essentials for Further Advancement II) Today, let us cherish this historic opportunity and do well the three things. This is the only way we can be deserving of Master's compassionate salvation. This is the only way we can live up to Master's teachings.

On Master's 58^th birthday and the tenth World Falun Dafa Day, as a disciple, I sincerely wish Master a happy birthday.