(Clearwisdom.net) My mother, Li Changqin, was a gentle and compassionate person, and I am very proud of her. She felt so honored when she started to practice Falun Dafa in 1997. She lived her life in accordance with Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and always tried to be a good mother as well as a good person. She suffered greatly as a result of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecution and was imprisoned and in a forced labor camp. She died on January 18, 2009, only 52 years old.
I remember one day in 1997, she paid a visit to a friend from her workplace, and this person told her about the goodness of Falun Dafa. With the help from this co-worker, she started to practice Falun Gong. My mother went to the practice site and did the exercises with other practitioners each morning. After she returned home, she explained to my father and me how unique and profound Dafa is and how much she benefited from practicing Falun Gong. She told us the principles and the criteria to become a better person, and how to cultivate until we reach consummation and return to our original homes. My father and I deeply believe in Falun Dafa, as it is the righteous Fa that can guide us to return to our true homes and selves.
Thereafter, day after day and year after year, my mother happily went to the practice site to do the exercises and shared her experiences with fellow practitioners. After work, she used her spare time to promote the goodness of Falun Dafa to her co-workers and friends. At night, she went to the home of another practitioner to study the Fa.
In July 20, 1999, the CCP started its vicious suppression of Falun Gong and its practitioners. They used imprisonment, torture, and forced labor and also fabricated evidence. They used lies and rumors to deceive its own citizens as well as everyone around the world. Was it Falun Gong's fault? No, it wasn't! All of humankind should have the right to a personal belief. Where was the "human rights and freedom of belief" that CCP officials advocated? Actually, Jiang's group has used villainous means to persecute Falun Gong and to maintain its own political power.
My mother journeyed to Beijing four times to try to petition on behalf of Falun Gong. One time, conditions suddenly changed, and my mother and the other practitioners had to walk from Yutian County, Hebei Province, to get to a Beijing suburb near Sanhe City, Hebei Province, and then ride public transportation to Beijing. So many practitioners were petitioning, but the CCP officials not only didn't change their standpoint, but instead intensified the persecution, which caused a great many practitioners to become destitute and homeless. It has caused so much sorrow and the breakup of so many families. Many practitioners were unable to return to their homes.
In July 2001, my mother and other practitioners went to Beijing again to appeal. She was arrested by officials from the Beijing Police Station and detained for one month. After being released, my mother continued to do her exercise routine, studied the Fa, and went out to tell people about the injustice being visited upon Falun Gong. In May 2002, my mother was arrested by police officials in Laoguanbo Township, Huludao City, Liaoning Province, and sentenced to a three year term in a forced labor camp.
While imprisoned in Masanjia Women's Forced Labor Camp in Shenyang City, my mother suffered from severe tortures and hardships. I paid several visits to the camp; her hair had turned gray and her face was thin and pale. Whenever she saw me, she smiled and said, "Son, you have come to visit. I am unable to look after you, so make sure to wear warm clothes and take care of yourself, so I don't have to worry about you. Always remember, 'Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.'" Living without my mother for three years seemed like ten years.
On April 13, 2005, the sky cleared and a mild wind blew. I was especially happy knowing that my mother was coming home. I felt anxious and excited while I waited at the bus station. When my mother got out of the bus, I was shocked! Was that my mother? With such a thin body, gray hair, and pale face, she had aged greatly. I took her suitcase and we went home. When we got home, I told her all the things that had happened to me over the years while she was in the camp.
Afterwards, she just smiled and said, "All things have already been arranged. Treat the bad things as good things and the good things as good, and everything will pass." After that, we lived a simple life as usual; mother went out everyday to do the exercises, studied the Fa, and did truth clarification by telling people about the misconceptions of Falun Gong.
My mother's health deteriorated quickly due to years of unceasing persecution and harassment by CCP officials. Her situation got worse day by day. When she climbed the steps to our apartment, she usually had to rest two or three times. Some mornings she even spit up blood. She died at 2:00 a.m. on January 18, 2008, leaving many friends and relatives that cared so much about her.
My mother has gone to eternity, has left this earth and returned to the place where she belongs. I will silently pray for her with blessings. In the meantime, I will be steadfast and continue to walk on the cultivation path that she once walked on.
Finally, I sincerely would like to say, "Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!"
6/21/2009
