(Clearwisdom.net) I am a veteran practitioner who began Falun Gong cultivation in 1994. Not long after I began the exercises, my illnesses disappeared. When I continued studying the Fa and doing the exercises, I realized that qigong is not only about curing illnesses, maintaining health, and being a good person, it is cultivation practice. I decided to practice in this cultivation way. Through studying the Fa in more depth, I realized that cultivation is extremely hard and very serious. One must do things strictly in accordance with the requirements of the Fa in order to advance. Because my natural enlightenment is poor, although I studied the Fa a lot, my understanding was still very shallow. Dafa has been persecuted for seven years, and practitioners have taken action against the persecution and validated the Fa. Their stories are worthy of tears and praises in songs. However, when I looked at myself, I often felt ashamed.
On July 20, 1999, the evil forces suddenly started persecuting Dafa. Teacher was targeted for no just reason. Heavy dark clouds covered the sky, making one feel suffocated. I was really sad. Teacher once said,
"When a Fa of this magnitude is taught, how could anything be outside the arrangement? Isn't what has happened a test for Dafa disciples' xinxing? What is cultivation? When you say it's good, I say it's good, and everyone says it's good, how can you see a person's heart? Only at the critical moment can we see his heart. If he doesn't let go of certain attachments he might even dare to betray a Buddha--could this be a minor problem?"
"Some disciples said: 'What's there to fear? My body would still sit there even with my head cut off.' When you compare them it's clear at a glance how well they cultivate." ("Huge Exposure" from Essentials for Further Advancement)
Through studying the Fa in more depth, practitioners shared their understandings. They found that Dafa disciples cannot keep silent when Dafa suffers persecution. They should speak out for justice for Dafa.
I went with fellow practitioners to Beijing to appeal for justice for Falun Gong on December 10, 1999. When we returned from the trip, we were detained for one month. Later, the authorities sent us to a brainwashing center. Meanwhile, 10,000 yuan was extorted from me (around US$1250). At the brainwashing center, we had to stand in various positions for a very long time as a punishment. I was 63 years old at that time, but they forced me to stand in one position from 5:00 a.m. until midnight. In the springtime, it gets very cold after midnight, but the Chinese Communist Party officials only allowed us to wear thin clothes while lying down on the cold brick floor. Sometimes we could only take a nap while kneeling down with our backs against each other. If we woke up from the cold, we would do the exercises to stay warm. Later, the CCP officials used various methods to torture us. During those times, one day seemed like a year. We didn't think too much, but we strongly believed in Dafa and Teacher. We clarified the truth with compassion to the lawless people and told them that Dafa is good. Seven of us encouraged each other. Whenever there was time, we recited Hong Yin together. Thirty-two days later, we were released and went home.
After I went back home, CCP officials continued to make trouble. They made me write things, such as the repentance statement. Urged by human notions, I fulfilled their request with reluctance. Later, I studied a series of Teacher's articles and realized that I was submitting to the evil. I then wrote a solemn statement to erase that stain. I was also determined to walk the rest of my path with righteousness. In 2001 the authorities persecuted Falun Gong most severely. Dafa practitioners could be arrested at any time, but true cultivators did not fall from fear. They still strove forward diligently on the path of Fa-rectification.
I was once again sent to the brainwashing center in July 2001. I realized that surface elements should not be the reason for persecuting me. I had to find that human attachment. On the night of my arrest, I didn't sleep at all the whole night. Instead, I looked within myself. When I was persecuted the time before, although I suffered a lot, I gave in in the end. I felt regret towards Teacher and Dafa. How I felt was indescribable. Later, Teacher published the article "Coercion Cannot Change People's Hearts," giving practitioners a chance to redeem themselves.
The next day after a meal, a doctor measured my blood pressure. My pressure was 190 over 120. I told the doctor, "In all the years that I have practiced Falun Gong, my blood pressure has been normal. Once they brought me here, in only one night I have become ill. Dafa heals people without any conditions, but the 610 Office can make one's illness come back. They also make trouble for me. What kind of justice is that?" The doctor left. I thought to myself that a cultivator shouldn't have illness. It was a hint given by Teacher. I told Teacher in my heart, "Teacher, I will listen to all your arrangements and will definitely not walk the path arranged by the old forces. I must leave here as soon as possible. This is not a place fit for a Dafa practitioner." I put all my mind into the Fa, ignoring all everyday people's affairs. I recited the Fa, sent forth righteous thoughts, did the exercises, and clarified the truth when the opportunity arose.
At first, the CCP officials forbade me from doing the exercises. They handcuffed me. I would then send forth righteous thoughts. Half an hour later, sometimes an hour later, the handcuffs opened up. I crossed my legs and held my hand up for righteous thoughts. The CCP officials tried to threaten me in a loud voice, "I won't be easy on you if you practice again!" When I heard it, I became nervous. Then I calmed myself down to recite the Fa. At mealtime, I said that I couldn't eat because of the high blood pressure, I had a headache and wanted to vomit. I spent most of the day sending forth righteous thoughts, and reciting the Fa. At night, I did the exercises. Mosquitoes circled around me and made noise, but they didn't bite me.
On the fourth day, before dawn, a guard opened the door and saw me. He said, "You are practicing at such an early hour. You can go out to do it." I ignored him and continued the exercises. A bunch of them said, "Let's carry her out!" Three people carried me outside. Maybe they wanted me to freeze. They handcuffed me to a cement pole. Then, Teacher's words circled in my head,
"Why should you, a Dafa disciple, fear the evil ones when enduring persecution? The crux of the matter is that you have attachments. If not, do not endure passively, and face the evil people with righteous thoughts at all times. No matter what the situation, do not cooperate with the evil's demands, orders, or what it instigates. If everyone does this the environment won't be this way." ("Dafa Disciple's Righteous Thoughts are Powerful" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Dafa strengthened my righteous thoughts. Opening my eyes, I looked directly at my tormentors. I thought to myself that my eyes were sending out Falun, destroying the evil and rotten demons behind them. The person on duty looked around him, but never dared to look at me. A while later, another person came on duty. About three people took turns on duty and then they released me to go inside.
At night, the head of the "610 Office" had a talk with me. He threatened me with force-feeding and tried to use the sentiment of family to sway me. He wanted to find books for me to read. I refused all of them. I said to him, "Force-feeding could put my life in danger. Can you do it? Isn't it too cruel? Throughout history, good is rewarded and evil is punished...." In our conversation, I followed Teacher's guidance,
"If we determine that it is interference or damaging, when we deal with the specific problem we should try our best to be calm and kind to those people who are at the surface, because when the evil uses people, they usually aren't aware of it themselves (although the people who are used are usually either people whose thoughts are bad or people who have bad thoughts arising). As for the interference by evil in other dimensions, we must seriously eradicate it with righteous thoughts." ("Fa-rectification and Cultivation" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
On the sixth day, they invited a doctor from the hospital to examine me. My blood pressure still hadn't dropped. Normally, if someone doesn't eat for six days, the lack of nutrition should cause the blood pressure to drop. I knew why. Teacher was protecting me. At 6:00 p.m. my children picked me up and we went home.
Under Teacher's protection, I finally broke through that obstacle. I came home openly and nobly and assimilated into the mighty current of Fa-rectification.
My level is limited. Please kindly point out anything that is inappropriate.
