(Clearwisdom.net)
Dafa Is the Most Righteous Cultivation Practice
Prior to practicing Falun Gong, I was constantly ill and suffered from coronary disease, gastritis, stomach spasms, back problems, neck pain, and other illnesses. When I learned that qiqong could cure illnesses, I enrolled in a qiqong class. I spent more than 400 yuan in books and tuition over a period of six months, but my health didn't improve at all.
In September 1998, a practitioner told me about Falun Gong and lent me the book "Zhuan Falun". After reading it, I already felt lighter. The book explained clearly many questions that had bothered me, and I learned how to be a good person. The book is truly a treasure. I then bought Zhuan Falun at a local bookstore and began to practice.
Soon afterwards, I went to a practice site and learned the exercises from a group of practitioners. My illnesses gradually disappeared, my health was restored, and I was in good spirits. I really miss now the time I spent with the group practicing Falun Gong. Whether we knew each other or not, practitioners were always friendly, warm, kind, and peaceful. It was truly a pure land.
After the persecution began on July 20, 1999, there was no longer an environment for group Fa study and doing the exercises. Policemen constantly harassed me at home and kept me from attending group Fa study and the group exercises. They claimed that they were merely following official orders and asked me not to give them a hard time. They also ordered me to turn in my Falun Dafa books. I explained how I had benefited from practicing Falun Gong. In the end, I gave them the books, gave up the practice, and began to practice Tai Chi.
After five years of practicing Tai Chi, my health deteriorated and all my previous illnesses reappeared. Also, my legs began to hurt and the arthritic pain in my right knee was excruciating. Some of the people with whom I practiced Tai Chi did not understand Falun Gong, and went along with the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) propaganda. They spoke nonsense when discussing Falun Gong. Therefore, I calmly explained to them, "Have any of you read any Falun Gong books? How do you know that it is not good if you have not read the books or practiced the exercises? I have read the books and practiced the exercises, so I know that it is a good book." I also told them what I remembered from the book, and they stopped belittling Falun Gong. At the time, I did not know about clarifying the truth. I only wanted to tell them that Dafa is good and that the CCP television broadcasts were all lies. I also said, "Right now the government does not let us practice, but if it's allowed in the future, I will again practice Falun Gong." Maybe because of this thought, I began to cultivate in Dafa once again.
Value Our Predestined Opportunity and Be Firm in Cultivation
In 2005, several practitioners encouraged me to practice Falun Gong again. They also said that Teacher was still watching over me, and that my leg pain was a reminder to be firm in my cultivation. I realized that Teacher was using practitioners' words to enlighten me. From then on, I stopped practicing Tai Chi and began to practice Falun Gong again. In less than six months, my legs stopped hurting and my other illnesses disappeared again. Dafa is truly miraculous! This time, I was determined to get rid of interference and cultivate until the end. Now that I study the "Fa" and practice the exercises on a daily basis, I'm in good spirits and have a deeper understanding of Dafa.
During the 2007 Chinese New Year, my kids brought me several cases of beer. I was so happy that I drank a glass of beer. Suddenly, I was uncomfortable all over and felt pain in my stomach and pressure in my chest. My illnesses were gone after I started to practice Falun Gong. However, the reappearance of the illness symptoms made me regret not following Teacher's words. Teacher said that practitioners should not drink, and that once we stop drinking we should not drink again. I knew I had made a mistake but continued with the practice. By the second day, the discomfort was gone and my body felt light again. I learned a lesson from this incident--that cultivation is serious. Everything that Teacher taught in the book is true. I must appreciate the opportunity to cultivate and strictly follow a cultivator's standard to do the things a Dafa practitioner should do.
To Set an Example and Clarify the Truth
Teacher asked that practitioners do the three things well. I study the Fa and practice the exercises on a daily basis, and I often talk about the positive effects of practicing Falun Gong to those around me. This has brought good results when I spread the Fa and ask people to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. I'm already in my 70s and used to wear glasses for reading. Now, I don't need reading glasses when I read Dafa books and truth-clarification materials that have a small print. After seeing the improvements in my health, my 90-year-old parents and siblings began to accept Dafa and quit the CCP's three organizations. My parents often recite, "Falun Dafa is good" and "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is good." They are both very healthy and are still working in the fields.
I am truly grateful that Teacher brought me back, enlightens me every now and then, and is concerned about my cultivation. I will diligently study the Fa, do the three things well, and go home with Teacher.