(Clearwisdom.net) I learned Falun Dafa in 1999. At that time, I was deeply bothered by my family's poor financial situation. My sister had accidentally injured her foot and had to rest at home, so I went to visit her. During this time she read Zhuan Falun to me every day. Although I don't have much education, I could tell that the book was a great one. I really liked it, and I decided to become a practitioner.
Before practicing Falun Gong, I did not have a stable job, and I did odd jobs at different places. I lived a life of wanton wastefulness, drinking, prostitution and gambling. I sent some money home to support my wife and children, but other than that, I did not pay much attention to them. Because of my violent temper, no relative dared ask me what I was doing. I was a bad person in people's eyes.
After I learned Falun Dafa, I soon joined the group exercises and Fa study sessions. That period is a precious memory to me. It was during that time that most of my bad habits were cleaned out. I learned how to be a good person, and my family relationships became harmonious. My views on many things changed, and I decided not to give up on myself. I reflected deeply on my past, and regretted and sincerely apologized for my behavior. I felt a growing confidence in myself that I could become a new person. The dramatic change in my personality and health impressed my family. They saw the greatness of Falun Dafa and supported me.
Before my practice of Falun Dafa, a business partner who owed me 60,000-70,000 yuan experienced a business failure, and my poor financial situation thus became even tighter. The pressure drove me crazy. The hatred and revengeful feelings toward him rendered me sleepless. Gradually with more Fa study and Teacher's help, I began looking at the problem from a different angle, and felt only pity for him. Eventually I let go of the thought of demanding repayment of the money. My thoughts of hatred and revenge melted away under the Buddha-light's illumination. Benevolent Master resolved my grudges.
After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started persecuting Falun Gong, I went with other practitioners to appeal to the city government. I was escorted home by the residential street committee. In September 1999, my sister and her husband were illegally detained for practicing Falun Gong, and I went to visit their children at home. When I arrived, the police were ransacking the house. After I gave them my name, a police officer said, "We planned to go and arrest you [after this]. You are involved in distributing Teacher Li's articles." I was brought to a police station where they interrogated me about where the articles came from. I answered that I did not know. I was detained at the police station for one day and then transferred to the Second Detention Center for a 15-day term.
Prior to practicing Falun Dafa, I was domineering and tyrannical, and no one dared get in my way. After practicing Dafa, I read the Fa diligently (I can only read and recognize the words in Zhuan Falun), I followed Teacher's words in my everyday life, and walked through the past nine years, with occasional stumbles and falls, and I turned out to be a compassionate and righteous person. This is due to Teacher and the Fa, which made all the changes possible. I witnessed the great blessings that Dafa brought to me. My benevolent Teacher saved me, and no words can express my gratitude for His salvation.
Category: Improving Oneself
