(Clearwisdom.net) I began practicing Falun Gong in mid April 1998, so I can call myself a veteran practitioner. As Master's disciple, during the past decade I never allowed myself to slacken in Fa study, doing the exercises, and rescuing people by explaining the facts, regardless of the severity of the persecution.
I had practiced less than 18 months when the persecution began, but I benefited tremendously from Falun Dafa. Master has brought me back from the throes of death. I have not done much, but Master has given me more than I can ever repay. I cannot express my gratitude toward Master, even if I exhaust all the words in the world.
I want to tell of the dangerous situations I encountered during the past year while doing the three things. Because of Master's protection and because some police officers have learned the truth, I was in no real danger in the end.
I went to a local job market to clarify the truth about Falun Gong at 3:00 p.m. in late May 2007. I was explaining matters to a cab driver when a police officer appeared and asked what I was carrying in my backpack. I said, "Why do I have to tell you?" He asked me if I had ID on me. I said no. Another police officer came over and starting pulling me away, and then I saw a police car parked across the street. I realized someone had probably reported me, but my mind was extremely calm, without a trace of fear. I immediately sent righteous thoughts to eliminate the Party's evil specter and that of the old forces' black hands and rotten demons. I silently recited, "The Fa rectifies the cosmos, the evil is completely eliminated." I shouted, "Everyone, look, the police are arresting an innocent, good person again." Meanwhile, I asked Master to strengthen my divine powers. The police shoved me against the vehicle's running board. I had my back against the door and would not let them close it. A woman held my legs and tried to drag me inside, but I struggled to free myself. The police came and yanked my legs, and in the end they manhandled me into the vehicle.
The job market was only about 300 meters [984 ft] from the police department. When we arrived, the officers told me to get out. They resented that I was a bit slow, and one of them slapped my face. He tried to slap me again once I was out, but I grabbed the corner of his uniform, and two buttons popped off instantly.
We walked into the office. They tried to snatch my backpack, but I clung to it with all my might. They asked why I would not give them the Falun Gong flyers [inside the bag], I said, "I do not want you to commit crimes against Dafa, because I want you to have a bright future." They drew back and began asking for my name and home address. I didn't say anything and simply explained how I had benefited from Falun Gong. The first police officer who spoke to me in the street said, "Do you know why I didn't hit you? If I did, I would have created karma." I said, "Since you know that, you must have read Zhuan Falun. You know, Master Li tells us in the book how to be a good person, to not return a blow or an insult. We are persecuted, but Truth-Compassion-Forbearance is the law of the universe that everyone must follow."
The police officer who lost his buttons said, "Why are you talking about Truth-Compassion-Forbearance? You pulled my buttons off." I answered, "I didn't do it on purpose. You were hitting me, and I was simply reacting to it. If you can find some thread and a needle, I'll sew them on for you."
He left the room without saying anything. A tall, brawny man arrived and grabbed my bag without a word. He took the bag and everything in it. He left and returned. When he saw me standing by the door, he kicked me all the way to the opposite wall, but I felt no pain whatsoever. I knew Master was bearing the pain for me. They found a shipping slip in the bag with my name and address printed on it. They called a local police officer in charge of my precinct. When he arrived, he said to the police there, "You can do whatever you want with this case; I don't care."
The other police officers didn't expect this answer. They thought about it and then threatened to send me to a detention center. I said, "I will go home right now." One official said, "You think you can go home just because you say so?" I said, "Only what our Master says counts!" After a while, the tall man told the switchboard operator to call my family to come and take me home. I returned home at a little past 8:00 p.m.
One morning in early March I was talking to a girl selling pancakes. As I explained to her why she needed to quit the Party, five people appeared out of nowhere. One man in his early 30s stood beside me. I tried to hand him a flyer, but he refused to take it. I walked across the street to speak to a woman street sweeper and ask her to quit the Party. I also gave her a bookmark with the words "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance" on it. I kept walking and saw an old man. I greeted him, but before I could speak, the man in his 30s who had followed me and turned out to be a member of the Politics and Security Section reported me. I was again taken to the police station. They could not take my bag, so they went to my home to ransack it. They confiscated the bookmarks I had prepared for a fellow practitioner and watercolor paint. My family learned about the illegal arrest and rushed to the police station. They met a fellow practitioner on the way who asked everyone to send righteous thoughts. At 3:30 p.m. I was told I could go home.
Ten days later I was reported again when clarifying the facts to construction workers. Someone reported me again. At the police station I calmly explained why I had to do what I did. Soon I went home. I was arrested several more times but was released within a few hours each time.
The fifth time at the police station the officers asked me my name. I told them my name and residential neighborhood. One-and-half hours later the police said I could go home. During the time there I helped one officer to quit the Party.
Before the Olympics, the security officers at my work unit, through the police station, asked my son to tell me to go to my work unit. I went there and saw six police officers sitting in a conference room. On entering, I smiled at them and greeted all of them. After I sat down, the police demanded that I promise not to go out and distribute flyers or talk about Falun Gong during the Olympics. I said, "Everyone here knows me and knows what my situation was like in the past three decades. All of you have witnessed the miraculous changes in my family and my health." I explained the supernatural powers of Dafa and that practitioners do not oppose the Party or get involved in politics by asking people to quit the Party, that we are simply telling people to save their own lives before disaster strikes. What we are doing is righteous. I recited Master's verse for them:
"The Great Law looks at a person's heart
The world's people would do well to rouse
Divinity, human, ghost, animal, disintegration--
The position is decided by oneself" (Hong Yin II - "Untitled")
The division head and officers had nothing to say, so I went home without a hitch.
Several incidents have taken place, but I was always able to return safely. It's not because I'm extraordinary, it's because I have Master's Fa in my heart. Master said:
"The old forces don't dare to oppose our clarifying the truth or saving sentient beings" ("Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Boston") and "You should always maintain a heart of benevolence and a mind of kindness. If you suddenly bump into a problem, you will be able to take care of it properly." (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun, 3/2000 translation version)
I remained unmoved when confronted with persecution and had no fear. I firmly believed in Master and the Fa. I believe Master is standing beside me, and I do my best to explain the facts to the police, telling them what we are doing and how they can save themselves and embrace a brilliant future. I bear no hatred or resentment toward the police and maintain a compassionate mindset. I know Master's protection and compassion were the reason for my returning home safely. Master has done everything, and that is why I was able to escape from dangerous situations without a scratch.
The Party has escalated its persecution of Falun Gong using the Olympics as a pretext. Many practitioners were arrested as a result, and the knowledge pains me. I hope my experiences might be somewhat helpful. If we remain calm when faced with persecution, then Master will make the best arrangements for everything.
Above are my cultivation experiences; please point out anything inappropriate.