(Clearwisdom.net)
Greetings Compassionate and Great Master!
Greetings Practitioners around the world!
I. Obtaining the Fa
I obtained the Fa in January 1998. I had been fascinated by mythology, gods and Buddhas since I was a child. My mother first obtained the Fa in 1998. She recommended Falun Gong and gave me tapes of Master's Fa lectures. When I started listening to the first cassette, I was immediately drawn in. The more I listened, the more I wanted to. Everything Master talked about was what I wanted to know but did not have an answer to. I finished listening to all the cassettes on the first day in one sitting. I was on the road to cultivation. As I brought the Falun Dafa books home, I held them to my chest with reverence, saying to myself, "This is what I have aspired to, have looked for and have wanted."
II. Studying the Fa, Cultivating My Heart and Getting Rid of Attachments to Fame, Fortune and Sentiment
After obtaining the Fa, I felt life was filled with sunshine. I was filled with joy. Every day I studied Zhuan Falun, Essentials for Further Advancement and other writings of Master. I taught myself all five sets of exercises in front of a mirror by following the instructions in The Great Consummation Way of Falun Dafa. Soon I found the practice site in our residential community.
Before obtaining the Fa, I was quite content with my outstanding professional expertise. I was arrogant and self-content. I figured I was good at everything. I was also quite stubborn and not willing to court favors from superiors. Despite all my accomplishments, I did not think I was rewarded accordingly. As time went by, I started to complain about the seemingly unfair treatment, I complained about my superiors, and I talked behind the backs of my colleagues. My relations with others turned sour. After obtaining the Fa, my body and mind changed dramatically. I cultivated based on Master's Fa principles and followed the standard of Truthfulness-Benevolence-Forbearance. I started to look lightly on fame, fortune and sentiments. My work environment changed immediately for the better. The leaders and my colleagues completely changed their minds about their previously poor impressions of me.
Because of the improvement of my xinxing through giving up attachments, some tribulations were overcome. One night shortly after obtaining the Fa, I dreamed of a man in ancient clothing who sat in front of me. He kept swaying left and right. Then a voice echoed in my ears, "Look how much leisure I'm enjoying. Come have a try!" I said to myself, "Look at your sway. My Master taught about wuwei in high level practice. One does not even have any thoughts while sitting in a lotus position." Immediately, the man disappeared. Later I learned from Zhuan Falun,
"Don't let your mind be disturbed when you see an enlightened person from another school of practice. Stay with only one school of practice. Whether it is a Buddha, a Tao, an immortal, or a demon, they should not move your heart. In conducting oneself this way, success is bound to be in sight."
I realized that I had just passed a major test. When I was working at my former work unit, I was responsible for the operation and maintenance on the production line of a control system. Much associated equipment was imported. One colleague who worked on the production line quit to run his own company. In a project he was awarded, he was using the same production line as we had worked on. A circuit board was burned. He knew that I had spare parts and called me. If I gave them to him quietly without tracking our inventory, he would pay me abundantly. But I declined without having to think about it. I told him I was practicing Falun Gong. I would never do this sort of thing.
For some time, whenever I returned home from the practice site, my wife would find fault with me and yell at me. I became quite scared of returning home. Despite the way she acted towards me, I knew that she was helping me eliminate karma. Master said in Zhuan Falun,
"We have said, however, that as a practitioner one should not fight back when being punched or insulted, but should conduct oneself with a high standard."
Although I felt miserable when tolerating this quietly, I knew that I had to do well in all things that she complained about. I took care of housework and took care of our daughter. Still she was making trouble and showed no indication of reconciliation. One evening, when I returned after studying the Fa, she locked me out of the house. I sat down on the stairway and thought about Master's teachings. I calmed down and started reading the Fa. After several hours, I knocked on the door and she opened it to let me in.
However, one morning, when I was just about to leave for work, she suddenly said, "I am going to divorce you. I have taken today off. We are going to get the paperwork done. Do you agree?" I said, "No, I don't. The only thing I want is to practice the exercises and cultivate. You and our daughter are still my responsibility. How can we divorce?" She said it did not matter whether I agreed or not. She was going to my work unit to get the approval letter from them and then to the civil agency for a divorce. She and I arrived at my work unit. I started work without any disturbance. She went to see my superior. After some time, my superior came to me, "You're taking today off. Go spend some time with your wife." I looked up, and she was smiling at me at the door. I knew I passed another test. On our way back home, she said, "I know nothing can make you change your mind. Since I cannot change you, I am changing myself."
III. Believing in Master Firmly, Believing in the Fa Firmly, and Assisting Master in Fa-Rectification after Returning to the Right Path
On the evening of April 24, 1999, after studying the Fa at our practice site, fellow practitioners told us how the police had beaten practitioners in Tianjin. Over 45 practitioners were arrested and their homes searched. The following day, practitioners were to appeal at the Appeals Office of the State Council in Beijing. We felt we should go there as well to demand the release of the practitioners and the publication of Zhuan Falun and other Dafa books, and to restore the environment in which we could legally practice Falun Gong. As someone who has benefited in Dafa, I had to go more than anyone else. Although I could not do much, being there was taking a stand and contributing my strength. That was my simple thought. I asked someone to take care of my daughter and took Monday, April 26 off. I joined over 10,000 people at the State Council's Appeals Office on April 25.
On July 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin's rogue regime started the nationwide persecution of Falun Gong. The pressure from society, my work unit, and my family fell on me all at once. Each day was a long day. On the evening of July 20, I joined other practitioners at the capital city of our province to speak out for Falun Gong. I gave out my name and address after being arrested and was taken to a brainwashing center. Against my will, I did something I will regret for the rest of my life. Gradually I realized I had done wrong. As soon as I realized this, all sorts of human thoughts surfaced. I felt that I had failed Master's trust and was ashamed to meet fellow practitioners. The burgeoning thoughts of correcting myself were interfered with by human thoughts. I did not shake off the burden to join the immense current of Fa-rectification resolutely. Eventually, I picked up Zhuan Falun and learned,
"As long as you practice cultivation and are sure-footed and determined in practicing cultivation, we will treat you as disciples. It is unfeasible for me not to treat you this way. Yet there are some people who might not truly regard themselves as practitioners and not continue cultivation practice. For some people it is impossible. But many people will truly go on practicing cultivation. As long as you keep it up, we will treat you as disciples."
"My fashen know everything--they know everything on your mind, and they can do anything. They will not take care of you if you do not practice cultivation. If you practice cultivation, they will help you all the way to the end."
These paragraphs in Zhuan Falun eliminated my human attachments and strengthened my righteous thoughts to clarify the truth to others. Finally, I went to see a fellow practitioner in our work unit who was diligent in Fa-rectification period cultivation and said, "I did wrong in the past. I want to continue to cultivate." Immediately I published a solemn statement negating my wrongdoings.
Then I intensified Fa study and started assisting fellow practitioners in validating the Fa. After studying Zhuan Falun and Master's recent articles from May 1999 to October 2001, I realized that my attachment to my career had interfered in my cultivation. I did not study the Fa well, and did not develop solid diamond-like righteous thoughts with regard to the universal truth. How could I emit the light of truth to destroy the evil with my own indestructible righteous thoughts? I started to recite Master's articles as a guide to make myself be steadfast.
With the restoration of my thoughts, I started to feel strongly about going to Tiananmen Square to validate the Fa. I was also encouraged by fellow practitioners. I developed the thought that I was not only to validate the Fa, I was also to return safely. I came to a new understanding of the Fa principle,
"Cultivation depends on one's own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one's master." (Zhuan Falun)
Soon I came up with a plan. I was to buy a yellow cloth and red ink on Friday, November 23, 2001. After making the banner, I would go to Tiananmen Square on November 24 and return on November 25. On November 26, I was to show up at work on time. After I bought the cloth and ink, all sorts of attachments to fear came up. I was also worried that I had never used a paint brush to write. I knew this was an excuse I was finding for myself. I recited Master's Fa-teaching. When I got home, I opened Zhuan Falun. A paragraph of Fa came to my eyes,
"When you go home and write a few words--no matter how your handwriting is--it carries gong!"
I burst into tears, "Thank you Master! Thank you for your compassionate hint! Thank you for your compassionate protection!"
In no time, I wrote on the yellow cloth, "Falun Dafa Is Great!" I left it to dry and folded it. I placed it in the left sleeve of my jacket. I practiced how to unfurl it, and held it above my head to display it. I carried just enough money to cover the round trip ticket. I arrived at Tiananmen Square alone. On the east side of the Golden Water Bridge in front of the Tiananmen Tower, I raised high the banner, and shouted from the bottom of my heart the words that I wanted to tell the world for so long, "Falun Dafa is Great!" When several police officers viciously rushed over, I immediately left the Square from the underpass nearby. I called my wife to tell her I was to return to work on Monday morning.
IV. Negating the Old Forces in Face of Adversity, Immersing into the Main Stream of Fa-Rectification
On the morning of May 23, 2002, I was arrested at work. On the surface, it appeared that I had been turned in to the police. The practitioner who stayed in contact with me was arrested and had given my name to the police. On my part, I should not have been attached and should have taken proper measures. I was handcuffed and taken to a van. Several officers rode with me to my home without asking for directions from me. When they arrived, two stayed in the car to keep an eye on me. The other two took keys from me and ransacked my home. From the truth clarification materials they brought back, I knew I was the only one implicated. The police had no knowledge about other practitioners. I started reciting the verse, "The Fa rectifies the cosmos, the evil is completely eliminated." I also recited Master's Fa that I had committed to memory. I made up my mind not to give out any information on any other practitioners. My attachments were dispersed. My heart calmed down.
The police officers kept asking me questions. I did not say a word. They threatened that they had plenty of experience in getting what they wanted. About half an hour later, we arrived at a tall building in the center of the city. I was taken to the basement. Several officers started firing questions at me, "Where did the materials in your home come from? Who gave them to you? Who did you make contact with? Where did the content from the master DVD came from? Who produced the leaflets posted on the electric poles?" The more they asked, the more I calmed down. I knew all other practitioners were safe.
The officers saw that I remained silent. They started threatening me by mentioning the education of my daughter, the well-compensated job my wife held, the length of my prospect of a prison term which would end up with a divorce. However, none of these threats worked, because on my way there, Master saw my determination and had already eliminated the evil factors behind all this.
Finally the police resorted to torture. They punched me, whipped me with belts, placed me on a Tiger Bench, poured cold water on me, and burned my skin with cigarettes and lighters. I was deprived of sleep, food and water. After 4 days and 3 nights of torture by over 20 police officers, they did not get a word out of me. I forbore the hardship but not in a way a tough person would forbear it. Instead I was able to forbear it all because of the guidance of Master's Fa. Foremost, the only thing I thought of was my firm belief in Master and the Fa. I would die rather than tell them anything. I then realized that Falun Gong is a practice that cultivates both mind and body. How could I give up my flesh body? Anyone who tries to persecute my body is committing an immense crime. When I came to this understanding, there was really not much pain during the torture. While I stayed in good spirits, the police officers became tired. Because of my understanding of principles at this layer and because of my steadfast belief in the Fa, I was never beaten again.
I was then taken to a detention center. One day the head of the security division of my work unit came to see me. He said, "It was a high level manager, of such and such name. He sent me here to get you out. As long as you sign the form promising you are not going to practice, we can go back to work right away." He kept asking, "Did you get his name? He has the authority to get you out and he has sent me here. Our car is waiting for you outside. If you don't want to sign, you can simply give me a nod." I thanked him and also asked him to relay my appreciation to the manager who sent him. But I was not to give up cultivation. What I wanted was nothing less than an unconditional release on the grounds of innocence. The security head left in regret and respect.
On August 27, 2002, the court controlled by the evil Party unlawfully sentenced me to 5 years in prison without family members in the courtroom. On November 19, I was taken to the Orientation Division of the Liaoning Prison. In December I was taken to the No. 5 Ward of the No. 3 Liaoning Prison. Although I did not have to engage in forced labor, I had to wait until everyone was off duty at midnight before going back to my cell. During the working hours, I found out that there were four practitioners in the No. 5 Ward. One from Anshan City had given up and was in a different area. The three others remained steadfast. I tried to get in touch with these three practitioners. I wrote down Master's recently published articles on paper. When I passed these articles to the three practitioners, they were greatly encouraged. We started clarifying the truth to the guards and those inmates assigned to keep an eye on us. At the beginning we were not allowed to talk to each other. Gradually, we rectified the environment. We got together and discussed staging a hunger strike to resist the forced labor. We soon reached an agreement. However, an inmate serving terms after being convicted of criminal charges reported this to the guards. The four of us were separated. I was transferred to the area where the practitioner from Anshan City had given up practicing. I tried to exchange thoughts with him. He was only 19 years old. He was intimidated and tried not to talk to me. I tried to recite Master's recent articles to him. Before long, the ward we were in was relocated.
I was transferred to the No. 2 Ward. A practitioner who had just arrived from Chaoyang City was also sent to the No. 2 Ward. He had changed his mind and decided to give up practicing. As a result, I was assigned to his cell. The guards had the grand idea of having him "transform" me to have me give up practicing as well. The two other inmates assigned to keep an eye on us often stayed away so the practitioner from Chaoyang City could work on me to give up cultivation. I helped him to understand the difference between individual cultivation and Fa-rectification cultivation. When he developed the thoughts of consummation in cultivation, I showed him Master's various articles including "Beyond the Limits of Forbearance," "Dafa Disciples' Righteous Thoughts are Powerful," "Disciples Righteous Thoughts are Powerful," and "Fa-Rectification and Cultivation," etc. Two other practitioners helped him as well. Soon he awoke and got rid of the attachment of fear. He duplicated the solemn statements he wrote. One copy was given to the Division Head in our ward. The other copy was sent to the Chinese version of Clearwisdom.net. He remained diligent until the day he was released.
The guards became furious after their plan to have me "transformed" failed completely when the practitioner from Chaoyang City resumed cultivation practice. I was called to the office. Several guards displayed four charged electric batons conspicuously. A guard with the last name Fan said, "You cannot simply show up at the workplace without doing anything. From now on, you have to engage in labor." I told them I am a practitioner. I didn't commit any crime. I was abducted here against my will.
They asked who abducted me. I started clarifying the truth to them and explained that even if they converted the cell to a luxury hotel, I would still not live in it. It would still be a persecution of limiting my freedom. The reason I refused to work was because they had to pay me. The guards said they had never heard of paying salary in prison. I asked them to check the prison laws. Indeed it stated that compensation must be given to laborers. Hearing news about inmates being paid for their work was a first experience for the guards. I asked them to check the prison laws and other sources. It ended up that they had to pay me so decided not to force me to do labor. In the end, guard Fan told me that I could leave their office. The inmates sharing the cell with me were surprised how I could refuse to do labor while not being punished.
We continued to clarify the truth. The environment we were in changed for the better. We had cell phones and electronic books for studying the Fa. Later, after Master published an article in the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times about quitting the Youth League, the three of us practitioners immediately quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. When the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published, we started persuading the inmates and guards to quit the Communist Party. Over 60 percent of the inmates and some guards have quit the CCP.
V. Epilogue
After I returned home after years of imprisonment, I soon found two good jobs. Despite the significant income I took home each month, I live in modest conditions. I am able to save enough to spend on producing truth clarification materials and donate resources to production sites out of town. In 2009, I have been able to burn scores of or even as many as 200 DVDs of the Shen Yun Performing Arts shows each week.
What remains of the time to save sentient beings is quite limited. We have reached the final moment of the final stage of Fa-rectification. I have felt that I need to do better in the Three Things Master asked us to do so as to help Master save more people to repay the compassionate salvation offered by Master.
Let me press my palms in the position of Heshi to show my gratitude to our compassionate and great Master. Let me press my palms in the position of Heshi to show my respect to practitioners all around the world.
October 3, 2009
