(Minghui.org) I am a Japanese Falun Dafa practitioner. I began practicing Falun Gong two years ago because I had a serious illness. I became ill unexpectedly in November 2009, and was diagnosed with Ménière's disease. My vision was blurred and I could not stand up straight. I stayed in bed all day long, except when I went to the bathroom. Not long after becoming ill, I developed insomnia and could not sleep without taking pills. I continued taking the sleeping pills for two months. My doctor suggested that I stop taking the pills. I tried several times, but I simply could not fall asleep without them. The vertigo and dizziness from Ménière's disease was constant. I was depressed and even thought about committing suicide.

When I became ill, a friend of mine called me almost every day. She would listen to my worries and complaints. I told her several times, “I really wish I could just die.” She would encourage me each time by saying, “You cannot die. What good will it do to you to die?!” I would summon up courage to live and to receive treatment from the psychiatric clinic. The doctor in the clinic told me, “You cannot commit suicide. Let me cure you of the disease.” I believed in him and was hospitalized. However, he prescribed sleeping pills for me again! I tried the pills, but the dose he prescribed was not enough. After I took the pills, I would wake up right after I fell asleep. My determination started to waver, and my mood was even worse than before.

When I was in despair, my friend was very persuasive. She said, “You might as well give qigong a try.” Several years ago she recommended qigong to me, but I was healthy, had a job, and was not interested in learning. My friend did not want to learn qigong by herself and so she did not go to learn either. When she brought up qigong this time, I recalled what happened back then. I thought to myself, a desperate disease must have a desperate cure; I might give it a try, what do I have to lose. I opened up the telephone directory and started looking for relevant phone numbers.

By chance, I found a place to learn qigong near my house. It was a Chinese restaurant. I went there after calling to confirm the information first. When I said, “Please help cure my disease.” They told me, “This practice is not about having others cure your disease. You must achieve a healthy body and mind through practicing Falun Gong by yourself.” Then they taught me some movements. The next day, I went to a local practice site that was farther away. At that time, I could barely walk, because of the Ménière's disease. I could not take a bus, or ride a bicycle, so I asked my husband to take me. He practiced the first four exercises with me, which lasted for one hour. I felt a little tired, but I persevered until the end. I fell asleep that night without taking any sleeping pills and did not wake up until after dawn. I slept soundly. I immediately told my husband about what had happened and we were both very glad.

I felt really delighted and told my friend about it. She was also happy for me. I went to the practice site and the practitioners there recommended that I read Zhuan Falun. I did not think I would be able to understand such a difficult book, but since they recommended that I read it, I had to try. No matter how many times I had tried taking sleeping pills to go to sleep, they did not work. Yet, by doing these exercises, I finally could sleep and stop relying on pills. Apparently, only Falun Gong was going to be able save my life. I was determined to continue practicing.

Right after I started practicing, I slept very well for a week, but then I could not sleep the following week. When I failed to fall asleep, I would read Zhuan Falun. As soon as I read the book, I felt reassured and could fall asleep. I often think to myself how good it is for me to have learned Falun Dafa. The pressure in my life has vanished. I go to the practice site to practice the exercises almost every day. I took the medicine for Ménière's disease on and off over the years, but only two months after I began practicing Falun Gong, I completely stopped medication. I threw away all of the remaining medicine. My condition is improving gradually and I no longer worry about falling asleep. The quality of my sleep is getting better and better. I practice all five exercises every day, and read the book little by little. Now, my husband and I firmly cultivate Falun Dafa together. My friend has also joined us. She strives to cultivate Falun Dafa. Dafa saved my life. Thank you, Master!

From the Call for Submissions to Commemorate the Twentieth Anniversary of Falun Dafa’s Introduction