(Minghui.org) What makes a twenty-five-year-old college student begin practicing Falun Gong? Why is cultivation practice so appealing to him? What benefit does practicing Falun Gong offer a healthy young man? Here is Mr. Yi Zhang's story.
Questions about Life
When Mr. Yi Zhang was studying mechanical engineering in college, he heard that a lot of people in this profession worked so hard when they were young to make a lot money but later develop various illnesses, and that most of the money was then used on medical expenses. So Mr. Yi began to think about taking care of his health.
Mr. Yi got a part-time job in school, and learned that his boss practiced Falun Gong. His boss introduced him to the practice and told him of several cases where practitioners had recovered from their illnesses without taking medicine. This really appealed to Mr. Yi because he wanted to remain healthy.
Another reason that Falun Gong appealed to Mr. Yi was the discussions he had with his boss about prehistoric civilization, supernatural phenomenon and the divine. Ever since Mr. Yi was a child, he had often thought about the meaning of life and was very interested in these things. His boss based his discussion on what he had learned from the teachings of Falun Gong's founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi. Mr. Yi was very curious about what the Falun Gong books talked about. In this way, he decided to become a practitioner.
Abandoning Bad Habits
After Mr. Yi started practicing Falun Gong, his friends began to notice improvements in his character, and were very surprised that he had gotten rid of so many of his bad habits. Some of his friends then also became interested in Falun Gong.
Before Mr. Yi became a practitioner he used to love to idly chat with friends and joke around. He often used dirty words, and became so used to talking this way that it didn't bother him even when his behavior made others feel uncomfortable.
Falun Gong requires that practitioners adhere to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It emphasizes the cultivation of speech, and therefore bad words should be abandoned. A couple of months after Mr. Yi started practicing he stopped using dirty words. Sometimes, when he said something he shouldn’t have, he immediately realized that it was wrong. Once, when he was in a restaurant and was about to chat with the manager using a dirty word, he realized that a practitioner shouldn't talk like this. He then asked himself to stop using that word. He was very determined to eliminate this bad habit.
Before, Mr. Yi loved to look for good deals. What interested him most were things like free lunches and special offers. His friends and family knew about his attachment to getting things for free. After practicing Falun Gong, however, Mr. Yi decided to get rid of that habit and adhere to the principles of “Truthfulness- Compassion-Forbearance.” Being too attached to deals goes against those principles. After he changed his thoughts, his behavior also changed. Someone even said to him, “I really like the new Mr. Yi.”
A Meaningful Life
Mr. Yi especially treasures Falun Gong because he now understands life's meaning. Where do human beings come from? Where are we going? Many people are confused and don't know the answers. Birth, old age, sickness and death – everyone is repeating the same process. What's the point? He asked these questions at a very young age, but no one had the answers. Falun Gong's main book of teachings, Zhuan Falun, gave him the answers. People should return to their true, original selves. Mr. Yi said, “If you are also thinking about the meaning of life, I have a good suggestion. Read Zhuan Falun.” Mr. Yi now feels that he has a clear guide for his future.
Stepping Out of the Dark Times and Regaining a Bright Life
Having gained so many benefits, Mr. Yi encouraged his family to practice Falun Gong as well. One after another, they became practitioners.
Seeing Mr. Yi's mother abandoning her bad temper and recovering from hyperosteogeny, Mr. Yi's father, Chun Qiu, decided to learn Falun Gong. However, he was so busy with his work that he did not take practicing cultivation seriously. In 2011, he could not sleep after taking too many business trips. This went on for six months. Sometimes, he had problems sleeping for over forty consecutive days. He couldn't bear it any more and didn't have a clear mind during the day. He lost a lot of weight and wasn't able to focus on anything. Frustration and depression kept him from communicating with others.
Mr. Yi talked about his father's situation, “Even when he was talking to someone, he wasn't focused on the conversation. Instead he thought about the work that needed to be done. He repetitively did meaningless things.” His dad was not able to concentrate on one single issue and always wandered around. His boss, colleagues and customers all noticed his abnormal behavior. His boss suggested that he take a break and rest at home.
Once sent home to rest, Chun Qiu didn't do anything but eat and try to sleep. His wife encouraged him to practice Falun Gong sincerely. His family did the exercises with him and together they read Falun Gong books. Three months later, Chun Qiu's mind had significantly improved. His wife encouraged him to help with a project to construct a huge artistic lantern for the Lantern Festival. While working on the project, he was very focused and cooperated well with other practitioners. Two and a half months later, his confidence and health had fully returned!
Chun Qiu now falls asleep very easily and has a peacefully sleep till morning. Unless you've experienced long-term sleep deprivation, you may not be able to fully appreciate how wonderful it is to get a good night's sleep! Five and a half months later, Chun Qiu's whole family really appreciates that they are lucky enough to have been introduced to Falun Gong.
