(Minghui.org) Revered Master, fellow practitioners:
I have been practicing Dafa for more than 16 years. I would like to share my cultivation experience with everyone now.
A Powerful Cultivation Practice
One day in late 1997, I saw my wife reading a book. She told me the book is very good, and began reading some paragraphs to me. I was shocked to hear the Fa, and I immediately became interested. I realized that the book was about cultivation practice. I had heard many stories about cultivation practice since childhood and was interested in the subject. I quickly became a practitioner.
Three months later, all my chronic physical illnesses, such as back pain, stomach trouble and dizziness, were gone. I had been illiterate, but within a year, I could read the entire book.
Remaining Determined in the Face of Persecution
After the CCP began to persecute Dafa in July 1999, many of our friends and relatives tried to persuade us to give up the practice. My wife and I did not give in. From Master’s teaching, I knew cultivation would include tests and tribulations.
The township government summoned all practitioners in the area to a brainwashing center, forcing everyone to write a statement to give up Falun Gong. The head of the political and legal committee announced: “All of you must stop your practice unconditionally.” Complete silence followed. My wife sat in the lotus position, meditating in front of a dozen township officials. No one dared to stop her.
After the head finished speaking, I stood up and said: “Our practice is legal, and we strive to become better persons following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and our practice benefits our family and society. After practicing for several months, all my diseases were cured.” I went on to tell them about other benefits. Finally I told them: “I will never give up Falun Gong. We have the right to our beliefs.”
Laughter broke out among them. Suddenly, fear and pressure vanished. I realized that Master was with us.
Master told us:
“All of this in fact holds true for your clarifying the truth as well. If you are able to all keep compassion in your hearts as you interact with the person, regardless of his attitude, then in the depths of his soul, or on the knowing side of his being, he will understand. If you do things in a perfunctory manner, or worse yet, allow ordinary people’s attitudes to affect you, then for sure the results won’t be good.” (“Fa Teaching Given in Manhattan”)
We did not sign any paperwork, nor did we turn in Master’s portrait and books. Master gave us righteous thoughts and wisdom and allowed us to meet this challenge at a most difficult time.
Evil Dared Not Enter Our Home
Throughout the years of persecution, we have kept Master’s portrait on our living room wall. Not once have we removed the portrait.
The police often harassed and searched practitioners’ homes, but they never came to our home. A party secretary who is a good friend of my brother’s called me one day. He told us that the authorities planned to search our home during the next two days because they had listed our names as “key suspects.”
After sharing our understanding of the Fa, we believed that a test was on the way. As long as our heart is righteous, the evil would not dare come. Several days passed, and no one came.
We recalled Master’s teaching: “... just by having your heart unaffected you will be able to handle all situations.” (“Eliminate Your Last Attachment(s)” in Essentials for Further Advancement II)
My wife went to Beijing to appeal for Falun Gong in February 2000, and she was detained for more than 50 days. After she returned home, several evildoers from the township came to our house to harass us. They demanded that I give them my Dafa books. When I refused, they called the police.
We recalled Master’s teaching:
“What is cultivation? When you say it’s good, I say it’s good, and everyone says it’s good, how can you see a person’s heart? Only at the critical moment can we see his heart. If he doesn’t let go of certain attachments he might even dare to betray a Buddha—could this be a minor problem? Some people were scared. But what were you afraid of? My disciples! Didn’t you hear me say that when a person succeeded in cultivating Arhatship, he stumbled because he developed fear in his heart? Every human attachment must be removed, no matter what it is.” (“Huge Exposure” in Essentials for Further Advancement)
When police arrived, I told them: “We will not turn in our Dafa books and Master’s portrait.” They said: “We want to take you two to the township. If you win the debate, you can keep them. If you lose, we keep the books and portrait.”
We agreed. We thought: “What is there to fear now that we have our Master and Dafa?” At the township office, they separated my wife from me. She was holding the books and portrait tightly.
They took me to an office and told me: “We will lock you up in the detention center if you refuse to turn in the books and portrait.”
I suddenly recalled Master’s teaching:
“The trials that a cultivator goes through are something an everyday person could not endure. That is why throughout history so few people have been able to succeed in cultivation and reach Consummation. Human beings are just human beings. At critical moments it is hard for them to let go of their human notions, but they always try to find excuses to convince themselves. A magnificent cultivator, on the other hand, is able to let go of his Self and even all of his ordinary human thoughts amidst crucial trials.” (“Position” in Essentials for Further Advancement II)
It was time for us to completely let go of human notions. I knew we must relinquish our human thoughts. I told them: “You could detain me, but you will not take my books and Master’s portrait. I will continue practicing Falun Gong.”
They called the County Police and took us to a detention center. My wife and I strongly denied the arrangement; as a result, the detention center refused to take us in. Finally, township officials told me: “You can go home, but your wife has to stay.”
My wife handed her books and the portrait to me. I was nervous about her staying back. She said: “Do not be afraid. Master is with us all the time. As long as we are doing the right thing, Master protects us.” I calmed down and walked out of the township office with the books and Master’s portrait.
Fulfilling My Ancient Vow to Save People Amidst Hardship
After my wife took another trip to Beijing in October 2000, she was sentenced to 18 months in a labor camp. Because she refused to give up Falun Gong, she was tortured to death by the guards.
Although deeply saddened by her death, I knew I must not let it make me stray from my path. I knew she would have a glorious future waiting for her. Her strong faith continues to inspire me to become more diligent in doing the three things and saving sentient beings.
I prefer to distribute truth-clarification materials at night. After I send forth righteous thoughts at midnight, I go out to distribute the materials until 5 to 6 a.m. Each time before I go, I always ask Master to protect me. I also send forth righteous thoughts to dissolve all evil elements and to help people read the materials so they can be saved. I have never encountered any trouble. I typically walk more than 20 km (approx. 12.5 miles) per night, but I am not tired.
While distributing materials, I keep reciting Master’s poem:
“A Great Enlightened One fears no hardship
Having forged an adamantine will
Free of attachment to living or dying
He walks the path of Fa-rectification
confident and poised”
(“Righteous Thoughts and Righteous Actions” in Hong Yin Vol. II)
I have never been shy about telling people the facts since the persecution started, and I have been been able to do so in all kinds of situations.
One day I heard a group of people talking about the Tiananmen Self-immolation incident. I laid out all the facts associated with the case and told them it was a hoax and that the Communist regime set up the incident to instigate hatred toward Falun Gong. They were shocked, but convinced.
One day I was helping with at a funeral in my uncle’s house. There was a big crowd in his yard. I told them the facts and urged them to renounce their association with the Party. I was able to stay calm, and my points were very convincing. Many expressed their support, and some asked me for more materials.
Dafa Is Almighty
In May 2002, practitioners in our area started our first large-scale campaign of material distribution. This shocked the evil in other dimensions. Soon after, police put their focus on me. They came to my house to search for “evidence.” To protect the large quantity of materials at home, I asked Master for help, and I began to send forth a strong righteous thought: “The evildoers will not find anything.” My righteous thought was very pure and powerful. My body felt very light, as if flying into another dimension. After the police spent half-an-hour searching, they could not find anything. I realized that miracles will happen if I have strong faith in Master and Dafa.
Deny the Persecution
One day in 2004 my home was broken into and a dozen household items were stolen. My living standard was low without a steady income, so the theft made my life more difficult. I thought: Dafa disciples should not have their items stolen. There must be some omission on my part, and the old forces took advantage of the situation. I asked Master in my heart to help. I denied the barriers arranged by the old forces. I wanted to recover my items.
One day I saw my stuff in a young man's house. I kindly told him that these items belonged to me and asked him to return them. In the evening, he came with the items and apologized. He also wanted to pay me some money. I took my belongings back, but declined his money. I told him: “Please never do this again because it will harm you.” I also promised to keep this matter secret. He felt very grateful and left.
A second time, someone stole something from my house. I later found a clue, but I hesitated for a while. Finally, I decided to go see the thief. If I let go of this matter, it would be bad for both the thief and me. After a long conversation, he finally admitted it and returned the stolen item. I told myself that he was sorry for stealing. I believed that he understood how to be a good person. After that, I have never lost anything.
Letting Go of Sentimentality
I built a new house in 2008 for my son’s wedding. The work took away a lot of my time for Fa study and sending forth righteous thoughts. As a result, the evil took advantage of my loophole. After a practitioner was arrested, he gave the police my name.
I was arrested and sent to a labor camp for one year. The guards told some criminal inmates to give me a hard time, and they tried to force me to compromise my principles. I resisted.
But over time, I developed a strong attachment to my children. The guards noticed it, and they told me if I do not work with them, they would deny visitation by my children. I lost my righteous thought, and gave in to the pressure. I signed the Three-Statements. In the following several months, fellow practitioners helped me to realize my mistake. I regretted it very much.
I decided to undo my mistake. I told a guard: My signature is nullified because that is not my real intention. The guard was surprised. He left without a word. Because of my righteous thought, the evil did not dare to touch me again.
Several days before my release, prison guards asked me to sign a statement. The paper stated that I admit guilt. I refused to sign it. The guards told my son, if your father refuses to sign, we will extend his sentence, and you will not see your father for a long time. My son was scared. In a tearful confrontation, he said: “You cannot come home if you refuse to sign.” He could not stop crying for a long time.
I saw this as interference from other dimensions: the evil uses my son’s love as a weapon to sway my belief. I was determined not to be fooled. I told him, “Do not worry about Dad.” After realizing that I would not budge, he left.
I was released on time without signing the statement. When I let go of my attachment to family love and fear, my xinxing was raised. Master helped me to go home.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to Master for helping me gain understanding of Dafa principles and step out of sentimentality. At the final moment of the Fa rectification period, I will let go of all impure elements. I will try to save as many people as possible and fulfill my pre-historic pledge.
Thank you Master! Thank you fellow practitioners!
