(Minghui.org) Many Chinese people know the story of He's Jade. Bian He, a citizen of the Chu Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn Period (771-476 BC), found a piece of rough jade hidden in a stone on Chu Mountain and presented it to King Li of Chu. King Li had a jade craftsman examine it, and the craftsman reported, “It is merely a stone.” King Li accused Bian He of lying and cut off his left foot.
After King Li died, King Wu ascended the throne. Bian He then presented the rough jade to the new King, who also had a craftsman examine it. The craftsman concluded, “It is merely a stone.” King Wu then had Bian He's right foot cut off.
After King Wu died, King Wen ascended the throne. Bian He held the rough jade and cried for three days until he had no tears left. King Wen had his servants ask Bian He: “Many people in the country have been punished by having their feet cut off. Why are you the only one who cries so sadly?” Bian He replied, “I am not sad about my feet. I am sad that jade is mistaken for a stone and truthful people are mistaken for liars.”
King Wen then had a craftsman break open the stone, and what they found was a priceless, magnificent piece of jade, which later became known as He's Jade.
Bian He presented the jade twice, and was punished cruelly and crippled for life. Despite the circumstances, however, he held firmly to what he knew, and the true state of the jade was finally revealed. Many people might naturally think, “How stupid King Li and King Wu were to mistake jade for stone. Bian He was wrongfully punished for insisting on what he believed.”
Some people might even think, “If I were king, I would definitely not be as stupid as King Li and King Wu.” In fact, almost all of us have a sense of justice and believe that we would do our best in such a situation.
However, throughout history, people have often found themselves lost amid lies and slander, forcing good people into unnecessary tribulations. Today, the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is yet another round of lies, defamation, and slander. Falun Gong practitioners have endured so many tribulations: facing people's misunderstandings and ridicule, being sent to labor camps and prisons, torture, having their organs harvested, and even death.
Through it all, however, practitioners have remained steadfast in their presentation of the most treasured jade to the people of China and the world—the principles Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
The following are some stories of Falun Gong practitioners helping people see through the lies and slander of the communist regime—helping people to see the jade.
An Unwavering Eye on the Precious Jade
An elderly woman, Practitioner A, was sentenced to one year of forced labor in 2002 for refusing to give up her faith in Falun Gong. She was detained in one of the country's cruelest labor camps.
During her detention, she learned that an inmate's good friend, B, was a friend of the director of the local 610 Office. Practitioner A became determined to help the 610 Office director see the truth about Falun Gong after she got out.
Practitioner A learned that B had a parent who was suffering from a severe liver disease and was in need of a nursemaid. After her release, practitioner A went to work as the nursemaid.
B's husband was a very successful businessman, and the couple enjoyed a life of wealth. Although half of their large house was not being used, they did not allow A to live in a separate bedroom. Instead, they had her sleep on the floor in the ill parent's room. It was very warm, but air conditioning was not allowed because of the patient's condition; neither were electric fans nor opening the windows allowed. The patient's body gave off a strong odor in addition to the frequent vomiting and diarrhea.
After B's husband found out that A was a Falun Gong practitioner, he often yelled at her and found ways to humiliate her. However, A did not give up in spite of the hardships, and she reminded herself of her goal: to help these precious people learn the truth about the practice of Falun Gong regardless of the ordeals.
She thus put her heart into caring for the ill patient and seized every opportunity to talk about Falun Gong to the couple. After six weeks, B finally agreed that Falun Gong was good. After reading the book Zhuan Falun, B regretted not learning about the practice sooner. B's husband also voluntarily provided 2,000 yuan for Practitioner A to make Falun Gong materials in order to help more people see through the lies of the communist regime. Soon, the 610 Office director learned the truth about Falun Gong and changed his views, too.
As for B, she has been talking to people about Falun Gong for the past ten-plus years in the same way that Practitioner A had been doing all the years prior.
Don't Neglect the Seemingly Small and Simple
There is a well-known story of a boy and small fish: As the ocean tide comes in, many small fish are left stranded on the shore of the beach. A boy who lived nearby would always walk to the beach after the tide went out and pick up each small fish and throw it back into the sea. Day after day, year after year, he never ceased tossing the fish back. Someone once said to him: “You can throw them back today, but tomorrow more will be washed back onto the beach. How can you be so set on achieving nothing?” The body answered simply, “I know.” The person asked again, “Why do you keep doing it? Who cares, really?” The boy replied as he kept picking up the fish and tossing them into sea, “This fish cares. So does this one. That one cares, too.”
This story reminds me of a girl I know who was about to graduate from college and continue her studies abroad in the Netherlands. After she learned the truth of Falun Gong and quit her CCP membership, she could not restrain her joy and exclaimed, “My goodness! I have gained a new life!” Indeed, she had.
Falun Gong practitioners have made countless careful and patient efforts helping the Chinese people realize that Falun Dafa is good. These practitioners are just like the boy on the beach, clarifying the truth about the persecution day after day in order to save the lives of so many before the communist regime inevitably collapses.
