(Minghui.org) I'm 44 years old and started practicing Falun Dafa prior to July 20, 1999 (when the persecution began). I was born in a relatively large village in Liaoning Province, with a population of over 300. My father was the apple of his parents' eye because he was the only male among all eight siblings. He died soon after I was born, thus I became the precious male in the family.
When my mother remarried and wanted to take me with her, my father's mother and his seven sisters all disagreed. Wouldn't the old family line die out if I were taken? My mother gave up, so I stayed.
I grew up under the doting care of my grandmother and seven aunts. I was spoiled and developed many bad habits. When I was about to ruin my family and everybody's life, I luckily obtained Dafa and started my journey of return!
Master Guided Me to Dafa
In the rural countryside, everybody is related to each other. My family goes back several generations, and is well established in our village. My grandmother and aunts are good natured and popular; therefore everybody treated me well, especially since both my parents were gone. The grownups would take me to dinners and parties. I grew up used to this privileged treatment and developed a sense of entitlement. I was lazy and parasitic, and indulged in food and wine. Later I became a heavy drinker and smoker, and could finish a quart of liquor in one sitting.
The worst part was, I wouldn't stop drinking until I was drunk and started cursing and hitting people, regardless of their gender or age, including my grandmother and aunts. I didn't go out to work and make money; instead I ate and drank all day and asked for money from my grandmother and aunts. If they refused me, I would throw things and smash doors and windows. My grandmother was very afraid of me and cried in secret many times.
One day, I got drunk and started hitting people again. While one of my aunts tried to stop me, I tussled with her and we both rolled into the mud. Typically, I would curse and hit my aunts, and as soon as I began fighting, nobody dared to interfere.
As time passed, everyone in the village avoided me, and people in the surrounding areas called me an animal. For example, when their kids were crying, the grownups would say “So-and-so (referring to me) is coming,” and the kids would stop crying immediately! Sometimes when I got drunk and collapsed on the street, nobody dared to help me, fearing I would hit them or curse at them. It wasn't so bad in the summer, but in winter when the temperature dropped to -22 o F, I was almost frozen to death and fell sick.
One day during a very cold winter, I collapsed on the street and someone brought me home. I cursed at him for meddling. My grandmother slapped me hard and cried out, “Son, you left your son here who I cannot handle. Now I'm nearly 80 years old, what can I do!”
When Falun Gong was introduced to our village, an elder relative invited me to practice Falun Gong with her. I responded that I believed in nothing but money and wine. I sneered, “Will Falun Gong give me money and wine?”
In 1997, I developed stones in both kidneys. I was in so much pain that my head was steaming and I rolled in bed. I couldn't stand the pain and went to the hospital, which cost me over 1,000 yuan. Since I had no income I had to borrow the money.
After I came home, my relative came to see me and advised me again to practice Falun Gong. She told me to say, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” I shouted at her and told her to leave.
A few days later, I suffered another attack of kidney stones. I was rolling in bed in pain crying with my eyes closed. When I opened my eyes, I saw a beautiful glow in front of my eyes. It was very beautiful. I stopped crying and forgot the pain. It suddenly occurred to me that it must be something related to Falun Gong!
I bore the pain and went to see the relative. She said, “I know why you're here. I'm playing Master's Fa-lecture video right now. Sit here and watch. As long as you are sincere, Master will take care of you.” I sat down and watched Master's lectures. My body became warm and my kidneys stopped hurting.
This is how I started practicing Falun Gong! Master guided me to it. Later, through Fa study, I gradually came to understand that the pain I suffered was repaying my lifetimes of karmic debt, while waiting for the opportunity to obtain Dafa.
Master Saved Me and My Entire Family
I watched Master's lecture videos for three days. When I was learning the exercises, I closed my eyes and saw two people circling around me pulling things out of my body. Three days later, all my diseases, including the serious stomach trouble, headaches, kidney stones and nephritis, were all gone. My body was cleansed and I felt light.
I quit smoking, drinking, cursing and hitting people. My mind and soul were focused on studying the Fa and practicing the exercises. I was able to eat normally, and my health improved day by day. I was delighted. Master said, “A human body is hard to acquire...” and “...it is difficult to obtain the Fa.” (Lecture Two in Zhuan Falun)
I had not only obtained a human body, but also truly obtained the Fa. Master adjusted my body and gave me a second life. I was truly walking the path of returning to my true self! I was so happy that I felt on top of the world.
My grandmother no longer had to live in a state of anxiety or wake up weeping from a bad dream about me. Instead, she often said with a smile, “My life is not wasted!” and she often said, “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” She is 88 this year and is still very healthy. My wife was about to divorce me, but she's totally fine now. Master has not only given me a second life, but also saved a nearly-broken family! This is indeed the situation, “When one person obtains the Fa, the whole family will benefit.” (Zhuan Falun Fajie - “The Law of Zhuan Falun Explained, Teaching the Fa and Answering Questions in Jinan”)
Before I began practicing Dafa, I weighed less than 100 pounds. I was weak and pale, and looked in my 50s even though I was only in my 20s. Young men would offer their seats to me on the bus and say, “Please sit, Grandpa.” Now I'm 44 and weigh 200 pounds, my face is rosy, glowing with a healthy radiance. I always try not to take a seat on the bus. One day I gave up my seat to an elderly man, and he thanked me, “Thank you, young man.” People say I don't even look 30.
Now my home has Master's portrait displayed, and my family burn incense in front of our Esteemed Master every day. My seven aunts often visit me and say to me with tears in their eyes, “We did not pamper you for nothing.” I responded that they should thank Master. Then we all did Heshi (a sign of reverence, the hands pressed together in front of the chest) in front of Master's portrait and said, “Thank you Master for saving our entire family!”
Master Taught Me t o Conduct Myself According to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and to Be a Good Person
After I started practicing Dafa, besides studying the Fa and doing the exercises every day, I strived to follow the standards of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I thought of others first and was no longer concerned about my personal gain or loss. I treated others with respect and courtesy, and repaired my wrongdoings in the past. If any family in our village needed help, I would help.
Instead of eating, drinking, cursing and hitting, I now helped others. I spread and validated the Fa. I wouldn't leave until I completed the work. For example, one day, several of us helped a family build a pig pen. The family offered us food and wine after we were done. I thanked them and said I did not drink anymore and had no time to eat, because I needed to go home and study the Fa. I can do all kinds of work and don't care how exhausting or messy it is.
Because I caused so much loss for the villagers, I felt I should compensate them by helping and at the same time validate Dafa's wonderfulness! In the past, every villager avoided me, but now they all liked to chat with me. Some elders said, “He used to be a tiger and was fierce, and everybody was afraid of him and avoided him. But now he's kind and agreeable and everybody likes to be with him. It is worlds apart! Falun Gong is so powerful to have changed him like this in a way no one could have imagined! His family also took a turn for the better! Our village has calmed down, and every villager has benefited.”
Master Told Me to Spread the Fa and Save Sentient Beings
As we were immersed in the infinite joy of spreading Dafa, like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky, the evil wind of the Communist Party persecuting Dafa practitioners suddenly blew overwhelmingly strong. I couldn't understand why such a wonderful practice was targeted. I thought, “What is there to fear? I simply must practice. I listen only to Master. Master has told us to spread Dafa and save more people. No one can stop it!”
We practitioners encouraged each other so that no one would sign anything from the authorities. Even though some fellow practitioners stopped practicing or began practicing secretly because of fear, no one registered with the authorities.
Master said, “The other day I said that the Buddha-light illuminates everywhere and rectifies all abnormalities. In other words, the energy scattered from our bodies can rectify all abnormal conditions.” (Lecture Six in Zhuan Falun)
When the police harassed me, I clarified the facts using my personal experiences. The entire village stood behind me. Our righteousness made the police officer tremble in panic, and he hurriedly said, “We'll stop coming.” One day, the secretary of the Township Party Committee talked to me, and I clarified the facts to him with my personal experiences. At last I said, “You're doing your job. I'm doing my job. I suggest you read two books – Zhuan Falun and Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. I advise you to say, 'Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good' often. If you don't persecute practitioners, you will surely be blessed. The story of how I changed after practicing Falun Dafa is so famous that it is well known to the county authorities!”
My righteousness shocked him. I added, “From now on, please do not harass us any more.” Indeed, no one has ever come to harass us since then. There are more than 20 practitioners in our village and no one has been arrested or otherwise persecuted. With Master here, no one can touch us.
Having practiced for 16 years, I persist in Fa-study and exercises. No matter how busy I am, I study a lecture of Zhuan Falun in the evening and practice the exercises in the morning. I take Zhuan Falun wherever I go, and clarify the facts to whoever I meet, using my experiences as well as my village's. Now I work eight months a year out of town. At my construction site, I continue studying the Fa, practicing the exercises, spreading the Fa, clarifying the facts and advising people to quit the Communist Party and its affiliated organizations.
At home, I teamed up with fellow practitioners to spread the Fa and clarify the facts to the villagers, and advise them to quit the party and its affiliated organizations, doing the three things well and saving people. The village cadres and elders have all said, “I'm convinced about Falun Gong. It's remarkable and can change people from the inside out!” Everyone in our village basically supports and praises Falun Dafa. For example, a Party member said, “Just from you alone, I see Falun Gong is good. You have indeed benefited, and your changes have convinced me.”
I have deeply understood that, as Dafa spreads, changes ripple from the individual to the family and to the whole of society. Everything we do is actually done by Master, and we are just fulfilling what is needed on the surface. Master's mercy is boundless, and Dafa's greatness is incomparable. In front of tribulations, what counts is the thought we hold. As long as we carry righteous thoughts and righteous actions, truly believe in Master and the Fa, and do what Master says, we will succeed in anything!
It is indeed true that “The Buddha-light illuminates everywhere and rectifies all abnormalities.” (Lecture Three in Zhuan Falun)
