(Minghui.org) I opened a convenience store in the summer of 2008. I was so preoccupied with work that I spent very little time studying the Fa. My strong attachment to the business was taken advantage of by the old forces and I began to experience symptoms of shingles, a painful, blistering skin rash.
Once I acknowledged the persecution, the infection spread quickly on my body. A friend told me that this was a very serious disease that was untreatable, and that I was going to die.
I had pain throughout my body, and even my bones ached. I didn't know what to do to make myself feel better.
Crying, I said to Master that I wanted to use some ordinary people's method to alleviate the pain. Then a thought came to my mind, “Divine beings wouldn't go see an ordinary doctor. How can an ordinary person cure a divine being's disease?”
Even with this hint from Master, I still went to a clinic and received injections for three days. But the treatment didn't have any effect on me. I tried several other methods and still didn't see any improvement.
A practitioner heard about my situation and came to see me. I didn't tell him what was going on with me, out of fear of losing face.
I met another practitioner a few days later. He saw many bad things in my field in another dimension that were causing the problem.
I began to become afraid and I felt that I didn't have control over my body anymore. I was dizzy, and it felt like there was something covering my head. I was very scared.
I couldn't fall asleep at night because of the pain. I felt that a snake-like creature was surrounding my chest and interfering with me.
For nine days, I was in a semi-comatose state. Many people thought I was dying. I also gave up and thought to myself: even if I die, it's because I didn't do well in cultivation. But I didn't want to cause any damage to the Fa's reputation because of my own failure to do well.
However, nine days later, nothing happened; I was still alive. I enlightened that I shouldn't leave this world in this way, as I haven't finished my mission as a Fa-rectification period Dafa disciple yet.
Moved to tears by Master's compassion and salvation, I knelt down in front of His portrait and promised that I would let go of the attachment to death and to myself, and follow the divine path that Master has arranged for me.
With Master's help, I went out to clarify the facts the next day, although walking was still difficult for me.
I began to truly regard myself as a cultivator. Unable to sleep because of the pain, I spent the time studying the Fa, doing the exercises and sending forth righteous thoughts. With the Fa in my mind all the time, I felt that my mind was very pure and my righteous thoughts were getting stronger.
One time while sending righteous thoughts, I asked Master to strengthen me. I felt the strong power of Falun eliminating the evil beings persecuting me. I was encouraged and I knew that Master was with me.
Another time, I couldn't fall sleep and thought, “Should I study the Fa or do the exercises?” Then Master's Fa came to my mind.
“The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts.” (“Drive Out Interference,” Essentials for Further Advancement II)
So I studied the Fa.
There were many similar instances where Master reminded me to keep my heart on the Fa and be more diligent in cultivation. I knew that He was watching over every thought of mine.
With Master's protection and practitioners' encouragement and help, I developed stronger faith in Master and cultivated more diligently. The physical tribulation gradually went away. I am especially grateful for the opportunity given by Master to assist Him in Fa-rectification, and realize that it was at the cost of His own huge sacrifice.
As a result of this experience, I now truly take cultivation very seriously and have not become lax again in my personal cultivation and in saving sentient beings. When I see fellow practitioners suffering from similar tribulations, I share my story with them and encourage them to have faith in Master and to do better in cultivation. A practitioner with the serious symptom of breast cancer broke through the tribulation after extensive Fa study and doing things with strong righteous thoughts.
Master said:
“At critical moments, when you are at a crossroads of whether you will be able to make it through, if you do poorly you will lose your life, but if you do well you will break through.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2014 San Francisco Fa Conference”)
I hope that every practitioner who is facing severe tribulations can break through the situation. When we diligently cultivate ourselves and do everything according to the Fa, we will realize that all tribulations are in fact illusions. With the Fa's guidance, we can turn tribulations into a good thing and be more diligent in fulfilling our responsibilities as a Dafa disciple.
Category: Improving Oneself
