(Minghui.org) I am a 76-year-old Falun Dafa practitioner who stepped into the practice in 2007.
My daughter became a practitioner in 1999, the year when the persecution started. She was arrested and tortured by the police for her belief. Every time I learned the news about another arrest I cried.
She wrote me letters to help me understand that Falun Gong was good and the persecution was unlawful and inhuman. Yet, I could not help but blame Falun Gong for her suffering.
My daughter visited me and my husband in 2005. She told me about the goodness of Falun Gong and how the practice had benefited her mentally and physically. Despite her efforts, she could not change my mind.
She gave me Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Gong,and The Great Way of Spiritual Perfection andsaid before she returned home, “Mom, please remember to recite 'Falun Dafa is good; Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good' when you are in trouble.” I listened, but didn't take her words seriously.
I was diagnosed with a severe urinary tract infection (UTI) in December 2006. I slowly recovered because of different treatments and medication. However, almost a year later, I suddenly experienced great pain and realized that the UTI had recurred more severe this time around.
My husband wanted to get medication at the pharmacy, but then realized that it was late at night and all pharmacies would be closed. I told him that I would try to endure and wait until morning.
The word endure reminded me of the phrases my daughter had told me to recite. I recited “Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” about six times before I fell asleep. I was fine when I woke up in the morning.
This incident convinced me about the goodness of this cultivation practice and I started to read Zhuan Falun and did the exercises. All my ailments disappeared within one month.
After my husband passed away in February 2013, my son invited me back to his home. But, I coud not find any practitioners and therefore only did the exercises and read the books.
I returned to my daughter's home in May 2014. I knew it was time that I told people about the persecution of Falun Gong.
Some individuals I talked to were impolite. But, I realized that these people helped me improve in my cultivation. I argued with a person when I remembered what the founder of Falun Gong, called Master Li by practitioners said, “If you compete and fight like an ordinary person, you are an ordinary person.” (Zhuan Falun)
This was like a wake-up call. I discussed these incidences with my daughter who helped me see that I was not compassionate when I talked to people. From then on, I watched my words and actions and compared them to the Falun Gong truths after I returned home. I also discussed the incidences with my daughter, to identify where I had to improve.
My daughter, son-in-law and I went on a trip. I seemed to be the most senior among all the tourists, so our tour guide suggested that I not climb the mountain as it might be too great of a challenge. I listened and then decided to climb the mountain anyway.
When people passed us they were surprised to see this elderly lady. One passerby initiated a chat and told me that he was a police officer. He was curious about my age, and was surprised to hear it. He said his wife was in her early 50s but didn't have the energy to climb the mountain.
I told him that I was once paralyzed and regained my health by practicing Falun Gong. He was really shocked. I asked, “Are you afraid that listening to the facts about Falun Gong would cause you trouble? I, the one who's doing it, am not afraid. You are an officer, so there is no need to be afraid.”
He was not worried and asked me to keep talking to him about the practice. I told him the facts about Falun Gong and the illegality of the persecution.
I visited a village with three fellow practitioners. We ran into a 60-year-old man and his wife. One practitioner knew him and whispered that he had forced his wife to stop practicing Falun Gong at the onset of the persecution.
I walked up to him and handed him a Shen Yun DVD, which is a group of practitioners that perform worldwide. He asked me if it was related to Falun Gong. I said yes and he started to curse.
I said, “Brother, don't be so stubborn. You must have learned that many high-ranking officials have been removed from their positions. The publicized reason is their corruption; but the true reason is that they were all deeply involved in the persecution of Falun Gong. One example is Li Dongsheng, the director of the 610 Office.” While talking, I put a booklet with information about Falun Gong in his hand and he did not reject it.
“If two people fight,” I continued. “You most likely will listen to both parties to learn what exactly is going on. For such an important issue, you should not only listen to what one party says.” I talked to him for about 20 minutes, and the man just stood there and listened.
I then gave him more materials about the persecution, as well as about quitting the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations. He said, “I will read them right after I get home. Thank you!” His wife was sitting quietly on the back of the tricycle and listened the entire time.
Many people are still waiting to hear the truth about Falun Gong.