(Minghui.org) My cousin’s brother who was a doctor introduced Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) to us during the 1996 New Year. All our family members, from grandmas in their 80s to youngsters in elementary school, started to learn Falun Gong. More than 69 people in my large family read Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Gong, and close to 50 percent took up this cultivation practice.
My aunt in her 50s had chronic asthma. She took medications year round. She gained weight as a side effect of hormone pills. She could only read a few simple words before practicing Falun Gong. Thus, she had to listen to audio teachings or watch videos of the teachings by Master Li, the founder of Falun Gong.
When she came down with a high fever, she knew that she was paying off her karma. Her husband asked her to go to the hospital and take medication. She said, “I will be fine, as Master is purifying my body.” The fever was gone four days later.
To the surprise of the entire family, she could read Zhuan Falun after the fever was gone. Her younger sister wanted to see if she really read the book. She said, “Give me the book. I'll turn over a page for you.” She could read whatever page her sister flipped to. Since then, she can read the Falun Gong book.
My elder sister, who was in her 30s in 1996, had frequent back pain. She was a middle school teacher and could not stand for more than 45 minutes. She had to lie down after cooking a meal. There were other health problems and she took a lot of medication.
She read Zhuan Falun and began to practice Falun Gong in September 1996. She lived by the Falun Gong principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, followed Master's teachings and recovered from her illnesses.
She always applied the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance when teaching her students. She encouraged students with a poor academic record, and they appreciated her efforts, as otherwise they were criticized or humiliated in school and at home.
Most of the students showed improvement in their academic achievement. One of them told her that she was the only one who did not dislike students with a poor academic record. She was often praised and her colleagues wanted their children accepted into her class.
She taught English in middle school for over 30 years. Her class always had the top academic scores among all schools in the township. She was selected as the best teacher in the township, and given awards such as academic leader, the number one award of a municipal quality class, and teaching expert. She was promoted to advanced teacher in high school in 2013.
My sister's husband works in a research institute. He was diagnosed with liver disease in his 30s and was frequently hospitalized.
He fainted, fell down and needed eleven stitches for his head wound. He became depressed and lost confidence in life, as several patients he knew had died from liver cirrhosis or cancer.
My sister practices Falun Gong despite the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution. She is healthy and happy. Her husband used to tell her not to practice Falun Gong out of fear. He read Zhuan Falun in 2005, felt an improvement in his condition and began to practice Falun Gong.
His health was restored, and he did well in his research from then on. Some of his work won the number one award at national or provincial levels. His technology has been widely accepted and promoted in South China.
My family members went to Beijing to appeal for justice for Falun Gong after July 20, 1999, when Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese communist regime, initiated the persecution of Falun Gong. My mother, two sisters, two aunts, one uncle and I were detained in a county detention center. My family was monitored by the local government and police, who frequently harassed and tried to intimidate us.
Along with the escalation of the persecution, my mother, aunt and I went to Beijing again to peacefully appeal for the right to practice Falun Gong. The officials from our district committed extortion and detained us in detention or brainwashing centers. My aunt was tortured and deprived of sleep for over half-a-month. She was sent to a forced labor camp for a year.
We continued to practice Falun Gong and shared our experiences and understandings of this cultivation practice. The persecution was escalated in my district. We heard often that some local practitioners were arrested. The phones of practitioners were monitored.
We had an experience sharing meeting during my nephew's birthday party in April 2004. Twelve practitioners were invited to a restaurant. We shared our understandings and experience during dinner. We encouraged each other and improved the strength of our righteous thoughts.
We also raised awareness of the persecution whenever there was an opportunity. My cousin held a party for his daughter in 2005. We talked with relatives and his colleagues and advised 51 people to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Once we went to my parents village and advised over 40 villagers to renounce the CCP.
I have several brothers and sisters. There are 15 Falun Gong practitioners in my family. Most of us are well educated and hold good jobs. We cooperate well when we study the Fa, and clarify the truth about Falun Gong. None in my family has faced any severe persecution since 2001.
In this family, practicing Falun Gong is of utmost importance. We continue to talk to our non-practitioner families about Falun Gong and follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. We do not allow non-practitioner family members to malign Falun Gong. They changed from interfering with us to helping and protecting us.
Most of our relatives have renounced the CCP. During festivals or parties, we share cultivation experiences. We send righteous thoughts and our non-practitioner family members cooperate and do not interfere during that activity.
Our sons and daughters who were young practitioners have grown up. Some are undergraduate or graduate students, while two have great jobs. Nowadays, our non-practitioner family members also tell people about Falun Gong and the quitting-the-CCP movement.
My younger brother, who does not practice Falun Gong, sincerely recites, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” He was admitted to a graduate school and studies under a well-known professor towards his Ph.D.