(Minghui.org) I'm a 78-year-old Falun Gong practitioner. I have been following Master's teachings and doing the five sets of exercises every morning at 4 a.m. since 1997. If I can't complete my exercises for any reason, I make them up the same day with no omission. Even when the persecution was most rampant, I did the exercises every day.

Master told us,

“I’ve said that however high a person’s character is, that’s how high his gong is.” (The Third Talk from Zhuan Falun) (Translation Edition (Feb. 2003, North America))

“You want to increase your gong, but you don’t take cultivating your character seriously, so your gong won’t increase at all.” (The First Talk from Zhuan Falun) (Translation Edition (Feb. 2003, North America))

I treat every exercise session as a process of cultivating my heart. How do I maintain a calm, benevolent and compassionate state of mind during my exercises? I often study and recite Zhuan Falun, Essentials for Further Advancement, and The Great Way of Spiritual Perfection. These books provide the guidance for my exercises. I also place importance on sending forth righteous thoughts to disintegrate any factors that would interfere with my exercises.

I keep a clear mind during each exercise. I treat any difficulty or pain as tests and improve my xinxing through these tests. For example, when I first started doing the meditation with both legs crossed my leg muscles felt incredibly painful, as if they were being pulled out with hooks. Soaked with sweat, I endured the pain and refused to move. After six months, I passed this test and started feeling comfortable and relaxed, as if I was sitting in an eggshell.

We should have tranquil minds during the exercises and not think about anything. We should not have any pursuit of energy potency or of obtaining supernatural abilities. During the exercises, I eliminate any selfish ideas and personal considerations, and I stay clear minded.

Even though we aren't required to have perfectly identical movements, I carefully follow the exercise instructions, because it's the only way to allow the mechanism that Master put in us to run smoothly. Master has corrected his students' exercise movements in person many times. Our Fa study group watches Master's exercise teaching videos together every once in a while, and we correct each others' movements. We have been doing this for years.

I have benefited from my persistent exercises, through the improvement of my xinxing and innate body. It has enabled me to resist interference from the evil. I suddenly fell to the floor one day a couple of years ago. My left leg and arm couldn't move. I couldn't utter words clearly. I had the symptoms of a stroke, but I was able to move the following day and ride a bike five days later. I have ridden my bike to go clarify the truth every day since this incident. Riding my bike is so easy; it's as if someone is pushing me from behind. I am energetic, eating and sleeping well, and I live without any symptoms of someone who previously suffered a stroke.

My family members have changed their view of Falun Gong after witnessing how much I benefited from my cultivation. My husband also started cultivating and has benefited a lot. His heart disease disappeared. He looks much younger than people his age. Though he is in his 80s, his body feels very light and he walks very fast.

The above is my limited understanding. Please feel free to point out anything incorrect.

Heshi!