How I Reset My Starting Point to Deny the Persecution

(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa on March 1, 2016. In over five years, I was reborn in both body and spirit. It was Master Li Hongzhi's compassionate salvation that helped me make it through to today. 

In the beginning, I realized that cultivation could cure diseases and keep one fit. My cervical spondylosis, insomnia, gynecological diseases, and hemorrhoids all disappeared. It was amazing! I witnessed the miraculous nature of Dafa. I also recognized the evil nature of Jiang Zemin, the former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who initiated the persecution of Falun Dafa. People in China were deceived by the CCP's propaganda and don’t know the truth about the persecution. They are often afraid to learn anything about Dafa. 

I then devoted myself to validating the Fa, saving people with predestined relationships and persuading them to do the “three withdrawals” (withdraw from the CCP, Young Pioneers, or Youth League). I didn’t have any fear and started reaching out to people.

Adjusting My Fundamental Starting Point 

At the beginning of my cultivation, I learned that the purpose of life is to return to one’s original true self. Life is bitter, and I wanted to escape from the sea of suffering. So for a period of time, I practiced Dafa out of a selfish desire to leave the mundane world.

After studying the Fa more, I knew that I had to adjust my mindset. Because I was a relatively new practitioner, sometimes lacked insight and the necessary compassion needed to do the three things asked of practitioners. 

Master Li said:

“I also want to tell you that your nature in the past was actually based on egotism and selfishness. From now on, whatever you do, you should consider others first, so as to attain the righteous Enlightenment of selflessness and altruism. So from now on, whatever you do or whatever you say, you must consider others—or even future generations—along with Dafa’s eternal stability.” (“Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature” in Essentials for Further Advancement)

I corrected my mindset and now consider any issues from the other person's perspective. People are deceived by the CCP’s lies, and our mission is to expose the lies and save sentient beings. Especially in the face of this pandemic, I wanted to save more people. Master said: “Dafa disciples are the sole hope for people’s salvation” (“The Only Hope” in Hong Yin III)

In June 2020, I went out and hung up small banners that read, “Falun Dafa Is Good; Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Good” on the streets. Someone reported me to the police. I tried to clarify the truth to the person who reported me, as well as the police, but they told me to shut up. They then interrogated me and recorded the session. I didn’t cooperate, and I told them about the beauty of Dafa instead. 

I explained how since I started practicing Falun Dafa, all my illnesses were healed and my kindness emerged. I wanted to be a good person and act according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. 

When I was asked who introduced me to the practice, I said: “Would anyone practice if I told them to? That depends on whether we have a predestined relationship. Now, if I ask you to practice and to read Zhuan Falun, would you do it?” The police officer said: “Okay, I’ll do it when I have time.” 

When I was asked to sign the interrogation record, I thought they should also include everything they said. They didn’t record statements like, “Okay, I’ll do it when I have time.” So I refused to sign it. They later included this in the transcript, and then I signed. However, my home was ransacked that night.

An Opportunity to See My Shortcomings

The next day I was released on bail, pending trial. I felt something was not right. My son and daughter-in-law (both are practitioners living abroad) learned about the incident. They clarified the truth over the phone to the police officers who handled the case. They also spoke to me about the reasons I was being persecuted and asked me to look inward according to the Fa. By doing so, I found many attachments related to sentimentality and desire. I thought no matter what happened, I would only sign my name on the transcript as a Dafa disciple. I needed to maintain righteous thoughts! 

Two days later, they took me to the police station to make a new interrogation record, saying the previous did not qualify me. I thought it might be because I asked them to add the officers statement “Okay, I’ll do it when I have time.” I also felt that my cooperating with them by signing the transcript was also not good for them. They changed the transcript back and forth, then asked me to sign it, so I signed “A Dafa disciple.” I felt this was Master’s thoughtful arrangement!

I also wrote a lot in the blank space provided and pointed out how they framed me and committed a crime to persecute me. I urged them to treat Dafa disciples kindly so they would have a bright future for themselves. I explained that the police announcement in 2000, defining what a cult is, didn’t include Falun Dafa. I then mentioned that the Press and Publication Administrative Order No. 50 in 2011 abolished the prior order banning publication of Falun Dafa books. 

Upon seeing my signature, the officers were upset and asked me to sign again. The more they asked me to sign, the more I realized what I did was correct. Master strengthened me, so I had righteous thoughts and was able to reject the evil. Thank you Master for your compassionate guidance! 

It was as Master said:

“When disciples have ample righteous thoughtsMaster has the power to turn back the tide” (“The Master-Disciple Bond” in Hong Yin II, translation version A)

After I maintained righteous thoughts, Master settled the matter for me. The officers ended up rashly threatening me: “Even without a confession, we’ll get you indicted.” They printed an unsigned transcript and sent me to the Procuratorate. Because this was the initial stage of filing a case, the Procuratorate let me go home. 

About 15 days later, I was taken to back the Procuratorate. But I continued to uphold my righteous thoughts. I didn’t cooperate with signing any documents but just clarified the truth to the section head and two officers. When I was asked my name and address, I chuckled and said: “You know all this information well. I can’t cooperate with you anymore. Otherwise, my next stop is the court. I'm doing this for your good. I am not concerned with myself. Don’t commit crimes against Dafa!” 

I told them that since 2015, over 200,000 Dafa disciples have filed lawsuits against Jiang Zemin using their real names. Because I talked a bit fast, a young officer interjected and asked: “What did you mean about suing Jiang?” I replied, “More than 200,000 Dafa disciples sued Jiang Zemin and his criminal syndicate for initiating the persecution.” 

I went on to say, “The CCP has engaged in numerous political movements. For example, innocent people were labeled as Rightists during the Cultural Revolution. Afterward, these Rightists were released, but those who persecuted the Rightists began to be persecuted. Isn’t this lesson enough for our generation to remember? The CCP says whatever it wants. So it is better not to get involved in the persecution of Falun Dafa.” They understood what I said and let me go home.

Eliminating My False Self Formed by Worldly Notions

I realized I had studied the Fa for more than five years before I understood that it teaches us to look within when we encounter problems. 

Master said:

“Do you know how gods look at you in these instances? The old forces will remember you for it as soon as that happens, with your performance at that time becoming a handle for them to latch on to. What’s in store for you is trouble, then.” (“Fa Teaching Given in Manhattan”)

The arrest was a profound lesson. I hadn’t looked inward, cultivated myself, and eliminated my attachments. I was then exploited by the old forces. In the days to come, I will correct my thoughts, words, and deeds according to the Fa:

“You may talk cultivationBut you have to discard the attachmentsthat you hold deep insideWhat’s given up is not oneselfBut instead the folly of delusion” (“Discarding Attachments” in Hong Yin II)

My understanding of the above passage is that it is not ourselves that we need to give up but a “false self.” The human notions we form in this world are a false! However, this is not the source of our life. 

I am determined to abandon these human notions, cultivate myself well, reach the standard of a Dafa disciple and go home with Master! 

Thank you, Master! I am grateful for your mercy and salvation. I can only be more diligent in cultivation and help save more people! 

The above is my personal understanding. If anything is not on the Fa, please kindly correct me.