(Minghui.org) I’m 67 years old and I began practicing Falun Dafa in February 2023. I’d like to tell you what motivated me to begin practicing.
I grew up in a poor family and couldn’t afford to go to school, so I was illiterate. When I was young, I liked to listen to the news. I never doubted the propaganda broadcast by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) media. The long-term brainwashing made me a complete atheist. I didn’t believe that good is rewarded and evil is punished. I also thought those who believed in gods and Buddhas were ignorant.
However, after a few miraculous things happened to members of my family, I realized my notions were wrong.
My Wife Became Illness-Free
My wife is a simple, country woman. She is cheerful, outgoing, kind, and helpful. She is also a good seamstress. When anyone in the village asks for help, she never refuses.
When she was only in her 30s, she developed insufficient blood supply to the brain, resulting in long-term drowsiness. When she suffered from neurological headaches, she would bang her head against the wall and cry in pain. She also suffered from cervical hyperplasia, postpartum joint pain, and other stubborn health conditions. She wasn’t able to work and became irritable.
There are four in our family. My daughter and son were in school, and I was the sole financial support for the family. I grew crops, but we had little money. We lived in a three-bedroom, low-rise old house and had no decent furniture.
I was both father and mother. Whenever we had a little bit of money, my wife bought medicine or went for treatment. I was always angry at her for this.
We constantly fought. I often said, “You waste whatever money we have!” Every time I said that, she got upset and cried. She hated her poor health and frequently said, “If someone could help heal me, I’d do anything!” The torment from her ailments made her feel hopeless, and she even talked about ending her life.
After Falun Dafa came to my hometown in 1998, my wife was fortunate enough to begin practicing. Within two months, without taking any medications or injections, or spending a penny, she became fit and strong. Her once sallow face was rosy and soft. Her bad temper also changed and she became very gentle. She took on all the work both inside and outside the house. She was always full of energy and opened a small tailor shop. She used it as an opportunity to tell others about Dafa.
Our family lived in harmony and I was so relieved. I went out of town to find labor work. We were so happy. I didn’t expect that such good fortune could happen to us. It seemed whoever I ran into was ill, so I’d tell them, “Please try practicing Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa is so wonderful!”
With One Person Practicing, the Whole Family Benefits
After my wife began practicing, our whole family benefited. First of all, with my wife’s illnesses gone, we saved a great deal on medical expenses. By being able to leave town for work, I could earn more. Our children knew Dafa was good, and thus they benefited. They also stopped fighting with each other.
Since my wife took care of all the household chores, I didn’t have to worry about anything. My life became carefree. We were a happy family and others envied us.
What was most unforgettable were two occurrences in which Falun Dafa saved our lives.
My Brother and I Survive a Serious Accident
One night before the Chinese New Year, my brother and I drove a heavy-duty truck to Chengde City to deliver beer. We had to drive on a steep, narrow mountain road. On one side of us was the mountain, on the other side was a ravine with a stream running through it over 100 feet down. The road was lined with cement blocks. Our truck was loaded with over 10 tons of beer.
We were driving slowly down the rugged mountain road when suddenly the brakes failed. The front of the truck crashed through three concrete blocks, ripping away the fuel tank, axle, and two front wheels as it careened off the road and down towards the stream. The cab of the truck came off, and we tumbled down into the abyss.
When the truck reached just over 30 feet away from the bottom of the mountain, I suddenly remembered that my wife often said, “When you run into danger, recite the phrases, ‘Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” So I immediately shouted the phrases. I was thrown through the window, just as the windshield shattered. I ended up hanging from a tree branch at the edge of the cliff with only an injured rib.
Ignoring the pain, I called my brother, but there was no reply. When the truck reached the bottom of the mountain and stopped, I heard my brother’s voice coming from the valley. I was relieved. I later learned that his chest was lacerated from hitting the steering wheel. His little toe was also injured.
According to my brother, the truck rolled to the bottom of the hill and landed firmly on a large flat rock. The surface of the rock was just big enough to accommodate the body of the truck. The truck was smashed. My wife told my brother about the goodness of Dafa, so that’s how he survived.
We learned from the locals that this section of road was quite perilous and many accidents occurred there. Whoever had an accident on the road didn’t survive. A few years ago a big tanker hauling cement slurry fell to the bottom of a hill, and the driver was ejected into the slurry. Everyone said we were blessed and miraculously survived!
Now, every time this incident is mentioned, I can’t help crying.
My Son Is Saved
After my son graduated from junior high school, he worked in a steel factory. He was never late for work and worked diligently. One day, he slept through the alarm.
Just as he arrived at the entrance, a big explosion suddenly occurred inside the factory. It happened in the workshop where he was stationed, and many of his coworkers were injured or died. If he hadn’t been late, he might have been killed.
Our family knew it was Master who helped my son escape this disaster. There are no words to express our gratitude!
Fear Made Me Commit Crimes Against Divine Beings
In July 1999, former CCP leader Jiang Zemin was carried away by his desire for power. Due to the popularity of Falun Dafa, Jiang’s jealousy caused him to initiate the persecution of kind citizens who believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
My wife was arrested and taken to a brainwashing center. As long as she refused to transform, she’d be illegally detained and subjected to cruel mental and physical torture.
I lived through the Cultural Revolution, so I clearly knew how evil the CCP was. I was afraid our family would be impacted, including our children. This meant losing our good life. I also knew that Dafa is good, but I was afraid to stand up to protect my wife. Instead, I went to the brainwashing center multiple times to assist the 610 Office staff in trying to “transform” her.
After she returned home, I didn’t allow her to study the Fa or do the exercises. I even beat her when she did. I ripped up the Dafa books and burned some of them. When practitioners came to my home, instead of welcoming them like before, I either gave them a cold shoulder, said nasty things, or threw them out. I also did not allow my wife to contact any practitioners.
Soon after, I developed a brain hemangioma and underwent surgery at the Beijing Military Police Hospital. I was hospitalized for over a month and spent more than 300,000 yuan. My wife told me that I received retribution for my actions. However, I didn’t believe it.
During the COVID pandemic, I saw a sticky note on the wall of my wife’s room that read: “The Pandemic is rampant, but there is a cure.” I was floored. I quickly took the note down and tore it up. I cursed my wife. However, she didn’t argue, but just looked at me silently. Afterwards, she didn’t bring it up, or resent me.
A few days later, the left side of my body suddenly became numb. I couldn’t move my hands, feet, or my tongue; I lost mobility to the point where I staggered. My wife had to call 911 and send me to the hospital. The doctor said I had a stroke and admitted me to the hospital.
After I was hospitalized for 18 days and spent over 10,000 yuan, which was all our savings, I told my wife, “I don’t want to waste our money here. Let’s go home.” So my wife did the paperwork to get me discharged.
After I returned home, my wife told me about some real cases where people received retribution for persecuting Dafa. This time, I listened.
During the recent Chinese New Year, a practitioner brought me the new article titled “How Humankind Came To Be” that the founder of Falun Dafa, Master Li Hongzhi, wrote to all of humankind. I listened to it a few times and was shocked. Master’s compassion finally woke me up. Falun Dafa is here to save humankind and help sentient beings make it through the great tribulation.
I finally awakened and realized that I committed a bad deed for going to the brainwashing center to persuade my wife to “transform.” Destroying her Dafa books and materials was also a crime against gods and Buddhas. My illnesses were retribution I incurred for having done all those evil things.
When my wife saw that I truly came to realize my mistakes, she suggested that I submit a solemn declaration to the Minghui website to ask for forgiveness and for an opportunity for me to correct myself. I immediately agreed and signed a declaration that a practitioner put together for me.
Walking on the Path of Returning to My True Self
I now sincerely recite the two phrases, “Falun Dafa is wonderful! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is wonderful!” and carry Dafa amulets with me to give to whomever I run into. I listen to the audio recordings of Master’s lectures every day.
I’m very supportive of my wife reading the Fa, doing the exercises, and going out to clarify the facts to save people. Because I sincerely regretted my wrong behavior, Master forgave me and adjusted my body. I recovered very quickly.
Master also opened my celestial eye. What I initially saw were all low spirits in strange forms. But I now see beautiful scenes in other dimensions.
I didn’t expect that my fate would turn around at this age. I will for sure remember Master’s teachings, and be a good person by holding myself to the standards of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance; and respect divine beings. I’ll continue striving forward diligently on my path of returning to my original, true self.
Thank you, Master, for your benevolent saving grace!
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