Three Precious Photos

(Minghui.org) I keep three very precious photos in my home. They were taken when Master Li Hongzhi, Falun Dafa's founder, held classes in Chongqing more than 29 years ago.

Whenever I miss Master, I take them out, hold them in both hands, and look at them. Master seems to be looking at me compassionately, and it warms my heart. I am so grateful to be a Falun Dafa practitioner!

I am 72 years old and I began practicing Falun Dafa on September 12, 1993. Nearly 30 years have passed. It seems as if those precious moments with Master happened only yesterday.

Master Li’s First Class in Chongqing

The Qigong Research Association of the Jiangbei District Committee of Chongqing officially invited Master to Chongqing to teach Falun Dafa in August 1993.

As a qigong enthusiast, I was the director of a Chongqing Qigong Research Association branch at the time.

I had been looking for a good qigong but didn’t find one even though I learned several types of qigong. All the qigong I practiced in the past were at the level of healing and fitness, and they did not go beyond the “qi” [energy] level. Students were only taught to do some movements but were not told higher-level cultivation methods or given any moral guidelines. Those so-called qigong masters just held classes and charged a lot of money.

I did not know why I felt a sense of inexplicable excitement when I heard that Falun Dafa’s Master was coming to hold a class. I decided to learn Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) without knowing what it was.

The leaders of the Jiangbei District Qigong Research Association called us for a meeting. The person in charge said, “We are going to invite Master Li Hongzhi to Chongqing to teach Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa is one of the direct branches of the China Qigong Research Association...” He then gave everyone a flier, “Introduction to Falun Gong.” He said that the eight-day classes would be held from September 12 to 20 in the auditorium of the Jiangbei District Government.

Hearing this exciting news, I rushed back to my workplace and pasted the flier on the gate. I wanted to invite other qigong enthusiasts so they could attend the class.

I arrived at the venue at 8:30 in the morning on the first day of the class. More than 200 people were already sitting in the auditorium. Thirteen people from my qigong branch, and many from my workplace attended the class.

Since it was still early, I walked outside and saw a group of people reading the “Introduction to Falun Gong” flier. Several people from the Qigong Research Association were telling people about Falun Dafa.

I walked back to the auditorium. At the door, a tall, young man with a kind smile was holding an A4-sized “Introduction to Falun Gong” leaflet. He handed it to me as I passed. I took it with both hands and read it as I walked. Under a black-and-white photo on the introduction it said, “Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong.”

The photo was of the young man who’d just given me the leaflet! I was so excited when I realized that this was the Master I had been waiting for. I quickly turned back and headed for the door. I wanted to talk to Master, but he was no longer there. Then I saw that he was already at the podium. I quickly returned to my seat.

After giving an introduction to Falun Dafa, Master said he would let all of us experience Falun. He asked everyone to stretch a hand out. I did. Suddenly, I felt a Falun rotating left and right in the palm of my hand! It was amazing!

In the middle of the class, Master said he would heal an illness for everyone, and if someone had no illness, they could think about an illness a family member had. My mother suffered from severe rheumatic heart disease, so I thought about her illness.

Master waved his hand, and everyone stomped their feet when he told us to. At that moment, everyone clearly felt something.

My mother had worked in a textile factory but retired early because of her heart. As soon as I got home, I couldn’t wait to call her. I asked how her heart felt today. She said, “I feel very comfortable and relaxed. I’ve never felt so good!”

My mother, who is now 95, has been in good health ever since. During a recent physical exam, the doctor said, “Ma’am, your heart is very healthy!” It is thanks to the great blessings of Master and Falun Dafa!

Master Stayed in a Motel

It was unbearably hot in Chongqing when Master held the class. The Chongqing Qigong Research Association organizers arranged for him to stay in a nicer hotel. However, in order to reduce their financial burden, Master re-booked a room in a much cheaper motel. “Your master is so frugal!” the organizers exclaimed.

We later learned that the room Master stayed in was terrible. There were mosquitoes, and the place was infested with mice. The staff of the Beijing Research Association who came with Master told us, “Master seldom sleeps at night and usually meditates for hours.”

Commuting Problems Solved

Master realized that many students had to work, so he arranged to lecture between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., which did not conflict with our work hours.

My workplace was quite far from the city. So as not to miss the lectures, we rented a small bus that held 13 people.

Every day right after we got off work at 5 p.m., 13 members of my qigong association branch boarded the bus. We always arrived on time. After the lecture, we caught the last city bus home, which departed at 8:00 p.m.

We did not miss any of the lectures or miss a single day of work.

Photos Taken with Master

Right before the class ended, Master had a group photo taken with all the students (more than 400 of us). Master also took smaller group photos with students from the same area. We 13 had our photo taken with Master.

Master planned to leave Chongqing right after he gave the final lecture on the last day of the class. All the students were there and sent Master off. We did not want him to leave.

Master headed to Wuhan to hold classes there.

Master’s Second Class in Chongqing

Master was invited to Chongqing to hold a Falun Dafa class for the second time on May 20, 1994. More than a thousand people participated this time, including more than 40 from my area. The class was held in a movie theater in the Chongqing No. 3 Steel Factory in the Jiangbei District.

Master encouraged the students to write down their cultivation experiences, so I wrote about mine.

One Sunday morning, Master added a class. It was almost noon when the class ended, and everyone went to nearby restaurants for lunch. I went to a small restaurant for rice and bean curd. As I was leaving, I saw Master eating at the noodle shop next door. Master was served a bowl of noodles full of chili peppers. I knew it must be very spicy. I thought Master, who was from northern China, might not be used to such spicy food. I saw him wiping sweat off his face. Still, he finished the last drop of the spicy noodle soup.

Taking Photos with Master for the Second and Third Time

Before the second class series ended, Master said he would take photos with the students. A practitioner who lived in the city brought a camera.

It was drizzling outside, so the students had their photos taken with Master in the spacious entrance hall of the movie theater.

After we took the photo, Master walked back into the theater. I hurried after him and held out my cultivation experience report with both hands. Master smiled and took it.

When 40 people from my area (including some kids) lined up for a photo, I went inside the hall to look for Master. He was sitting on a bench behind the curtain on the stage with a stack of reports written by students in his lap, reading them under the dim light.

Master took a group photo with the practitioners from my area.

After the class, 12 local assistants met with Master. He told us that we could go to the parks, do the exercises, and teach others. He said his Fashen (Law Body) would guard us. We could post the introduction to Falun Gong, and those who were predestined would come to learn.

Recalling the Most Memorable Moments

We did as Master suggested and went to many places to spread Dafa and show people the exercises. Many people learned about Falun Dafa, and many started to practice.

Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched the persecution of Falun Dafa in July 1999, I have been harassed by the CCP regime’s authorities many times. I never wavered in the slightest in my belief in Master and Dafa. Throughout the years, I have done my best to fulfill my sacred mission and responsibility.

Whenever I look at the photos taken with Master, I am filled with energy, courage, and wisdom, which enables me to defend the truth of the universe with the strength Master gave me, and without fear.

It was not easy for Master to save us. Master endured many hardships to find us, watched over us throughout many lifetimes, and arranged everything for us. Master gave everything he had to save people. I must listen to him, do the three things well, practice diligently, save more people, and be worthy of the title “Falun Dafa disciple” in the Fa-rectification period.

I will cherish these three precious photos forever. They always inspire me to keep going.