Master Was by My Side During My Ordeal

(Minghui.org) While I was clarifying the truth to people about Falun Dafa I was arrested by plainclothes officers and illegally detained at the local police station that night. I realized I lost my physical freedom but my mind was free and I had Master. I did not acknowledge the persecution—instead I knew I should follow Master’s teachings no matter where I was. I continuously recited the Fa, sent forth righteous thoughts, and clarified the truth to the officer who was monitoring me. By dawn she understood the truth and agreed to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations.

The next day, a different officer was assigned to watch me. She was quite young and wore a CCP emblem. I thought, “She’s boarded the wrong ship so early in life.” I chatted with her and gradually guided her toward quitting the CCP to secure her safety. She smiled but didn’t agree to quit. She kept going in and out, checking with her superiors about when I could go home. I was transferred to the local detention center that afternoon. Seeing that she still hadn’t been saved after spending most of the day with me, I couldn’t miss the opportunity. Ignoring the other officers I quickly stepped forward and tightly held both her arms, saying, “I truly wish you well—please quit the CCP, Youth League, and Young Pioneers to stay safe. This chance is rare.” She nodded and said, “Okay!” and told me to take care of myself.

The detention center was more evil than the police station. When a guard learned that I practiced Falun Dafa he demanded that I sign a form that slandered Dafa. I told him I wasn’t a criminal and refused to sign it. After a standoff he shouted, “Just wait until you see how I deal with you!” I remained calm because I knew Master was by my side.

The inmates were required to recite the detention center rules, and the discipline officers enforced it harshly. I thought: “If I refuse to do this, I should at least explain to the discipline officer why, and use it as an opportunity to clarify the truth to her.” During a break I told the inmate in charge of our cell that I wanted to see the discipline officer. She replied, “You won’t recite the rules and still want to see the officer? Aren’t you afraid?” I thought: “Master is with me, what’s there to fear? I must save her.”

When I met the discipline officer I told her I had something to explain, “Do you know why I refuse to recite the detention rules? Because I’m not a criminal. Reciting those rules is for criminals, not for me. I’m a Falun Dafa practitioner and I only follow what my Master tells me to do.” She asked, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll punish you?” I smiled and said, “You are so kind, why would you? Besides, I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m only here because I practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and wish to be a good person. Now I’m forced to stay in a place for criminals and made to recite prison rules.” Before I finished, she stood up and left. Later, when the rules were being recited again, the inmate in charge of the cell announced, “The officer said A (referring to me) doesn’t have to recite them.” So, I could spend that time reciting Master’s teachings instead. I thanked Master for compassionately saving her and that she chose kindness; thus, she did not commit a bad deed against Dafa.

The detention center organized a Red Song singing contest and required everyone to participate. I approached a new young officer and told her, “We [there was another practitioner in the cell at the time] will not participate. We cannot praise the CCP because its hands are bloodstained.” The officer was furious. Her face flushed, and she loudly scolded me. I remained unmoved, looked at her calmly, and sent forth righteous thoughts. Seeing that I was completely unshaken, she asked in front of the whole cell, “So-and-so [my name], will you sing or not?” I said, “No!” She raised her voice and said, “Say it again!” I raised my voice too and repeated, “No!”

The young officer was enraged and ordered the entire cell to do a sitting punishment (a form of discipline) and stormed out. I immediately realized I was wrong. Although I wasn’t afraid, I should not have confronted her with human emotions. Not only did I fail to save her, I pushed her toward committing a bad deed against Dafa and caused the entire cell to be punished. I asked the cell head to tell the officer I was wrong and wanted to speak to her. The officer returned smiling and said, “Everyone, stand up! No more punishment. So-and-so [referring to me], if you don’t want to sing, then don’t.” When a practitioner’s thought aligns with the Fa, Master will help.

In the blink of an eye I was detained in the center for a year. The fabricated case against me had not progressed. I watched as others who arrived before or after me had their cases closed one after another, yet I remained. I sometimes felt anxious. I didn’t want to rot away in jail—I wanted to leave! This was not where I should be. I firmly believed that Master was by my side and I left everything to him. I continuously adjusted my mindset. I saw the time I spent doing forced labor as my time to send forth righteous thoughts and recite the Fa. I didn’t say anything unnecessary. The inmate in charge of the cell even praised me, saying, “Look at Auntie, so old, yet she never says a word and just quietly works all day.” I couldn’t help but smile inside.

One morning at 4 a.m., I was doing the night watch shift at the cell door (a 24-hour rotating watch duty required by the detention center). Suddenly, I saw a red glow filling the corridor outside, growing brighter and brighter. What was going on? I switched places with the person across from me and quickly stepped up to the door. I saw a path like a red carpet descending from the sky to our cell door, lined with big red lanterns glowing brilliantly on both sides—it was joyous and magnificent. I realized that Master was telling me: “The road home is paved for you—don’t worry.” I couldn’t hold back my tears. Thank you, Master, for your immense compassion! Thank you, for always protecting me and giving me peace of mind.

The next day when I was about to go to do the labor work, I couldn’t find my shoes. Everyone helped me look, but they were nowhere to be found. Then the person on watch at the door shouted, “Auntie, your shoes are at the door!” I said, “Great, I must be going out.” Then I exclaimed, “Yes, I am going home!” “Auntie is going home!” the entire cell burst into laughter.

I knew Master was by my side and knew everything. I let go of my desire to go home and devoted myself to doing what a practitioner should do. Helping Master save people is our mission. Regardless of the environment or the circumstances, it must be fulfilled. I always believed that being sent to the detention center was merely a change of environment for saving people. Master was with me, and I was not afraid. When I was the only practitioner in the cell, I saved people on my own. When there were two of us, we cooperated. We wrote down the names of those we helped quit the CCP, updated the name list daily, and passed them to lawyers who came to visit and understood the truth, or to practitioners who were being released. The turnover in the detention center was high—people came and went quickly. I tried my best to talk to everyone who came into my cell. Some agreed to quit the CCP and thanked me. I didn’t miss anyone, even those who left soon after they came; if they stayed, I clarified the truth in greater detail. I was detained there for over a year and I believed Master was right beside me. I never wavered in doing what a practitioner should do.

The procuratorate later dismissed my case. I was declared innocent and released. I am deeply grateful for Master’s guidance and protection throughout this journey! Thank you, Master, for your immense compassion and constant protection! I bow in gratitude to you!