Compassion Illuminates a Dark Detention Center

(Minghui.org) I was arrested and held in a detention center because I practice Falun Dafa. I was detained in a cell about 30 square meters, which held 20 people when it was full. The oldest person was 73 years old, and the youngest was only 18. Most of them were detained for economic fraud, gambling, selling fake medicine, and other crimes.

Despite the cramped, dark, and oppressive environment I was able to follow Master’s teachings. I treated those around me kindly, offered guidance, and helped reduce their suffering and conflicts.

The relationships between people in detention are extremely tense, and even minor things can cause conflicts, such as accidentally sitting on someone’s stool, touching someone’s food bowl or water bottle, snoring while sleeping, or going to the bathroom and disturbing others’ sleep. Since everyone only looks out for themselves, there are countless conflicts.

Those who have been detained for a long time are especially domineering. They can be in a terrible mood when they miss their parents and children, or are under tremendous pressure because they are about to go to trial.

At any moment inside that cramped space, people may start arguing or crying over something trivial. It’s especially tough for newcomers, who are struggling to adapt, and then get bullied. Each day feels like an eternity.

If a detainee’s family has not yet deposited money for them, then the detention center won’t give them any daily necessities. These individuals can’t wash or brush their teeth. Whenever they need to use the restroom, they must beg the cell head (who is usually tough and has been detained longer). Only then will the cell head reluctantly hand over one or two palm-sized pieces of toilet paper, which are only provided for bowel movements. When I asked for toilet paper, she rudely replied, “Don’t ask me for it. I’ll lend you a roll, but you must return two rolls.” I immediately agreed.

Once I got the roll of toilet paper, I quickly tore off a few sheets, and gave them to Yingying, who had just arrived a few days ago. Her family couldn’t send her money. I had already told her the truth about Falun Dafa, and she readily agreed to quit the CCP and related organizations. She strongly agreed with Falun Dafa and gradually became more cheerful and optimistic, completely changing her initial pessimistic and negative attitude.

It seemed as though she saw hope and she had something to look forward to. At the time, she couldn’t believe I was giving her this hard-to-come-by toilet paper. She looked at me with gratitude and quickly stuffed it into her sleeve (the prison uniform has no pockets), afraid the guard would see, as prison regulations prohibited people from exchanging items.

My family deposited two thousand yuan for me the day after I was arrested, but four nights passed before I received a thin towel and a very basic set of toiletries. I knew how difficult life would be without these daily necessities, so I decided to buy a set of toiletries for each of the women who didn’t have any money. Each set cost fifteen yuan and fifty cents.

That day, everyone was sitting silently in two rows on small stools. I stood up and asked the cell head, “Can I use my own money to buy toiletries for those who don’t have any?” My words were like a thunderclap, and everyone was stunned.

The cell head stood up in shock and stammered, “You... you want to spend money to buy them things?” Before I could answer, she asked again, “Are you sure?” I said, “I’m sure.” She looked at me skeptically, snorted derisively, and said, “You’ll regret it. You’ll end up fighting with them and demanding compensation.” I said, “I won’t regret it.”

Even though she didn’t believe me, she still pressed the call button on the wall to report the incident. She had been detained for over two years and was very domineering. She didn’t approve of Falun Dafa and looked down on me.

When the female section chief arrived I recognized her. She’d come to see me the day before for a routine chat, and the cell head had told her, “This Falun Dafa practitioner is actually a retired teacher.” The section chief replied loudly, “Her Master is quite capable; there are even university professors who practice Falun Dafa!” Her voice was so loud that several cells could hear her. The cell head was trying to belittle me, but she was taken aback by the section chief’s attitude and immediately backed down. During that conversation, the section chief seemed quite reasonable.

The section chief asked those without toiletries to raise their hands. They immediately became excited, raising their hands high, and looked at me with gratitude. There were eight of them in total. A woman sitting near me whispered to someone else, “This woman is so kind!” The section chief said loudly and sincerely to me, “You are truly a good person!”

She paused for a moment and then added, “But we can’t. There are too many of you. If the higher-ups come to audit, we won’t be able to take responsibility!” Although everyone felt disappointed, they all sincerely thanked me, and deep down, they all felt the kindness and selflessness of a Falun Dafa practitioner.

My family later brought me three pairs of socks and two pairs of underwear. I gave one pair of underwear and socks to Yingying. She immediately hugged me tightly and cried with joy. She had always considered me her closest and most trusted person. She said she would be transferred to Xinjiang soon, and didn’t know if she would ever meet someone as kind as me again.

I comforted her, saying, “As long as you sincerely believe in Falun Dafa and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and act accordingly, you will be blessed!” She felt reassured.

I gave another pair of socks to Xiaomei, a young woman from another province. She was stunned. She’d been barefoot since she arrived and had no socks. It was very hard to buy underwear and socks at the detention center and people rely on their family to bring them. Xiaomei was very grateful for the gift. “You are so nice!” I told her the truth about Dafa and the principles we follow.

Another woman, Xiuying, was from the distant south and said she was a Buddhist lay practitioner. I told her the truth about Falun Dafa, and she agreed wholeheartedly, saying she would spread the teachings of Falun Dafa after she was released. I said, “If you do, you will be doing an immeasurably great deed!” When I left the detention center, I gave her the remaining rolls of toilet paper to distribute to the other women.

When I think of those dark time in the detention center, I remember how miserable people were; they felt hopeless and helpless, and the harsh environment and rough treatment made everything even worse. But the beautiful seeds of Falun Dafa were sown deep in their hearts.

The radiance of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance was able to illuminate their cold hearts. Without Master’s guidance, I could not have done this. Thank you, Master, for your boundless compassion!