(Minghui.org) How could it be possible to make a living with only one arm in today’s modern farming, which is driven by high proficiency and cost effectiveness? Lin Zhilong, a small-scale farmer in Taiwan, has a straightforward answer: Be down to earth and always stay true to one’s conscience.

Despite natural disasters, daily pressures, and criticism from peers, Lin Zhilong insists on going his own way—growing crops without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and sticking to tedious, labor-intensive approaches to produce crops that people can eat with confidence and enjoyment.

His seemingly foolish persistence stems from his experiences after taking up cultivation practice in Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong).

Photo 1: Lin Zhilong watering his crops (Minghui.org)

One Book Opens a New Perspective on Life

When he was five years old, Lin Zhilong lost his right arm in a mechanical accident. His heartbroken mother taught him how to write with his left hand, and also sent him to painting lessons. While growing up, he faced many judgmental looks from others, and painting and literature became his sanctuary during those years.

Lin Zhilong came across the book Zhuan Falun when he was a university student, and this changed his perspective on life.

“Like most people, I used to think that life was about getting into a good college and finding a well-paid job after graduation,” he said. “But Zhuan Falun changed my outlook on the world and myself. It helped me understand the true meaning of life.”

Lin Zhilong made up his mind to cultivate in Falun Dafa, and began to reflect on himself and change his temperament for the better. He started to treat people with more sincerity and kindness. When conflicts arose, he learned to let go of self-interest and treat others with understanding and tolerance. Gradually, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the fundamental principles of Falun Dafa, became the standard he tried to live up to in balancing relationships with others and when facing various tests in life.

Learning to Farm With Only One Arm

When Lin Zhilong was in his 30s, his mothers was scammed out of several million New Taiwan dollars and their family house in his hometown was in danger of being repossessed and auctioned off.

He recalled, “The sudden huge debts made me feel as if I’d suddenly fallen into a bottomless pit. I almost lost my sense of direction.”

“Then I remembered the teachings of Falun Dafa, and realized that not one of life’s tribulations is an accident. Instead of complaining, I should face the situation with calmness, and show kindness to my mom, who was suffering deeply at that time.”

Lin Zhilong took up three jobs to help his family pay off their debts during that difficult period.

Around 2010, there was a series of food safety issues in Taiwan. Later, both his parents were diagnosed with cancer. All this made Lin Zhilong aware of the importance of food safety and public health.

At the age of 37, in 2018, he resigned from his job in Taipei and returned to his hometown to begin farming, hoping to grow safe and reliable crops.

However, this was easier said than done, especially for someone with little experience and only one arm. He went to learn from Wu Qingzhong, a senior farmer in the local area.

At first, Lin Zhilong wanted to prove himself by carrying heavy equipment and working in the fields until he was totally exhausted. He even tried to carry bags of rice on his back with one hand, thinking hard and sweaty work would compensate for the loss of his arm.

To his surprise, Wu Qingzhong admonished him, saying, “You haven’t found the right way of doing things in your condition, and you haven’t truly put your heart into farming. If you keep doing things this way, you won’t last long!”

Wu Qingzhong’s words were a wake-up call for Lin Zhilong, who realized that putting one’s heart into something is not about showing off, but using wisdom to find a suitable method.

So, he learned to make good use of resources to share the heavy labor. He also developed his knowledge about climate, soil, and specific characteristics of different crops.

After a few years of learning and getting experience, he finally rented a block of land and established his own small farming brand.

Following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to Grow Clean Crops

Passersby can see Lin Zhilong bent over in the paddy fields, pulling weeds with his only arm. He uses the most time-consuming and labor-intensive weeding method to avoid using herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

Lin Zhilong said: “It only costs a few hundred dollars to get rid of the weeds with herbicides, but the cost goes up to almost 2,000 dollars a day by pulling them out manually.”

Still, he sticks to his chosen way of farming according to Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Lin Zhilong believes that one must stay true to one’s conscience, instead of just going after mass production and profits. He would never sell his produce to other people if he was not certain of the quality.

Grains are an essential food, and what people eat can impact both their physical and mental health. He said, “Since I’ve chosen to engage in farming, I must take on the responsibility to provide people with food of genuine quality.”

Lin Zhilong’s moral character is also evident in the way he treats his customers. After he started to sell his produce at markets, quite a few people from the local government and health organizations came to check his crops.

“In the beginning, I felt rather uptight, but I became much more relaxed later, as my products all passed the testing without any issues,” Lin Zhilong said. “If anyone showed any doubt, I would invite them to take a look at my grain storage warehouse.”

Once, some of the grain went bad because they were not stored properly. When a client complained, he didn’t say anything to explain himself, but kept apologizing, offered a full refund, and sent a replacement of fresh, new stock.

“People come to buy my produce because they trust me, and any criticism or suggestions serve as a reminder and a mirror so that I can keep reflecting on myself to do even better,” Li Zhilong said.

Strength from Cultivating in Dafa

Farming is by no means easy, and there is also the pressure of running one’s own agricultural brand. If he is unable to deliver on time due to shortage of stock, he can find peace and tranquility during his daily practice of the Falun Gong exercises, especially the sitting meditation.

“When I feel bothered by frustration over various hassles, as long as I start doing the exercises calmly, I gradually become clear-headed, and can let go of the frustration.”

Lin Zhilong also shared that he began to suffer from severe arthritis at the age of five, and very often could not sleep at night due to pain. His mother took him to seek treatment in many different places, but nothing worked. However, around two months after he started practicing Falun Dafa, his longstanding arthritis miraculously disappeared.

With a strong, healthy body, he can now work in the fields, but in farming, there is a test that no one can control—the weather.

A few times, just before harvesting season, the local area was hit by a typhoon. All the vegetables and fruit were ruined, and farmers lost everything they had invested in their produce that season.

“Sometimes, I wondered if I could keep going,” Li Zhilong said with a bitter smile.

After suffering a few natural disasters, he gained a new understanding about the meaning of “loss and gain.”

“Human beings are actually rather small in the face of nature,” he said. “So, we should never get carried away simply because we have mastered a few skills. Don’t think too much, just stay grounded, and focus on what needs to be done.”

Walking the Righteous Way

As his small brand gradually became established, some doubts and cynical remarks came his way. Several people were suspicious of his motives, and some even thought his venture was about winning sympathy over his lost arm.

Lin Zhilong admitted that he felt really upset and angry when he first heard these rumors, and he even wanted to talk to those people to clear his name. Then he calmed down when he remembered that he is not only a farmer, but also a practitioner of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

“There are no shortcuts in this human society and one should not rely on luck or harbor wishful thinking. When facing suspicion and skepticism, I would remind myself over and over again to always walk my way righteously!”

Daily exposure to the weather, natural disasters, harvesting, and the ebb and flow of human relationships are all part of life.

After a while, Lin Zhilong no longer felt the need to prove anything, and just focused on walking his path with integrity. For him, farming is no different from spiritual cultivation—one must do everything properly, and stay true to the principles of a cultivator and a farmer, with nothing to hide and nothing to regret.