(Minghui.org) I would like to share some of my precious memories of how Falun Dafa was spread in my hometown. I can still vividly remember how people came to practice Falun Dafa in droves, a scene that remains unforgettable. May these enduring events in the history of the universe encourage us to cultivate as diligently as when we first began, fulfill our missions, and be worthy of Master’s saving grace.
Qigong experienced a remarkable upsurge in the late 1960s and early 1970s in China, even as the country remained very isolated under the atheist ideology of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The practice of qigong invigorated the human body and led to the emergence of various supernormal abilities. Some people reported having their third eye opened, seeing scenes in other dimensions, and even witnessing figures and settings familiar only in myths and legends. Others developed telekinesis, penetrative vision, the ability of clairvoyance, or the ability to cure illnesses using supernormal abilities. These abilities directly contradicted the CCP’s atheistic doctrine, and had never been seen in most people’s lifetimes. Through qigong, people came to realize that the exercises could promote health and wellbeing. Qigong opened a window to realms beyond atheism, allowing glimpses of the heavens and magical worlds. It awakened an understanding that mysteries exist beyond the understanding of empirical science.
During that era, many people practiced qigong to heal illness and keep fit. Countless qigong styles emerged, and the public became captivated. Some groups charged exorbitant fees, while other qigong practices lost their healing effectiveness after a while. Certain qigong masters organized group healing sessions solely to make money. Some people spoke a kind of unknown language after they practiced a certain qigong, while another qigong form had people rolling all over the ground as a form of practice.
Someone once encouraged me to learn a certain style of qigong. It had several stages. The final stage was that the learner had to practice in the mountains, and completing all the stages of the practice could cost anywhere between a few thousand to ten thousand yuan. Although I bought the book, I didn’t learn the practice because I had already spent all my money on medical expenses in an effort to cure my terminal disease. That person also insisted that I should only pay fees to the first person I had learned qigong from and that I shouldn’t learn from other people in that same qigong practice. I found this approach odd and couldn’t understand the reasoning behind it.
Another person asked me to go to Guizhou with him to learn a qigong healing method called “hand grabbing.” He claimed that I could learn some techniques and cure minor illnesses by patting and grabbing. After gaining some experience curing illnesses, I then needed to pay the fees to the master. I was skeptical of his claims. And the fees were indeed very high.
Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) was introduced to the public on May 13, 1992. It was a unique form of qigong in this chaotic situation. The cost for a session of eight or nine classes was only forty or fifty yuan—it was the lowest fee nationwide. For returning learners, there was a 50% reduction. The five Falun Gong exercises were taught for free at the many practice sites that started up throughout China. There was no registration required—whoever wanted to learn the exercises could come. The book containing the main teachings of Falun Gong, Zhuan Falun, was published, and the cost was only 12 yuan. Many people, especially those who had already studied other forms of qigong without gaining a clear understanding of qigong, quickly realized that Falun Gong was genuine qigong and true cultivation once they began practicing.
Zhuan Falun reveals the ultimate goal of human beings and the real meaning of people’s existence: to return to their original selves. The book clarifies many abnormal phenomena in the qigong community, such as “qigong healing,” and “hand grabbing,” explaining the source, background, and severe consequences of these phenomena. By dispelling the mysteries and confusion surrounding qigong practices, Zhuan Falun helps people gain a clearer understanding of qigong. Practitioners of Falun Gong often undergo great physical changes and improvement of their xinxing, enjoying the profound benefits of a healthy body and mind.
Falun Dafa spread throughout the whole of China like a spring breeze, reaching even remote areas like my hometown. In July 1998, my friend asked me to help her organize a Falun Dafa session in our village. I contacted a local school, planning to play Master’s video lectures during the school holidays. We invited practitioners from the county to come over to assist us. However, on the designated day, they didn’t show up. They had gone to another village to teach the exercises because so many people there wanted to learn Falun Dafa. As a result, they were overwhelmed and we had to postpone our session.
Our lecture series began on July 12, 1998. On the third day of the lecture series, practitioners from another village invited practitioners from the county to come to their place to teach, explaining they had chosen this particular date because it was an auspicious day on the Chinese lunar calendar. Their careful timing demonstrated their dedication to Falun Dafa. As a result, some of the practitioners from the county went to assist, while the rest remained in our village. When our session concluded, practitioners from the county were promptly picked up by practitioners from another village who needed their help for yet another session.
Interest in learning Falun Dafa grew quickly, so the county assistance center held a training session for key practitioners from various villages and I was honored to be selected to attend. The assistant dedicated time to correct our exercise movements, making sure our movements met the standard. With the county assistance center’s guidance, we set up several new groups to promote Falun Dafa in nearby villages and in remote mountainous areas. Despite our county’s remoteness and poor transportation at the time, Falun Dafa practice sites flourished throughout the county and in every village.
Let me share an example of a session I attended. At first, the classroom was only partially filled, but as the session progressed, it became so crowded that not everyone could fit inside. Some who lived far away arrived early in the morning. There were primary and middle school teachers, officers from the county government, and peasants from nearby villages. I myself was an officer from the community center at the county government level.
Our county was home to a renowned liquor factory, whose managers all supported Falun Dafa practitioners. The factory’s labor union generously provided the practitioners the entire first floor of the veteran entertainment center, free of charge, for their activities. They also purchased a TV, video player, music player, and loudspeaker for the group. As further encouragement, they connected cables from the head office to various workshops and activity centers, enabling employees to practice the Falun Dafa exercises during their breaks.
The union chairman noted that since employees had started practicing Falun Dafa, conflicts among the staff were greatly reduced. While reimbursing any medical expenses was a benefit for the employees, it was a headache for managers. In the past, employees would go to great lengths to claim more benefits, often arguing with the managers or even causing trouble for them. Some would seek treatment at the provincial hospital even when treatment at the local hospital would suffice. They would often exaggerate a minor problem in order to stay in hospital for prolonged periods—all in pursuit of more benefits and allowances. In contrast, Falun Dafa practitioners didn’t behave this way. They didn’t ask for extra benefits, and would refuse them even when offered the benefits.
After the first training session, many exercise practice sites and Fa study groups were established in our county. There were six or seven practitioners in my Fa study group, and most suffered from illness but soon recovered after they started practicing Falun Dafa.
I formerly suffered from neurasthenia, headaches, insomnia, dizziness, sinusitis, pyelonephritis, and arthritis. In addition, I also had late stage uterine cancer, and I had prepared my coffin and shroud. However, after I began practicing Dafa, my cancer disappeared without me even realizing it, and I discarded all the funeral items. All my illnesses vanished, and I no longer needed to wear glasses for my severe nearsightedness.
A woman in her sixties who lived near the school came to the session using a walking stick. Curious about the number of people coming to the session, she arrived towards the end of the first lecture, and wanted to continue watching the series. I encouraged her to come early the next day and learn the exercises.
She returned the next day and the day after that. I asked her why she was not using a walking stick when I saw her on the third day, and she replied that she no longer needed the stick.
One practitioner suffered from insomnia that no medicine could relieve. She was exhausted and in low spirits every day. Remarkably, she could sleep soundly even before finishing all of Master’s video lectures, finally overcoming the insomnia that had tormented her for so long. Another practitioner had injured her clavicle in a car accident, and after watching Master’s lectures she recovered within a month.
One practitioner suffered from a herniated lumbar disc. She’d had surgery for the condition, but found no relief. Living on the fifth floor, she faced a daily struggle. Each time she went upstairs, she would hold onto the rail and go up very slowly and painfully, having to rest at each floor. The journey up the stairs left her drenched with sweat, and it would take her up to two hours to get to the fifth floor. One night in a vivid dream, she saw a tall strong male doctor who instructed her to lie face down and then applied something like moxa (an herbal formulation used in Traditional Chinese Medicine) to the painful area, which emitted dazzling sparks and loud crackling sounds. She felt intense heat and began to sweat heavily, and after waking, she found herself drenched in sweat. From that moment on, her back pain simply disappeared, and she was able to carry buckets of water and bags of coal up the five flights of stairs with ease.
Another practitioner endured persistent headaches caused by injuries sustained in a car accident several years before. The pain was often unbearable, and no amount of medication helped. However, after she began practicing Falun Dafa, her condition drastically changed. One night while sleeping, she was jolted awake by the sound of firecrackers popping and crackling near her ears. From that moment on, her headaches disappeared. Remarkably, her husband, who suffered from hepatitis, also experienced a full recovery after he took up the practice.
We all understood that Master had bestowed blessings upon us. Cherishing our hearts for cultivation, Master purified our bodies with divine powers, enabling us to cultivate in Falun Dafa. With boundless compassion, Master treated us equally regardless of background or social status; Master looks after every practitioner.
Many practitioners remarked that they didn’t know when their illnesses had disappeared. Without any visits to the doctor or taking any medication, incredibly, their illnesses just disappeared. At that time, every practitioner felt healthy and joyful.
Several female practitioners in our group, even those in their fifties and sixties, had their menstrual period return. Many practitioners underwent remarkable changes mentally and physically, and their appearance noticeably improved. One friend, impressed by my rosy complexion and good health, asked me what kind of skin products I used. I said that I didn’t use special skin care products and I just practiced Falun Dafa. I confided that I had once suffered from skin cancer, and looked terrible with an unhealthy skin color, and my life was near the end. Inspired by my story, this friend also began to practice Falun Dafa.
One Miao woman who was half paralyzed and lived several miles away from the county town, was once carried by her husband on his back to our Fa study group. She was illiterate and her back was severely bent, but she listened attentively to Master’s audio lectures. Initially, she was unable do the exercises, and could only sit there quietly. Gradually, she could sit in the half lotus position, and eventually she could do the fifth exercise in the full lotus position. Soon her back became straight, and she recovered completely. Her brother, witnessing her transformation, took his wife who could hardly walk due to illness, to her home. They left home early in the morning and arrived after dark. The next day, they both came to my home, and as I was out promoting Falun Dafa, my husband played Master’s video lectures for them. My sister-in-law also taught them the exercises. After one month of practice, her brother’s wife recovered and was able to walk back home.
The story of this woman’s sister-in-law demonstrated the wonder and beauty of Falun Dafa and was spread among Miao families. As a result several of her relatives came to practice Falun Dafa.
On April 8, about 100 practitioners from various Fa study groups in our area gathered in the town to hold a big event on April 8, 1999 on the Chinese lunar calendar. Among the practitioners were retired cadres from the village, township, and county levels. We studied the Fa, practiced the exercises, and shared cultivation experiences together. We took a group photo at the end of the event. There was a mysterious glow and halo in one corner of the photo. Some practitioners said that it was the Buddha light, and everyone was excited.
Two retired cadres from a nearby village organized and participated in an event to promote Falun Dafa. During the event, they had a photo taken, in which several Falun appeared. In the early days, nearly all the assistants in the county assistance center were retired cadres. Among them were a former township director, township Party secretary, district grain station Party secretary, manager of the supply and marketing cooperative, and former division chief judge.
When we saw the Falun and Buddha’s lights in the photos, it felt as though Master was encouraging us and reinforcing our confidence in cultivation. Looking back, we realized that the signs appeared before the persecution began, as a reminder from Master to be be firm in our righteous thoughts and to continue our cultivation no matter how severe the tribulations and hardships we would encounter. Heaven would not fall, for Master and the Fa were with us.
Falun Dafa teaches practitioners to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the universal characteristics. The goal is very clear.
As we studied the Fa more, the practitioners in our group gradually changed their self-centered values and perspective on life. We were no longer proud of competitiveness. We looked within during conflicts, took fame and personal interest lightly, and considered others first.
One practitioner owned a shop. Out of jealousy, someone tried to find fault with him, and one day broke the glass counter. The practitioner remained calm and didn’t get angry. Instead, he demonstrated forbearance, asking the person if he was injured and not demanding compensation.
One practitioner lived in a house facing the street. When her neighbor rebuilt their house, they cut down a corner of the balcony of the practitioner’s house, which angered her family. However, she remained calm and reassured them, saying that their daily living was not affected, and it was good if it helped the neighbor’s house look neat and attractive. She believed it was worthwhile to help others achieve their wishes. When her children called her foolish, she just laughed it off. This demonstrated how she let go of pursuit of personal interest amid serious conflict, at the same time improving her xinxing and achieving elevation of her realm.
I used to be hot tempered and would fight with boys until I won. Growing up in the CCP’s vicious environment, I was influenced by the CCP’s culture. I became competitive, selfish, arrogant and disrespectful toward others. In our neighborhood’s popular market, one day a vendor set up her stall in front of my mother’s house. Enraged, I kicked over the stall. When the vendor tried to argue with me, I broke her stool, and my mother ended up apologizing to her.
I lived in my factory’s dormitory, and every time they purchased new brooms, I always took one for myself. I often used the office phone to make personal calls, never thinking whether it was appropriate. I took advantage of everything. Through practicing Falun Dafa, I came to realize that my previous behavior was incorrect. Being rude to others was unkind, and a true Falun Dafa practitioner should always act with kindness. Greed and taking advantage of others were selfish notions that I needed to eliminate. I made a conscious effort to change, working to rectify myself through my thoughts and actions.
Whenever a practitioner received too much change when paying for goods, they would return the excess. If they found valuable items, they would find the owners and return them. One year, our area suffered a devastating mudslide that left some people missing, some injured, and many homeless. In response, Falun Dafa practitioners donated money, daily necessities, and food, not seeking any thanks.
Falun Dafa practitioners have experienced tremendous benefits from their practice. Many family members are no longer burdened with caring for seriously-ill relatives, and economic and mental pressures have lessened. As a result, society as a whole has been positively impacted. Falun Dafa only brings benefits and causes no harm to the nation or its people. For more than 20 years, practitioners have persistently shared the truth about Falun Dafa and the persecution despite facing severe adversity, so that others can remain safe in any future catastrophes. Practitioners sincerely hope for a bright and wonderful future for all.