Article Review: Standing on My Own Two Feet

A Western practitioner in Massachusetts

This report is my recollection of what has changed in my life during the past six months of practicing Falun Dafa. I will begin with an overview of my personal history and what I was like prior to learning Falun Dafa.

Having been born into a world of poverty with a predisposition for illness, I believed this was my lot in life. When I was ten years old, I was said to have petit-mal epilepsy and that was the cause of my fainting spells and migraines. The treatment of Valium (a sedative drug) was the beginning of a long period of my being under the influence of one substance or another. My learning disabilities, autistic tendency and early onset major depression all went unaddressed. The inability to properly chew food went undiagnosed until my thirties. It wasn't until the pain in my jaw became so severe that I finally was forced to have a treatment that required two reconstructive surgeries.

Afterwards I began to scrutinize another long lasting condition since my childhood. I had not been able to breathe well while sleeping or through my nose during the day. That was later diagnosed as moderate to severe sleep Apnea and a deviated septum. Surgery corrected the deviation and I was given a machine to assist my breathing at night. On top of all these and other things, I was challenged daily with a foot injury that had severely limited my range of movement.

Being dependent on my medical support system, supplements and medicines were my way of life. I had worn out many of my social contacts and had not worked a full-time job in over eight years. Feeling isolated and vulnerable, I found myself living in a situation that was very unhealthy. I gave myself an opportunity to look back at the medical establishment and its support system, which now appeared to be both helping and hindering me. I was tired of having so many unanswered issues in my life. To stand on my own two feet without pain seemed to be so far away.

Another example of my situation at the time was that my apartment was even sicker than I was. The fact that it had been flooded three times last year and a number of times in the previous four years forced me to consider looking for something better. Finally with my doctors and friends' continued support, I decided to take the first step to find a new apartment and the change I was looking for.

While looking for a new place in a weekly flyer, I saw an advertisement for free QiGong lessons. This led me to contact a Falun Dafa practitioner. Over the next two days I went to a practice site in the morning to learn the five exercises. On the third day, I had the opportunity to attend a nine-day Falun Dafa seminar. That change I was looking for had come... and in a big way.

Falun Dafa answered the questions I had been wondering about for my whole life, such as "What is the meaning of life?" and others. When I read on page 5 of Zhuan Falun "One should return to one's original, true self; that is the real purpose of being human," I knew I was into something new and great.

Still plagued with poor health and depression, I pushed on through those early weeks of practice. Even though I could not walk very well, I knew I was on my way to being a cultivator. Through reading Zhuan Falun, I came to a more enlightened understanding of my illness. The practice of Falun Dafa has changed my outlook and has led to growing good health in my body, mind and spirit.

With my new outlook on life, I had the determination to rise early every morning without an alarm to go to a practice site for the next 3 months. Having the opportunity to share with other practitioners helped my practice. I found that I was more likely to make it through all five exercises when I was with them and outside at the practice site. I was no longer looking for anyone to heal me. The shifts and adjustments to make my cultivation successful had already started. I saw that it was up to me to raise myself through understanding the Fa (law, or principles) and raising my Xinxing (mind-nature; moral quality).

My medical support people have all been pleasantly surprised by the new changes in me. One doctor who had been following my progress for some time now concludes that Falun Dafa has contributed to putting me back on my feet. When I went in for a physical, the doctor's staff and I were both moved to tears over my progress.

During the past couple of months, I have reflected on the good fortune I have had. It has been six months since I started practicing Falun Dafa. My ability to stand and support myself has improved significantly. I am no longer taking medication, as I don't need it now. I trust that through the growing understanding of the Fa, my journey on the path of true cultivation has begun.

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