By Lin Jinxian

(Clearwisdom.net) My father passed away when I was twelve years old, and my family was under financial pressure. While my schoolmates were imagining themselves as fairy tale princesses, I couldn't wait to graduate and earn money to lighten my mother's burden.

Soon after I graduated from junior high school, I became an apprentice at a beauty salon. After working for a few years I was introduced to a young man, and we were soon married. From then on, I not only had to work, but also had to tend to the minutiae of marital life.

As a beautician I have to stand throughout the day and suffered from various physical ailments. Giving birth to my two children by Caesarean section exacerbated the state of my health. I wasn't even 40 when I developed many problems like shoulder pain, backaches, insomnia, gastric problems and migraines. I felt uncomfortable all over and paid frequent visits to the hospital. Consequently, my table had many medicine bottles.

Besides going to the hospital, I also tried to regain my strength through various forms of exercises, for instance through swimming, folk dancing, a form of qigong and others. I did not achieve any observable, satisfactory results. Whenever I was alone, my thoughts often drifted to my health and to the bleakness of my future.

Four years ago I read an advertisement in a bookstore about Falun Gong offering free exercise classes. This enabled me to partake in future Falun Dafa cultivation. I remembered that my husband's health wasn't well at that time either, and he was interested in practicing some kind of qigong. The local media often mentioned Falun Gong and the practitioners being persecuted in Mainland China. My husband knew from past experience that whatever the Chinese ruling party tries to oppress is usually something upright and good. Just like that, my husband decided to learn the Falun Gong exercises.

In addition to learning the exercises, he also conducted himself according the high standard of the Falun Gong principles, Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance. In the past ten years that we have been married, this was the first time I saw such a big transformation in him! After a few days of practicing Falun Gong, he actually stopped gambling and speculating in stocks. Most importantly, his bad temper disappeared.

My life was renewed in the spring of 2000, for I began to practice Falun Gong! When I had undergone a Caesarean section, the doctor made a mistake during administering the spinal anesthesia. Since then I suffered from terrible aches throughout my entire body. My lower vertebrae turned into a weather forecaster, for it became unbearably sore whenever the weather changed. It was so painful that I couldn't even stand and had to rely heavily on painkillers.

After reading Zhuan Falun, I understood how a true cultivator should act; therefore, I diligently studied the Falun Dafa teachings and practiced the exercises each day. I also put aside all my medicine. Approximately four months later, my chronic illnesses miraculously disappeared! Since then the pains in my vertebrae have never come back, and even the recurrent minor aches were cured.

Group Exercises

Group Sharing

The writer (second from the left) practicing the Chinese waist drum

Gradually, through my husband's and my example, our two children began practicing Falun Gong as well. As parents, we used to discipline our children very strictly in hopes that they might rise above others one day. Our parent-child relationship grew very tense as a result. Through studying the Falun Dafa principles, we learned not to make extreme demands for our children to achieve. The outcome showed that they actually performed better in such a considerate environment.

In the past, I had the habit of keeping my disappointments bottled up inside. It was difficult for me to look at things from the optimistic side, and I was therefore scared to do things on my own. Ever since I practiced Falun Gong, I have been able to view losses lightly and have become a more reliable and confident person. I am now able to maintain a peaceful state of mind. Moreover, I also understand the meaning of a human being's existence in this world and no longer hustle and bustle aimlessly.

In the years I have practiced Falun Dafa, I have obtained a healthy body, a peaceful mind and a happy family; and I now know the meaning of life. All of this could not be bought, even with all the riches in this world. With an extremely grateful heart I use every opportunity to let people know how wonderful Falun Dafa is and tell them the facts of the savage persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

In order to help more people know that Falun Dafa is good, to clarify the facts to the world's people, and to call for the help of all kind-hearted people everywhere, to stop the persecution that Jiang's regime initiated, I often carry a huge bag containing truth clarification materials to distribute in public areas, schools, governmental buildings and even police stations. In addition, I travel abroad as our family condition allows, to Switzerland, the U.S.A, Canada and other countries to participate in worldwide truth clarification activities.

Falun Gong photo exhibition

An exhibition of re-enactments of torture methods used in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners

Helping people achieve a better appearance is my profession; however, in the memorial activity "Respect Life: In memory of July 20," held at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, I effectively exposed the ruthless torture methods employed by Jiang's regime in persecuting Falun Gong practitioners.

Many tourists were shocked by the representation of these brutal torture methods. Some people, after careful observation, asked, "Are these wounds real?" I told them that the wounds they see in the exhibit are a simulation and are used to portray the facts of what has indeed been happening in China and is still happening. Many kind-hearted people were shocked and distressed by this. They also signed petitions supporting Falun Gong and condemning the persecution in China.

Falun Dafa not only gave me health, confidence and a change in my worldview, but also made me realize the true meaning of life and gave me genuine happiness! If I had not practiced Falun Gong, I would not be able to enjoy the serene life that I have now. If attaining Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance is wrong and prohibited, there will be simply no justice to speak of in this world. We will continue to clarify the facts, to call for justice and to help practitioners in China regain the freedom to practice their belief.
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2004/8/13/81657.html