(Clearwisdom.net) Ever since the the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started the persecution of Falun Gong in1999, like many other practitioners I suffered the double tribulation of pressure from my family and the society. I didn't study the Fa well early on, not knowing what the old forces' arrangement was. But I had only one thought in mind: Regardless of any difficulty, my solid faith in Dafa would not waver.
On the evening of July 20, 1999, the Central News Agency of the CCP started broadcasting the announcement that Falun Gong was now considered "illegal." The following morning, instead of taking my family members' advice, I went again to the park to practice the exercises. While practicing the "Standing Stance" exercise with over ten other practitioners, someone on the sidewalk said, "Stop what you are doing. The police by the park entrance look like they are going to arrest people." As I had only one thought--that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance can defeat any evil--with Teacher's compassionate protection, I finished the first four exercises without interference.
I heard later on that a fellow practitioner at another practice site was arrested. I felt so bad about it that I consulted with other practitioners about writing an open letter calling for public concern about the arrests. We then distributed the printed open letters. In a dream at around dawn, Teacher in a yellow kasaya appeared in front of me. I woke up calling out to him in a loud voice, and Teacher disappeared. I knew Teacher was encouraging me that I did the right thing.
The arrests of fellow practitioners worried my husband and son. They were so worried about my safety that they were against my practicing, and they took away my Dafa books and practice tapes. Both my husband and son work in the political and legal department of the CCP. My father-in-law had a talk with me, worrying about his son and grandson's futures. My husband's brother got my son to ask my brother and sister to convince me to quit Falun Gong, while other relatives and friends all came to speak with me for the same purpose.
I began to realize that, as Dafa is harmonious, I, too, must be harmonious. As a Dafa disciple, I must be responsible to the Fa. I must create a better atmosphere and smooth the relationships between my family and myself, and I must escape this cycle of friction. With righteous thoughts and compassionate acts, I realized I had to dissolve all grievances. People are easily deceived by what the CCP promotes. But if they see the brutal situation of the persecution, they will certainly be concerned for the safety of their family members. In order to change their perspective on Falun Gong, I had to first be a good practitioner and, at the same time, disclose the lies of the CCP. In doing these things I realized I would be able to demonstrate that Dafa is good and that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good. In view of these, I have become more compassionate towards my husband and my son and to my elders, whom I now pay more respect to. I also treat friends, neighbors, relatives, and all others with benevolence.
This approach has proven beneficial to my efforts to clarify the truth. For example, as a practitioner I have been considerate of others first and do not fight for financial benefit even though others might take advantage of me. I treat people with sincerity, kindness, and harmony, so as to let those around me know that Dafa practitioners are good people and not like what the CCP described. While telling people what Falun Gong really is, I've also been sending letters to different government departments at different levels with detailed facts about Falun Gong.
As time went on, detained fellow practitioners in our area were released one after another. I went to see them, bringing along some gifts and telling them not to give up this precious ages-old opportunity. One of them, a diligent practitioner and the lead person at our practice site, but twice arrested, was unhappy about her husband wanting to divorce her for fear that what she was doing would affect his job stability as a responsible person in his department.
Feeling sad after what I heard, I said to myself, "She's being unjustly treated by her husband and by society." After dinner I went to see her husband to advise him not to get a divorce. I told him, "Since your wife isn't home, if you should need help, I'll do my best." He said, " I do not need anything--it is just that my heart feels heavy."
I felt I should be candid with him so I said,
"I heard you wanted to divorce your wife. That is a big step. Marriage is created by heaven. Who are you to say you want a divorce? Your son is getting married and will have children. Do you want to destroy a happy family and all your good fortune? It isn't your wife fault she got detained. How could it be wrong to believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance? There'll a proper judgment sooner or later. What will you do then when you have to face your wife and child? What would the people in this area think about you? You'd most certainly regret such a decision. You must think about it carefully. We're neighbors, and I'd like to see you have a happy family. I'm here today for your sake and hope you will take my advice."
He had lowered his head as he listened, but then he raised it and said, "Thank you very much. I'll think it over again." As he walked me to the front door, he put his left fingers on top of his right fist as a gesture of respect and thanks.
At present, this fellow practitioner has returned home and is improving her own cultivation environment and regularly doing the three things. Her son got married and a grandson was born. I'm happy for her happy family, and I am even more grateful for Teacher protecting Dafa practitioners.
Due to the nature of my husband's job and the corruption of the CCP, I often find myself in difficult social circumstances, where my husband and I frequently come across the practice of gift giving and dinner-party invitations. Based on the requirements of Dafa, whatever we can refuse we refuse, whatever we can return, we return. My husband once helped a college graduate from a small village get a job. He was very thankful for what my husband did. At festival time, he came to visit us with an envelope containing money. I said to him, "I cannot take this money. The job you now have is your predestined fate--your qualifications met the requirements for that job, so you don't have to thank us. It was not easy for your parents in the village to support you in college. Also, you will want to buy a house and get married later on. All these require money, so you better keep it for your own use."
With tears in his eyes, he said, "How can I thank you guys? You don't want a penny for doing such a big thing." I said, "Your best thanks will be that you do well in your job and remember to listen to your conscience." He promised he would. When I walked him downstairs to the front door, I told him to remember, "Falun Dafa is good, Falun Gong is being persecuted." He said, "This other person gave me a copy of Zhuan Falun that I haven't had a chance to read. I'll read it this time when I get home."
A friend of mine is in charge of a street office. I told her the facts about Falun Gong many times. One time as she was going home from work, she came across a practitioner handing out Falun Gong materials. She said, "Better get away fast and don't get arrested." When she told me about it, I was happy for her awakening.
In the past ten years, among all levels of government I have tried to clarify the truth to people from the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee, the National People's Congress representative, the city's security agency chief, the public security bureau, the Prosecutor's Office, and court officials
. For all these people, I have been using different methods based on their different official positions and backgrounds, telling them about the facts of Falun Gong in order to open and enlighten their compassionate minds.
There was a city representative for the National People's Congress. When I met him the first time, I told him about Falun Gong and the real story of the staged self-immolation. When I saw him the following year, he said, "Seeing you makes me think of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." And a city Standing Committee member, after understanding the truth about Falun Gong, was able to tell the facts about Falun Gong when he met with other committee members out of town.
For ten years, I really haven't been able to smile sincerely because there are still fellow practitioners detained by the CCP, and there are still people who have not withdrawn from the CCP and its affiliated organizations, and there are many people still suffering. Knowing Dafa practitioners' heavy responsibility, I want to be courageously diligent and dedicated, I want to absolutely focus on studying the Fa, and do well the three things. Now the atmosphere for Dafa cultivation is good. Everyone in my family reads Dafa books, and my little grandson is able to recite Lunyu and several poems from Hong Yin.
September 2, 2009
