(Clearwisdom.net)
Teacher Gives Me a Second Life
I'm 62 years old. At the end of 1999, I began to practice Falun Dafa. Before that, I was very weak and my health was poor. I had pain in my legs, lower back, and arms. I also had hyperthyroidism menopause, so that I sweat the whole night and other times as well. My heartbeat was up to 115 or 120 beats per minute, I was in a lot of pain and didn't have any strength. Taking medication or injections didn't help either. I was in pain all the time. Once when I was hospitalized, my sister-in-law came to visit me. Seeing how my eyes bulged and my hands shook, she said to me, “My sister-in-law, please practice Falun Gong. It will heal you for sure.” She also mentioned a lot of other benefits from practicing Dafa. Seeing that she was truly concerned about me, I nodded to show my consent.
Next day, she brought me the book Zhuan Falun and after reading a few pages my eyes began to hurt. Later I could hardly open them, as I was extremely weak. Even though I couldn't read the book, I thought to myself, “Dafa is great. Teacher Li is great.” I wanted to go home and read the book.
Two days later, I was discharged from the hospital. The next morning, I went to the Square to look for the practice site. My sister-in-law was there and was very happy to see me. She began to teach me the first four exercises. From then on, I went there to do the exercises every morning. After I came home, I studied the Fa.
In the beginning, when I was doing the third exercise, “Penetrating the Two Cosmic Extremes,” I had trouble lifting up my arms, let alone doing the “Falun Standing Stance” (second exercise). After I finished the exercises, I was soaked in sweat. I had to squat a few times. After three days, I felt I had gained a lot of strength. Seeing my improvement, my family members were all very supportive of my doing the exercises and studying the Fa. I could feel that Teacher cleansed my body at all times. I could feel heat coming through my arms and back and felt electrified. I was very comfortable. Gradually illness symptoms left me, and I truly came to feel the happiness of being illness free.
The most miraculous thing was that every three days, my weight increased by 500 grams. It has increased from a little bit over 50 KG all the way to 65 KG. And for the past 13 years since then, I have not take any medication at all. Without having experienced it myself, I wouldn't have believed Falun Gong was so miraculous. I didn't go back to check with doctors. I truly believe in Teacher and Dafa. Teacher has given me this healthy body and a new life. Studying the principles of Dafa helped me to understand the true meaning and purpose of life, which is to return one's original, true self, and to assimilate to the characteristic of the universe, Truth-Compassion-Forbearance. I have been so fortunate.
I sought to improve by cultivating myself well, studying the Fa, doing the exercises, and helping more people obtain the Fa and benefit from it, so as to be worthy of Teacher's saving grace.
Back in those days, I often went with another practitioner to the countryside to spread the Fa. I also helped fellow practitioners go to the city to purchase Dafa books. Even though it was very busy at work and I had many household chores, I never felt tired or lacked energy. I had only happiness in my heart and didn't feel any hardship. Teacher's saving grace is as high as a mountain. What Teacher imparted to me is the universal Dafa (Great Law).
Except for going to work, I spent all my spare time in cultivation. I learned how to recite Lunyu and Hong Yin, and read new articles in Essentials for Further Advancement. I also hand-copied Zhuan Falun once. I took Truth-Compassion-Forbearance to heart and held myself to the requirements of Dafa. I cultivated myself well and treated others kindly and helped more people get to know about Falun Gong and the miraculous changes that happened to me after practicing Dafa.
More and more people began to practice Falun Gong. By the Spring of 1999, more than 3,000 people were doing the exercises at the Square each day. When I recall it now, it seems that everything that happened in the past is right in front of my eyes. Thinking of this, I am moved to tears. I was so fortunate to have become obtained Dafa. Only today have I realized what Teacher meant by, “That is why it's said that always cultivating as if you were just starting will surely result in achieving your ultimate rank.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2009 Greater New York International Fa Conference”)
Breaking Through Trials and Tribulations in My Family
From 2001 to 2002, I was reported, followed, twice illegally detained, bailed out, and returned home. Both my husband and I were forbidden to go to work. My husband was timid, and his health was poor to begin with. He had insomnia, felt dizzy, and had heart disease. A few years ago he was depressed for a long time. People from his workplace and others said right in his face that he was incompetent because he couldn't control his wife. He couldn't stand it and was so upset that he had a heart attack. He ended up in bed for a few days, couldn't eat, and was on medication. He said that his fate was in my hands.
At that time my mother, in her 80s, was so angry at me that she didn't want to get out of bed or take meals. She had nerve pain, which made her suffer even more. She said that I had lost face for all of my ancestors. She considered it a shame on the family that I had been detained in a detention center for a few days. I cooked for them, but none of them wanted it. They were giving me a hard time. I was at the end of my tolerance. I truly felt “Abundant troubles rain down together” (“Tempering the Will” in Hong Yin).
I couldn't read the Fa or do the exercises without upsetting them. After they went to bed, I got up to meditate. There was a voice echoing in my mind, “He told you not to practice. If you follow what he says, aren't you practicing for him?” Tears immediately began to stream down my face. Teacher was encouraging me to live by my own belief. I began to send forth righteous thoughts to eliminate all the old forces from other dimensions and the persecution from all evil specters and rotten demons behind my family members. I would not allow them to persecute my family members. I would not accept their arrangements. The persecution of my family members is also persecution of me and Dafa. I also asked Teacher for help to strengthen me. I should not stumble, I must stand up.
I said to my husband, “It was only because I didn't do well that the evil forces could take advantage of me. This brought tremendous pain to you both physically and mentally. I truly understand why you hated me.” He said to me, “I didn't hate you. I actually sympathized with you very much. I only hated those who arrested me and ransacked our home. Every time I saw either police officers or police vehicles, I was in a panic. I hated the 'false, evil, and violence” of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). Under its regime, good people have always suffered.”
He didn't believe in the staged self-immolation at Tiananmen Square or the murder case of Fu Yubin, either (both propaganda stunts staged by the authorities to turn public opinion against Falun Gong). I said to him that the persecutors were so pitiful. While practitioners benefited physically and elevated their levels, the evil police officers received retribution. He was always afraid that I would be arrested again, so he was trying to stop me from getting in touch with other practitioners. I said to him, “I understand that you have been kind to me. When I was detained in the forced labor camp, you asked for your relative's help to get me released as soon as possible so that I would suffer less.”
He was not against my doing the exercises or studying the Fa. When he saw Dafa materials, he kept asking what they were. On sensitive days, he told me not to go out and do things. I tried my best to balance well the relationships within my family. As soon as I had bad notions or felt external interference, I sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate them and was determined that I'd never accept them. I would only listen to what Teacher says. My family environment is becoming better and better every day. My husband said that my good health couldn't be exchanged for any amount of money. I also went from being short-tempered to being nice. My husband went from opposing me to supporting me. As a result of that, his health has improved as well.
Since the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was published, all of us have withdrawn our memberships from the Party, Youth League, and Young Pioneers. My husband also began to read Dafa books and truth-clarification materials. He does the exercises sometimes as well. He truly feels the wonderfulness of Dafa. His mind has broadened, and his health has improved. My mother, who is now 93, knows to recite “Falun Dafa is wonderful, Truth-Compassion-Forbearance is wonderful.” Her health has improved, too. All of us are beneficiaries of Teacher's saving grace: “The Buddha-light illuminates everywhere and rectifies all abnormalities.” (Zhuan Falun).
I have closely followed Teacher's Fa-rectification process, steadfastly cultivating Dafa. Looking back, I feel very happy. The evil forces really amount to nothing. Didn't we still manage to walk our paths? From now on, I will do the three things well, following Teacher to reach consummation and return home.
