(Clearwisdom.net) The reason I wrote this article was to discuss the issue of the persecution of Falun Gong from another viewpoint. While being cruelly persecuted, Falun Gong practitioners have nevertheless persisted in clarifying the truth, and they take pains to explain to people that Falun Gong is beneficial to society and will not cause anyone any harm. However, many people still don't understand and don't listen to the practitioners' explanations. I would like to share my own understanding.
I came into contact with Falun Gong when I was very young. At that time, in my hometown there were many people practicing Falun Gong. Under the influence of my parents, I also started practicing. It was merely because I felt that Falun Gong was very good and I didn't really understand the deeper meaning of cultivating in Falun Gong. I was a very playful girl in school. Besides learning in school, I just played after class. Although I was not very diligent in my studies, because I was quite bright my grades were always above average.
I started practicing Falun Gong when I was in secondary two. At that time I started to take my schoolwork seriously. Once I started to be diligent, my grades were outstanding. When I look back now, ever since high school I rarely came in second. My grades were always the best in school. When I went to the university, I was always the first in every exam. I was even sponsored to study my Master's degree and my grades were also very outstanding. It has been this way the entire time throughout my studies, and I am now studying for my PhD. Just as Master said, we should not pursue, we must achieve naturally without pursuing. I never strove to be first. I merely completed my school assignments with a serious attitude. I learned all the things that I thought I was supposed to learn, and I thus just naturally had good grades.
Later, when the situation in China turned against Falun Gong, my family was implicated. Under such intense pressure, my heart was filled with conflict. On one hand there is the atheist theory taught in school and the slanderous propaganda against Falun Gong being spread through the media, while on the other hand I had always thought that the most pure and righteous Fa is Falun Gong. With my own eyes I witnessed that after practicing Falun Gong, those once unfilial people now treated their parents well, the family conflicts disappeared, and many people who used to take a lot of medication recovered without needing any treatment. I really could not see what was wrong with Falun Gong. Even regarding the alleged self-immolation incident in Tiananmen Square that was repeatedly broadcast on television during that period of time--those who understand the truth could easily see right through it. The teachings of Falun Gong clearly state that suicide is committing a crime, so why would those so-called "practitioners" still go and immolate themselves? It was clearly a set-up to frame Falun Gong.
By the time I left home to attend the university to study for my master's degree, I had already lost the environment for Fa study and doing the exercises. Besides maintaining a slender thread of righteous thoughts deep in my heart, in my daily life I had already drifted away from Falun Gong. I could not get any positive messages about Falun Gong, and the Internet in China is monitored and blocked. In this new environment, and due to my ordinary human attachments and desires, it was just like weeds growing wildly--I kept on doing inappropriate things. Later, I met my boyfriend and started dating. I became steeped in sentimentality and jealousy. I became very narrow-minded and started to pursue endless transient things. I could no longer find the peace I had when I was young. When I look back, I really lived those years without rationality. When I heard my friends make jokes about Falun Gong, I did not even have the courage to speak up for Falun Gong.
After I finished my master's degree, I went overseas to do my PhD. Away from China, I could freely browse the Internet. It was the first time I read Falun Gong's website. I remember how my eyes were filled with tears that day. When I saw the pictures of Master spreading the Fa, I could feel the sacredness of "The Buddha-light illuminates everywhere and rectifies all abnormalities." (Zhuan Falun) Immense regret filled my heart. I was enlightened and moved, and all of my emotions were mixed in with my tears. Once again, I seriously read the Falun Gong books and the articles. This time it was different from when I was young. This time I really understood.
My heart has once again regained its peace. My relationships with my friends and family members are more harmonious, and I also know how to reflect upon myself. Although there is a lot of stress being a PhD student, nevertheless I am able to find time to study the Fa during my busy research schedule. Even though I spend time studying the Fa, my studies are not at all affected. Although I spend less time on my studies than my classmates, in comparison to them, my thesis is progressing faster and better. I know deep in my heart that this is the wisdom bestowed on me by Dafa. It is compassionate Master who has once again awakened me and forgiven all my wrongdoings. Master has led me to the right track of cultivation once again.
I am briefly writing about my understanding and experience in the hope that people with predestined relationships can understand that Dafa is offering salvation to all people and that cultivating Falun Gong is giving yourself good fortune. Please don't believe the slanderous propaganda. Our era is the era when morals are decadent and where incredibly awful things are happening. However, it is also the era when 100 million great beings exist alongside everyday people. Legends will be written about them in books. They seek no personal gain or exalted social status, and brave all kinds of dangers to urge people to "renounce their CCP membership." They are offering salvation to people. Thus, please cherish the newspapers that they distribute and the emails they send about breaking through the Internet blockade. Please also think thrice...
