(Clearwisdom.net) My sister introduced me to Falun Gong in June 1999, only a month before Jiang Zemin and his cohorts initiated the brutal persecution on July 20, 1999.
I was reading Zhuan Falun for the first time, and although I knew the principles were good, I failed to cultivate my moral character in accordance with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I continued to live like an everyday person. Sometimes, when I went to my sister's house, I read Teacher's new articles and took Falun Gong materials back home. My husband did not like me to have anything to do with the practice, and would search my bag. When he found Falun Gong materials, he would tear them up and beat me. I just couldn't take the pressure from my husband and did not have a strong will to cultivate. I quit practicing. However, my sister continued to encourage me to return to Falun Gong.
Cultivating again saved my life
I had a operation to remove a cancerous tumor in my breast on August 16, 2007. When I was discharged from the hospital, I stayed with my sister, and we studied the Fa, sent forth righteous thoughts and did the fifth exercise only. I dared not do the other exercises, as I had not fully recovered from the operation.
In "Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Houston," Teacher said:
"Speaking of this, I want to tell those students who aren't diligent: you want to be a cultivator but haven't set strict requirements for yourself, studying and cultivating on and off, and so problems will occur in your bodies. The reason is that when you don't truly cultivate, the body will return to the state of an everyday person. At that point you will wonder, "Why is my body always not good?" Cultivation is serious. Why isn't it good? This you should ask yourself. Do you believe in the Law? Do you believe that you are a cultivator? Is your mind that steady? If you can truly have a mindset that's determined about cultivation and can let go of human feelings, then it won't take even a second and your ailment will be gone."
Didn't Teacher's words apply to me here? I truly enlightened that it was Teacher benevolently telling me not to miss this once in a life-time opportunity.
After a week of chemotherapy, I was determined stop the treatment, but my family tried to persuade me to continue. I was told that I could still do the exercises, but that I had to carry on with the chemotherapy. Despite the pressure, I didn't give in. I said, "Chemotherapy can do no more than buy some time. Only practicing Falun Gong and Teacher can really save me. I am firm in my decision to cultivate." With this one thought, miracles happened.
Over the past twenty years, I had worked hard to make a living, despite having an artificial limb. My husband didn't help much with our businesses and I had become ill from working too hard. I suffered from many health problems, including insomnia, severe neck pains, problems with my spine, inflammation of the bile duct and rheumatism. As I wore a prosthesis, my body was no longer straight and my spine became deformed, causing severe back pain. I really felt miserable.
Within one month of practicing Falun Gong, and without any medication, all these problems disappeared. I felt very light and blessed. My moral character also improved.
Setting up a materials production site
After studying the Fa for a while, I realized that we have to assist Teacher to rectify the Fa and save sentient beings. I regretted having wasted the past eight years.
I must follow Teacher and do the three things well, but I needed truth clarification materials. My sister introduced me to another practitioner, but they were not sure if they could provide any materials, as they lacked the necessary equipment. I then decided to produce my own materials. As soon as I held this thought, Teacher made arrangements for me. I got the equipment and my two daughters helped me to set up a materials production site at home.
The materials production site is now expanding and I provide almost all the funds required to keep it going. I also use my business to spread money with truth-clarification messages on them. I was not yet able to climb stairs, so I distributed truth-clarification materials to the flats on the ground floor and also put them on car windshields. I talked to people about the facts of Falun Gong and helped them to withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party. Sometimes my son also came along to help me distribute the materials.
While walking steadily on my cultivation path, I gradually let go of attachments to fame, material interests, and emotion. My temper has changed for the better and I no longer swear. I have come to understand the true purpose of life - to return to one's original true self.
While struggling in this world and looking for riches, I had forgotten my original vows to Teacher. Our benevolent Teacher does not want a single practitioner left behind, and so has tried painstakingly to awaken me and guide me back on the correct path.
I will use this limited time to exert more effort to cultivate diligently and do the three things well.
Thank you Teacher and fellow practitioners!
