(Minghui.org) Recently, I truly experienced what Teacher said about how cultivation can change a person's life. I would like to share it with fellow practitioners.
I experienced the most severe sickness tribulation since I began practicing Falun Gong more than a year ago. Two months ago at around midnight, I dreamt that something black turned into many ants that went out in all directions. Afterwards, I immediately felt hot all over and my inner thighs were very itchy. I then began to scratch my thighs, but that made it worse. When I turned on the light, I saw that I had red patches on my thighs that itched even more. It felt as if many small bugs were crawling inside my body and I needed two extra hands to scratch. I scratched until after 2:00 a.m. By that time, my whole body was swollen, and I no longer felt itchy, but only felt pain. I finally fell asleep after I lay down under the air-conditioner.
I got up the next morning to do the exercises and found nothing on my thighs. I thought it was strange, but didn't think more about it. However, that night at around midnight, my body felt itchy again, but it was worse than the day before. I felt itchy everywhere, including on my face, head and fingertips. After trying to relieve the itchiness by scratching, my body was in pain and swollen. My body and face were covered with red, palm-sized patches. The itchiness was making me crazy since I couldn't stop scratching and the scratching didn't relieve the itchiness.
I knelt in front of Teacher's portrait and begged for help. That night, the itchiness didn't go away. Just as the day before, I gradually fell asleep after I had scratched my whole body until it was swollen.
On the third day, I got up to do the exercises after 3:00 a.m. I saw that the swelling was gone like the day before. Due to lack of sleep, I fell asleep when I did the sitting meditation exercise. During the day, my entire body began to itch and swell. My family, who are all practitioners, were very worried about me since I was pregnant at the time. My abdomen was red and swollen from my scratching. My mother-in-law asked my father-in-law to search online about my symptoms. I told them there was no need since it was karma elimination. My mother-in-law then asked me, “Can you bear it?” I answered, “Mom, we are practitioners, how can you ask that? Of course I can bear it.” She later told me she was testing my xinxing.
Although I hadn't really slept for the past three days, I knew that, as a practitioner, Teacher was watching over me while I was eliminating karma. Therefore, I never thought about taking medicine.
After that day, I stayed in my room and listened to Teacher's lectures. I told myself to not scratch when listening to the Fa because it wasn't respectful to Teacher. I studied four lectures that day. Gradually, I didn't feel as itchy anymore and the red patches became smaller. I was so happy and knew I was going to be all right.
However at night time, the test came again. I itched and hurt all over. When I got up to do the exercises the following day, I was irritable and felt tired while doing the exercises. I couldn't hold my hands up or breathe normally; I felt dizzy; my head was heavy; and there was ringing in my ears. I couldn't finish doing the second exercise all at once, so I had to do it in three parts. I felt extremely unwell and wanted to cry. I looked at Teacher's photo and asked myself why I was in such a bad mood and if I was angry with Teacher. I had listened to so many lectures the day before, yet I still suffered severe pain the next day. Was I angry that Teacher didn't remove my karma? I then thought Teacher would be heartbroken to see me thinking like that. Did I forget about what Teacher said in Zhuan Falun about the man who suffered from cerebral thrombosis? I do not know how much Teacher had to bear for me in other dimensions. This was my own karma and yet I didn't want to bear it? With this in mind, I felt really ashamed. I then listened to Teacher's lectures for a whole day again.
On the fourth day, the patches became even smaller. I realized that I should stop thinking about it. I shouldn't be unhappy over such a small tribulation, which was nothing at all. I continued to listen to the Fa and felt more comfortable. I even forgot about the itchiness and that I had many patches on my body.
On the fifth day, I went to my mother's home and heard my older brother complaining, “Ah, this skin problem is really a bother.” He actually had the same symptoms as me, but not on a regular basis or as serious as mine. However, he has had it for many years every summer.
I then remembered that, when I was a kid, my dad told me he also had this kind of skin problem. I suddenly remembered Teacher saying that karma could also be passed down from the ancestors. If I had not practiced Falun Gong, I might be in the same situation as my brother. However, I am a practitioner and Teacher was eliminating my karma. I felt Teacher was pushing out my sickness karma and I was grateful. I have truly experienced how cultivation has changed a life. If I weren't a practitioner and had inherited the family skin disease, it could last many years. However, I was fine in a week because of the practice. A practitioner's fate has changed.
On the sixth day, I was completely fine. I didn't have the patches anymore or the itchiness. I could finally get a good night's sleep. I have overcome this tribulation and am extremely grateful for Teacher's blessing!
Afterwards, I realized I should have righteous thoughts at critical moments and have faith in Teacher and Dafa. That way, I will be able to pass the test. Of course, strong righteous thoughts can only come from solid Fa-study.