(Minghui.org) During my ten years of cultivation, I have fallen several times. However, I have never strayed from my cultivation path. After July 20, 1999, when the unprecedented persecution of Falun Dafa began, I never held any doubt and remained firm in the practice.
On August 13, 2004, because of some loopholes in my cultivation, I was illegally arrested when I was mailing truth clarification materials about Falun Dafa. A fellow practitioner was arrested at the same time. At first the guards mistreated us and demanded that we recite the prison regulations, ask permission to go to the restroom, and not talk to each other. We told them, “We didn't disobey any law and we are innocent.” They stopped us from saying any more, so we sent forth righteous thoughts in silence, or when one of us was clarifying the truth, the other sent forth righteous thoughts. We told them about the April 25 event, the Tiananmen Square self immolation hoax, and that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was inciting people to turn against Falun Dafa by lying about it.
We told them little by little, day by day, and we continued to send righteous thoughts. Their consciences' were awakened. They sometimes talked about the corruption of society and the conflicts among officials. They changed their view about Falun Dafa and let go of their prejudice. We were told, “You two don’t need to work or be involved with the cleaning.” They often told the other inmates, “You cannot compare to these two women. They are different. You should learn from them how to be a good person.”
Most of the inmates were prostitutes or handlers of prostitutes. It took them a few days to warm up to me. After that, I told them the principles of being a good person, why people suffer a lot in life, and why we want to cultivate. I spoke of the persecution of Falun Dafa and of the practice keeping people healthy. I helped them understand that their behavior was shameful and that they were hurting themselves, their families, and their futures.
Doing Wrong by Not Knowing Any Better
There was a 50-year-old lady, a prostitute, who had walked on the wrong path because she had to pay for medical expenses for her husband. We both cried when she spoke of her past. I said, “I know you do this because you think that you have no other choice. But think, if your husband and your child find out, how will they regard you?” I also comforted her, “Don’t do this anymore. There are a lot of people whose situations are worse than yours. Since you are healthy, you should find a job. Then you can live a decent life.” I then told her about Falun Dafa, and its beauty, healing powers, and the reason for people being ill. Finally, I told her to remember, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” She said she would remember all I had told her and would no longer work as a prostitute.
There was another prostitute in her forties who had to pay for her child’s tuition. Her husband worked at an out-of-town job and refused to send her any money. She had venereal disease and the other inmates in the same cell avoided her because she smelled. She had no money for any personal items, so I bought her what she needed. She was very moved. I told her the same things about Falun Dafa that I had told the other prostitute.
Inmates Desire to Change
One day, an inmate asked me, “Aunty, they all avoid her. Why do you treat her well? Aren’t you worried that you might get infected?” I told her, “You all are all the same in my eyes. You all are poor, but don't know why you are poor. Your life is given by God, who tells people how to be good. I didn't know this until I practiced Falun Dafa. Only people who believe in God are protected by God. If you were her, how do you think others should treat you?” She said softly, “Thank you, Aunty.” I said, “You are welcome. I practice Falun Dafa. Please remember that Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”
One inmate walked around naked after she took a bath. I told her to wear some clothes even in hot weather. I also said, “Everyone here respects me. Have you ever seen me walk around naked? I act as your mother and I'm telling you this because I care about you.” She changed her ways and no longer walked around naked.
One day when I was sending righteous thoughts, she asked, “Can I learn? Can you show me how to practice?” I told her, “The exercises are supplementary. The most important thing is cultivating your heart according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. One needs to live by these Falun Dafa principles.”
The other inmates listened to what I said and one asked, “If you are so good, why don’t they allow you to practice Falun Dafa?” That gave me the opening to talk about Falun Dafa. I told them that Falun Dafa has spread worldwide, and that it benefits mind and body. I discussed the facts about the Tiananmen Square self immolation hoax, and much more. One girl said, “The day you came to this prison, I felt very sorry for you because of your age.” I said, “Practitioners did nothing wrong, we just want to save people and tell them the facts about Falun Dafa. Master helps us to let go of selfishness and think of others first in any situation.”
I told the inmates, “The CCP is afraid that people find out the truth and that the regime would lose its power. The poorest people are the Chinese people and the ones who don’t know the truth. You are lucky to have met me. I know you are imprisoned because you thought you didn't have any other choice. But, once you are released, please earn every penny by your own labor. Remember ‘Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good’ and you will be blessed.”
Helping People Instead of Hating Them
Before leaving upon my release I told them, “You must remember 'Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.'”
Before walking out the prison doors, the two prison officials said, “We have to thank you. You changed their minds and taught them how to be good.”
On my return home, about six people from the neighborhood and street committee visited me. When I saw them, I got angry. But then I realized that practitioners should be kind and tolerant to everyone. I asked myself, “Isn’t this a chance for me to clarify the facts about Falun Dafa?” I told them about the women I had met in the prison, that they struggled to survive and went into prostitution because they saw no other way out of poverty.
I told these people, “I can’t understand why practicing Falun Dafa is regarded as crime and why I was illegally arrested.” I said much more. After a while they left and not one came back to interfere with me.
At the prison I sometimes didn't act as a practitioner because I was scared. I missed many opportunities to save people. I must follow Master’s guidance, fulfill my prehistoric vow and do the three things well.
