(Minghui.org) I would like to share what happened when I clarified the truth to inmates in a detention center. I was in my 60's when I was taken to a detention center in 2002. My first thought when I arrived was that Dafa practitioners are good people, we are innocent people, and I must be released unconditionally because I haven't committed any crime.
1. Clarifying the facts to the head guard
I was held in room A at the detention center, which contained approximately 18 inmates. Some had committed serious crimes and others were on death row. The room was narrow, with no beds. Instead, there was one large cot cobbled together with wooden boards. Because the bed was too small to accommodate everyone, some of us had to sleep on the wet floor. Such discomfort made the inmates disgruntled and short-tempered. Some were even quite aggressive. I took the initiative to say hello to the criminals. After I knew them a bit better, I started clarifying the truth to them.
The head guard liked to listen to me. While he was listening to the facts, he had a headache. But he insisted on listening while holding his head in his hands. He felt very comfortable by the time I finished talking. In fact, he was eliminating karma. Sometimes he asked questions about Falun Gong.
There was one thug who always followed the head guard. He beat and insulted inmates at will. His hysterical shouting could be heard all day long. He was especially cruel to new arrivals. He would strip off their clothes in the winter, pour cold water on them, take their money and belongings, and beat them up. People could hear the ruckus and inmates yelling “help!” He beat them until they could not move. However, the guards turned a deaf ear to his violence. No one dared to complain. I knew that there was a reason that this was happening in my presence. I then sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil field at the detention center.
Meanwhile, I talked to the head guard and the thug individually. With compassion and kindness, I eventually persuaded them to be kind to others. The head guard reformed first, and then the thug also changed. Those who had been beaten were very grateful to me. Others were respectful toward me. People in the cell said, “Falun Dafa is good. Dafa practitioners are good.” I told them to thank our Teacher Li Hongzhi, because it was Teacher who taught me to be kind.
I often recited Lunyu, poems from Hong Yin, and some of Teacher's other shorter articles. I frequently sent forth righteous thoughts. As long as I was awake, I kept doing the things that a Dafa practitioner was supposed to do.
2. People who refused to listen to the truth suffered karmic retribution
About 10 days after I arrived at room A, I was transferred to room B. It held 23 inmates, some waiting to be executed, so it was even more crowded. Before I arrived, the guards had ordered the criminals to “transform” me and promised them shortened terms as incentive for participation.
Upon arriving in the cell, the first thing I said to the head guard was, “Falun Gong is good. All Falun Gong practitioners are good people. We are innocent. I must be released unconditionally.” He said, “I have been here for two years. I haven’t seen any Falun Gong practitioners released unconditionally.” I said, “I am the one who will be released unconditionally. It will happen. You will see it.”
While we were talking, some inmates surrounded me and tried to persuade me to write the three statements promising not to practice Falun Gong. They took turns talking to me about this. They attempted to defeat me through sheer numbers. With the mighty power of my righteous thoughts, I clarified the truth to them and told them how I benefited from the practice and how Dafa had spread all over the world.
I talked for the whole day. Finally 19 people, including the head guard, understood the facts and sided with Dafa. However, three inmates hadn't changed their opinion. One death-row inmate kept talking nonsense. Others called him “Bad Luck Star.” A former drug dealer said things that were very disrespectful toward Teacher and Dafa. I tried to stop him but he wouldn't stop. I said, “Those who are very stubborn will suffer retribution.” Sure enough, the drug dealer was taken to a “Criticism Meeting” several days later.
When this drug dealer had been arrested, the police only found a small amount of drugs on site. Because of so little evidence, he had the shortest sentence of anyone in the cell. However, now he was selected for the Criticism Meeting. When he was there, a police officer handcuffed him. The cuffs cut into his flesh and bone. His wrists became bruised, and the pain was excruciating. He begged the officer to unlock the cuffs but was refused. He was truly miserable and broke out in a sweat because of the intense pain. When he returned to the cell he said, “Falun Gong is very powerful. I don't dare insult Falun Gong anymore. I suffered retribution today.”
After that, I openly studied the Fa, recited the Fa, and practiced the exercises. None of the inmates tried to stop me. They kept a lookout when I practiced the exercises, and they loved to listen when I recited the Fa. Some people even asked me to write the Fa down so that they could memorize it. Some reminded me when it was time to practice the exercises by saying, “Falun Gong, it is time to do the exercises!” or by doing the exercises movements. Some said, “Falun Gong is truly wonderful! I will practice Falun Gong once I get out of jail!”
Actually, it was inappropriate for them to call me “Falun Gong.” I tried to correct them, but they wouldn't stop doing it.
Dafa rectified hearts that had once been twisted and deviated. It was truly extraordinary. I was so happy to see sentient beings being awakened and some even starting to practice Falun Gong.
3. People shouted in unison, “Falun Dafa is good!”
Most inmates in rooms A and B believed in Dafa. Therefore, the vicious police ran out of ways to torture me. I was transferred to room C, which contained about 20 people. The head guard was very vicious. He was a former official at a university who had been charged with corruption. He talked to me for a long time, and I clarified the truth to him. I also talked with the inmates about how good Falun Dafa is. Nearly half of the inmates sided with Dafa. Seeing that they failed again, the guards sent me back to room B.
When I returned to room B, the inmates stood up to welcome me as if we were long-lost friends or family. They were very excited and said,“Falun Gong is good! Falun Gong is back!” Some even cried. They told me that they had looked forward to my return every day.
The next morning when the bell rang to wake us up, I asked everyone to shout, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good! Falun Dafa is good!” They all agreed.
I had been at the detention center for more than a month and changed rooms four times. The evil could not move me because I firmly believed in Teacher and Dafa. When I was released, I said to the head guard and inmates, “All Falun Gong practitioners are good people. I am released unconditionally.”
The head guard smiled and gave me a thumbs-up. All inmates watched me leave through the iron gate. As I left the detention center, an officer said to me, “All of the inmates in room A missed you a lot. They really wanted to see you.”
