(Minghui.org) The rain was pouring down, the water level kept rising in the streets, and the cacophony of police car sirens and people's shouting were all mixed together. People were busy moving their belongings. In the midst of all this my home became a safe haven for others.
The water was just 50 centimeter (1.5 feet) below the highest point of my “island.” All of my neighbors had packed their belongings. They came to ask me what I was going to do. If I wanted to move my things, I had to start packing immediately. I own a convenience store. Looking at the huge pile of stuff, how could I prepare to move it quickly by myself? I said, with strong righteous thoughts, “Teacher, please help us and don't allow the water to rise.” With this firm thought, the water didn't rise any higher.
I. With Teacher in Mind, the Water Didn't Rise
It was September 5, 2004 when Dazhou City became severely flooded. The dam's flood gate hadn't opened on time, causing the water level to increase dramatically. The flood ruined a lot of land, and caused huge damage to homes and property.
The Tongchuan District Filature Factory in Dazhou was located on a relatively low peninsula of land south of the Zhouhe Bridge. The factory site was one of the places hardest hit by the flood. The factory has 15 buildings for its over 1,000 employees. The flood covered the first and second floors of 10 buildings. On the whole factory site, only an 80 meter by 30 meter area was above the water level, forming an “island.” The highest part of that land was only 50 centimeters above the water. My home was on that “island.”
Everyone was busy moving things to higher ground. Neighbors were also watching to see what I would do. Because my convenience store contained a lot of goods and I didn't have enough people to help me move everything. I decided not to move any of my goods. I held a firm belief in Teacher and Dafa. I asked Teacher to stop the water from rising. My neighbor came over and urged me to move everything out of there. I told her with strong righteous thoughts, “I'm not going to move anything. The water won't rise any higher.” With this firm thought, the water stopped rising. Seeing that I didn't move my things, my neighbors also stopped moving their things. Many people witnessed Dafa's miracle in this incident.
II. Keeping Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in Mind and Thinking of Others
Teacher said in “Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature“ in Essentials for Further Advancement,
“I also want to tell you that your nature in the past was actually based on egotism and selfishness. From now on, whatever you do, you should consider others first, so as to attain the righteous Enlightenment of selflessness and altruism. So from now on, whatever you do or whatever you say, you must consider others—or even future generations—along with Dafa’s eternal stability.”
On that day, a manager from the Tongchuan District Industry Bureau brought two office clerks to the factory to lead the disaster relief effort. Shortly thereafter the only road to the factory was covered by over a meter of water. There weren't any transportation tools that could go above the water. Even drinking water was not available. The factory workers were facing a hard time.
Around 4 p.m., the three industry bureau staff stood in front of my store, looking depressed. I invited them in. When I heard that they hadn't had lunch yet I wondered what I could offer them to eat. The instant noodles and bottled water were all sold out, and it would take a while to cook rice for them. So I took out the last three packets of instant noodles that my smallest son kept for emergency use. They were moved by this gesture and kept thanking me.
After they ate, they asked me how much I was charging for the noodles. I told them 4.5 yuan. They were shocked, “Why so inexpensive? The same price as the supermarkets charge. In this special time, you didn't hike up the price, and instead, used your water to cook the noodles for us. You are such a nice person.”
I told them, “My family practices Falun Gong. It is true that the prices have been increased in some places but I wouldn't do that just because of the flooding. This morning I sold out all my goods at the regular prices. Actually, I could give you a bag of instant noodles for free but my husband was sentenced to four years in prison for telling people the truth about the goodness of Falun Gong. The industry bureau then fired him. Now I have to raise our three children on the money we make from this convenience store.
However difficult it may be, we listen to our Teacher's words to be a good person. In the past, the factory manager was under pressure to drive us out of this residential building, though the buildings were built by collecting money from the employees. Had I been forced to move out, who would have cooked the instant noodles for you today? Please remember that Falun Dafa is the righteous Fa, Falun Gong practitioners are good people, and my husband was wronged.” They said, “You really are a good person. We know your husband.”
By nightfall, the rain lightened up. I went out to check the water level at 9 p.m. I saw a few people on the street in front of my store. I asked them why they were there. They said that they hadn't found a place to stay. Feeling sorry for them, I realized that I should have come out earlier, then they wouldn't be this sad. I immediately said to them, “Please come into my room. Let's figure out how to settle for tonight.”
A young couple from another town were so moved that their eyes welled up with tears. I said, “As long as you feel comfortable, you all can stay in my home.” My apartment is only 70 square meters (630 square feet) in size. Besides the store front, storage area, kitchen, and bathroom, there were only two small bedrooms and a living room. I took my three children into one room, and the four of us squeezed onto one bed. A family named Feng took another room. The young couple slept on a simple bed in the living room and another person slept on a chair. We managed to get over the difficulty that night. I didn't forget I am a Dafa disciple.
This is my first time writing about my cultivation. I dedicate it to the 20th anniversary of Falun Dafa's introduction and to World Falun Dafa Day.
Please point out anything that was not on the Fa.
From the Call for Submissions to Commemorate the Twentieth Anniversary of Falun Dafa’s Introduction
