(Minghui.org) I began Falun Dafa cultivation in 1994. I retired from the military in 1982. I liked to play games. I quickly learned how play chess, poker and mahjong. Before I obtained Dafa, all of my leisure time was spent playing these games. I became addicted to playing poker and mahjong. Even after I got married and my daughter was born, my passion for gambling continued.

It was well known at my workplace that I was a big gambler, and I had many gambling friends there. To have gambling money, I sold all of my National Treasure bills. Often I would be out gambling all night long. I neglected my hard-working wife and my young daughter.

One time in 1985, shortly after I got married, a gambling buddy of mine asked me to play mahjong instead of going to work. I ended up being arrested by police and detained for 15 days. My parents and siblings tried their hardest to persuade me to give up my gambling ways. My wife even threatened to divorce me, but I could not stop.

After a while, my body began to deteriorate due to my overindulgence. I wasn't taking care of myself, as my only interest was gambling. I began losing hair at age 30, I was thin, and my face was yellow and waxy. I developed severe liver disease by the end of 1994 and was hospitalized.

Fortunately, I obtained Dafa while I was in the hospital. It changed me completely. I realized that the purpose of life was to return to one's original true self. The deviated human values made people pursue play and enjoyment at all cost, including gambling and drinking. Their pursuits of these things made them increasingly distant from the characteristic of the universe, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and made the moral values in society decline further.

After I obtained Dafa, I was determined to change myself, abide by the principles of the Fa and work on becoming a good person. I began to stay away from my gambling buddies, and instead have more contact with Falun Dafa practitioners. I began to work diligently, no longer picking and choosing my tasks at work. I no longer came to work late or left early. And, I no longer competed with others for benefit and fame. I also worked on being a good husband and a good father.

As I began abiding by the principles of Falun Dafa, my illnesses gradually disappeared, and I became more and more energetic. There was no more fighting and quarreling at home, and it became a happy environment. My wife's long-lost smile was back and so wonderful to see.

My family and I are deeply grateful for Dafa. It has not only saved my heart and soul, but also my family.

Maintaining My Faith Amid the Persecution

On July 20, 1999, then-head of the communist regime Jiang Zemin and the evil Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began to persecute Falun Dafa practitioners. Since the persecution started, much of my time has been spent in detention centers, forced labor camps and brainwashing centers.

The communist regime has not only persecuted me physically with all sorts of torture, but also financially.

When I was sent to a forced labor camp for the first time in 1999, the administrators at my workplace fired me. My wife was already laid off at that time, so we had no income. She had to work odd jobs to make ends meet, to support our child and visit me in the labor camp.

These have been difficult years. But no matter how the evil has persecuted me, no one could change my belief. My life belongs to Dafa—nothing can change that.

My wife has endured many tribulations as a result of the persecution. When I was held in various detention centers and labor camps, many of our relatives and friends were scared for my wife and tried to convince her to divorce me, for her happiness and our child's future.

My wife did not listen to them, even when life was extremely difficult. Not only did she not give up on me, but she also began Dafa cultivation in 2006. Such is the power of Dafa and Master's boundless compassion!

My wife took up the path of cultivation because she witnessed the kindness, compassion and selflessness of many Falun Dafa practitioners. She had also witnessed my transformation from a sick and selfish gambler to a healthy, glowing person. Even after I endured torture, I remained an upright and noble person. All this made her firmly believe in Falun Dafa, and believe that justice will prevail.

Now my entire family is cultivating in Falun Dafa. We are cultivating diligently and improving together to follow Master home.