(Minghui.org) After she attended the lectures given by Master Li Hongzhi in Chongqing, a practitioner was inspired to visit Yunnan Province in southwest China. The is a very special area, with 26 national minorities and a long and rich history. So in 1994 she went there to share Falun Dafa with people who, living in such a remote area, might not have heard about the practice.
When she did the exercises in the plaza of a public building, many people were attracted by the elegant movements. They asked, “What is this? It looks special.” She smiled and answered, “I'm practicing Falun Gong!”
Nineteen years later, Falun Dafa has now spread over the entire province.
Falun Dafa, which cultivates the body and mind, is based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Practitioners don't just do the five exercises to keep their bodies healthy, but strive to improve their xinxing and be considerate of others. Many people who were in despair found hope and happiness after learning Falun Dafa.
Ms. Huizhen, over 60, is a retired textile worker. Few people can guess her age, and she says she feels young and renewed since she began practicing Falun Gong. Looking at her now, it's hard to believe that she was once bedridden due to several illnesses. She said:
“I was born into a poor family and had to give up my studies when I was in the third grade. At the age of 14, I became an apprentice in a textile factory. Since childhood I was weak and dizzy and often passed out. Since we had no money, my parents never took me to a doctor. After I married, I suffered more illnesses including heart disease, stomach problems, and anemia. Later I developed a disease called chondritis, and I was bedridden from the pain. Every day I had to take more than ten kinds of medicine and I was hospitalized two or three times every year. I was rushed to the emergency room three times due to heart attack. I could not even fall asleep without drugs. But the worst pain of all was the aching in my legs, 24 hours a day. Sometimes I thought the only way to end the pain was to commit suicide.
"When I was in great despair, my friend recommended I try Falun Gong. At first, I did not take her seriously because I had tried other things before that hadn't helped. My husband encouraged me to give it a try. He put me on his bike and took me to a local practice site. At that time I couldn't even stand long enough to brush my teeth. Miraculously, that day I could stand up for an hour and a half and did the four standing exercises.
"My husband stood close to me the entire time since he knew I couldn't stand. My husband is one of those people who only believed in science. But the experience of watching me complete the standing exercises that day shook him completely!
"That day, I bought the main book of Falun Dafa, Zhuan Falun, and I've never put it aside. Amazingly, my legs did not ache when I read the book. One week later, I was healed, and I was able to walk to the practice site by myself.
"After witnessing the great changes in me, my husband soon began practicing Falun Gong.
"I would like share a story about karma elimination. I had a high fever for a week, and several blisters covered the backs of both hands. The whites of my eyes were red with two pustules the size of rice grains. My face and feet were covered with bumps, and I couldn't sleep for five days due to the pain. But I knew that Master was cleaning up my body and this was the part that I needed to endure, so I listened to the Fa lectures every day. About a week later, all my terrible symptoms were gone completely. After witnessing this, my husband's relatives, my two daughters, and my grandson started cultivating.”
“My name is Uncle Li and I started practicing Falun Gong in 1997, but I was lazy and did not cultivate diligently. By 2010, I had several illnesses and it seemed that I was about to die. Fortunately Master didn't give up on me and I was reborn after I resumed practicing.
"I told others that I was only giving Falun Gong a try when I started practicing on November 15, 1997. Unfortunately I didn't pay attention to my cultivation and by 2010 I had rheumatoid arthritis, mini-strokes, and chronic gastritis. Instead of doing the exercises and studying the Fa, I visited Western doctors, Chinese doctors and even several witch doctors. Later I developed acute appendicitis and had to have surgery. It got so bad that I could no longer walk, and barely spoke. Only my wife understood when I asked, “Please help me turn over.” I hadn't eaten or drunk anything for two weeks. Everyone thought I was about to die and I even made out my will.
"Fortunately a practitioner visited me just in time. She did not criticize me or look surprised. She calmly said, 'Please remember that you're a Falun Dafa practitioner. You cannot pass away yet because you haven't finished your mission here. If you aren't determined and don't want to practice, Master can't help you even though He's waiting for you!' When she said this, I couldn't hold back the tears! The practitioner sat next to me and began reading Zhuan Falun aloud. Later several other practitioners came and took turns reading and encouraged me to keep righteous thoughts.
"About a month later, I was able to get up. I knew that Master gave me a second life. This year I'm 84 years old and I feel truly blessed. Recently I learned how to drive a scooter and I went back to work (I am self-employed)."
An old veteran, uncle Chunhang fought in many battles when he was young. It was said that over 70 comrades-in-arms in his battalion were killed. Due to tough living conditions, he had arthritis, gastric disease, and gout. In 1959 he was transferred to work in an iron and steel company. A five-centimeter opening was found in one of his vertebrae. After an operation, he could not endure the pain in his back and had to retire early.
He said, “In February of 1996, my friend recommended Falun Gong to me. I still remember clearly that as I watched people practicing Falun Gong in front of a public building I suddenly felt a flow of strong energy warming my body, pushing me towards them. At that moment, I decided to start practicing Falun Gong!”
Uncle Chunhang became so healthy that he no longer needed medicine. He wanted to share the benefits of Falun Gong with others and told his friends and relatives. His older brother suffered from cancer of the larynx, and his doctor had given up all hope of curing him. But his disease disappeared completely only two weeks after he began practicing Falun Gong.
After witnessing so many miraculous changes in Uncle Chuhang, many villagers started practicing Falun Gong. His sister, who was an illiterate, was even able to read Zhuan Falun , which has more than one hundred thousand Chinese characters. Her amazing story inspired even more villagers to start practicing.
As an employee in an office that handles complaints and requests, Ms. Fengxia's kindness and obvious compassion have a calming effect on petitioners. Actually she only became this way after she began cultivating herself according to the standards of Falun Dafa. After she began practicing and following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, her body and mind became sound. Here is her story:
“When I was in my 30s, I suffered from a lot of diseases, including irregular heartbeat, constipation, backache, and gynecological problems. I looked like a 60-year-old. Although I tried many things, but nothing helped. Due to my poor health, I always lost my temper and often quarreled with my husband. At work, my supervisor was not satisfied with my performance and my relationship with my colleagues was very poor. If I didn't care so much about my children, I would have lost the will to live.
"In 1998 when I was 48, I developed glaucoma and was hospitalized. After more than 20 days, instead of improving, the situation became worse. I was terrified that I might lose my eyesight.
"My colleague introduced Falun Dafa to me, but I didn't take her advice because I was practicing something else. Later she recommended Falun Dafa to me again. She said, 'It would be a shame if you don't at least try Falun Dafa!' This time, I agreed, and the following day I went with her to a practice site. Two Falun Gong practitioners taught me how to do the exercises and told me where to attend group Fa-study.
"I attended the group exercises in the morning and group Fa-study at night. I decided to stop taking medicine the first day. I reimbursed the medical fees for my friends or relatives in my work unit. After I practiced Falun Dafa, I knew that I needed to improve my xinxing and tore up a receipt worth over 100 Chinese yuan.
"As Master said in Zhuan Falun , 'One’s Gong level is as high as one’s Xinxing level, and this is an absolute truth.' Since I paid more attention to improving my xinxing and strictly followed the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, my physical and mental state improved a lot and all my diseases disappeared. A big dark spot on my face even disappeared. My complexion glowed, and I felt relaxed all day. I became healthier than I had been in my 20s!
"My boss and colleagues all commented that my bad temper was gone and we got along well together. My family members were very pleased that I was now healthy and strong. Now I'm always calm and I have great consideration for others.
"Every day I live fully and happily. Every day is new and full of hope. I know that Master has given me a new life.”