(Minghui.org) I'm 66 years old and have practiced Dafa for 16 years. Here, I would like to share with you how I obtained the Fa, as well as my understandings after years of cultivating and doing truth-clarification work.
1. Predestined to Obtain the Fa in the Midst of Tribulation
I was born into a troubled family. Because we were so poor, my family could not afford to send me to school and I remained illiterate. I was the eldest child. After years of illness, my father eventually passed away when I was 15.
I started work when I was 16 years old and married my first husband. However, he had an affair with another woman and began abusing me despite my pregnancy, to the point that I nearly lost our child. Filled with grief and despair I remarried, taking my 3-year-old daughter with me when I left him.
In 1996 I overheard two people talking in front of my house. One said, “My arm was numb to the point that I could not even lift it, but practicing this helped cure it.” I immediately ran out to ask the speaker what she was talking about, and she demonstrated the up-and-down arm movement of the third Falun Gong exercise, telling me, “I practiced this.”
I thought to myself, “This is indeed miraculous, just by moving her arms up and down, her numbness was cured. I have no illness, but I too wish to learn.” I seriously studied and learned the exercise movements from her. In this amazing way, I obtained the Fa. At that point however, I had no idea that this practice was called Falun Gong, or that it also consisted of a set of teachings.
Two days later, the sister of the lady who taught me the arm movements came over and presented me with a copy of Zhuan Falun . As soon as I saw Master's photograph, I was overcome with emotion and tears streamed down my face.
From then on, I put my heart into cultivating Falun Gong.
Master said, “Born into suffering, Your pockets were still empty after decades. Upon gaining the Fa, you soared upward.” (“A Reading Response” in Hong Yin III)
2. Painstakingly Studying Dafa while Cultivating Diligently
I wished to cultivate, yet my inability to read became a real obstacle. I would listen as others read out loud, while consulting my own book. After the persecution began, only 2 people in the entire village remained steadfast in cultivation. However, since both of us were illiterate, we jotted down unfamiliar words into our little notebooks as we studied, and sought answers afterwards from others. We also learned how to use the dictionary.
I also developed a set of symbols, which only I understood, to help me learn the Chinese characters in the Fa. Even today, these symbols and Chinese characters can be found throughout the walls of my home.
The son of our assistance center's head looked at our small Fa study notebooks and said, “To study the Fa so painstakingly, it is certain you will understand it well.”
I truly experienced much difficulty studying the Fa. But as Master said, “No matter how difficult your environment is, no matter how busy you get, you cannot forget to study the Fa. You must study the Fa, because it is the absolute, most fundamental guarantee of your improvement.” (“Fa-Lecture at the Conference in Florida, U.S.A.”)
I could feel my level rising quickly through my painstaking efforts in studying the Fa.
3. Eliminating Illness Karma and Overcoming Tribulations
Last year my husband died from stomach cancer. I also had stomach problems before, and with his death, my stomach started acting up. I was unable to eat, nor did I feel like eating. Soon people began to gossip, saying that as my husband passed away last year, I would follow in his footsteps this year.
My daughter forced me to undergo a check-up at the hospital, where I was diagnosed with untreatable gastroptosis. My relatives were worried. However I was unable to fully understand my condition, and thought to myself, as long as this does not affect my ability to work, I will just continue with my daily life.
I sought out my fellow practitioner to discuss my situation and she said, “You're a practitioner, how can you have gastroptosis? You should be free of illnesses.” I suddenly understood. I am a Dafa practitioner, it is impossible for me to suffer from gastroptosis; this must be the result of Master helping me to adjust my body.
My family members insisted on consulting a medical specialist. I did not believe I should, and also rejected the Chinese medicine they gave me. After a while, I was able to eat again. The doctor said, “Who said you had gastroptosis? That diagnosis was absolute rubbish.”
Gossip of my impending death also naturally died off.
Master cleansed my body and eliminated my karma. Master said, “... to improve your enlightenment quality while eliminating the karma from your different previous lives. Besides, this is also to test whether you are determined in following Dafa; this will continue until your cultivation reaches Beyond-Triple-World-Law. This is putting it in general terms.” “For us cultivators, other than the karma Master has eliminated, we still have to pay a portion ourselves. You will thus feel physically uncomfortable, as if you were suffering from sickness. Cultivation practice is to cleanse you from your life’s origin. The human body is like the annual rings of a tree, whereby each ring contains sickness-karma. So your body must be cleansed from the very center. Were karma to be pushed out all at once, however, you wouldn’t be able to take it, as it would endanger your life.” “... and pay for your karma through suffering. But this is only that little bit left for you yourself to endure after I have eliminated karma for you.” (“Sickness Karma” in Essentials for Further Advancement)
This incident elevated my xinxing, level of comprehension, and my understanding of Master and the Fa.
4. Countering the Persecution, Eliminating the Evil
On July 20, 1999, the persecution of Falun Gong began. The police were everywhere arresting people. Our exercise site was broken up and we lost our cultivation environment.
Master said, “As a Dafa disciple in this society, no matter what kind of setting or corner of society you find yourself in, you are playing a positive role.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference at the U.S. Capital”)
My fellow practitioner and I started distributing truth-clarification materials. During the winter of 2001, I would leave home at 2 a.m. to distribute materials, my thick coat stuffed full. It took me 2 hours to finish.
Once I started distributing at midnight within my village. After distributing for about an hour, I was discovered by someone, who started chasing me. When I saw that he was almost in front of me, I urgently pleaded to Master, “Master, please stop that bad person right there.”
He instantly froze on the spot, only the flashlight in his hand kept moving. I walked over to the other end of the street, and thought, please release him. He was instantly released, however he continued to chase after me. At the junction in the road, I immediately asked Master, “Master please let him run west while I head east.” He indeed headed west after reaching the intersection, while I headed east and finished distributing my remaining materials without further incident.
Another time while I was visiting a neighboring village to distribute materials, I did not pay attention to a white car parked beside the village entrance. However my rotund appearance due to the truth-clarification materials in my coat attracted their attention, and they followed me closely. With half the night already gone, I quickly distributed the materials I had on me, crossed a ditch and took a roundabout path back to my village in hopes of losing them.
However, they still managed to track me back home. Just as I was about to close my door, I heard voices outside saying, “She entered this door.”
I asked Master for His protection, and asked that they be stopped from entering my home. I took the bag containing all my Dafa books upstairs and hid them. I kept sending forth righteous thoughts, “Master please protect me, please do not let them enter my home.”
A while later a person came out of the car and said, “We cannot tell which house is hers. Let's leave.” The car then drove off.
I did not sleep that night after this incident. I spent the first half of the night distributing truth-clarification materials, and the second half dealing with those evil people. If it wasn't for Master's protection, I would have been captured.
In the course of truth-clarification materials distribution, I often encountered dangerous situations. However I emerged from these safely by seeking assistance from Master.
5. Saving Sentient Beings by Clarifying the Truth Face-to-Face
Master mentioned, “… to pick and choose would not be merciful.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2009 Greater New York International Fa Conference”) Regardless of time, place or person, I always take the opportunity to clarify the truth to them. As practitioners we all know that Master is saving sentient beings. I have boundless respect for Master and the Fa.
Gradually I obtained better face-to-face truth-clarification results and with increasing confidence, I slowly ventured out from the protection of the dark to walk around during the day, openly talking to strangers. Starting from my village, I visited those villages nearby before progressing to village fairs and religious festivals held deeper in the mountains.
I would visit each village during their religious festivals, clarifying the truth and persuading people to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Most have quit. My children and other family members also all understand the truth.
I know I have waited many lifetimes for this day, reincarnating over hundreds of millions of years just for this. I will follow Master's instructions closely, because Master is in control of everything, ensuring that whatever we do will achieve the best results.
