My Experience in Detention: The Power of Compassion Rectifies the Heart

(Minghui.org) I'm a Dafa disciple. It has been 14 years since the following story took place. The respect given to me by Police Officer Z, the police captain and a woman in the detention room who promised to turn her life around was the result of their experiencing the wonderfulness of Dafa. The power of compassion changed them, and that compassion came from Falun Dafa: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

In October 2000, I wanted to go to Beijing to appeal for justice for Falun Gong. Before departing, I had gone through quite a struggle regarding whether or not to go. Many fellow practitioners had been arrested and sent to jail for going. I had to support my nearly-80-year-old mother and teenage son, I couldn't fathom the panic and pain it would bring them were I to be arrested, especially my son, who was brought up with only a single parent.

I asked myself, “Why am I going to Beijing? What is true compassion? Between the compassion for my family and the nation, which one should I choose? Should I put my mission aside for the sake of my mother and son?”

I made up my mind and decided to go. I was stopped by the police at the train station while changing trains.

The police took me to the police station and Police Officer Z started taking a deposition. Along with him were several other officers. I explained to them in detail why I wanted to appeal in Beijing and talked to them about the wonderfulness of Dafa. I deeply felt the boundless purity springing from Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance within my heart, and everything that surged in my mind were Fa principles. 

The officers asked me if I had thought about the consequences for making this trip, such as going to jail or being fired from my job. I said that I didn't think about any consequences and only thought about allowing people to feel the wonderfulness of the Buddha Fa and the importance of Falun Dafa to one's life.

The Buddha Fa's compassion is very powerful. After Officer Z took the deposition, he brewed some tea in a new thermal mug and put it in front of me, then left without a word.

During the three days that followed, Z came to the detention room to brew me a cup of tea every day. Never saying anything, he would wash the mug to brew a new cup of tea, put it in front of me and then leave with only a nod. His behavior reflected a profound level of compassion which surfaced after being impacted and moved by the Buddha Fa.

During those three days, several officers came to me in the detention room. Some of them yelled at me as soon as they walked in, “You are the Falun Gong that wanted to appeal in Beijing? I'm telling you, nobody survives confronting the Communist Party...” Seeing me smiling at them, their voice softened, “Giving up a good life for this, are you crazy?” I figured this question puzzled them all.

So I told them about my mental struggle and pain prior to departure, because of my consideration of my mother and son.

Later on, a police captain told me they had contacted my workplace and someone from work and the local police station would come to pick me up. The captain told me, “We all admire your character and I personally respect you very much. I am sorry, but I must hand you over to your local police because it is my job. Please forgive me, I am helpless in this regard.” I told him that I completely understood him. At the same time, I also felt happy for him, for understanding the truth.

If the police captain came to recognize the goodness of Dafa and practitioners through me, isn't this what I was supposed to achieve through appealing in Beijing?

One night, a team leader said to me, “Even someone as high-ranking as Liu Shaoqi (the former chairman of China) was himself persecuted to death and his family ruined. What good can you, a common person, do to oppose the central government? When you go back, just admit you were wrong and say you won't practice anymore. Spare yourself these sufferings.” I replied joyfully, “I'd rather die.” He became quiet and left without another word.

The next morning, the team leader came to the detention room. He walked straight toward me with his eyes moist, saying, “I admire your master so much. He is so remarkable. He is in America, thousands of miles away; will he know your current situation? You're not afraid of losing your job or going to jail just for practicing cultivation. Where does Falun Gong's power come from? Your master is so powerful that his disciples are so determined to follow him! I have seen the power of faith in you!”

There were thieves and swindlers constantly being taken in and out of the detention room while I was there. One morning, two female swindlers were admitted. It was said that they had been there quite often. The police cursed them as soon as they saw them, but they did not respond to those abuses at all. The two women overheard the entire conversation between me and the police officers. 

When the police were out of sight, they said to me secretly, “You're so silly! You dare to talk about Falun Gong here. Just say you will give up practicing and get by; you don't have to be so serious.” I said, “What I cultivate is Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I would go against Truthfulness if I lied.” The younger woman asked me a lot of questions about cultivation and I answered all of them. I also told her the principles of being a good person.

At dusk, the women paid a fine and were released. Suddenly, the younger one walked over to me and bowed deeply. She said, “I have never met anyone like you. You are truly a good person. Don't worry, I promise I will never cheat anyone again. From now on, I will become an upright person!”

The three officers next to me were all quiet, their eyes lowered. Apparently, they were all deeply moved.

I was very grateful. The woman had been taken to the police station and was scolded by the police many times, but she continued to break the law as soon as she was released. Now she had changed after only hearing of the goodness of Falun Dafa. Who would not be amazed at Falun Dafa's mighty power and Master Li's immense compassion after witnessing this? “The Buddha-light illuminates everywhere and rectifies all abnormalities.” (Lecture Three in Zhuan Falun) This is the real manifestation of Falun Dafa saving sentient beings in the human world.

The manager at my workplace and the police from my local area came to pick me up. Upon hearing that I had spent three nights on the two-foot-wide cement platform in the detention room, the police told me solemnly, “'When heaven is about to place great responsibility on a man, it first exhausts his muscles and bones, frustrates his spirit and will.' (The Works of Mencius)”

After I returned home, I went to work the next day without going to jail or losing my job.

I am deeply grateful for Master's compassion and Dafa's mighty power. Because without Master and Dafa, I would never have passed the tribulations and made it through to today, nor would I have had a opportunity to experience the wonder and happiness of a life sublimed in the Fa.