(Minghui.org) I am a teenage Dafa practitioner, who began cultivating with my parents when I was little. I have weathered many tribulations over the years, and my cultivation path has been full of missteps. At one point, I did not take cultivation seriously and nearly lost myself in the big dye vat of everyday people.
But merciful Master did not give up on me. He patiently guided me and gave me opportunities to enlighten time and time again. All this while I had been immersed in the mighty compassion of Buddha!
Obtaining the Fa, a Lucky Childhood
My father’s health was always poor. Even in my earliest memories I remember his sallow face. During his time in the army, he unfortunately contracted hepatitis B from donating blood. From then on he began to search for a cure, taking medications in large quantities, as though they were food, and bringing home sacks of herbs.
As the saying goes, a long illness can transform a person into a good doctor. By observing my father as he went about preparing his medications, I was able to help him simmer the herbs by the time I was ten. But those bitter herbs were not able to cure him, and he began looking for any remedies he could find.
Finally he heard that qigong could cure illnesses. He practiced several types of qigong, but they did nothing to improve his health.
By 1996, Falun Gong was being practiced all over China. Many of my father’s colleagues were practitioners, and it was through them that he learned about Falun Gong. He ventured out daily to participate in the large group exercises, regardless of the weather.
He gradually underwent a miraculous change. Not only did he become healthier, he also became more good natured. He stopped taking medications, yet his illness miraculously disappeared. Later during a routine company health exam, tests concluded that his liver was producing antibodies to combat the illness. Having observed this amazing change, my mother started practicing Falun Dafa and later brought me and my sister into cultivation practice.
I was in the third grade at the time. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had not yet started persecuting Falun Gong practitioners, and people were free to practice openly. Every area had its own small Fa study group, and even little disciples had their own Fa study groups organized by the adults. One adult would supervise a dozen young children in Fa study, or lead them outside to spread the Fa.
Although I was still young and unable to fully comprehend Master’s Fa, I recognized the goodness of Dafa and the need to do things in accordance with Master’s requirements.
I once went to buy book covers. After paying for my purchases, I headed home without verifying the items bought. Only after reaching home did I realize that the store clerk had given me an extra book cover. Although a single book cover only cost 4 cents, as a Dafa disciple I knew I should hold myself to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and not take advantage of this error. I put on my shoes and returned the book cover to the store.
Compassionate Master not only taught us the profound Buddha law, but also takes care of us like a parent, guiding us to correct the mistakes we make on the path of cultivation.
I remember one incident where my classmate and I were doing our homework together. He finished first, so I borrowed his paper and copied his answers. My mother discovered what I'd done, criticized me, and had me re-do the assignment. I was upset even after I completed the homework. I went into the living room, picked up a fruit knife, and started slicing apples. Suddenly my hand slipped, and the knife cut deeply between my right index and middle fingers. My sister was shocked, and my mother said, “This must be the punishment for your recent actions!”
Only then did I realize that what I'd done was truly wrong. Cultivation practice is a serious matter, and one has to ensure that every word and deed in the course of daily living adheres to the principles of Dafa!
A Sudden Shift, Distancing Myself from Dafa
Looking back, that period of cultivation practice was filled meaningful memories for me. The CCP started to persecute Falun Gong in 1999. We were assaulted by an overwhelming barrage of lies, and lost our freedom to exercise openly.
I gradually slacked off in my personal cultivation, especially after entering junior high school. I started neglecting Fa study, although I still believed that Dafa was good, and often brought truth clarification leaflets to school to show my classmates.
While attending a university, I started losing myself in everyday pursuits, to the point that sometimes I even forgot that I was a cultivator. But even so, Master did not give up on me.
During the summer break of my second year, I re-entered cultivation and started experiencing enormous changes in my life.
Returning to Dafa, My Appearance Improves
I've always had a bad complexion. In junior high, I started noticing small dots of acne on my face. The condition eventually got out of hand, and I was left with large clusters of acne all over my face.
Girls all yearn to look beautiful, yet I had a face full of acne, which only got worse as I aged. Worried about my condition, I applied all sorts of ointments and face masks, and even visited a beautician, who squeezed my acne till I cried tears of pain, although I bore the suffering and carried on with the treatment. Whenever I read anything related to acne treatment, I was very interested, and yearned for the day when my face would finally be unblemished!
I started cultivation again, studying the Fa and practicing the exercises every day. I measured myself according the the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and practiced showing consideration and care for others. My heart became more and more peaceful. I stopped being impetuous, and also stopped all the acne maintenance care and treatment.
Before I realized it, the acne on my face had gradually disappeared. Towards the end of summer break, the acne disappeared completely! This happened even before summer vacation was entirely over.
For a girl who had spent the past eight years with her face covered in acne, the pain and low self-esteem were feelings I was long accustomed to. However, after walking back into Dafa and removing all these attachments, Master rewarded me with a "new" face!
My classmates back at school were surprised. Everyone asked me what cosmetics or treatment I had used to obtain such beautiful skin! I told them the truth, that I did not use any treatment or cosmetics, and proceeded to clarify the truth to them!
Tolerance Broadens My View
My grandmother had three sons, and my father is her second child. Grandma shuttled between my eldest and youngest uncle’s homes, helping out with housework, and taking care of their grandchildren.
Ever since I was young, I knew that my eldest aunt (the wife of my oldest uncle) and youngest aunt (the wife of youngest uncle) frequently argued over whose house Grandma should go to, and frequently blamed each other.
My mother never entered into such arguments, but whenever problems cropped up, such as my grandfather falling ill, my family would be the first to be contacted with the request to take my grandfather to the hospital.
According to others, my family was the one that always lost out. My eldest uncle later died in a car accident, and my eldest aunt remarried. Although she still returned to Grandma's house for meals, she refused to contribute a cent to the household expenses. Her freeloading ways caused a lot of resentment in my youngest aunt, who severed their relationship.
I also thought that what my eldest aunt did was bad, and I treated her coldly. When I resumed cultivation, I thought that since I was a practitioner, I should treat people with compassion and forbearance. I changed my perception of her after I realized that the difficulties she suffered throughout her life deserved my sympathy. I started treating her with kindness, telling her about the goodness of Dafa, and helped her to quit the CCP. She also enjoyed the Shen Yun DVD we gave her.
She gradually had a change of heart and started buying items and giving Grandma money. I was able to change my attitude because of Dafa. Master taught us to be tolerant and patient, and to be considerate of others, so we do not become embroiled in the family issues of everyday people.
Understanding the Truth, Safely Escaping Danger
My grandma, who is 70 years old this year, lives in a farm village. Each time I visit her, I remind her to say, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” so that she will receive blessings. Grandma truly believes in this, as she has personally experienced the miraculous benefits of Dafa.
When my youngest uncle wanted to install the electrical wiring for his new home, he got help from a friend in the village. Grandma was standing on the steps of the new house, watching the installation, when she suddenly slipped and fell from the top step. The village electrician was horrified, and quickly ran over to help her up.
Grandma stood up and patted the dirt off before checking her body and head for injuries. Upon finding none, she thought to herself, “Master Li is truly protecting me. I am not hurt!”
She then asked the electrician, “Quick, where is my hairpiece?” The electrician replied, “Grandmother, how can you still look for your hairpiece? You nearly scared me to death!” Grandma hastily reassured him, “It’s ok, I am fine.”
Another incident happened during the winter. The courtyard was covered with ice, and Grandma was walking with more haste than normal when she slipped on the ice and fell, hitting her head on the ground. My sister, who happened to be home at that time, heard the noise and hurried out to help Grandma up. Grandma felt her head and discovered a big lump.
That night as she was lying on her bed, Grandma silently repeated throughout the night, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good, Master Li, please protect me!”
When she awoke the following morning, the lump had amazingly disappeared! Grandma later excitedly told us the entire story, and the family marveled at this miracle.
Falun Dafa is truly miraculous! My extended family was convinced and learned the truth of Falun Dafa.
I later gave Grandma a "Falun Dafa is Good" protective amulet necklace. Grandma wears it daily, removing it only to clean and dry it.
Grandma tells me that whenever she a spare moment, she silently repeats in her heart, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!”
