(Minghui.org) I am 104 years old this year. I am healthy and happy. My gray hair is black again, my mind is clear, and my memory is as good as a young person's. Everyone says that I don't look like a day over 80. I give all the credit to practicing Falun Gong.
If it wasn't for Falun Gong, I would have died 20 years ago. It was Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, who renewed my life. He not only saved me, he extended my life so that I can practice this profound cultivation. I can never repay him for what he has done for me. I would like to express my appreciation to Master on World Falun Dafa Day.
A Truly Great Cultivation Way
I started practicing “Pure Land” Buddhism (a branch of Buddhism) when I was little. For the first 80 years of my life, I was a sincere Buddhist.
But cultivating the Pure Land School didn't improve me. I had a short temper. If someone offended me, I cursed or even started a fight with the person. I was no poster child for the benefits of practicing Buddhism. People saw me as an untouchable old lady, and always kept their distance.
I was 85 years old in 1995. By then I had developed all kinds of health problems, including emphysema, heart disease, and gout. Death wasn't far off. I eventually became unable to eat or drink anything for eleven consecutive days.
The local doctors could not even find a vein for an IV to deliver nutrition and medicine. They sent me to a larger hospital, but the doctors there couldn't help either. My children had everything ready for my funeral. Everyone knew that it was just a matter of time.
At that time, my then 59-year-old son injured his neck. He couldn't turn his head or move his arms. He tried several hospital treatments, but none of them worked. His daughter had just started practicing Falun Gong, so she suggested that he, a Buddhist who had practiced Pure Land for decades, give Falun Gong a try.
Although I was near death, my mind was still clear. As a Pure Land Buddhist, I was strongly against my son practicing Falun Gong. I yelled at them, trying to stop them. My granddaughter quietly said, “Grandma, I am not saying my father has to practice Falun Gong. How about I play the Falun Gong seminar video for both of you? Just give it a try.” I agreed.
She played a video of Master Li Hongzhi's lectures. I was laying in bed when my granddaughter turned it on. A few minutes later, my heart shook. Who was giving this lecture? Well-said! What profound teaching. In all my 85 years, I had never heard anything as good.
I suddenly recalled the words of a Pure Land monk. Many years ago, this monk had told me that in the future, a master whose surname was “Li” would come to the world and teach the genuine cultivation way. Was this the one he had spoken of?
I asked my granddaughter what the lecturer's surname was. When she told me it was “Li,” I sat bolt upright. I forgot that I was waiting for death. I shouted to everyone in the room, “This is truly the great orthodox cultivation way!” Everyone was surprised to see me sitting up and so energized.
I sat in front of the TV for the entire afternoon, listening to Master Li's lectures. I didn't feel tired. Instead, I felt relaxed and recharged. That night and the next morning, I vomited a lot of hard and sticky tar-like stuff. After that, all of my health problems were gone. In just one night! I could not help crying. From the bottom of my heart, I was grateful to Master Li. As a stubborn person, I would never have believed such a miracle could occur if it hadn't happened to me.
I cherish the opportunity to practice Falun Gong. I try my best to live by Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I have been healthy for the past 20 years, and not needed any medicine. My son's neck was healed, too. Everyone around me has witnessed the amazing power and beauty of Falun Gong. All my family members are grateful.
Falun Gong Has Saved Many Friends and Relatives
I wanted more people to benefit from Falun Gong, so I organized a free workshop at my house. More than 40 friends and relatives watched Master Li's lectures and learned the exercises that time. We set up an exercise site and practiced together every day. Life was happy and rich.
Many in our exercise group had health problems, and they were all healed soon after they starting practicing. My 50-year-old neighbor had breast cancer. She had already given up, because she had no money for treatment. But soon after she started practicing, her tumor disappeared. Her entire family was very grateful for Master Li's help.
One of my granddaughters married a hooligan, who not only cheated on her, but also beat her. She just gave up and tried to commit suicide several times. I said to myself, "Nothing in the world but Falun Gong can help her."
I asked her if she wanted to practice with me, and she was willing to give it a try. She soon regained her confidence, and has solidly cultivated Falun Gong ever since. She thanks Master Li for renewing her life.
My son, whose neck injury was healed by Falun Gong, was forced to quit practicing after the Chinese government launched the persecution of the practice in 1999. The police arrested him and ordered him to give them a list of local practitioners. He refused.
The police brutally beat him and stomped on him. His whole chest turned black, and he passed out. Thinking he was about to die, the police took him home.
The next day, they took him to the police station again and ordered him to sign a statement renouncing Falun Gong. My son gave in, but in his heart, he still knew that Falun Gong was good.
My son stopped practicing for ten-some years, until he was struck down by a strange condition when he was 74. Suddenly he couldn't move. Doctors from several local hospitals could not figure out why. His children took him to a hospital in a larger city, where the doctors there couldn't help, either. After being hospitalized for 40 days and spending 50,000 yuan (roughly 9,000 U.S. dollars), he'd only gotten worse. He finally gave up and returned home.
His family didn't want to worry me, so I was not informed of all this until five months later when I saw an acupuncturist going to his house. My son cried in front of me. I asked him, “Do you think acupuncture can help you?” “No, it's not working.”
I said to him, “You have no other options now. Only Falun Gong can save you. Would you listen to Master Li's lectures with me?” He agreed. So we listened to the lectures together for an entire day.
The next day, he was a little better. A month later, he was completely fine, and was able to carry 50 pounds all by himself. He is now happy and healthy. No one thought he would recover. The power of Falun Gong amazed everyone.
A Compassionate Old Lady
I was a tough person before I started practicing Falun Gong. I was stubborn and bossy. Everyone in the family had to obey me. I didn't get along with my daughters-in-law. It is fair to say that I was not a likable person.
After I started practicing Falun Gong, I followed Master Li's teachings, and have tried my best to improve my temper. I try to see other people in a positive light. When my grandchildren criticize their parents, I stop them and list all of their parents' good points. I also remind them how much their parents have done for them. Due to my efforts, they all get along very well.
I also try to consider others. I try to do everything by myself and not bother my children. When they want to buy food or other things for me, I stop them. I tell them, “I practice Falun Gong, so I am healthy. You don't have to spend money on me.” I can climb the four floors to my apartment without any help. My children say that I am getting younger and younger.
Practicing Falun Gong has turned me into a compassionate and popular person, whom everybody respects. On Chinese New Year's Day, almost everyone in the village comes to my house to shake my hand and wish me well. I give all the credit to Falun Gong.
I tell everyone how I have benefited from Falun Gong, both physically and spiritually. I have a wish. I wish that the persecution will end soon, and that all the practitioners who are jailed will be released and be able to freely practice.
I thank Master Li again for everything that he has done for me.
