“If It Weren't for Falun Gong, I Would Have Self-Destructed by Now”

(Minghui.org) My name is Wu Ji'an, and I am 46 this year. Before I started practicing Falun Gong in 2000, I was a complete wreck. “Worthless,” “alcoholic,” and “gambler,” was how others described me. It was the teachings of Falun Gong, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, that turned me into a considerate person, a hard worker, a good son, and a caring brother.

I grew up in a dysfunctional family. My mother's first husband abandoned her and their son. She then married my father, and had me and other four siblings. My father and brothers were addicted to alcohol and gambling.

In the 1980's, my half-brother received a large chunk of money from his father. My half-brother then forced our mom to divorce my dad in exchange for taking care of her. However, a few years later, my step-brother kicked her out. She was homeless and struggling for a long time.

After I started to practice Falun Gong, I took her in, and have been taking care of her since then. She is now in her eighties. One of my siblings has mental problems. Nobody wanted to take care of him, so I took him in, too.

I used to be bad-tempered and violent, but Falun Gong changed me completely. Here is an example. Last year, my cow went into my neighbor's field and caused some damage so my neighbor slashed the cow with a knife. Normally, I would have fought back over something like this, but instead I covered the expense of treating the injured cow and I let it go.

As Falun Gong is persecuted by the communist regime, local policemen came to my house to harass me. They said, “You are not a rich person. If you quit practicing Falun Gong, we can give you financial support.” I said to them, “If it weren't for Falun Gong, I would have self-destructed by now. Ask anyone in this village—I was a thug and everybody was afraid of me. But now, I always put others first. You don't have to worry about my financial situation. As a Falun Gong practitioner, I don't need your help. All I want is a peaceful environment so that I can practice my faith.”

In 2003, I was arrested and sent to a brainwashing center. Seven guards surrounded me, trying to force me to renounce my faith. One of them said, “Quit! Abandon that wrong path and reform!” I said to her, “I used to gamble, drink, and fight every day. Falun Gong taught me how to be a good person by following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Choosing Falun Gong was giving up the false path and reforming. Now you want me to give up the right path and return to disgrace?” They were speechless.

The leader took me to another room and said, “Falun Gong is bad. It is against the communist party.” I said to him, “Falun Gong teaches me to be a good person, and follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Which one of these three words is bad? You tell me? In contrast, don't you know the evil history of the communist party? It has brought numerous disasters to the Chinese people. The party is a cult.” He flew into a rage and punched me in the chest.

In August 2013, I and a few fellow practitioners were arrested when passing out Falun Gong materials. In the interrogation room, a policeman asked me why I did that. I said, “I want people to know what Falun Gong really is, and you should know, too.” He punched me in the eye and it began bleeding.

The next morning, I was sent to another police station. A policeman said, “Your Master's teachings are really reasonable. I have read Falun Gong books. The teachings are great. But you know, the communist party is governing the country. We have no choice but to follow their orders.” They sent me a detention center, and I was jailed there for a month.

In the detention center, I tried to tell the policemen about the goodness of Falun Gong, and persuade them not to mistreat or torture Falun Gong practitioners. Most of them agreed. In the cell, I talked to the inmates, telling them about Falun Gong's teachings. At least a dozen of them agreed and showed their support.

After being released, local policemen came to my house, and asked me to write a “repentance statement”. They said: “You just speak, and we will write it down.” I then spoke slowly: “I was a thug since a young age. I was worthless, and fought with others every day. Now, I practice Falun Gong, and follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I work in the field to support myself, as well as my mother and brother. The communist party had me detained and tortured for my belief.”

They shook their heads, and said, “OK, OK. Stop.” They left and never came back.

I have no doubt that if it weren't for Falun Gong, I would be wasting away somewhere. I deeply and sincerely appreciate Falun Gong and Master Li Hongzhi for renewing my life.