(Minghui.org) I had indulged in gambling, smoking, and drinking for decades. Because of this, my health gradually deteriorated, and I developed diseases so severe that I had to quit my job. I became depressed and felt hopeless.
Then, when I thought I couldn't go on anymore, Falun Gong came into my life in March 1997.
Falun Gong served as a bright beacon, a light in my life that gave me new hope. It sent me on the path to recovery – a path to return to my original, true self. After taking up Falun Gong, I not only rid myself of all of my addictions, but also became a better person.
Addictions Gone
I was a notorious gambler in my county, and I loved mahjong. My friends comprised of addicts like me. I was consumed by money and mahjong.
I worked for a local metal factory, but I would often skip work to gamble for days on end. When I won, I became greedy and placed bigger bets. When I lost, I would be enraged and couldn't wait to come back to the table with more money. It was a vicious cycle – I'd win until I lost, but I would keep coming back anyway.
Because of this addiction, I would spend my wages gambling.
I ignored the advice of my family members, who were worried that I'd eventually have to live on the streets. They sent me to rehab and tried various interventions, but none of it worked. I was drawn to gambling like a moth to a flame.
After taking up Falun Gong and reading Master Li's lectures, I understood that the true goal of life was to return to my true self and that my behavior ran contrary to this goal. Continuing on this path would lead to self-destruction.
Motivated by Master Li's teachings, I quit gambling and even kicked my old habits of smoking and drinking.
A Return to Good Health
My health was terrible because of decades of smoking, drinking, and gambling.
I developed hypertension and heart disease. My blood pressure was 180/120, which was well above acceptable level of 140/90. My resting heartbeat at one point was over 200 beats per minute, while the normal range was only 60 to 100 beats per minute.
I eventually had to quit my job because of these health problems.
I became a hospital regular. Instant cardio-reliever pills (a type of Chinese medicine) and Nifedipine (medicine for blood pressure) became part of my daily routine. As my physical condition deteriorated, my mental state worsened as well. I felt hollow, disappointed, helpless.
From reading Master Li's teachings, I realized that the root cause of it all was karma, and that this can only be addressed through cultivation. Medical treatment only temporarily relieves the symptoms.
After I took up cultivation, Master Li, on many occasions, has eliminated my karma and purified my body.
One such event occurred in May 1997. I was feeling dizzy and sore everywhere. All of a sudden, an intolerable pressure started from my head and moved gradually to my legs, until some black liquid oozed out from the bottom of my feet. It was as if someone was squeezing me like a tube of toothpaste. This repeated a few times, but I gritted my teeth and continued reading the teachings and doing the exercises.
A few days later, the pain and the diseases were gone. I have not needed medicine or doctor visits since then. I completely recovered. Now, I am very energetic and can carry heavy items up to the fifth floor without getting tired.
Xinxing Improves
At the 1998 Chengdu Fa Conference, I saw many fellow practitioners earnestly studying, memorizing, and hand-copying Master Li's teachings. Their high xinxing levels helped me realize how far I still had to go in my cultivation.
Since then, I have gotten up at 3 a.m. to study and hand copy one lecture of Zhuan Falun. I also study the Fa and do the exercises on a daily basis.
I conduct myself according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Gradually, I removed many of my attachments and began to treat other people more kindly. As a result, my relationships with my family members and neighbors have improved.
I have faced various xinxing tests, and one of them involved personal gain. My parents owned a house in the city, and my mother passed away many years ago. Trouble started when my father died in 1998. Each of my siblings vied over their inheritance.
Thinking of what Master taught me, I told myself to take personal gain lightly and ended up giving up my share. Inspired by my actions, my brothers stopped bickering and split the inheritance fairly.
Master said in Zhuan Falun:
“To tell you the truth, the entire cultivation process for a practitioner is one of constantly giving up human attachments. In ordinary human society, people compete with, deceive, and harm each other for a little personal gain. All of these mentalities must be given up. Especially for people who are studying the practice today, these mentalities should be given up even further.”
Master also taught us:
“...you should always maintain a heart of benevolence and a mind of kindness. If you suddenly bump into a problem, you will be able to take care of it properly.”
Another time where I faced a xinxing trial was on December 23, 1998. One of my neighbors came to my house angrily to demand an explanation for a rumor that he had heard.
I felt that this did not happen by accident. I might have owed this neighbor something from long ago.
I asked him to sit down and gave him a cup of tea. I then calmly said, “I must have done something bad to have made you so mad. Please tell me and I will correct and make up for it.”
Because of my sincerity, he changed his attitude, saying that it was not a big deal and that it seemed he had believed some neighborhood gossip. We amicably resolved the conflict.
Thank You, Master!
The goodness of Falun Gong is reflected in me. It changed me from an incorrigible gambler to a kind, considerate practitioner, from being an incapacitated patient to a healthy person, and from a selfish taker to a considerate giver. My changes shocked many people whom I've come into contact with, including those in the fields of public security, education and medicine.
Human beings have accumulated karma through generations of reincarnation. Fully loaded with karma, I forgot about my true home and got lost in this mundane world. It was Master who saved me from the quagmire of sin, protected me through a series of tests, and changed my life. It was Master who guided me to the correct path to return to my true self. Thank you, Master.
