(Minghui.org) I am a 47-year-old Dafa disciple from eastern China.
After starting Falun Dafa practice in October 1995, my chronic asthma disappeared, and I became very healthy. Falun Dafa helped me find the true meaning of life. By conducting myself according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, I am returning to my true self.
After practicing Falun Dafa my body felt very light. I was overjoyed. I was determined to return the favor of being given my health back, and I wanted to do something for society. Because I practiced Falun Dafa, I was able to let go of my selfishness and work diligently without seeking anything special in return. I often worked overtime and never took advantage of the company. My company elected me the “role model employee” several times, and several coworkers have told me in private, “You are the most kind-hearted person in the company.”
In July 1999, Jiang Zemin launched the brutal persecution against Falun Dafa. In October, my wife and I went to Beijing to appeal for the right to practice Falun Dafa, and we were arrested and sentenced to four years in prison.
This prison was where selected inmates were held. Some famous political prisoners were also held there during the Cultural Revolution.
Over the decades of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) political movements, the prison has developed an elaborate system of torture methods. They have also trained a large number of hostile guards who disregard the rule of law and human rights.
I'm generally introverted and quiet, yet the reason I could withstand the persecution and make it through the CCP's dark prison without giving in to anyone, is all thanks to our esteemed Master's protection and the Dafa that Master has imparted to us. Among numerous incidents during the four years of imprisonment, I'd like to share three of them to illustrate Dafa's mighty power and the constant presence of Master's Fashen to protect his disciples.
I was doing the sitting meditation in a small room in the prison workshop one day in 2002, during lunch break. The guards found out and ordered two inmates to drag me out of the room and force me to sit on a bench. The two inmates pulled my arms to each side and tied my hands to the back of the bench tightly; then they turned the bench and me to face the wall and left.
I couldn't move. My hands were tied very tightly and I felt intense pain, especially in my right arm. As time went by, the pain became more and more intense until I felt that I couldn't bear it anymore. I couldn't move or stand up, and I knew the guards wanted to break me. Yet I could not give in to them no matter what.
I couldn't bear it anymore and started to ask for Master's help. I repeatedly said in my heart, “Master please save me. Master please save me.” Gradually, I felt the pain in my right arm reduce, and in the end the pain was completely gone. Even though I was still tied to the bench in the same position, my entire body felt relaxed as if I wasn't tied at all.
I knew Master was right next to me, helping me.
They didn't untie me until the end of the day. I had been tied to the bench for five hours, and only because Master helped me was I able to make it through without giving in.
While in the prison I resisted the persecution and refused to do forced labor. I was thus tortured many times by being hung up with my hands cuffed to the workshop poles. While hung, I had to stand for extended periods of time without being able to move. There was searing pain in my hands, shoulders, and head. It was very difficult to bear.
I recited Master's articles non-stop including Lunyu, The Disciples’ Magnificence, Also in a Few Words, as well as poems from Hong Yin. While I was reciting the Fa, the pain reduced, and I was able to make it through time and time again. I would not stop reciting until I was let down, which was typically not until the end of the day.
Eating was very painful after being hung up with my hands cuffed. Therefore, I had to carry out a hunger strike afterward. Yet, because I always recited the Fa, I never felt hungry and remained very clear-minded.
An inmate who had carried out hunger strikes and suffered from an intestinal tract disease tried to persuade me not to do it. I told him that I would be fine. I believed that Master was protecting me, and that as long as I remained true to my faith in Dafa, I would not develop any health problems. Indeed, I have been very healthy throughout my many years of cultivation.
I was tortured by the guards many times for resisting the persecution in prison.
A guard named Wu took me to a small room in March 2003 and shocked me with an electric baton for more than half an hour. I was rolling and writhing on the floor due to the pain.
Some months later, I refused to squat down upon returning to the cell, so the division head Qiu kicked me to the ground. I lost two front teeth and bled heavily.
Some inmates were sympathetic toward me. They had observed Dafa disciples and knew we were all good people. They admired our courage and steadfastness.
One inmate called my family as soon as he was released from prison. He told my family as many details about my situations as he could. My family then wrote letters and went to the prison to demand an injury assessment of me, and they demanded the guards who had beaten and tortured me be punished.
Later on, my family went to the provincial Prison Administration Office and filed a complaint and spoke with the deputy director in charge of reeducation directly about my situations.
Soon, the office personnel sent an investigation team to the prison, and guard Wu got four assessment points reduced. Even though it is a nominal punishment, it struck the guards profoundly. From then on, they dared not torture me. My Fa study and exercise environment thus improved.
Under Master's protection, I withstood the torture, and I made it through without being “transformed” or giving up my faith in Dafa. By persisting in doing what a Dafa practitioner should do, my skin and face were very healthy and vibrant upon being released. My family even said I looked younger.
Through the four years in prison, I experienced Dafa's mighty power.
“Cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one’s master.” (Lecture One of Zhuan Falun)
When we are walking our paths righteously, our benevolent Master can help us, and no one can truly harm us.