(Minghui.org) I am a quiet person who does not like attention. Except in discussions in our group study sessions, I have not mentioned my cultivation experiences to others because my experiences are very common and I still have a lot to improve upon. However, after practicing Falun Dafa for 20 years, I am sharing my experiences to show how profound Falun Dafa is and to express my gratitude for Teacher’s salvation.
Qigong became very popular all over China during the 1980s. In Changchun—the hometown of Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa—qigong was popular in not only parks and squares but also schools. Many teachers and college students practiced qigong. Although I was interested in it and read a few books about the topic, I was very busy at the time. Moreover, qigong was then associated with improving health, and my health was fine.
One day in May 1997, however, a teacher who knew me well brought me a book and said, “This qigong practice is for you! Read the book first.” I initially dismissed the suggestion because I had no time, but I felt uncomfortable giving the book back to my coworker. I quickly glanced at the title, Zhuan Falun, and decided to take it home.
I read the book in bed, found the section on “Bigu,” and read it quickly. It was not what I expected; according to the book, Bigu has nothing to do with cultivation levels. So I turned back to the beginning of the book and saw the first section, “Genuinely Guiding People Toward High Levels.” (Zhuan Falun)
I continued reading:
“It is the most fundamental Buddha Fa.” (Zhuan Falun)
“Our Falun Dafa is based upon the highest standard of the universe, Zhen, Shan, and Ren, all of which we cultivate simultaneously. The system that we cultivate is enormous.” (Zhuan Falun)
I was stunned and realized that this was not simply a qigong book–it was the Buddha scriptures that I had been looking for. I continued to read quickly. Before I finished the first lecture, at around page 30, I felt the skin on my stomach suddenly move up and down. The movements were very obvious under my thin clothing. After that, I felt cold air coming out of my legs, especially my left leg because of the arthritic knee.
The next day, I told my coworker about this phenomena and learned that the Teacher of Falun Dafa had given me a Falun and removed the illness from my legs. After three or four days, the cold air went away, and both legs felt fine again. Greatly moved by these improvements, I got rid of my other books from different qigong schools and asked my coworker to get me all the Dafa books and materials. I also found a study group near my house and attended the Fifth Anniversary of Dafa Exhibit in Changchun. After visiting the exhibit, I broadened my views as if I were awakening from a dream. I finally found what I was looking for.
I was a teacher for more than 20 years before I started practicing Falun Dafa. During my education, I received a series of political training and was interested in reading about many topics in addition to those in my professional area. However, after I studied Zhuan Falun twice, the accumulated, my political thoughts force-fed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began to dissolve.
As a teacher, I saw my role as one of inspiring students. However, I realized that I had been like a toad inside a well with a very limited view. Teacher Li lifted me out of the well up onto the ground and broadened my view of the world and the sky. I felt so fortunate that the Buddha Law had been presented to me before I went to search for it. I was so touched that Teacher had taken my hand and led me to the path of cultivation, although I had never met him.
Due to my busy schedule, I studied the Fa for two months before practicing the exercises. My health improved dramatically only a few days after I began to study the Fa, and my body felt warm during group study. After practicing the exercises for two months, my forehead experienced the situation described in Zhuan Falun:
“One’s Celestial Eye will be squeezed to the point of soreness, and one’s temples will feel swollen while the eyes feel like they are digging inward. This feeling will last until the air bubble makes its way out of the Celestial Eye tunnel and hangs in front of one’s forehead.” (Zhuan Falun)
Although it was very painful, I endured as much as I could and tried to enjoy the wonderful cultivation process. Afterward, I saw multiple Falun circling around my head. They were in the colors of white, gray, and gold. One time when I laid in bed, I saw three huge Falun about two meters in diameter, partially overlapping one another. They were rotating and filled the entire room. Feeling so excited, I sat up and watched them until they disappeared a few seconds later. I was able to see Falun in front of my eyes for about two years.
The images of the sacred Falun are deeply rooted in my memory. They gave me confidence and strength during my difficult times in prison later on.
After I practiced cultivation for half a year, my family witnessed how I had improved from practicing Falun Dafa. My husband decided to switch from another qigong he had practiced for several years to become a Falun Dafa practitioner. Our child joined us as well. My family of three attended group study and exercise on time every day. As a result, my child got healthier day by day.
While my family enjoyed a wonderful time of freely practicing Falun Dafa cultivation, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started its persecution of Dafa on July 20, 1999. The crackdown in Changchun was very severe because it was where Falun Dafa was first taught to the public. Many practitioners began to submit petitions and letters to tell government officials about Falun Dafa to correct the slander by the CCP. I also went to Beijing twice to petition for the right to practice Dafa.
On the last trip, I was illegally sent to a forced labor camp for two years. However, I was miraculously released after two weeks. The camp was over its capacity, so they needed to release a few people in poor health. During my two weeks’ stay at the camp, I was deprived of sleep for seven nights. Although I felt fine in all regards, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, which qualified me for early release. Thank you, Teacher, for your compassion and helping me resolve this disaster.
I did my best to follow Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance at work. I was once a head teacher for a class that consisted of many students who lived far away from home and without many resources. When any of my students were sick, I looked after them and brought them food to help them recover. Instead of saving fruit to take home to my child, I gave them to my students. On holidays or festivals, the students usually chipped in to have their meals together. I always paid for more than half the expense in order to reduce their financial burden. I lent them money generously without expecting any returns.
Unlike many other teachers, I refused expensive thank-you gifts from my senior students, such as name-brand bicycles and luxury watches. Instead, I offered to write a few words in their yearbooks for them to remember. I told them that they could always use these messages to remember the good times we had together and to encourage one another. All my students lined up and asked me to write a note in their yearbooks.
They bought notebooks for about 5 yuan (60 cents) and wrote their thank-you notes and good wishes for me in them. Students from other classes wondered why I did not ask for expensive presents. My students said to them, “Because our teacher practices Falun Gong.” Unfortunately, after the persecution intensified, I was not allowed to teach, and so I no longer interacted with the students.
After cultivating myself for 20 years, I feel deeply that Teacher has saved and uplifted me from the complicated human world and guided me through the journey of cultivation. He has eliminated my karma and resolved numerous obstacles so I can continue to advance on my cultivation path. I can never repay Teacher’s benevolence. I can only follow Teacher and prepare to overcome all difficulties and dangers. As such, I will cultivate diligently and complete my mission.