(Minghui.org) Joy is a Chinese Australian Doctor of Education who has worked as an educational researcher at an Australian university for many years. Her attitude towards Falun Dafa has changed from fear to firm belief. Joy's personal experience with Falun Dafa stands in stark contrast to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) slander of the traditional self-cultivation practice.
Poor Health
Joy said, “I used to have multiples ailments even though I was young. They weren't fatal, but they certainly caused me serious trouble in my life. I had awful back pain for four years starting in 2009. It was so painful to sit that sometimes I had to stand while eating.
“I tried all kinds of treatments, both Western and traditional Chinese medicine, including massage, bone-setting, acupuncture, electrocautery, Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, and others. My pain got a little better. I could finally sit down to eat, but I still had to get up every half hour or my back would be as stiff as a rock.
“Though I could sit down, my neck started giving me trouble. I would feel dizzy after using a computer for just half an hour. My stomach problems tortured me even more. It got worse over the next 20 years, and I had to take more and more medicine. Eventually I couldn't digest anything. My stomach hurt and felt bloated 24 hours a day.”
Deceived by the CCP's Lies about Falun Dafa
One of Joy's friends told her about Falun Dafa in 2013, but Joy had been misled by the CCP's propaganda against the practice. She was especially horrified by the so-called “Self-immolation on Tiananmen Square.” Joy said, “The video about the self-immolation was played continuously on Chinese TV channels 24 hours a day. It forced people to believe it was true, so I would take a detour as soon as I saw Falun Dafa activities after I came to Australia. I wanted to stay as far away from practitioners as I could.” Joy ignored her friend's suggestion and continued with her traditional Chinese medical treatments.
“My stomach problems didn't lessen after I took Chinese medicine. I couldn't even live a normal life, much less work a job. I thought it was because overseas doctors of Chinese medicine aren't up to par, but I couldn't afford the time to go back to China for treatments.”
After exhausting all the possibilities, Joy remembered her friend's suggestion about practicing Falun Dafa. Out of desperation, she finally began to try the practice she'd avoided. She made up her mind that she would only practice for three months before she went back to China to see a good Chinese medicine doctor.
Surprised by Falun Dafa's Effect on Health
Recalling the first time she did the exercises Joy said, “I felt a little warm in my stomach area, where it used to be painful and cold. Hoping it would ease my stomachache, I began to do the exercises for 20 minutes a day. While doing the exercises, I could feel that all the ill parts of my body, like my back, neck, and stomach, seemed to be adjusted by something.”
Having been influenced by the CCP's slander of Falun Dafa, Joy was initially too afraid to read the book Zhuan Falun. As time went by, she eventually summoned her courage to read the main book of Falun Dafa's principles, as well as other teachings by Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa.
Joy said, “I was so surprised to find out that the teachings had nothing bad in it. It was completely different from what the CCP told us. The content is very righteous. The main theme of the whole book is to teach people how to be good. I agree with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, which is repeatedly mentioned throughout the book. I thought, 'how great it is to be a good person! Who doesn't want to be a good person? I will follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance too!'”
As Joy started reading the book and doing the exercises every day, she felt Falun (law wheels) rotating on her back, neck, stomach, and her ankle, which had been injured before. She could feel the rotation even when she wasn’t doing the exercises. It was even more incredible for her to feel stronger energy when she read the book. She felt something cold being expelled from her body.
Joy said, “Many things I personally felt were exactly as described in the book. They were the things I had thought were inconceivable. I grew up in an atheist environment, but my personal experience tells me what Falun Dafa has taught about self-cultivation is all true, that Falun Dafa is absolutely genuine and upright!”
Three months later, Joy was finally able to go back to China, but by that time, her stomach, neck, and back had stopped hurting. Her initial goal of practicing Falun Dafa had been reached, and she had realized the benefit of practicing.
“Not only has my health improved, but my character has been elevated. I follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in my daily life and work, and I've become more thoughtful of others. I used to have a short temper and loved to argue. I wouldn't stop talking until I gained the upper hand. I never admitted to doing anything wrong. After I started cultivating myself, I learned to look for my own faults. My parents told me that I've become more sensible and obedient. They are very supportive of my cultivation.
“Cultivation also helped me concentrate better and become more efficient. My research work has a lot of stress, and I used to get anxious easily. As I cultivated myself, I found I could handle stress with ease, and I'm no longer anxious.”
Grateful to Master Li
Joy said, “I originally thought I would practice for three months, but I’ve been practicing for six years now. I've benefited so much from it and experienced so many amazing things. Falun Dafa is so profound and so uplifting! When I see Chinese tourists walk away from Falun Dafa practitioners or put on a bad attitude, I don't get upset with them because I used to be one of those deceived people. What a pity!
“No words can describe my gratitude to Master! The only thing I can do is to cultivate myself diligently and not to let down Master's compassionate salvation! I would like to say 'Thank you, Master, from the bottom of my heart!”
