(Minghui.org) I used to be known as a die-hard smoking addict. In my 20's, I worked as a forest surveyor and routinely lived in the mountains for two months at a time. To dispel mosquitoes and other insects and to deal with the loneliness, I started smoking cigarettes. At every sunset, I would sit by my tent gazing at the trees in the distance and light up a cigarette, one after another. I soon became addicted.
Several years had passed before I was reassigned to the public relations department and put in charge of writing news releases. My smoking intensified, as I hoped it would help me gain inspiration. Then, I was transferred to the local procuratorate and worked as a speechwriter for the leadership. The job was more demanding, and my addiction worsened.
When I became the editor in another department, I relied on smoking on a daily basis, as I thought it would give me inspiration for my articles.
I routinely consumed two to three packs a day, usually staying up past midnight. My ashtray was filled with cigarette butts all the time. Sometimes when I ran out of cigarettes and could not buy more late at night, I would gather the residual tobacco from the cigarette butts, roll it and light it up again.
The white walls of my office and my fingers turned yellow due to the constant smoke. Once when I worked on an article, I finished three packs of cigarettes, after which I felt dizzy and nauseated like a drunk. I realized I just managed to get intoxicated by smoking.
My health deteriorated and I became meek over time. I swore to myself that I would stop smoking numerous times but my resolve never lasted more than a few hours. Once the pain of addiction resurfaced, my mouth would be filled with sour saliva, my mind distracted, and the air around me stuffy and suffocating. Only smoking could calm me down, otherwise I would not be able to do anything.
A friend of mine introduced me to Falun Dafa toward the end of 1996. I had never come across such a practice that explicitly taught people to live by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I admired Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa for the noble and unparalleled teachings.
I started to listen to Master Li's Fa teachings every day and learned all five sets of the exercises. Within five days, smoking gave me a weird and repulsive taste, which caused me to stay away from cigarettes. I was both glad and fearful at the same time. I was glad because I finally had a chance to truly get rid of smoking. Yet I was fearful and worried whether I would still be able to write good articles.
To my surprise, my mind and thought processes were extraordinarily clear. My thinking was broader and deeper and my job became relaxing for a change. Who knew I could work more effectively without smoking! I truly felt the divine power and strengthening by my side.
With more and more confidence, I kept reading Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa, and did the exercises every day. My health improved , I felt energized, and all my senses became sharper.
After the persecution of Falun Dafa started in July 1999, authorities at my workplace coerced me to give up my practice and denounce Falun Dafa. Personnel from the local neighborhood committee and police station kept me under surveillance and constantly harassed me. Under the pressure, I gave in and stopped practicing Falun Dafa.
I suddenly felt difficulty breathing and I coughed up blood from time to time in 2007. I was soon diagnosed with having tuberculosis. I could not sleep while lying down and had to kneel in bed due to the shortness of breath. As soon as I experienced difficulty breathing, I had to struggle for air and coughed up blood. I used all kinds of medications and, at the doctor's suggestion, started to take various nutritional supplements. With a high protein and high sugar diet, I developed diabetes, which in turn led to gangrene, kidney disease, and blurry eyesight. I exhausted all means of medical treatments with little success.
While my situation deteriorated day by day, I recalled the magic moment when my smoking addiction was cured within five days. I thought, “Without practicing Falun Dafa, my health has sunken to such a horrible and alarming situation. Should I give up my practice just because the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has forbidden me to practice? Who do I practice Falun Dafa for? My body belongs to me. I am suffering coughing blood, necrosis in the muscles, and blurry vision. Would the CCP bear any of these sufferings for me? My children worry about me all the time. I have spent so much money and time on my illnesses. Would the CCP compensate me? How could I be so foolish in the past several years?”
After a long time of serious and calm thinking, I decided to return to practicing Falun Dafa. Now I have resumed my daily Fa study. As I cannot see the words clearly, fellow practitioners come to my home and read the book to me every day. When they are not around, I listen to the audio tapes of Master's Fa lectures. I am doing the exercises as well. My legs lack the full strength, but I manage to do it with intermittent rest. Now my health is marching toward a better state.
I want to thank Master for granting me the opportunity to practice Falun Dafa. From now on, I will cherish it and seize the day without hesitation.