(Minghui.org) The first time I heard about Falun Dafa was in 1997, when a relative told me about the practice's miraculous healing powers. She gave me a copy of Zhuan Falun. I did not think about cultivating at that time and missed the opportunity.
In 2009, I was diagnosed with neutropenia. The major symptom is a poor immune system, making sufferers prone to infection.
The same relative reached out to me again. She told me that believing, “Falun Dafa is good; Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” would bring me blessings.
My chaotic mental state made it hard for me to concentrate. I tried to not think about anything else and focused my mind on, “Falun Dafa is good; Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”
I decided to read Zhuan Falun, the book that guides cultivation in Falun Dafa, for the first time. I was mesmerized by Master Li Hongzhi's (the founder) teachings.
Master said:
“To truly cultivate, you must cultivate your mind. This is called xinxing cultivation.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
I wanted to learn and follow the principles of the Fa. I believed Master had already cleansed my body, and I went on with my daily routines. My health was soon restored.
Three months after I started practicing Falun Dafa, my left leg was scalded by boiling water causing a third-degree burn. My family members were worried about infection. I did my daily Falun Dafa exercises the best I could, and the wound healed in three weeks.
I had an infection on my right ring finger that caused pain and swelling. My family warned me that if my finger did not get better within 48 hours, they would take me to the hospital. I knew I would be alright. Thirty hours later, greenish-yellow pus drained from the finger and the swelling went away.
Regarding my general health, my blood test results were outside the normal range. However, I was energetic and otherwise healthy. The doctors could not understand it and thought it was impossible. I knew I was healthy because of the amazing power of Dafa.
By 2015, I rarely experienced any sickness karma. The next big tests were aimed at my sentimentality and attachments to my family.
Back in 2009 when I was diagnosed with neutropenia, the doctor didn't prescribe any medication and instead suggested supplements. Because I was already practicing Falun Dafa, I didn't feel the need to take the supplements. My decision, however, caused an uproar in my household.
My husband bought some health supplements and called my brother and sister over. They attempted to make me stop practicing Falun Dafa. They went from begging to threatening. They have faith in modern medicine and believed the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda against Dafa.
Their yelling and irrational accusations broke my heart that day. I blamed myself for not being able to face them with compassion and forgiveness. Instead, I was overwhelmed with self-pity. I cried for a long time.
I went above and beyond in my role as a mother. But my feelings for my son had become an attachment, something that every cultivator needs to eliminate.
Master said:
“Whenever there is interference of one kind or another in qigong practice, you should look for reasons within yourself and determine what you still have not let go of.” (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun)
In August 2015, my husband and son would not let me go to group Fa-study. They demanded that I stop practicing Falun Dafa and throw away all my Dafa literature. I used all my strength to protect my precious books. My son pushed me onto the bed and hit me.
Throughout my entire life, no one had ever laid a finger on me. My own son, who I had raised with so much affection, hit me. This left me in despair. To save face, I did not talk about my son's behavior to anyone. Instead, I suffered anger and sadness in silence.
I did not realize that it was an evil force that was manipulating my husband and son to interfere with my cultivation.
A few months later, my son asked me to stop practicing Falun Dafa for the second time. He said his girlfriend didn't approve, and neither did he. He was choosing his girlfriend over his own mother and told me to disappear from his life.
My husband took my son's side. They pressured me to choose between keeping the family together, and continuing to practice. After tearfully pleading with them, they threatened to destroy all my possessions related to Falun Dafa and report me to the police.
They became hysterical as I tried to reason with them. They declared that they would rather sell the house, or even their kidneys, and have me treated in the hospital than allow me to continue practicing Falun Dafa. They said that my death would be a blessing for everybody.
The shouting continued until the next morning. They vowed to change my mind. My son attacked me in the bathroom, and again in the kitchen. My husband had to restrain him.
Throughout the ordeal, I explained the truth behind the persecution of Falun Dafa to them again. It was hard to control my emotions. They are my closest family, yet they had turned on me. I didn't realize that they were being controlled by evil.
The worst was yet to come. My son cut off communication with me in April 2018. He called us one night in May and threatened to commit suicide if I did not stop practicing. My husband went into a panic. He cried and asked me to yield but I refused.
My husband called the family on both sides and declared that we were getting a divorce. He begged, cursed, and in the end hit me. Family members soon arrived. They tried to persuade me and blamed me for disturbing the family's peace. They said that I should obey my son. This lasted all night long.
I realized that evil forces were behind all these conflicts, manipulating my family to try and make me stop cultivating and destroy my family members at the same time. I sent strong righteous thoughts and asked Master for support.
“Agreeing to my son's unreasonable demand would be irrational,” I told my relatives. “It's not the right thing to do. Following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is not wrong.” I explained to them that acting out of fear, instead of acting based on right or wrong, would eventually harm them.
Somehow I made it through the night, and my son was safe. After everyone calmed down, I reached out to them one by one. I asked them to make their choices based on what was right, not out of fear.
My sister said, “You are the soberest one, your son was acting immaturely, and your husband got distracted too! A son threatening his mother with suicide to force her to change her belief is completely wrong.” Relatives from my in-laws' side said similar things.
During those few days, I had a breakthrough. I had thorough discussions about Falun Dafa with over 30 family members.
I let go of my sentimentality towards my son and husband—what I have for them now is compassion. Since they are my closest family in this lifetime, I cannot let them down. They depend on me to stay conscientious in the midst of distractions.
Master Li's teachings enlightened me:
“With attachments left behind, the lightened boats sail swiftly,With a preoccupied human heart, crossing the ocean proves arduous.”(“The Knowing Heart” from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
“...since one righteous mind can subdue one hundred evils.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
My relationship with my son was restored. Because he is no longer arrogant, he was accepted into graduate school and now keeps regular contact with me.