Udumbara Flower and My Journey with Falun Dafa

(Minghui.org) I am 54 years old, and was fortunate to start practicing Falun Dafa in 2010. I would like to share my story.

Deceived by the CCP

Growing up in a poor family in the countryside, we didn’t have a television until I was in my 20s. We also didn’t subscribe to newspapers. As an introverted person with limited contact with others, I had no knowledge of Falun Dafa for a long time.

It was on Chinese New Year’s Eve in 2000 when I first heard about Falun Dafa. The state media broadcast the staged Tiananmen Self-immolation Incident. Seeing that a young girl was among the alleged self-immolators, I was overwhelmed with fear, since I had become a mother myself. Little did I know that the media was spreading false propaganda to deceive the public. I consequently avoided Falun Dafa practitioners and declined their materials. When I found their materials on my door, I immediately trashed them.

During those years, I held a somewhat ridiculous view of Falun Dafa practitioners. One day, I received a phone call from abroad, informing me about the live organ harvesting of Falun Dafa practitioners at Sujiatun Thrombosis Hospital in my province. Despite listening to it for half an hour, I remained unconvinced and dismissed it as absurd. I assumed that Falun Dafa was merely fighting with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for power—a battle I believed had no businesses with me.

The Udumbara Flower and Me

With a belief in the existence of the divine and Buddha, I had always been interested in Buddhism. I once came across a passage in the Buddhist scriptures where Shakyamuni told his disciples that at the Dharma-ending period his teachings could no longer save people, and Buddha Maitreya would come when Udumbara flowers blossomed. From my reading, I concluded that Maitreya would come in 500 years.

Pondering over where I would be in 500 years and whether I would be reincarnated alongside Maitreya, I felt a lack of hope and didn’t further pursue my interest in Buddhism. I nonetheless continued to find solace in reading Buddhist-related topics, considering them better than much of what society had to offer.

While browsing Buddhism websites on the Internet in 2000, I came across a picture of the Udumbara flower for the first time. I was shocked because I had seen this flower at my home in May of 1992! This particular flower had left a lasting impression on me. As I discovered more Udumbara flower pictures, I became convinced that it was the same kind I had seen in 1992.

In retrospect, May 1992 was the time when Falun Dafa was officially introduced to the public in China, although I was unaware of it at the time. I still remember that sunny day in mid May 1992 when my family was watering the rice seedlings. After we finished, I went into the house to change my clothes. Through the reflection in the mirror, I noticed something strange. I walked over to the window and saw Udumbara flowers on the window frame, on the handles of a shovel and a sickle, and in many other places.

I initially thought they were a damp fungus and tried wiping them off with a rag. But they couldn’t be wiped away, and instead straightened up after the wipe. Perplexed, I didn’t know what to do and left them alone.

When I saw the Udumbara flower picture again in 2000, I was bewildered. Thoughts of Maitreya’s arrival crossed my mind, as I recalled Shakyamuni’s words to his disciples about the future Dharma being related to Falun, and many Buddhist scriptures mentioning the “Holy Falun King” and the “Holy King Who Turns the Wheel.” However, I quickly dismissed the idea due to the slander against Falun Dafa that had already taken root in my mind.

My Miserable Life

Like many people around the world, I led a miserable life.

My husband had an affair and openly lived with the other woman. Together with my poor health, I was in profound despair. My only motivation for carrying on was my son. However, my health deteriorated, leaving me easily fatigued. I became cold towards my husband, which made him even more unwilling to stay at home.

Additionally, my son suffered from health problems and frequently fell ill. I had to quit my job to care for him, relying on my husband’s financial assistance to make ends meet. This was the reason I didn’t pursue a divorce. Over the years, I harbored deep resentment towards my husband, which further impacted my health.

When my son was in his first year of middle school in 2009, a conflict with a teacher led him to drop out. Reprimands from family members and relatives only deepened his depression. He isolated himself, and refused to meet with or talk to anyone. He spent most of his time sitting in front of the computer playing games to alleviate stress. He had difficulty going to sleep, often staying awake until 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. Even after transferring to a new school, he could not attend it because he was unable to get up in the morning. He also refused to talk to me.

My heart was shattered. I lacked the means to take him to a doctor and I did not know how to help him. Overwhelmed with panic, I could not find solace. I was unable to get out of the panic state and always felt tightness in my chest, to the point where I had to hunch over in order to ease the discomfort. In an attempt to resolve the issues I was facing, I tried chanting “Amitabha Buddha,” but to no avail. I could barely manage to go on with life.

“Falun Dafa Is Good” Saved Me

One day, I thought of a high school friend who practiced Falun Dafa. Despite my initial avoidance of her due to the propaganda, I somehow felt compelled to reach out. When we met, she could not hold back her tears upon seeing my condition. She treated me to a meal and told me facts about Falun Dafa. She suggested that I recite the auspicious words “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,” assuring me that these words would help me. Although skeptical, I trusted her and understood that she shared this with me out of genuine concern. She gave me a Dafa amulet before we parted, urging me to start reciting the auspicious words immediately.

As I held the amulet in my hand on the way home in the car, I contemplated giving the auspicious words a try. As I finished uttering the last character of “Falun Dafa is good” in my heart, I felt something being taken away from my body, and my hunched back straightened. Miraculously, my panic vanished, replaced by a sense of relief and happiness.

Overwhelmed by this transformation within me, I also noticed changes in my surroundings. Laughter and joyful voices filled the air, and I saw happy faces and a vibrant blue sky—things I had never truly noticed before. Everything seemed wonderful to me. It was astonishing to believe that I had completely changed the moment I said “Falun Dafa is good” in my heart.

Upon returning home, I immediately brought the amulet to my son, who was engrossed in front of the computer. The moment I set down the amulet, he turned off the computer and went to lie on the bed. When I asked him if he wanted to go to sleep, he replied angrily, “Sleep? I can’t even sleep in the middle of the night!” However, he soon fell asleep. It was only 6:00 p.m. at the time. He slept through the night and woke up at 6 the next morning.

That night, I dreamed that lots of dirty substances were being discharged from his body. I knew that the Falun Dafa Master had helped him and resolved his tribulations. I believed that the Master had done the same for me when I first recited the auspicious words.

From that moment on, my son and I were able to live a normal life. He returned to school and made friends there.

Starting Life Anew

Although I couldn’t logically explain the miracles that had occurred to me and my son, I continued reciting the auspicious words.

A week later, my friend brought me the book Zhuan Falun and gave me electronic files of other Falun Dafa teachings. I eagerly immersed myself in reading these books, unable to pull my eyes from the computer screen. To my surprise, Falun Dafa was completely different from the propaganda spread by the CCP. Soon after, I learned the five sets of Falun Dafa exercises.

I began studying the teachings and doing the exercises every day. When faced with difficult situations, I tried to conduct myself according to the principles of Falun Dafa, considering the well-being of others first. Several ailments that had plagued me for a long time disappeared within a few days after I started practicing the exercises. I could sleep soundly and was filled with energy.

Moreover, I experienced daily happiness and noticed my younger and more radiant appearance. Through Master’s teachings, I understood that all the sufferings I had were due to my karma from past lives. Suffering is a way to repay karma, so I no longer harbored complaints about my life.

One morning, as I woke up, I momentarily forgot that I was a practitioner. Memories of past tribulations flooded my mind, causing unbearable pain in my heart. The anguish persisted for several minutes until I suddenly remembered that I practiced Dafa now, and suffering was not a bad thing. Instantly, a warm current flowed from head to toe, and I felt relieved. Although I had only been practicing Dafa for a short time, I had already sensed Master’s presence beside me on numerous occasions.

When my husband returned home, I greeted him with a completely different attitude. A smile adorned my face as I engaged in conversation and prepared dinner for him. I shared with him that I had learned Falun Dafa and clarified the slandering propaganda put out by the CCP. He witnessed my transformation and developed respect for Dafa. Eventually, he, too, renounced the CCP by declaring his withdrawal from its Youth League.

I now understand that Shakyamuni knew that the Master would come to the world to save people, and conveyed this to his disciples. I deeply regret refusing to learn the truth about Dafa back then and failing to comprehend that practitioners were genuinely trying to save people. I attempted to introduce Dafa to my Buddhist friends in a social media group but was instead expelled. It saddened me to see those who still believed the CCP’s lies.

I have now found a job and embarked on a new, joyful life. I hope that more people will learn the truth and benefit from it.