Young Practitioner: Striving Forward on My Cultivation Path

(Minghui.org) I was born in the 1990s. I have known about Falun Dafa since I was a child because my parents practiced, but I didn’t begin practicing until 2021. I met my husband because he practiced Falun Dafa, so I’ve had a partner who could cultivate diligently with me.

Tempering Myself During a Tribulation

I’ve had the attachment of always feeling that because I started practicing so late I wouldn’t have enough time, nor could I accomplish my mission to help Master save people. When I did things to clarify the truth to people, including handing out informational materials with my husband, I always had a strong attachment to doing things. I was so attached that I worked like a machine every day and didn’t stop. I failed to look inward. I was doing such a sacred thing, assisting Master in Fa-rectification, but because my intention was not pure I was taken advantage of by the old forces. My husband and I were reported when we handed out flyers. We were tracked down by the police, arrested, and held in a detention center. We were illegally detained for just over a year.

After being arrested, I refused to cooperate with the police. I didn’t give them my name, so they decided to use facial recognition. But they couldn’t recognize me after three attempts. They asked me for the password to my cell phone. When I refused to tell them they kicked me in the knees and slapped my face. I shouted, “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!”

When my husband and I went through a health check, he talked to the police officers about Dafa, and said that by quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), one could ensure one’s safety. I also talked to the female police officer. She listened carefully, and asked some questions.

It rained on the way to the detention center. One of the officers, perhaps understanding the truth, said, “It’s raining. Perhaps God feels sorry for you.”

My husband and I were taken to different detention centers. It was past 10 p.m. when I arrived, and I was assigned to sleep next to a practitioner. I knew benevolent Master arranged for her to encourage me in adversity.

With her help, I quickly came out of my depressed state and began to clarify the facts to the inmates. Someone later reported me to the head inmate of the cell. She had someone monitor me and not let me talk to others, but I still found opportunities to talk to the people around me. The inmate who reported me then got into an argument with another inmate and was severely scolded by the head of the cell. She was in a very difficult situation. No one in her family deposited money for her to spend, and no one cared about her. She sat alone in a corner and wept, saying she no longer wanted to live.

I didn’t resent her for reporting me. I held her hand and comforted her. She was moved. She never reported me to the cell head again. When I was about to be transferred to another cell, she told me, “Take good care of yourself.”

I was soon taken to a transition cell, where I ran into veteran practitioner Ms. Feng. We spent three weeks together, and exchanged bits of Fa that each of us had memorized.

Ms. Feng and I were then separated. When I was transferred to a fixed cell I continued doing the exercises. I refused to recite the detention center rules, so the cell head said she would report me to the officer. I told her, “The ancients have a saying, ‘Having heard the Dao in the morning, one can die in the evening.’” (“Melt Into the Fa,” Essentials for Further Advancement)

I thought, “I’m not even afraid of death, let alone afraid of you reporting me to the team leader!”

The team leader came to talk to me. I still had a competitive mentality, so after we exchanged a few words I started shouting at her because she slandered Falun Dafa. I shouted, “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” The team leader sent someone to get a set of handcuffs and shackles, and put them on me.

Because I was restrained I couldn’t walk upright, and even using the washroom was restricted. When I returned to my cell, the inmates were horrified by what they saw, and wouldn’t dare come near me. I was emotional and began to clarify the truth, shouting out loudly about the self immolation hoax on Tiananmen Square, the “hidden character stone,” how the ancient Roman Empire persecuted Christians and was eventually destroyed by four major plagues, and how good and evil has its corresponding effects. I used all my strength, and my voice resounded through the air. Someone from the male cell downstairs responded, and shouted, “You must be tired from shouting, take a break.”

An officer told the inmates, “Stuff her mouth.” But no one dared approach me. Then he ordered the cell head, “If she screams again, don’t give her any water to drink.”

I shouted back, “Not giving me water is fine. From now on, I will not eat. I’m on a hunger strike to protest the persecution.” I didn’t eat that day. When they saw that I really hadn’t eaten, several inmates in the room tried to persuade me to eat. Some said that they couldn’t understand why a practitioner would hold a hunger strike to harm herself. When I heard that, I began to eat again.

The inmates took a nap at noon, but I didn’t. I sat on my bunk handcuffed and shackled, raised my palm, and sent forth righteous thoughts the entire afternoon. The person on duty gestured to me to sleep several times, but I smiled and shook my head. After lunch break, the announcement suddenly said that those who had not received the three vaccinations should step out. The announcement called out some names, including mine. I also heard Ms. Feng’s name. So I went out.

Then I saw her and understood that this was arranged by Master. When she saw me chained, she asked what happened, and if I was punished was because I did the exercises. When I saw her, it was like seeing a family member. I couldn’t hold back my tears, and told her, “Yes.” She told me not to fight them, but to treat them with compassion. She also said that my shouting the truth that morning was well done. The inmates in her cell said I must be well educated because what I said made sense.

She supported me as we walked down the stairs, because I was chained and couldn’t walk fast. The team leader shouted from the front, “Hurry up, those behind me.”

My fighting mentality flared up again, and I shouted, “I’m chained, I can’t walk fast.”

The inmates fell silent, and all eyes were fixed on me. The team leader approached, and without saying a word, began slapping me. Ms. Feng rushed forward, grabbed the team leader’s hand, stopped her, and said, “No hitting.” Everyone was expecting the team leader to scold her, but she didn’t say a word and walked away.

I felt it was a wake-up call. Why was Ms. Feng, who didn’t violate the rules and did the exercises in her cell every day, was fine, but I was chained. Why did the team leader dare to slap me? She grabbed the team leader and stopped her, but the team leader didn’t say a word to her, and left. Because her thoughts were on the Fa, the old forces didn’t dare to touch her. However, even though I didn’t cooperate with the officers I still had a competitive mentality and resentment. Thus, the outcome was different.

My emotions stabilized significantly after I met with Ms. Feng, and I began to look deeper within myself. I discovered my selfishness, competitive mentality, resentment, contempt for others, and vanity. Later, because I was restrained, going to the washroom and washing my hair became difficult. Kind inmates in the cell offered to wash my hair, help me take off and pull up my pants when I used the washroom, and even helped to wash my socks. I knew that Master arranged for them to help me. I wanted to thank them for helping in my most difficult time. I knew I must help to save them.

I knew that Master would not allow the officers to put chains on me all the time. As long as I could rectify myself in the Fa, they’d take the chains off. However, my emotions fluctuated up and down. One moment I was on the Fa, the next moment my attachment flared up and gained the upper hand. Nine days later, there came an opportunity. An officer asked the cell head how I had been doing. She told him that I was fine. The officer told her to have me to write a letter of apology.

Upon hearing that, I had an idea. I thought I must use the letter of apology to clarify the facts to the cell head. I was very firm, and thought, “Only by doing so, can I make the breakthrough in this trial.”

I picked up a pen and wrote, “Team leader, my apologies. I shouldn’t have yelled at you before we talked that day. Our Master requires us to hold ourselves to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I failed to be kind, or tolerant. That day, I heard you say that other practitioners whom you had contact with all did well. Some inmates had no money and those practitioners helped them financially. They were all very kind, unlike me, who started yelling as soon as we said a few words. I felt really ashamed compared to them. But I think if you heard my story of how I’ve grown up, you might forgive my inappropriate behavior.”

I wrote about how our family began to practice Falun Dafa, and how we benefited from the practice, and about during the most difficult times in our family, other practitioners always selflessly helped us. I also included the experience of my family being subjected to the persecution multiple times. I wrote six pages.

When the inmates read it, they said it wouldn’t help. They were concerned about the part related to the fact that Dafa is good, and asked me if I still wanted to take off the chains. I wasn’t moved. I was clear that only by validating the beauty of Dafa, and having the officers learn the truth, could I pass this trial.

After I handed in my letter, that officer came to find me for a talk. She said, “I’ve read your letter. It was very sincere. We are not heartless people. I was moved by how you and your family benefited from practicing Dafa.” She took off the chains and rubbed my swollen wrists. From then on, her attitude towards me changed completely.

Encountering Trials After Coming Out of the Detention Center

The first thing I heard after being released was that my father had been arrested, and no one knew where he was being held. My husband and I tried to find him. We learned that he had been sent to prison and was being held in solitary confinement, because he wouldn’t renounce Falun Dafa, and he did the exercises.

When my husband and I were finally able to see him he appeared to have symptoms of illness karma. We helped him send righteous thoughts. When the visiting date came the following month an officer in charge refused to let us meet with him, saying that it was stipulated by the prison that if he didn’t transform we were not allow to see him.

I thought, “What the officer says doesn’t count, only what Master says counts.” So I made various complaints. I reported them for violating Article 48 in Section 4 of the “Prison Law.” I also told them that no matter what internal regulations they had, they couldn’t violate the Constitution, otherwise, it would be illegal. After the procuratorate received my complaint they said the visiting issue was resolved, and I could visit my father.

My husband and I went to see him on visiting day. We arrived early but we had to wait all morning. All those scheduled for morning visits left, and those scheduled for afternoon visits had already been granted, but we still hadn’t been allowed to see him. I went to the reception desk, and they told me that an internal prison meeting was held that morning to discuss whether we could see him. Ten minutes earlier, they received a call telling them that we could see my father, and told us to wait.

We continued waiting until the prison was closed for visiting that day. We waited for over four hours. Then the prison officer asked my husband, “Do you still practice Falun Dafa?”

My husband answered firmly, “Yes I do.”

The officer then turned to ask me if I practiced Falun Dafa. I shouted loudly, “Yes I do! But it has nothing to do with our visiting my father.”

When the old forces saw that we had no fear, the officer quickly changed his attitude and didn’t say anything else. However, since our visit already passed the visit time, we were only allowed to have a quick, ten-minute meeting.

After I returned home, I called the procuratorate again to explain that the visit had been delayed for over four hours, and that our visiting time was cut short. Furthermore, due to strict regulations, my father was not allowed to buy a razor inside the prison. Afterwards, every time I went to visit my father he was quickly brought over to us. The razor issue was also resolved.

The community authorities repeatedly came to our house looking for my husband and me. The first two times, my husband was out, and I didn’t go out to meet them. They later called my husband and asked for my current contact information and where I worked, but he didn’t tell them.

One of the community staff called my husband’s cell phone one day. She called several times but he didn’t answer. When my grandmother found out, she said, “Answer the call if she calls again. If you keep ignoring her, she’ll think you’re up to something. You haven’t done anything wrong, so why are you afraid of her?”

If my grandmother, who is not a practitioner, could say something like that, I felt that Master must be using her to give me a hint. I thought about it, and decided to take a proactive approach. So I took the initiative to go find that community staff member and clarify the facts. I discussed this with my husband and he agreed.

We went to the community center that afternoon. As soon as we sat down, before we could even say a word, a woman started taking pictures of us. I shouted at her to stop, “Do you know what you are doing? You are infringing on my rights. You must delete the photos immediately!”

A staff member nearby also told her to delete them. She immediately replied, “Okay, okay. I’ll delete them now.”

I made my position clear, “We are good people who believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I didn’t want my private life to be paid too much attention to and disturbed. I know you were only doing your job, but you only have to go through the motions if it’s not something that you really want to do.”

I clarified the truth and said the fact that COVID hadn’t subsided yet was Heaven’s warning. She listened attentively. When my husband talked to her about the CCP, the communist specters behind her were frightened, and she said, “Stop talking, otherwise I’ll call the police.”

Undeterred, my husband responded, “Go ahead and call them.”

Seeing we weren’t frightened, she fell silent. Another staff member tried to smooth things over, saying, “It’s not that serious. I understand your request, and we won’t bother you again. If you leave the city just let us know if it’s convenient for you.”

I smiled and did not say anything else. I was clear deep down, “Only Master is in charge.” Before we left, I said to them with a smile, “I understand you. It’s not that you want to come to my house, rather it’s a job assigned to you by your boss. You can convey my words to your boss today. If necessary, I can talk to your boss directly.” They never came to harass us again.

Without Master’s benevolent protection, without being empowered by Dafa, I couldn’t come this far. Only by accomplishing the missions of assisting Master in rectifying the Fa and saving sentient beings can I fulfill my prehistoric vow! No matter how bumpy my future path may be, I’ll stick it out to the end, and my faith in Dafa will never waiver.