(Minghui.org) I have cultivated Falun Dafa for over 20 years. My progress has been very steady thanks to Master Li’s protection. Although I may not have done as well as practitioners who are more diligent, I stayed focused on my mission and consistently did the three things each day. I felt I was doing all right. But something happened the other day that made me realize that my cultivation has not been as solid as I thought, and it helped me understand the seriousness of cultivation.

I moved to the city in 1990, leaving our house in the village for my husband’s parents to live in. However, my father-in-law applied to have the property ownership certificate put in his name the following year. When he passed away, the title transferred to my mother-in-law.

We learned about the changes last year when the government notified us that they had renewed the certificate. My husband and his mother argued about this. My husband said angrily, “Without us taking care of you all these years, you would have passed away long ago.”

My mother-in-law replied, “The house won’t be yours until I die.” I wasn’t sure what to say in this situation. I consoled my husband and asked him not to argue. We live well even without the house. It is not worth getting upset over.

This year, when the certificate was ready, my brother-in-law said he would pick it up and bring it to me. My mother-in-law was staying with her daughter at the time. I told my brother-in-law, “It’s okay. Why don’t you give it to your mother when you visit your sister? She’ll feel better if she has the certificate.” He agreed.

My husband remembered the certificate a few days later. I told him it was in his mother’s name, and I had asked my brother-in-law to take it to her. He was very angry. He yelled at me, saying I was stupid for not wanting a house. He picked up the phone to call his brother, and asked him, “Why haven’t you brought over the certificate?” I became upset. I did not want my brother-in-law, who drives a big truck, to be distracted.

I stopped my husband, and said, “It’s me who asked your brother to take the certificate to your mom. Why are you calling him?” My husband could no longer control himself and told me to go away and die. I was angry and dumbfounded. I forgot I was a practitioner. I picked up my bag and said, “You can fight. When I die of anger, this house will be yours, too. You can live in an empty house all by yourself.” I turned and left.

I realized I was wrong as soon as I closed the door. How could I say I was angered to death? What position had I put myself in? After over 20 years of cultivation, could I really be angered to death by an ordinary person? What happened to my cultivation?

I started blaming myself. I told the practitioners at the Fa study site, and many of them said I should not have said those things. My stomach and back began aching when I returned home. I could not identify the exact source of the pain. I did not take it seriously, and kept up with my usual activities.

My abdomen hurt more at night, and I was unable to get up once I lay down. When I tried to sit up, I couldn’t bend forward. I did not know which of my thoughts had caused the problem. I just felt like there was something in my belly. It hurt whenever I moved. I could only send forth righteous thoughts to remove the bad stuff and negate my improper thoughts.

I meditated and then tried to sleep, but the pain was too intense. I got up to send righteous thoughts and then meditated again. I struggled until 4 a.m., then began the standing exercises. I completed the first three exercises, but the fourth was a struggle and painful. When I finished, my clothes were soaked with sweat. I did the standing exercises again. I sent righteous thoughts at 6 a.m., and felt much better.

I didn’t consider it to be an illness and did what I needed to do. I believed I didn’t deserve Master’s protection. I had spoken the wrong words and allowed the old forces to take advantage of my loopholes. I stood in front of Master’s picture, put my hands together in front of my chest, and sincerely repented. I told Master I would be a good disciple. Even if I have gaps in my cultivation, the old forces can’t persecute me because I will use strong righteous thoughts to dissolve them.

I was in pain and perspired badly when I was at the Fa-study group during the day. However, I didn’t think I had an illness. Fellow practitioners helped me send righteous thoughts while I increased the intensity of my own.

The symptoms basically disappeared three days later, but some discomfort lingered. I paid it no attention and did what a Dafa disciple should do.

Cultivation is a serious matter. A single thought that is not in line with the Fa can cause problems. The old forces are always watching us. Only Master cherishes us. Only by studying the Fa more and well can we complete our mission and avoid going astray. Thank you, Master, for saving me.