(Clearwisdom.net)
I am a 53 year-old Falun Gong practitioner from China's countryside. My husband and I were fortunate to be able to start practicing Falun Gong in 1996. The most difficult barrier for me was that I was illiterate. But, I sensed deeply that Teacher came to save sentient beings. I am fortunate that I have not missed this precious opportunity. I decided to learn how to read. Every day my husband took time to teach me the symbols, word by word. I held Zhuan Falun in my hands. I read with him and repeatedly listened to Teacher's lectures. I carried Teacher's articles with me at all times, so I could memorize them. There came the day when I could not only recite "Lunyu," Hong Yin and many other articles, I could also read through Zhuan Falun.
When I read Zhuan Falun and Essentials For Further Advancement, I saw a line of characters in this dimension, but in another dimension, these appeared to be Teacher's law bodies. I was extremely moved and understood that Teacher was encouraging me to practice diligently. I became more confident and made greater efforts to study. I fully recognized my own changes after I practiced Falun Gong. I knew that not only my health improved, but I also gained spiritually. The great law fills my mind, so I won't have bad thoughts. I feel peace deep in my heart.
In July 1999, the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners began. I could not understand why Jiang wanted to suppress such a good practice, which asks people to be good, and to live according to the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance." Doesn't this benefit the people and country? I could not find an answer, but I told myself: "Teacher teaches us to be compassionate and tolerant, thus I have to think of others first at all times. I believe there is nothing wrong with being a good person, and I won't give up the practice. I decided deep in my heart that I was born for Dafa, I live for Dafa, and firmly will follow Teacher's footsteps forever!
At that time, the all-out suppression removed our cultivation environment. The police searched my home and continuously came to harass us. My entire family had no peace. We had no choice but to leave home in 2000 to avoid further persecution. We left behind our 93 year-old grandmother and 75 year-old mother-in-law, wandered about on the streets and collected rubbish. The authorities tried to find us. In September 2001, they used an extremely despicable method to find us. They spread a rumor that my 93 year-old grandmother had passed away. The police had deceived us and thus found the opportunity to unlawfully arrest my husband and I. They also confiscated our Dafa truth-clarification materials.
Zaoshi Local Police Station policemen Chen Xiangbin and Chen Shouliang hung us up on hooks and beat us. They tried to force us to tell where the materials were produced. Our fellow practitioners saved money to make these precious materials. It was not easy for them and everyone risked their lives to save sentient beings. We would not betray our fellow practitioners. A few days later, the police transferred us to Tianmen City No. 1 Detention Center. They continued to interrogate us so they could find the production site of the materials. They took turns torturing me and instructed the criminal inmates to beat me. I fainted quite a few times from the torture. Through all this suffering, I kept one thought: "Teacher and Dafa are with me! I have no fear! I won't tell anything! It will all pass!
Once they wanted to take my photo, but I refused. Police officer Li Qune brutally beat me. My face was dripping with blood. Then she tortured my body with a rubber club and left my body full of bruises. At the time even the criminal inmates had tears in their eyes when witnessing this. The police detained my husband and I in the detention center for 3 months, they used all kinds of torture methods, but we remained silent. Therefore, they sentenced my husband to 2-years in a forced labor camp and fined me 3,000 yuan [500 yuan is the average monthly income for an urban worker in China]. My mother-in-law had to turn over 300 yuan to the detention center, which she received from her daughters as living expense. I returned home with an injured body, and my husband was sent to Shayang Forced Labor Camp.
After I returned home, I practiced Falun Gong more firmly. I farmed so I could support my family, took care of two elderly people, and made sure to tell people the truth of Falun Gong and thus save them. I followed Teacher's guidance, "Validate the Fa with rationality, clarify the truth with wisdom, spread the Fa and save people with mercy" ("Rationality"). I often told the truth to passengers on public buses. I told them the principles of Falun Gong were "Truthfullness, Compassion, Forbearance" and Jiang persecuted us without a legitimate reason. I also gave them Dafa truth-clarification materials. Many drivers and passengers understood us after hearing the truth. Some people wanted to pay me for the materials and VCD. I kindly told them that we do not want a cent, we only want you to understand the truth and have a wonderful future.
I clarified the truth on the bus for more than a year and talked to many people. Some regular passengers and drivers got to know me. They understood my purpose for telling them and thus they were deeply moved and respected me. They said they would keep the materials I had given them, so it would become evidence when Falun Gong is redressed one day.
On December 1, 2002, I was informed on when I clarified the truth on the bus. Jingshan Caochang Local Police Station policemen arrested me and sent me to Jingshan Detention Center. They tried to force me to give my home address and name. I constantly answered: I am a Dafa practitioner.
A group of police cuffed my hands behind my back and hung me up. I loudly protested, so they filled my mouth with moldy cotton and blocked my mouth with a rag. On the first day, the police hung me up for several hours. I began a hunger strike in protest once I entered the detention center. On the second day, they again hung me up for several hours. The police kept interrogating me, cursing me and beating me. However, I was not moved at all; I was not afraid because I believed Teacher was looking after me at all times. On the 7th day of my hunger strike, the police began to force-feed me with milk. A few policemen stepped on my hands and feet, inserted a tube into my nose and filled a big bowl of milk. I vomited and nothing stayed in my stomach. I appeared to be very emaciated from the torture, but the strong spiritual power and the firm faith in Teacher supported me to stand straight.
The prisoners had to say "Hello cadre" every day according to prison rules. I did not cooperate, so they beat me hard and kicked me. I categorically told them that I won't lower my head to them. I am a Dafa practitioner. You are not able to destroy me. The police saw I was steadfast. On the 13th day of my hunger strike, they feared I would die in the detention center, so they released me.
In February 2002, during the Party Congress meetings in Beijing, one night after 10 p.m., a few police suddenly broke down our door, lifted me into the police car and abducted me. My elderly grandmother and mother-in-law asked for a favor, "You have already arrested my son for practicing Falun Gong. My daughter-in-law has to look after two generations of old people at home. We are paralyzed and can't take care of ourselves. Please don't take her." Their sadness and entreaty did not touch the evil people's hearts. The police searched my home, grabbed the exercise music cassette and arrested me, leaving behind two frightened old people, to sob alone in the night.
I was again unlawfully detained at Tianmen No. 1 Detention Center. I again went on a hunger strike to protest. The police started to force-feed me on the 3rd day. They cuffed my hands and feet to the floor, several police stepped on my hands and feet, blocked my nose and broke my two front teeth. All other front teeth became loose and my mouth and face were full of blood. They force-fed me first with rice flour gruel, then with soy sauce, vinegar and hot pepper water. The police stepped on me, so I could not breathe. I became incontinent and had no control over urination and defecation. After the force-feeding, the sweat, urination, blood, and force-fed water was all over my body. Even the criminal inmates burst into tears when they saw the inhuman torture I had to suffer.
Having to suffer one force-feeding and torture method after another, my body was physically in an unbelievable state, but my will had grown ever stronger and my capacity to bear pain became ever higher. When I was persecuted and suffered, I always held the one thought, "Teacher was in my heart." It was worth it to die for Dafa.
Within less than 10 days, I was tormented to the point of not being able to stand upright. I could only crawl. Both of my arms and legs were red and swollen and it was so painful that I could not lie down comfortably to sleep. I only wanted to lie down on the ice-cold cement, so I could lessen the burning pain in my body. On the tenth night, I lay on the floor and thought, "I can't allow the police to persecute me like this any more. I must leave. Teacher, please wake me up and let me sleep on the bed. Slowly I fell asleep and had a dream. Teacher's law body really came. Teacher woke me up and asked me to go to the bed. It was probably around 12 a.m. I slowly crawled to the bed, and had a good sleep. On the next day, I felt much better and relaxed. The police saw my body's injuries from the torture, and rightfully worried that I would die in the detention center. Therefore, they sent me home the same day. After I got out of the car, four people had to carry me to my home. The two paralyzed elderly people at home knew I was back, but could not open the door instantly. My mother-in-law slowly crawled to the door and opened the door. The police then lifted me to the bed. It is really unbearable to recall the scene.
I am able to walk out of one tribulation after another. I am able to step forward to clarify the truth, because Dafa has given me the strength and wisdom. Teacher has been protecting me.
At the end of 2003, my husband returned home after he served the unlawful term in the forced labor camp. We have become more mature and rational and the tribulations strengthened our resolve. During validation of Dafa, we support each other and strive forward together, firmly walking the path that Teacher arranged. We do the three things required of us well, just as Teacher has taught. There is no bitterness in our hearts and no regret regarding the tribulations we had to suffer. We hold no hatred and we do not complain. We only have compassion to save all the sentient beings.