Clearwisdom published a portion of this practitioner's story previously at http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2004/10/16/53519.html
(Clearwisdom.net) I want to write down my experience of how I went from being a convict to a practitioner of Falun Dafa. I am a witness to the magnificence and beauty of Falun Dafa and how it took me from a dark corner of society to a bright road of well-being. I hope people with predestined relationships can learn from my story.
Obtaining the Fa
I had a hard life when I was younger and lived by trafficking drugs and gambling. I didn't really do much real work. I made indecent money and lived my life insensitively. The Chinese Communist Party wanted me to become one of them, so I filled out the application form.
I have a very special predestined relationship with Falun Dafa and I was not confused about certain things. After the self-immolation took place in Tiananmen in 2000, TV and newspapers frequently delivered slandering reports. A lot of people added fuel to it and condemned Falun Gong. I had my own opinion. Although I knew nothing about Falun Gong and knew no one who practiced it, I knew the news was false. Just like during the Cultural Revolution, it was another ploy used by the CCP to insight hatred. I told my family not to believe any of this.
A few months later I was arrested for dealing drugs. I was placed in prison where there were several practitioners, including Xiaoqing, A-lian, and Tingting. We talked when we had time and they told me what Falun Gong really was. Teacher taught them how to be good people, to be considerate of others and not be selfish. I had a very deep impression, "These people are so nice. Why do people become so nice after they learn Falun Gong?"
I had a dream. In my dream there was a big, tall, person above me. I couldn't see his face but his voice was very kind. He told me to learn from Xiaoqing. I told Xiaoqing about my dream the next day without thinking much about it. I was an atheist who did not believe in God, let alone the correlation between a dream and reality. Xiaoqing was very serious and surprised. She said, "You have a great predestined relationship [with Falun Dafa] and it was Teacher hinting to you to start the practice."
Out of my respect for the Falun Gong practitioners, I said, "Ok, you teach me. I want to learn." From then on, Xiaoqing often read Teacher's articles for me and told me how to practice and improve myself. Those were all her understanding. She told me I had to read Zhuan Falun if I really wanted to practice. It is a heavenly book and can guide us to very high levels.
Xiaoqing taught me the exercises. Strangely, for someone who had never done it before, I could sit in full lotus position for a full hour.
Acquitted
There was a "senior" prisoner who went to many trials for years because she was involved with a large amount of embezzlement and bribery. She worked so hard on law articles hoping to win her case herself; we called her an "honorary lawyer."
One day the "honorary lawyer" told me that I would be sentenced to from 3 to 10 years according to criminal law. I was shocked. I used to sell drugs and made a lot of money without thinking that I would be arrested and sentenced for years.
"What is my daughter supposed to do? What about my parents and siblings? I am the only person who brings in money to the family!" I started crying. Xiaoqing comforted me, "It's all right. You will be released in less than 6 months."
Several months later, an officer told me to pack my luggage. I thought I was being transferred and asked where. She yelled, "Home!"
I was shocked and couldn't believe my ears and asked, "I am going home? You are not lying?" The officer replied, "Are you leaving or not?"
I was so excited and couldn't control myself. I had spent so much time with Xiaoqing and Tingting and deeply felt the beauty of Falun Dafa. I looked forward to practicing like them one day and totally forgot that I was a criminal. Xiaoqing's words occurred to me, "As long as you truly practice, Teacher can eliminate a lot of karma for students. He can protect us and change our destiny." I never knew that Teacher really took me as a student.
Tears poured down my face and I wanted to loudly speak out, "Teacher, the compassionate and mighty Teacher, is that you helping me? Is that you treating me as a student?"
I ran back to the room and told this news to Xiaoqing, Tingting and A-lian. We embraced each other tightly with tears on our faces. Xiaoqing said, "Teacher set you free and gave you an environment in which to practice. Always remember that!"
As I walked into my home, everyone was surprised and couldn't believe that I was home so quickly. My family thought I had a government official friend and friends thought my family bribed the court. They thought it was incredible when they knew I didn't have any privilege and the procuratorate didn't establish a case. I knew clearly. I said a great person saved me. Falun Gong's Teacher is great.
I found a practitioner through a phone number Tingting gave me. The practitioner gave me a copy of Zhuan Falun and corrected some of my exercise movements. We still keep in touch. He selflessly gave me a lot of help.
Witnessing the Magnificence of Falun Dafa
I was deeply convinced by Teacher's Fa principles the first time I read Zhuan Falun. I knew why I came here, where my destination was, how I should live my life, and answers to many unsolved questions I had. Though I didn't realize why I was alive, as I look back, all my 37 years of life I was heading toward Dafa--from when I got into the prison, met Xiaoqing and Tingting, had the dream, meditated in full lotus position, until I was released without charges. Everything was precisely planned for the day that I could practice. Teacher, how much you cared for me and how could I ever repay you?
I couldn't get Teacher's other articles, and for several years I read only Zhuan Falun. I never got tired of reading it though I've read it so many times. Every time I had a different understanding and learned something new. Sometimes I could see the book was bright red and behind every word there were layers of gods, Buddhas, and Daos. I had to believe this is a heavenly book and I was so lucky to obtain it.
I hold myself strictly according to what Teacher says. I dropped many bad habits, stopped going out with bad friends and using foul language, and my manners were proper. I wouldn't even dare to imagine being like this in the past. I knew I didn't have the capability then. It was the magic of Dafa and Teacher's help. My family was surprised to see my dramatic change. It is the most precious when a bad person turns good. They witnessed what Falun Gong really was.
One day I took a taxi-scooter and went out of town. The driver drove very fast after we left town and we had a head on collision with a truck. The scooter took off and we were thrown off the road. The driver's face was all bloody and I fainted. I remember the driver kneeling beside me. He kept on saying, "Wake up, lady. Please don't scare me. I can't afford your life." I heard him but I couldn't open my eyes and couldn't move. Twenty minutes later, I woke up. The driver wanted to take me to a hospital. I told him I was all right and asked him to take me home. I didn't feel anything after I got home, but that night, I was hurting all over and couldn't move. I struggled to get up and walked in slow steps. My mother rubbed some medicinal alcohol on me, and soon I was fine. I know Teacher resolved the karmic debts I owed from my previous lives.
I decided to never traffic in drugs again, and soon I had trouble making a living. In the past, my money came easily but was spent quickly too. I didn't have any savings. I realized I knew nothing and had no skills. My whole family depended on me. I prayed to Teacher, "Teacher, I want to be a person with dignity. Please help me once more." I witnessed the greatness of Dafa again. The next day, my neighbor suggested that I go to Shenzhen and do some housekeeping work. That did not require much skill but it was hard work.
Cultivating My Xinxing
I cherished this precious job opportunity and did my best. I quickly won other's approval and was many times voted the best housekeeping staff. My salary increased gradually. Two years later I went to Shanghai to work in a company. I had more chances to meet customers.
Fame and personal gain in the human world no longer attracted me. I made up my mind to practice and enjoy the hardships. I wasn't afraid because Teacher was beside me. As long as there is Fa in my heart, I can bear any bitterness and tribulation because I know my future is bright. I used all my time outside of work studying the Fa. I talked about Falun Gong in all my conversations. The sentiment and lust that used to bother me a lot gradually disappeared. All I was thinking of was practice, enhancement, and going home. Three years later, I met another practitioner. She printed all of Teachers lectures and articles for me. I was very excited and stayed up for several nights just to read them. Through studying the Fa, I understood more principles and my xinxing improved quickly.
One day, a coworker's girlfriend put his cell phone in my room and locked the door. I wasn't aware of this at that time. The vice president later took the key away. This coworker couldn't find his cell phone. He called his cell number with another phone and heard his phone ringing in my room. I said I didn't put it there and he slapped me. I almost fell. I asked him why he hit me because I didn't do it. He asked me to open the door and I told him I didn't have the key. He grabbed a wooden rod and was going to hit me on the head. Other coworkers stopped him. I called the vice president to bring the key back. He told me he didn't have the key. I felt I was so wronged and was in tears. I reminded myself I was a practitioner and shouldn't behave like an ordinary person.
An hour later the vice president brought the key back. He said he forgot he had the key. The coworker's girlfriend came and explained that she put the cell phone in my room and left in a hurry.
The leader of the company learned the whole thing and made the coworker apologize to me. He was fined 1,500 yuan, which was to be given to me as compensation. I returned the money to him. He was very moved and said, "Thank you. You are so kind."
People with Predestined Relations
I often clarify the truth of Falun Gong to my coworkers and tell them my experience. I didn't have truth-clarifying materials, so I gave Teacher's articles to my coworkers. The entire company knew I practice Falun Gong. They knew Falun Dafa was good and wasn't like what they first thought.
I had good accomplishments in the company and was quickly promoted. In a new employee training session, the leader let me introduce myself. I said, "I am a Falun Gong practitioner. I follow Teacher's teaching of Truth, Compassion, Forbearance, in my daily life and at work. I think of others first in everything I do. As long as I follow the principles of Truth, Compassion, Forbearance, I can easily communicate with customers; they feel comfortable and they rely on me to handle their business."
After I spoke, a new employee called the police saying I publicly promoted Falun Gong. The manager heard it and strictly condemned the new employee and warned him his conduct wasn't welcome.
The new employee didn't repent but hated me. He called the police again. The manager's wife told me, "It's serious this time. Nobody can protect you. Take your books and come to live in my house." I tried to pack my clothes, and she said, "We don't have time. Just wear my clothes."
The police came, and the manager took them to my room and they found nothing. Some coworkers said, "We don't have people here that practice Falun Gong. Maybe someone did it out of revenge over some private conflict."
My Mother
Teacher said that one person's practice can benefit the whole family. I experienced this. One day my elder brother called me saying my mother had terminal cancer and had only a few months left. I rushed home and saw my mother lying in bed on the verge of death. I cried and woke up my mother. I told my mother, "Mom, say 'Falun Dafa is good' and 'Truth, Compassion, Forbearance are good.' Teacher will save you." Mother said she couldn't remember them. I wrote them down but mother said she didn't know how to read. "Then memorize them. I will teach you the words one by one. You should be able to memorize it."
Mother followed me and read it out quietly. After a dozen times, mother finally memorized them. I told my brother that our mother would be fine and would get well. The next day, my mother could slowly sit up and eat a little porridge. Three days later she could get out of the bed. Her cancer was gone after a few weeks. It's been two years, and my mother is still alive and healthy. Every time I come home, she reminds me to thank Teacher for her.
Hard to Repay Teacher's Grace
There are many more stories, however limited space prevents me from listing them all here. I often think that the bygones, though painful, are bygones. I obtained the Fa and was a million times more fortunate than most of people. The painful past means nothing now. I have a stable job and happy life and feel great. However, this is not what I'm aiming for. My purpose in life is to practice and return to my true self. I can't express my gratitude to Teacher. Every time I think of Teacher's grace, I am in tears. I hope this article can express my heart through Clearwisdom, "Teacher, I am here bowing to you. I will remember your immense grace and help. I will practice and do the three things well."
