(Clearwisdom.net) I am an elderly practitioner from Jilin Province. I am 73 years old. I was so happy to begin practicing Falun Dafa in 1996. During my nine years of cultivating, especially since the persecution began on July 20, 1999, I have been persecuted many times. I was even detained a couple of times. Under Dafa's guidance and Master's protection, I left the detention center righteously. I have had some major physical tribulations. Before I started cultivation practice, I had many illnesses, including lumbar vertebrae disease and many tumors. Two months after I started practicing Falun Dafa, all the diseases were gone, demonstrating the majesty of Dafa.

There are many elderly practitioners in my small county. After July 20, 1999, many older practitioners did not understand the principles of the Fa thoroughly enough and did not have strong enough righteous thoughts. Many elderly practitioners could not step forward to validate Dafa. They really felt that the Fa was good and really wanted to practice it, but they had a very strong attachment of fear so the old forces took advantage of them. Some of these practitioners could not pass through the illness test and lost their lives as a result of the old forces' arrangements. This situation brought negative effects to Dafa. After I saw this, I felt very sad. Here, I want to talk about the topic with fellow practitioners who may be dealing with illness tribulations.

Illness tribulation appears the same in personal cultivation and Fa-rectification cultivation, but it has a different nature. During personal cultivation period (before July 20, 1999), illnesses were caused by debts that we owed over the course of the generations of our lives. This kind of illness is the kind that Master took away the greater part of and left a little bit for us in order to improve our xinxing and to test whether we are firm in Dafa. After we improve our xinxing and reach the standard that Dafa requires, Master will take away all our illness. During the Fa-rectification period (after July 20, 1999), manifestations of illness are basically due to big loopholes in our xinxing or our being unable to transcend ordinary human thoughts for a long time, and therefore being persecuted by the old forces. Basically, we suffer illness because we could not let go of attachments and did not do the three things well. Disturbing the Fa-rectification and interfering with us saving sentient beings are the arrangements of the old forces. Although the old forces do not dare to stop us from saving sentient beings, still, if we have big loopholes in the Fa-rectification process or have strong attachments, the old forces will think that they have a valid reason to interfere with us. Whether in personal cultivation or in Fa-rectification cultivation, as long as we regard ourselves as true practitioners, seriously learn the Fa well, and have righteous thoughts, all the tribulations forced on us by the illness demon and the old forces will be completely denied.

Once, at about 9 p.m. on a winter night in 1997, while walking on a stone path with my daughter-in-law, I slipped suddenly and my head hit the stone. I felt that my head was broken into two pieces. I could not speak. My daughter-in-law was in a panic. Two minutes later, I understood and said right away, "I am fine. I am a cultivator. Master is protecting me." Five minutes later, I stood up, touched my head and was fine. My head did not even have a lump. My daughter-in-law found it very amazing.

Recently, I was taken advantage of by the evil . My husband, who was not a practitioner, was ill and passed away after more than 10 days. During his illness, I did not do the three things well. The fourth day after my husband died, I said I would go out to spread the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party throughout my county. However, at about 6 p.m. that evening, I fell when I tried to take something down from a high place. I injured my chest and broke a vertebra. I could not move at all and I could not support myself. I called out to Master when I fell down and said, "I am a Dafa practitioner and nobody can affect me." I made a huge effort to crawl to the bed but could not stand up. I felt pain in my stomach. My children were afraid and wanted to send me to the hospital. I was firm in my conviction not to go. My eldest grandson brought a doctor to my home. The doctor touched my chest and said that it was true that my chest was severely injured and I would be disabled if I didn't get immediate treatment. I told the doctor that I am a Dafa practitioner and I had not taken medicine for nine years. I said I would be fine in a couple of days. Three days later, I listened to Master's lectures, I recited, "Dafa is good," and "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance is good." I also recited Lunyu and "Hongyin". Six days later, I asked Master to strengthen me in order to do the exercises (I had to lie down to exercise). I read Zhuan Falun and Master's recent lectures. Ten days later, I could send forth righteous thoughts with one hand holding the bed. I saw a demon that looked like a robot standing in front of me. I dissolved him with my strong righteous thoughts. Then I saw the demonic head of the evil communist party. I called for Master to strengthen me. I finally dissolved them. Gradually, I became better and better. I could walk about 20 days later and fully recovered in a month.

After the illness tribulation appeared, I looked into myself and asked why this kind of tribulation could happen. It was mainly because during the period that my husband was ill, although I did some Dafa work, I did not strive forward diligently. I appeared to do Dafa work but fundamentally, I did not do it well according to Master's requirements. Therefore, I was taken advantage of by the evil. Also, the evil madly interfered with me and persecuted me, since it saw that I planned to spread the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party throughout the county. This is my biggest lesson. From now on, I will walk well on the cultivation path and help Master to validate Dafa and do the three things well according to Master's requirement. I will use this time to save sentient beings and fulfill my prehistoric pledges.