My Mother Cultivates Falun Dafa

(Clearwisdom.net)

My mother may be 78 years old, but she is full of vigor, her face has a rosy glow, she walks with a spring in her step, and she is full of energy. Friends who haven't seen her for a long time are surprised at her appearance, because they do not expect her to be in such good health. Some have actually said to her, "Knowing your past health problems, I'm surprised you have lived so long." Some are happy for her and say that she looks prettier than ever. Some say my mother looks younger than she did 10 years ago. Yes, my mother smiles as she goes about her daily life and smiles at everyone she sees. But do you know what my mother looked like 10 years ago?

The first half of my mother's life was not easy. When she was 20 she married my father, who was 18 years older than she. He had three children from a previous marriage. After she joined the family she didn't have much time to relax. Besides looking after her husband's two girls and a boy, she gave birth to my three siblings and me. Her married life was very difficult. In 1972 my father became sick and died. In the following five years, one of my uncles, an aunt, and my step-grandparents died one after the other. My mother, who used to be strong, was badly affected by all of these sorrows. Then she developed breast cancer. But with a large family and no husband, she could not afford medical treatment.

Around that time my two step-sisters and step-brother were married. My sisters were living in a rural area, and my younger brother and I were still going to school. My mother went for acupuncture treatments every day. Within nine months her cancer was under control, but she had lost a lot of weight. Every day she used a heavy knife (it weighed about two pounds) to cut bamboo. She cut bamboo stalks for five years to earn a living. She was able to pay back our debts and saved enough money to pay for my younger brother's wedding and my wedding.

Then my mother opened a grocery store. She was over 60 and in poor health, but the store made enough money to cover our daily living expenses. By the time my mother turned 68, she was very feeble and had a lot of health problems. Serious rheumatism made it difficult and painful for her to walk, so she had to take a lot of medication to get by.

One day a friend that we hadn't seen for a long time visited my family and talked with my mother about Falun Gong. She left the book Zhuan Falun for her to read. Maybe it was because of my mother's predestined relationship with the Fa. My mother considered it to be the most precious gift. She went to exercise every day, even when it was raining or snowing. She also gave all of us the book to read. In a very short time she got rid of all her medications and stopped smoking after smoking for 20 years. She also quit drinking alcohol. Her physical health improved daily and she regained some weight. Her face became rosy and shiny. The mottled skin on her face, that had been like that for 60 years, disappeared. Her skin became soft and fair. She became benevolent and friendly. Not only we, her children, but also all of her friends could not help but touch her face.

Around July 20, 1999, while my mother was on a bus, a police officer got on the bus to check for Dafa practitioners. He looked left and right and stood in front of my mother and said, "This lady is healthy, her face is rosy and glowing. It looks like she is practicing Falun Gong."

When my mother was 70, she experienced what Teacher talked about in Zhuan Falun,

"In addition, elderly women will regain their menstrual period since a cultivation practice of mind and body requires menses to cultivate the body. Ones period will come, but the menstrual flow will not be much. At present, that little bit will suffice. This is also a common phenomenon."

The return of menses happened to my mother. She had a short menstrual period. From then on she always looked young. In the last eight years my mother has not aged, and the wrinkles on her face are becoming fewer and fewer. Her gray hair is becoming darker and darker, just as her skin becomes more and more fair. My mother looks younger and younger all the time.

Last summer, while visiting my sister in Beijing, they took photos in the Temple of Heaven. A few foreigners wanted to have their picture taken with my mother. They said, in not fluent Chinese, that they wanted to "get some divine air" from my mother. Usually a person who is over 80 needs to be cared for by his or her family members. But during the last 11 years my mother has not taken a single pill nor has she been a burden to us. On the contrary, she tries her best to help us. Four years ago my eldest brother-in-law became ill and died. My mother overcame all past animosity and helped one of her step-daughters, who is only four years younger than my mother, to get through a difficult time. Eight years ago I underwent surgery for acute appendicitis. My mother looked after me until I was able to go back to work. Last year another brother-in-law died from an illness, and my mother nursed her the whole time. After that my niece had a baby, my mother looked after her for two months.

Wherever my mother goes, she always uses her own experiences to validate Dafa. Thus, a lot of people have learned about Falun Gong and some have become practitioners. Recently, I developed a heart problem and temporarily moved in with my mother. She cooked delicious food and changed the menu every day. She taught me the exercises and we studied the Fa together. I also became a Falun Gong practitioner.

My mother is kind, benevolent, and open-minded. She wins people's respect. During Chinese New Year, her seven children plus nieces and nephews--about 30 people--visited my mother at the same time. It is Falun Dafa that has given us a most respectful mother. Because of her, my brothers and sister and I all became Falun Dafa practitioners.