(Clearwisdom.net) In 2000, I was reported by a fellow practitioner and then arrested and illegally detained in a detention center. The excuse for the arrest was an "illegal gathering." The so-called "illegal gathering" was quite simple---on New Year's Eve I went out to visit a fellow practitioner and shared cultivation experiences with a few practitioners for an hour. One of them was arrested for some other reason. Then, due to the attachment of fear, he reported me and other practitioners. He was then released on bail.
I was interrogated after the arrest. The questions they asked me were very simple, such as: "What are the names of the practitioners who attended the 'illegal gathering?'" I told the police, "They are good people. They only want to practice Falun Gong and did not do anything wrong. It's impossible for you to make me tell you about them--I won't get any other practitioners involved. Besides, I did not commit any crime, so why are you illegally detaining me?" One policeman said, "Someone reported you to us. If he did not tell us about you, how could we have known to detain you?" I replied, "Then if I tell you about the other practitioners, won't you also detain them? I am telling you the truth: I will never do such a thing!"
They repeatedly interrogated me and warned me of the consequences if I refused to talk. I told them that I would tell them all about myself, since I did not commit any crime and I had nothing to be afraid of. But I would not tell them anything about the other practitioners, and they would not get anything from me!
I had built a solid foundation through Fa-study, so my mind was very clear at that time and I knew the seriousness of cultivation. I thought of what Master said:
"Only at the critical moment can we see his heart. If he doesn't let go of certain attachments he might even dare to betray a Buddha--could this be a minor problem?" ( "Huge Exposure" from Essentials for Further Advancement )
"People are held accountable for everything they do. Don't think that [it doesn't count] because you were passive or were just talking irresponsibly, or that you merely said or did something under pressure, or that you were controlled by evil--it doesn't matter. None of that can be an excuse." "Teaching the Fa at the Conference in the Midwest-U.S.", June 26, 1999, Chicago)
I also thought of what Master taught in Lecture Four of Zhuan Falun:
"You should always be benevolent and kind to others, and consider others when doing anything. Whenever you encounter a problem, you should first consider whether others can put up with this matter or if it will hurt anyone. In doing so, there will not be any problems. Therefore, in cultivation practice you should follow a higher and higher standard for yourself."
Therefore, from the very beginning, I held onto a basic principle that I would never betray any Dafa disciples.
Finally, the period of my being repeatedly interrogated passed by. Of course, writing about that time is easy, but the actual detention was really quite difficult for me. However, I held onto my firm belief and never gave up when coping with the evils. I never betrayed or reported any Dafa disciples.
Although there was no solid evidence to sentence me, they were afraid of my firm belief in Dafa. They regarded me as a good example of a Falun Gong practitioner and, therefore, a key target to strike. However I did not give in to them, and I studied law in the detention center. Later on, in court, I defended myself in a dignified and upright manner, and I exposed the illegal acts of the policemen.
The practitioner who reported me to the police was also present in the court. Although he cooperated with the evil and betrayed other practitioners and me, the authorities did not release him as promised. During the session in the afternoon, his defense attorney showed his "Statement of Quitting Practicing Falun Gong", and requested that the court free him of criminal responsibility after emphasizing his attitude of regretting practicing Falun Gong.
In order to protect my fellow practitioners and avoid further loss to them, I would not cooperate with the court and I was illegally sentenced to several years' imprisonment. I never regretted this action. After I was put in prison, I never relaxed my vigilance. On the one hand, I firmly safeguarded Dafa. On the other hand, I also tried to save the officials and guards there by clarifying the truth about Falun Gong to them. I also did what Dafa disciples should do and improved my xinxing in the difficult environment.
The practitioner who had reported and betrayed other practitioners was also sentenced to be imprisoned, but later on he was released on probation. Although he betrayed me and caused serious consequences for me, I did not hate him and I even showed sympathy to him. How could a person doing cultivation find fault? Even though he had not acted correctly, he had a human body and had already obtained Dafa. Even if he had made a huge mistake, he could still correct himself and make up the loss to Dafa. Unfortunately he chose a path that he was not supposed to take--- to depart from Dafa! Thus a tragedy happened.
Several years later, I was released from the jail and heard several stories:
A practitioner who lived near my previous home told me that before I was detained, practitioners were incessantly arrested. The reason was that previously arrested practitioners betrayed and reported other practitioners that they knew, and this phenomenon continued until I was arrested. For a long time after I was arrested, no other practitioners were reported and arrested.
Once, I met another practitioner on a bus. He told me that he had been detained at a brainwashing class held by the local 610 Office. Whenever the practitioners inside that brainwashing class didn't behave as Dafa disciples, the policemen there would mention me to them. The policemen there said to them, "How can you all be counted as Dafa disciples? Now that practitioner (referring to me), he is a genuine practitioner." The practitioner on the bus said to me, "We could sense that the police officers and judicial officers in court all admired you in their hearts. This story revealed that once a Dafa practitioner behaves like a genuine practitioner, everyone will truly respect him.
As for that practitioner who betrayed and reported me and other practitioners, although he was no longer detained in prison, after he was released on bail, he was always in low spirits. He never publicized a "Solemn Declaration" to resume his cultivation in Dafa. One year later, he suddenly died. Even though I know that to cultivate in Dafa is the most serious thing in the world, when I heard of what happened to him, I was still a little astonished. I remembered that Master taught us:
"It's because you practice cultivation in the upright Fa that you have escaped the karma you owed in your previous lives. Once you are reduced to the level of an everyday person, no one will protect you and demons will also take your life." ("Dafa Can Never be Plagiarized" from Essentials for Further Advancement )
"It's not that Master is not merciful--in the Fa-rectification all beings choose their own path." ("A Suggestion" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I realized that practitioners who haven't done well in the past should reflect on themselves and fully understand that cultivation in Dafa is serious. They should realize the great importance of this problem and review the paths that they have taken with all due seriousness. If they have done something wrong, they should correct themselves quickly. If they have caused any losses for Dafa or fellow practitioners, they should try their best to make it up. Remember, all the deities are watching us. When the time is up and you find that you cannot reach Consummation, you will regret it deeply! Even if you have done something very wrong, you can restore your heart and firm belief in Dafa; otherwise the consequences will be terrible.
Written on June 2, 2009
