(Clearwisdom.net) I began to practice Falun Gong in September 2006. Prior to becoming a practitioner I had accumulated karma all over my body, which materialized as illness. My eyes were painful. I had rhinitis, bursitis in shoulder, heart disease, and many more illnesses for over twenty years. I suffered hardship and was an unhappy person.
My heart was in so much pain that I could barely breathe. Because of being in pain I couldn't earn a decent income and suffered financial hardship. I couldn't afford visiting doctors and just tried to endure it. In September 2006, one of my friends who practices Falun Gong said to me: "I will give you a book. Read it and you will understand why I gave it to you."
I read Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Gong and it was just like Teacher said:
"Once they learn our Falun Dafa, they will understand at once many questions in life that they have wished to understand but could not answer. Perhaps along with their minds being elevated, they will become very excited--this is for sure." (Zhuan Falun, 2000 version)
I couldn't put the book down and read the entire book within about three days. I understood what cultivation practice represented and most importantly I recognized Teacher to be above all else and that he taught me to return to my original nature.
As I attained Falun Gong rather late, I worried that I could not catch up and reach the standard of a Fa-rectification disciple. I studied the Fa, practiced the exercises, sent forth righteous thoughts and helped Teacher save sentient beings daily. Sometimes, I still felt anxious, but after studying the Fa diligently I became more and more clear on the Fa principles. I no longer felt any bitterness and felt happiness had come my way.
I realized that I am a Fa-rectification period practitioner, and needed to assist Teacher in his Fa rectification. So, a thought emerged -- time is too tight, I must quickly save people, starting with my relatives. Saving people is not easy, as non-practitioners are in a deep maze. It is very difficult to change their thinking. I understood that I had to slowly and patiently explain about Falun Gong, the evil party, why we want to save people, and so much more. If I didn't succeed, I kept trying and didn't get discouraged. I grasped every opportunity to talk about Falun Gong, tried to figure out their attachments and how to convince them that Falun Gong was good. I finally succeeded to make all my family members understand Falun Gong and was happy that they were saved. Some have begun to practice and some do things for Dafa, which made me very happy.
Then, I talked to my friends, schoolmates and people I knew quite well. Some people understood and withdrew from the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliates. However some people didn't believe, no matter what I said, even laughed at me, insulted me, and my best girlfriends almost wanted nothing further to do with me. As my understanding of the Fa was not deep, I thought, "Let it go, just save whoever can be saved and forget about the others."
I realized that my thoughts were wrong. After I studied one of Teacher's articles, I changed my attitude towards saving sentient beings. Teacher said:
"Saving people is just that, saving people, and to pick and choose would not be merciful." ("Fa Teaching at the 2009 Greater New York International Fa Conference")
During the first two years into the practice, as my understanding of the Fa was still rather shallow, I suffered sickness karma many times. My righteous thoughts were not strong enough and I tried to forebear. After Fa study and with fellow practitioners' help, when I ran into another test, I immediately sent forth righteous thoughts, "I am Teacher's practitioner. I only believe in Teacher and Falun Dafa, only follow Teacher's Fa-rectification path, only acknowledge Teacher's arrangements, firmly deny all the old forces arrangements and no other life is qualified to interfere with me." I maintained strong righteous thoughts and the sickness karma test became easier to bear.
There was much interference, especially when I distributed informational material about Falun Gong at night. Sometimes I had an unbearable headache. At that time, I held one thought, "The universe is rectifying the Fa, my Teacher is rectifying the Fa, I am a Falun Dafa practitioner who assists Teacher in his Fa-rectification. All dark minions, rotten ghosts and evil old forces that interfere with me saving people must immediately disintegrate." I continued sending forth righteous thoughts, and distributed Falun Gong material and the headache disappeared. Then, at times, I had pain in my heart and could barely breathe, I recited immediately:
"Dafa is what you carry everywhere,
Zhen Shan Ren, rooted in the mind;
A great Arhat walks the earth,
Gods and demons fear with awe." ("Benevolent Might" from Hong Yin, translation version A)
I immediately felt much better, continued sending righteous thoughts, "Immediately disintegrate evil lives and elements that interfere with me." Under Teacher's protection, I finished distributing the material, and returned home safely.
Every time I read Minghui Weekly, I am moved by the diligent practitioners, and moved to tears when I read practitioners' stories in saving people. Material production sites need to spring up everywhere, so I decided, "I also want to establish a production site. In February this year, fellow practitioner brought me a computer and printer and I established my Falun Gong material production site. In the beginning, when I was still a novice, there was much interference and I had a lot of problems with the computer and printer. I became very anxious, which didn't help. I quickly calmed down and studied the Fa more.
After producing my first batch of Falun Gong materials, I was very touched. I knew that I wouldn't have been able to do this without Teacher's merciful protection. Only by studying the Fa well can I make materials that help in saving people.
Four years have passed and I understand that I am still far from being a diligent practitioner. I will study the Fa diligently, live by the principles Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. I will be diligent at all times and go home with Teacher.
