(Minghui.org) Looking back at each step along my cultivation path, I can't help but feel blessed about being a Dafa disciple and being able to validate the Fa in many different environments. Below, I'd like to share a few stories about these different environments and the challenges I faced in each.
After July 20, 1999, the Chinese media became saturated with propaganda against Dafa. The authorities became less friendly as well. Just that night, I was released after a day's detention for appealing for Dafa at the provincial appeals office.
When I got home, I cried myself to sleep while holding Master's photo in my arms. I was worried about how I would walk my cultivation path in the coming days.
But in the end, I settled upon a single thought: “Master, no matter how hard it is, I will follow your teachings step by step until the end.”
As the persecution escalated, I went to Beijing to hold up Dafa banners and speak out “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” is good!” multiple times.
I would later join the demonstrations at Tiananmen Square, displaying banners and speaking out. Falun Dafa is good, and people need to know that the government is persecuting innocent people.
In the summer of 2002, I was arrested for making Dafa materials with some fellow practitioners. The police pressured my entire family into forcing me to write the guarantee statement and giving up Dafa.
Instead of writing a guarantee statement, however, I wrote “Falun Dafa is good” on the paper. I was not giving in.
The police continued to detain me for two and a half months, and released me under the condition that my workplace keep a close eye on me. The idea was that I would not go to Beijing again, under their care.
To accomplish this, my boss asked my husband to make sure that I would not go to Beijing.
“She's already gone to Beijing many times. What makes you think that I can stop her?” he replied.
Once, a staffer from the local district's Political and Legal Committee said to me, “Look at the current political situation. It won't make any sense for you to continue practicing Falun Dafa. Instead, you should come join the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It's much more advantageous.”
I said calmly, “I will not join the CCP. I will keep my faith.”
In the following months and years, I refused many attempts to force me to give up my practice by many government officials and their subordinates.
Master said,
“You should always maintain a heart of compassion and kindness. Then, when you run into a problem, you will be able to do well because it gives you room to buffer the confrontation.” (Zhuan Falun)
In my family life, I maintain healthy relationships by keeping this point in mind.
It wasn't always easy getting along with my mother-in-law. But because of Dafa, I would try to be understanding of her and treat her well. I'd buy whatever she asked me to as soon as I could. I'd try to do whatever she asked me to, even if it meant taking a day or two off work.
When the police were going to search my house for Dafa books, my mother-in-law said, “Put your Dafa things at my place. I'll guard them so that nobody finds them.”
When I'd be released from detention, she would gather the whole family for a homecoming meal. She'd also give me money when she knew that I needed it. My kindness to her has brought about her profound support for me and Dafa. I am happy to see her now enjoying a fulfilling retirement, thanks to the blessings of Dafa.
Master said,
“Within a special dimension that does not have the concept of time, when a person is born, his or her entire lifetime already exists there simultaneously. For some people, even more than one lifetime exists there.”
Master also said,
“You are unable to interfere with the lives of others, and neither can you control others’ fates, including those of your wife, sons, daughters, parents, or brothers. Can you decide those things?” (Zhuan Falun)
In light of this teaching, I understood that my son's life was predetermined, and let go of my attachments to my son. Though my son's grades were never at the top of his class, I told him to do the best he could and remained supportive no matter what the results were.
One day, my son came home and told me that representatives from an American university came to his school to recruit students. After talking with the university president in person, he was determined to attend that university.
I didn't want him to leave me, but I felt that this was Master's arrangement. I knew I shouldn't try to arrange my son's life, but instead let things run their course naturally.
Now, my son goes to college in the United States, and his life has undergone tremendous changes for the better. I feel fortunate that I was not a hindrance in his life because of my own attachments.
I used to harbor a deep grudge against my husband before practicing Dafa, as he used to have a slew of bad habits. He was lazy, smoked and drank copiously, gambled a lot, and even cheated on me. There was no bright side to living with him.
But after I began practicing Dafa, I said to myself, “I am a Dafa disciple. As long as I have a roof above my head, I'll just be happily walking on my path of cultivation and I will let go of anything in this human world.”
After I let go of my attachment, my husband changed completely.
When his friends tried to get him to divorce me during my time in prison, he told them, “My wife is the treasure of my life. I must treat her well. She's an amazing person for not giving in to the authorities.”
He also gave up smoking and only drinks socially.
Once, he said, “I am truly enjoying my life now. I would not trade it for anything. Now my biggest responsibility is to make more money for you and our son.”
Though I'd like for him to take up Dafa, I understand that it depends on his predestined relationship and that I cannot force anything.
There are nine women working in my office. As a Chinese saying goes, “It takes only three women to put on a stage of drama.”
But Master taught us, “The Buddha-light illuminates everywhere and rectifies all abnormalities.” (Zhuan Falun)
I knew that if I behaved righteously, I could influence the actions of others. I dedicated myself to my work, and made a point to care for everyone unselfishly without expecting anything in return.
Now, we enjoy a harmonious environment at work. We treat each other with respect, and can easily forgive and support each other.
A few days ago during a routine clean-up, I found a sign with anti-Dafa propaganda written on it. I thought about stealing it and destroying in secret. But I did not. I brought it directly to my manager and told him that we should destroy it.
My manager looked at me, then at the sign, and said, “You can take it and do what you want.”
I used to think that these trivial things in my cultivation were not worth mentioning. But some fellow practitioners told me that these things in our cultivation were all manifestations of Master's benevolence in guiding and caring for Dafa disciples.
Heshi to our great Master!