(Minghui.org) Many Falun Dafa practitioners have shared their cultivation experiences on Minghui.org. Before practicing Falun Dafa many have endured painful suffering, but now know the great joy that Falun Dafa has brought them.

I would like to share my own experience of how Falun Dafa took me out of despair and into experiencing great joy.

Living a Miserable Life

I've had surgery several times because of kidney stones, piles and appendicitis, and was plagued by illnesses such as chronic bronchitis. I had difficulty breathing during the winter and suffered from both heavy coughing and insomnia.

I retired early in 1989 due to my poor health. Retinitis and a hemorrhage caused poor vision, which required injections. But none of them helped relieve my pain. Nor did the Chinese medicine I tried. Instead, my eyes developed more problems including nearsightedness, color blindness and astigmatism. In the end, I couldn't take care of myself and my life was hopeless.

Zhuan Falun Was My Turning Point

A friend brought me the book Zhuan Falun on May 24, 2005, and said, “Take a look. I'm sure you will like it.”

Interestingly, the Chinese characters in the book appeared much larger than they were, making me able to see them clearly despite my poor eyesight. I later began to do the exercises and follow the Falun Dafa principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

My illnesses soon disappeared and I became more energetic than ever. At the corner of my right eye, I saw three words “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” I immediately knew it was encouragement from Master Li (the founder of the practice).

I told numerous people the benefits I had received from Falun Dafa. When visiting my hometown, I met many relatives and friends who were surprised to see me looking so young and in excellent health. I told them about Dafa and how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecutes practitioners and uses slanderous propaganda. Many of them agreed with me, and more than 60 of them said they wanted to quit the CCP's organizations.

Perseverance Under Pressure

It takes courage for one to remain determined to practice Dafa under the harsh persecution in China.

Two plainclothes police officers arrested me in January 2015 after I talked to a man on the street about Falun Dafa. I was taken to the police station and my home was ransacked. I felt bad for them because, by blindly following the CCP's policy of persecuting Dafa practitioners, these officers are harming others and themselves.

The pressure also came from my own family. Shortly after I was released from the police station, my children held a party to celebrate my 70th birthday. My eldest son, a government officer, said he knew that Dafa helped to improve my health, but he didn't agree with my telling others about the practice. My youngest son, the head of a police station, said he was worried for my safety.

I told them how much I had benefited from the practice, physically and mentally. “Falun Dafa has improved the life of tens of millions of people,” I replied. “No one, and no regime can deny that. By supporting me practicing Falun Dafa, you will also be blessed for your righteous decision.”

I am fortunate to be a Dafa practitioner and I will do my best to improve myself. Meanwhile, I will tell others about the peaceful meditation practice, and hope that they could benefit from it too.