(Minghui.org) I am 47 years old. I began to practice Falun Dafa in 1997. Even though it happened 22 years ago, I vividly remember it when I think about it now.
In the early summer of 1996 when I was a junior in college, I felt really bad. I was diagnosed with hepatitis-B. The doctor gave me some medicine. When I went back for a check-up, my condition had worsened.
I had been very healthy and athletic before. When the doctor told me that hepatitis-B was contagious, for the first time in my life, I felt panic. I was from the countryside and I did not know if I should take a temporary leave for treatment. The doctor was an expert in this field and suggested that I continue my studies, since hepatitis-B was hard to cure and I might be unable to come back if I left.
I concentrated on my treatment. I went to the hospital every afternoon after school to take my medication. My girlfriend was kind and wanted to help me be cured. I no longer participated in any athletic activities or went out with friends to drink or eat. I carefully took care of my personal belongings and put them away to avoid contact with other people's things. My change in behavior made me seem odd. However, there was no sign I was getting better.
During summer break, my condition worsened. I was bedridden most of the day. I was desperate for a cure. Whenever I felt a bit better, I went far and wide to seek out doctors in the field. My father helped me get the prescriptions when I was too weak to go out. When summer break was over, I carried a big bag of Chinese medicine back to school.
I spent all of my family's savings on my treatment, even the savings for my sister's wedding. We had to borrow. The whole family hoped for the best after each of my check-ups. But every time was a disappointment. I also tried other methods—feng shui and going to temples—but nothing worked.
I could not see any hope after so much effort and I did not want to continue to waste money. One year after my diagnosis, I decided to give up any treatment and put my life in the hands of fate. My girlfriend broke up with me in the spring of 1997.
I graduated in the summer of 1997. During the break after graduation, I visited a friend. He had started to practice Dafa when he was in college and he knew about my condition. He told me about the book Zhuan Falun. This was the first time I had ever heard about it, and it became the turning point in my life.
I began to read the table of contents. Every topic seemed curious and unusual to me. When I saw the headings “The Issue of Treating Illness” and “Hospital Treatment and Qigong Treatment,” I flipped to those pages and began to read. Everything Master Li talked about was new to me, like sunshine brightening my outlook.
I borrowed the book and began to read from the beginning. I could not stop. I wanted to know what would come next, so I just kept reading. I finished the whole book just after 2:00 a.m. I felt like a hungry baby who did not want to stop drinking milk.
Even though more than 20 years have passed, I cannot forget that moment. That moment changed my view of the world. I suddenly understood everything and found all the answers I had been looking for. This was my destiny. I felt so lucky that I could cultivate Falun Dafa.
I purchased my own copy of Zhuan Falun in 1997 with 12 yuan. I also went to our local group practice site every morning. My body began to change. I felt strong and full of energy. The feeling of illness was no longer there. I could ride my bike from my home in the city to my parent's home in the countryside—about 25 miles—and back the next day.
Three months later, I had a check-up: I was completely back to normal. Since then, I have never taken a single pill. I am full of energy and often go back to my parents' home to help with all kinds of work in the fields.
I have practiced Dafa for nearly 22 years, almost 20 of them under the shadow of the persecution. I was subjected to persecution myself. However, I follow Master's teachings and cultivate myself to this day. I have lived happily, truly, and consciously.