(Minghui.org) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched the persecution of Falun Gong in July 1999. I was arrested in October 2004 and sentenced to eight years in prison. I didn't give up my belief, despite the pressure and abuse in prison. I clarified the facts and validated Dafa. I would like to share my story.
Cultivating in Every Environment
Two inmates were ordered to inspect my belongings when I was first imprisoned. They asked me what crime I had committed. When I said, “I did nothing.” One asked, “Nothing? Then why are you here? Are you a Falun Dafa practitioner?” When I said yes, one of the inmates said, “Good. Then we won't have to check your belongings.”
The first night the prison guard told me to watch the state-run news. When I refused, he asked why. I said, “It's all fake news. It's all lies.” The guard then told an inmate to make sure I memorized the prison rules. I refused and said, “I committed no crimes, so I won't follow the prison rules.” Instead, I clarified the truth to that inmate.
That night when I began meditating the inmate on duty tried to stop me. I said, “I'm a Falun Dafa practitioner. I need to do the exercises. Why do you stop me?” When a guard took me to an office and threatened me I wasn't moved. I reminded myself that I had Master and Dafa. I didn't cooperate with them. I first sent forth righteous thoughts, then I asked, “What do you know about Falun Dafa?” He had some questions which I answered.
His attitude changed after we talked and he didn't stop me when I meditated. I started to openly clarify the truth to inmates and the guards. The environment improved.
A week later a prison official came to my cell and told me that I had to transform. I said, “Even if you peel off my skin, I won't transform.” I thought, “I must tell him the facts with compassion and mercy.” We talked for more than an hour, and then he left. When he returned a month later we talked some more. He said, “Falun Dafa is so good.” He didn't return after that.
Two months later other prison leaders ordered me to do forced labor. I said, “I'm not a criminal, so I won't do the prison labor.” They said everyone had to do the work. When I said no, they said, “Just go to the field… You don't have to do the work.” I thought that I didn't have many chances to clarify the truth to the inmates, and this was a good opportunity. So, for the next five months I went out to the fields every day and talked to the inmates.
When spring came I was told to help the local farmers plant rice. I refused to follow the guards’ orders. They began to persecute me.
Breaking through Difficulties
I was taken to the prison office. More than ten guards holding electric batons were waiting for me. I thought, “Master is with me, so I'm not afraid.” I asked them, “What are you doing? Whoever dares to persecute me come on.” They didn't expect me to say this, and didn't know what to say. After a while, the head yelled, “You need to work in the rice field!” I replied, “I'm not a criminal so I won't do forced labor. I follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Truthfulness means being honest and not deceiving people. Compassion means doing good deeds and being kind to people. And Forbearance includes not fighting back or cursing back when others hit or curse me. If you torture a good person, aren't you the bad guys?”
I wasn't afraid, and my upright response shocked them. When the inmates went out to work in the field the guards didn't make me go.
Three days later another prison chief ordered me to work. I clarified the truth to him for more than an hour. I also told him that I would never do the slave labor. He was speechless but didn't force me. I believe that Master helped me get through this test.
When the prison guards told their supervisors that I refused to work, two prison officials and someone from the local 610 Office came to me. They threatened to place me in solitary confinement. I sent forth the strong righteous thought: “Eliminate all the negative things manipulating them and Master will help me.” I said, “I've been illegally imprisoned. Putting me into a solitary cell is persecution I haven't broken any laws. I discipline myself and sincerely try to be a good person. Tell me, which laws have I violated?” We talked more than an hour. Finally the head said, “You wait outside. We'll discuss your case.” Twenty minutes later they came out and left without saying anything to me. One guard patted my shoulder and said, “You can go back to your cell.”
Two months later, a guard came to my cell and said, “The prison chief and a 610 officer want to talk to you.”
When I got there the official from the 610 Office said, “Don't say anything.” He started to repeat all the lies the CCP said about Falun Dafa. He said, “The CCP gives you food and clothes, but you refuse to work. Are you a good man?” I pointed out all the lies in his speech, and said, “I won't eat anything or wear anything.” I started to take off my jacket. The prison chief said, “Let's talk calmly.” I said, “You guys told me not to talk.” The chief said, “OK, talk.” I told them that Master only asked us to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and be good people.
I also told them that Falun Dafa forbids suicide so the self-immolation case is fake. I told them how many practitioners have benefited, physically and spiritually, from practicing Falun Dafa. They all discipline themselves and try to be good people. Falun Dafa has only benefited society.
The chief said, “I read the Minghui.org website every day. I've also read every one of Master's articles.” I said, “Since you know so much about Falun Dafa you shouldn't just go along with the CCP and do bad deeds. Stop persecuting practitioners.”
We talked the entire morning. Finally the chief said, “Go back to your cell. If anyone bothers you, let me know. You no longer have to do the labor. I'll talk to your division's team leader.” I realized that Master paved the path for me to save people. I truly experienced what Master said, “When disciples have ample righteous thoughts, Master has the power to turn back the tide.” (“The Master-Disciple Bond,” Hong Yin Vol. II, Translation Version A)
When I returned to my division I apologized to the leader for my harsh tone and for lacking compassion. I clarified the truth to him and told him that from then on, I would no longer be wearing the prison clothing, nor would I shave my head. I also told him not to interfere with my doing the exercises and reading the teachings. He said, “Fine, as long as you don't make trouble.” I replied, “Practitioners are all good people.”
Just like that I had a good environment for reading the Fa and doing exercises.
Openly Clarify the Truth
I started to clarify the truth to inmates. I talked to each newcomer as they were brought in. During the eight years I was there we had three division leaders, and I talked to all of them. One was a retired military officer. When he talked to me he said I was the only practitioner in the entire division who refused to be transformed, and that it caused him pressure. I asked, “Do you intend to persecute me?” He said no, and he knew that no one would succeed in transforming me. He only wanted to know my thoughts on the issue. I told him that even if they peeled off my skin I wouldn't be transformed. He said that he understood, and told me to take care of myself.
We were assigned a new deputy division leader in 2009, whose job it was to force practitioners to transform. I asked to meet him, but he refused. I started a hunger strike and asked to talk to him. He still refused, but ordered the guards to force feed me. They first inserted a thin tube, then a thick tube through my esophagus, into my stomach. They pushed the tube in and out repeatedly, and seriously injured my esophagus and stomach. The tube was covered with blood. The wound festered, and even my breath smelled bad. Two weeks later I was imprisoned in a solitary cell. Thirty four days later, the team leader told me, “You can eat now. The new leader has agreed to talk to you.”
Since I created a good environment, I got along well with the guards and inmates. During the New Year I write letters to the officials and guards. I wrote in the letter, “It's the New Year. I don't have gifts to give you but I hope that you'll remember that Falun Dafa is good and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” They all thanked me.
The imprisoned practitioners purchased sunflower seeds and candies every May 13, placed the food on the table in the prison conference room, and played Dafa music. We did this to celebrate Falun Dafa Day and to wish Master a happy birthday. Following us, every one in the entire division shouted, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” That scene was so moving that I'll never forget it.
During the eight years I was imprisoned I felt that Master was always with me, protecting us practitioners. As a practitioner it's my responsibility to do the three things. Only if I do them well can I repay Master for his compassionate salvation.
