(Minghui.org) I am 89 this year, have a full head of black hair, very few wrinkles on my face, no presbyopia (far-sightedness), and have perfect posture. I walk like the wind and climb stairs as if being pushed.
Before practicing Dafa, I had all kinds of ailments, including a frozen shoulder, cervical hyperplasia, a severe kidney deficiency that caused my legs to swell, and chronic stomach pain accompanied by vomiting. I even suspected I had stomach cancer.
I tried many treatments to try to cure my illnesses, but none of them helped.
On September 6, 1996, I was fortunate to start cultivating Falun Dafa when a friend recommended it. I was 65, and that day was a turning point in my life. At the Fa-study site, I heard recordings of Master Li Hongzhi's lectures for the first time.
When I woke up the next morning, I felt something rotating all over my body, which felt very comfortable. That night, a practitioner told me, “You were predestined to learn Dafa because Master Li has cleaned up your body and given you a Falun (law wheel).” My excitement was beyond words!
With further Fa study, I knew why people have illnesses and what they should do to be free of them, as well as the meaning of “returning to my original true self” by being “a diligent cultivator.” Master Li said:
“In order to cure illness or eliminate tribulations and karma, these people must practice cultivation and return to their original, true selves. This is how all the different cultivation schools view it. One should return to one’s original, true self; this is the real purpose of being human.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
That's when I made up my mind to walk the path of returning to my original true self. A month later, all my illnesses disappeared. Twenty-two years have now passed, and I have not taken a single pill.
On July 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin, the former leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), launched a nationwide persecution of Falun Dafa, which stunned me and my fellow practitioners. Why was such a good practice not allowed? Was it wrong to be a good person according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance? Some of us surmised that the central government did not understand Dafa and had made a mistake.
On December 29, 2000, in order to clarify the truth to the central government, a dozen practitioners and I took the train to Beijing. But someone's relative reported our intentions to the police, and we were led away as soon as we got off the train. Heavily armed police officers were lined up at the county train station, and they escorted us onto a truck that was then paraded through the streets.
Despite this humiliation, we were calm and our hearts were at peace because we firmly believed that we were really good people and had done nothing wrong.
I was illegally detained for two and a half years when I was 70. People who knew me said, “At her age, she won't survive.”
Held in a forced labor camp for more than two years, I endured unimaginable physical and mental torture. One practitioner fell ill due to severe malnutrition and was taken home by a relative.
The detainees came to the labor camp and left, one group after another. Most of them were mentally unstable when they first arrived. They cried and shouted during all hours. I remembered that Master taught Dafa disciples to:
“Validate the Fa with rationality, clarify the truth with wisdom, spread the Fa and save people with mercy...” (“Rationality,” Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Wherever Dafa disciples go, they must bring the beauty of Dafa with them.
So I always treated those troubled newcomers with compassion and comforted them. After they calmed down, they asked, “We are here because we committed crimes. Why are you, such a good person, here?” I told them I practiced Falun Dafa, which teaches us to act in accordance with Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
I cared for them and shared my belongings with them. When my son brought me food and daily necessities, I gave them away without reservation. My words and deeds deeply moved people, including the guards.
They all knew in their hearts that Falun Dafa is good. After they were released from the labor camp, many former inmates visited me and brought presents.
The guards didn't let me do the exercises, but with the help of the inmates, I did them daily for two years without interruption. Master said:
“The awakened esteem what is beyond this worldThe devout cultivator sets his heart on ConsummationWhen great is the ordeal, keep steadfastThe will to be diligent never bowed”(“Steadfast” in Hong Yin Vol. II, Version A)
With Master's protection, teaching, and encouragement, I have stayed on my cultivation path with righteous thoughts and deeds. The cosmic law of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance was firmly rooted in my heart.
In April 2003, when I walked out of the labor camp, I was extremely underweight. and my children wept when they saw me. At that time, although I seemed to be weak, I was in good spirits and walked briskly. I knew that Master always cared for me.
For more than 20 years, Master has been adjusting my body. I have gone through two major bouts of sickness karma. Once was in November 2007 when I suddenly felt unwell, coughed, frequently urinated, and developed a high fever. My son was scared and wanted me to go to the hospital, but I said, “No, I have Master to protect me, I'll be fine.”
In the process of eliminating karma, and during this most uncomfortable time, I insisted on studying the Fa and practicing the exercises every day. I also memorized Master's Fa teachings: “When it’s difficult to endure, you can endure it. When it’s impossible to do, you can do it.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)
“Predestined ties of countless lifetimesEach has Dafa as its guiding thread‘Tis in hardship the golden body is temperedWhy such slow and leisurely steps?”(“The Difficult Path to Godhood,” Hong Yin Vol. II, Version A)
By the seventh day, all my symptoms had disappeared.
The second bout occurred in October 2014 when I was 83. The illness came on quickly and with a vengeance. A severe cough made my chest hurt. There was blood in my sputum, uncontrollable tears, and nasal secretions. I also suffered from insomnia.
My son and grandson again were very worried: “Given your age, you should go to the hospital.” I said firmly, “Don't be afraid, I'll be fine.” Master said:
“Four years has the wild evil surgedA steady helm has assured the right courseThe Disciples of Fa have gone through evil trialsAnd though great the pressure, their wills are unbowedThere is no affect between master and discipleThe Buddha’s grace remolds Heaven and EarthWhen disciples have ample righteous thoughtsMaster has the power to turn back the tide”(“The Master-Disciple Bond,” Hong Yin Vol. II, version A)
Again, the sickness karma came and went quickly. Six days later, I was completely well. My family witnessed Dafa's miraculous power again!
My vision started to deteriorate when I was about 45. Everything looked blurry. I bought a pair of reading glasses from a street vendor and wore them for more than 10 years. But after practicing Dafa, I dropped the glasses one day and they broke. I realized that Master would not let me wear them. I tried to read and write without the glasses, and my eyesight became better and better. Reading, writing, or doing needlework at night was not a problem. My heart was full of joy.
Since I started practicing Dafa, I have been reading the pocket version of Zhuan Falun. I often silently fold my hands and thank Master from the bottom of my heart. My experience inspired several elderly practitioners and strengthened their confidence in the practice. The eyesight of some of them improved quickly as well.
Four generations of my family live together. I have a son, grandson, and a great-grandson. Conflicts between us occur frequently. Master said:
“Under all circumstances, we must be good and kind to others, not to mention to our family members. We should treat everyone in the same way. We must be good to our parents and children and be considerate of others in all respects. Such a heart is thus unselfish, and it is a heart of kindness and benevolence.” (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun)
We cultivate in a society of ordinary people. We all have families. If we really follow Master's requirements, our family members will agree with Dafa and support us in our practice. I have kept in mind Master's teaching that, if conflicts arise, we must maintain our xinxing, look within ourselves, and stay calm.
My family is usually very busy, so I do all the grocery shopping, cooking, and housework. It was only last year that my daughter-in-law started to help me. She wanted me to take it easy.
Thank you, Master, for rescuing me from the swamp that is the everyday world and purifying me. I feel that I am the happiest person in the world!