(Minghui.org) I am a first-year college student. How time flies! In the blink of an eye the years have sped by and I’m now 19 years old. I am so grateful for Master’s compassionate care which has enabled me to keep goodness in my mind despite the chaos in modern society. Master Li Hongzhi (Dafa’s founder) has given me so much, and my gratitude is beyond words.
Experiencing Miracles
I was raised by my grandparents, and they began practicing Falun Dafa before I was born.
Compassionate Master has watched over me since I was born. As far as I can remember, my grandparents and I rarely got sick. I would occasionally get a cold or fever, but I quickly recovered without taking any medicine. Amazingly, whenever I had a fever it was always on weekends. It would be gone on weekdays, so it never affected my schoolwork.
At first, I took it for granted and did not give it a second thought. It wasn’t until I heard from my classmates that it would last for days and would worsen if left untreated when they had a fever. Only then did I realize that my family and I were able to stay healthy because of Master Li’s protection. I realized that Dafa was amazing and I was grateful to Master from the depths of my heart.
My grandmother had taught me to recite the poems in Hong Yin since I was a child. When I was in kindergarten, I recited these poems to my teacher and the other students many times. They all liked to listen to them and always said I was smart and cute. I also liked to sing the songs composed by Dafa disciples. While I walked along the street, I would always shout, “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!”
However, due to my laziness, as I got older I did not study the Fa or do the exercises. My grandmother always reminded me not to forget that Falun Dafa is good.
I always asked Master for protection before doing important things. I was not very confident because I did not study the Fa and do the exercises. Still, I always experienced miracles, so I knew Master did not give up on me.
Two days before the English comprehension test during the college entrance exams, I broke down. I cried at home because my English was not good. I was afraid I would not do well on the exam. My grandparents said, “It’s okay, we have Master and Dafa.” My grandmother said a miracle would happen if I said, “Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” I became relaxed hearing this. I started to repeatedly say the words and I no longer thought about the score.
On the day of the test, we could not get a cab, so I got anxious. My grandmother said, “Why not ask Master to help you?” I then silently begged Master to help me. In less than a minute, a cab came.
We arrived at the test center on time. I was very nervous and burst into a sweat during the tests. I asked for Master’s help, and surprisingly, I got full marks.
It was winter. We all had to leave our book bags outside the test center. It was snowing and everyone’s backpack got wet, but mine was dry in and out. I knew Master did not give up on me, and I no longer had any doubt that Master was watching over me. I thought, “I experienced Dafa’s miracle and Master’s compassion again. Thank you, compassionate and great Master, for encouraging me!”
On the morning of another exam, I couldn’t get a taxi again. This time, I recited “Falun Dafa is good, Truefulness Compassion-Forbearance is good” in my heart, and asked Master to help me. Amazingly again, in less than a minute, a cab pulled up next to me, and I was able to take the entrance exam on time.
I thought I did poorly at the exam, so I wept after I came home. My grandmother said, “It’s okay, you only need to try your best and everything is as it should be. At all times, we must believe in Master, believe in Dafa, and believe that Master’s arrangement for you is the best.”
At that time, I did not believe what she said. But then I thought, “Maybe this is a test, to test whether I really believe in Master and Dafa. Only those who truly believe in Dafa can obtain Dafa’s blessing.” In the end, I was still firm in my belief, and my anxiety slowly subsided. I no longer gave myself too much pressure. I started to follow the course of nature, believing that Master’s arrangement was the best.
When I took the next exam, I was a little bit in a panic in the beginning as there were some questions that I couldn’t answer. I quickly adjusted myself. I silently recited the sacred words, and I asked Master to help me. In just a few moments, my mind was clear, my wisdom was flowing, and I quickly solved the questions that I was not sure about at first.
I finished all the following exams while silently reciting the nine sacred words. As a result, I was clear-minded and did the exams well.
My score was unprecedentedly good, and my whole family was thrilled. I was admitted to a prestigious university.
I told my family excitedly, “I never thought I could do so well in the exams. Dafa gave me this! Thank you, Master!”
Courage and Strength Facing Persecution
I grew up amidst the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners. My grandmother was arrested and detained several times when I was young. Since I was so young I didn’t understand what happened to grandma. However, I still remember the sadness and pain on my grandfather’s face. I was also very sad because I did not see my grandma for a long time.
I didn’t understand how the police could take a good and kind person like my grandmother. Shouldn’t policemen only target bad people? Why did they arrest good people? No one could answer my questions. I knew that my grandmother was a good person, so I told myself I would stand by her side and support her.
One morning when I was seven years old, my grandmother and I went to a large shopping mall. My grandma clarified the truth to people there. When we were leaving the mall, a police car came. Two policemen jumped out and started dragging my grandmother into the police car, saying that she was reported to the police for talking to people about Falun Dafa.
Seeing the policemen dragging my grandmother away, I thought, “I will not let the police take my grandmother away again!” I cried out loud while holding my grandmother’s legs tightly with both hands. The police yelled at me fiercely while dragging my grandmother towards the car. No matter how they threatened me, I just clung to my grandmother’s legs and would not let them take her away!
At that time, I felt I was as strong as Hercules. My grandma did not cooperate with them. She shouted, “Falun Dafa teaches me to be good according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. You should arrest bad people instead of attacking good people! What is wrong with practicing Falun Dafa?” The police refused to listen and kept trying to drag grandma to the police car.
My cries and my grandmother’s shouts soon drew a crowd of people. When the police saw that more and more people gathered, they let go of her, angrily cursed at us, and left.
After returning home, my grandmother said, “You are a very brave girl. Remember, Master gave you the courage and determination. We must appreciate Master’s blessing.” I thought about it and wondered how I could have so much strength and courage at that time? Grandma was right, it must be Master who was helping me, and I thanked Master for his blessing and protection.
One night when I was fifteen years old, someone knocked on the door. Three young men pushed their way in and demanded to see my grandmother. I had a firm thought in my heart: I will not allow these evil people to persecute my grandmother again.
I stood in front of them, determined not to allow them to take another step. The three young men asked, “Who is so-and-so (my grandmother’s name)?” I answered without hesitation, “I am!” They said, “We don’t think so. The person we are looking for was born in 1952.” I said to them loudly, “Who are you?” hoping my grandmother could hear me in the bedroom. They replied, “We are from the such-and-such police department.”
My grandma overheard our conversation and calmly came to the door. The police asked my grandma, “Are you a Falun Dafa practitioner?” Grandma replied, “Yes.” I began crying and shouted, “What’s wrong with practicing Falun Dafa?” My grandma comforted me, “Don’t cry. We should have the freedom of belief. There is nothing wrong with practicing Falun Dafa and being good people. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good. Don’t be afraid. Grandma will be fine.”
Grandma again said earnestly to the police, “Look at what you’ve done. You kept repeatedly harassing us—you have terrified my granddaughter. You also have children, right? Suppose this happens to your family and your children. How would you feel? I hope you won’t do these bad things in the future.” After hearing this, the policeman left in a hurry.
Returning to My Cultivation Path
When I was young, I was pure and straightforward. As I grew older, I did not study the Fa. Without the Fa’s guidance, and being influenced by society’s declined moral standards, my thoughts gradually became complicated.
When I was in middle school, the teachers brainwashed the students by repeating the state-owned media’s propaganda about Falun Dafa. They pressured us students to say bad things about Dafa. I felt helpless when I was forced to participate in these discussions.
I was afraid that I would be on the opposite side of my classmates. I was scared of being discriminated against, and I was fearful of being isolated and treated differently.
However, I could not say anything in my heart against Dafa because I knew that Falun Dafa was righteous. I did not know how to deal with this situation and felt helpless.
I cared so much about what the outside world would think of me—I was afraid of being questioned and isolated. Gradually, I disguised myself as an “ordinary person.”
Then an incident became my last straw. One day, my grandmother clarified the truth to a person who turned out to be my desk mate’s mother. Soon, everyone in my class knew my grandparents were Falun Dafa practitioners. I noticed the change in my classmates’ attitudes toward me. Their mocking words, strange looks, and intentional avoidance of me hurt my fragile heart. The huge pressure seemed to crush me.
But a voice from deep in my heart told me, “I must not be crushed! Falun Dafa is good, and my grandparents are good people.” For some time, my faith in Dafa and the fear in my heart competed fiercely.
I had a habit of keeping diaries. I once wrote, “I often feel confused. I do not know why people live, why they are unhappy, and why they have so many ugly desires. I have a strong desire in my heart: I don’t want to be a bad person. I often want to push myself to the good side and be a good person. However, sometimes I can’t seem to control my heart as if I used all my strength to move a very heavy object and it remained in place.
“I try to be a kind and generous person. Now I find that it’s not enough to try to be a good person or pretend that I am a good person. I must change and purify myself from the inside and think of others. No one is perfect, but I can make myself a better person by making positive efforts on my own and always keep kindness in my heart.”
Compassionate Master watches over me all the time. While I had difficulty overcoming my fear and felt helpless, a practitioner mentioned casually how her child refused to join the CCP’s youth organization. It seemed such an easy and natural thing for her child to do so. Her child’s experience inspired my righteous thoughts.
I suddenly realized that my attachments of fear and imagination caused the tribulation. I magnified the tribulation myself. Actually, nobody wanted to know what happened to my family, and nobody monitored me.
I realized I had to be responsible for myself and walk my own path. I told myself I wouldn’t give in even when facing high pressure at school. I wouldn’t do anything against my heart.
The tribulation seemed big because I thought it was big. Having fallen into the trap that I set for myself, I had to find a way to get myself out.
I calmed down and looked inward. I knew I needed to rectify myself. No matter what circumstances I was in, I should remain firm in my faith. People who do not know the truth about Falun Dafa live in a daze. On the other hand, I benefited from the Fa, so I should never have disrespectful thoughts or actions to Dafa.
When I thought about this, my mind opened. I no longer cared about how others treated me, and I dealt with the test with courage and determination.
For example, when I was in high school, my classroom teacher asked me to join the CCP’s Youth League several times. I refused with a clear mind.
I refused to participate in any school event which slandered Falun Dafa. In the exams, I left the questions which slandered Falun Dafa blank. Even though I lost points on those questions, I still got good marks. I knew that compassionate Master was watching over me all the time.
Falun Dafa has given me so much, and there are so many things I want to say. My gratitude to Master is beyond words. I can only repay him with my actions.
I will overcome my laziness, do well in my school work, and be a good person following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I will live up to great Master’s compassionate salvation.
Thank you, compassionate Master!
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Category: Young Practitioners' Experiences