My Mission Is to Save Sentient Beings

(Minghui.org) In 1998, someone from my village who practiced Falun Dafa asked me to try it out. After doing the exercises for a few days, I did not quite understand what the practice was all about. Later, as I got busy with farm work and rushed to the markets to earn money, I stopped the practice. I have long wanted to write down and share my cultivation experiences with Master Li Hongzhi (Falun Dafa’s founder) and fellow practitioners.

Cultivating in Dafa, Master Gave Me A Second Chance in Life

In 2000, I contracted a gynecological disease and was bleeding a lot. Sometimes, I would bleed for more than 10 - 20 days and therefore I had no energy to do much. Upon going for a medical checkup at the hospital, the doctor found two uterine fibroids that were as big as chicken eggs. The doctor said that I must undergo surgery to remove them. During the surgery, I lost too much blood and needed a blood transfusion. However, as we had no money to get a transfusion, I left the hospital just like that and my body grew weaker and weaker as the condition dragged on.

Later, I developed cerebral thrombosis and my whole body could not move. I could not stand, much less walk, and my hands could not move. So I could only lie in bed. Only my brain was clear.

As we had no money to treat my illnesses, my husband said, “You get out!” I told him, “I did not mind that you were poor and married you just the same. Could you borrow some money again for me to treat my illnesses? After I recover, I will earn money for you and let you gain a fortune and have a good life.” My husband did not believe that I could recover. After I pleaded, my husband finally went to borrow some money for me to be hospitalized for six days. Just as there seemed to be some improvement and I could walk again, the money was all used up. So I could only leave the hospital to return home again.

After returning home, as my blood pressure was low, I always felt giddy, did not have much strength, had no appetite, and suffered from insomnia and aches in my lower back and legs. My whole body was in such discomfort that I could not even sit still. Every day, I lived in hardship and turmoil and every day felt like a year.

Since I was young, I believed in Gods and Buddhas so I often went to the temples to offer incense and beg for the Gods to save me. A Falun Dafa practitioner in the village told me, “The temples nowadays are no longer managed by the Gods. Only Falun Dafa can save you. Why don’t you practice Falun Dafa.” Just as I agreed to try to practice, my mind immediately became clear. Master was looking after me and giving me another chance in life.

Some of the people in the village who practiced Falun Dafa before 1999 no longer dared to continue the practice, as they were scared of being persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). However, I was not afraid. I went to look for them and asked them to come to my house to study the Fa and do the exercises. After that, we often studied the Fa together and I gradually gained energy such that I could resume working.

Master saved me and got rid of my illnesses. He gave me a second chance to live so I am very grateful to him. I believe in Master and the Fa deeply and I follow Dafa teachings closely. 

Master asked for all Dafa practitioners to do the three things well so I tried my best to do them well. I used all available time possible to study the Fa. I had a lot of work to do. Apart from the farm work and the housework, I also needed to herd goats, dig for herbs and get firewood. Therefore, when I went into the hills to herd the goats and allow them to graze, I would take out the precious book Zhuan Falun to study 20 pages. After digging for herbs in the mountains I returned home just in time for Fa study with the other practitioners. I would forego dinner and study the Fa first. However, I did not feel hungry. I would only take my dinner after the end of the Fa study session. 

During the winter, the northern regions are quite cold. As my family was poor, we did not make a fire. I let the practitioners sit on top of the heatable earth bed and we would sit in a circle. I filled a glass bottle that was used to transfer fluid, with hot water and covered it with a blanket and used this blanket to cover our legs and waist to gain some warmth. In this way, we persisted to continue with the group Fa study.

Clarifying the Truth and Saving Sentient Beings

Master told us practitioners to save sentient beings so I went out to clarify the truth to people. I did not know how to ride a bicycle so I walked to the nearby villages to distribute the informational materials. Whomever I met along the way, I clarified the truth to them. Some kind-hearted people asked me to climb up on their bicycles, and as they rode on, I would tell them about Dafa as we go along. By the time we reach our destination, they are clear about the truth of Falun Dafa. 

When I travel further away from the villages by train or coach, I clarify the truth wherever I go. I make use of the great changes in my health by telling people that I once had a stroke and that I recovered through practicing Falun Dafa. I say, “You see, do I look like someone who's had a stroke?” They all say that I don't look like that. Then I tell them, “I am already in my 50s…” Before I can finish my sentence, they immediately say that I look like I am only in my 40s, as my face has a healthy glow and I do not have many wrinkles. After that, I tell them about the other ways I've benefited from practicing Falun Dafa.

During the truth-clarifying process, I also validated the miraculous nature of Dafa. Many people were grateful after they understood the truth. Some of them would say sincerely, “You come to my house. Please have something to eat.” Some of them had cooked some delicious food and insisted that I go to their house for a meal. I would always thank them but declined their offer.

After my xinxing improved and I had regained my strength, I helped others in need. That proved to be a good chance to clarify the truth and invite them to quit the CCP organizations so that they could be saved. I also brought preserved vegetables that I had made to share with the villagers as we talked. Nearly all my fellow villagers have quit the CCP organizations.

I also went to every village leader’s house to share the truth about Falun Dafa and some of them agreed to quit the CCP organizations. For those people who left the village for their studies or work, whenever they came home, I would look for them. Many of them were able to quit the CCP organizations after listening to the truth. 

The Villagers Thank Dafa and Some Started to Cultivate

In 1999, when the CCP’s former leader Jiang Zemin’s clique and the CCP started to persecute Falun Dafa, the village head went to every house and family to look for practitioners to sign guarantee statements promising to give up Falun Dafa and hand over their Dafa books. Later, the village head was diagnosed with cancer. I went to look for him and said, “If you want to recover from your illness then you should practice Falun Dafa.” That day, he came to my house and learned the five sets of exercises. Four days later, he said that he felt stronger and more energetic. The color of his face also improved and he could even climb up a big slope. However, the village head still had a strong desire for his official post that he could not let go of. He was scared and did not dare to practice again. He passed away soon after.

Not long after that, his daughter-in-law was also seriously ill and plagued with many illnesses such as high blood pressure. Even the hospitals could not cure her. At that time, I was working in the city. After learning that I had returned home for a visit she came to my house to look for me. She said, “I felt uncomfortable when I was with others. Only when I am with you do I feel comfortable.” I said, “In that case, why don’t you follow me to practice Falun Dafa!”

This woman brought a small blanket and came to stay at my house. At that time, I was working in the city but thought that saving someone’s life is more important than earning money. Therefore, I quit the job and stayed at home to do something else for a living. This lady was illiterate so I read Zhuan Falun to her. Soon, she grew stronger. When I went out to distribute Faun Dafa materials and clarify the truth I also invited her along. Initially, she was hesitant and said that her legs were not good as she had broken them before. I said, “Your legs will recover if you go out to save people.” Therefore, she followed me out to distribute materials and clarify the truth.

Although I usually walk quite fast, I still could not catch up with her. I said, “Why are you running?” She said, “Why is my body so light? I feel as though my legs are gone and my body keeps wanting to float and fly upwards.” Since then, she would always follow me out to clarify the truth and save sentient beings.

There was an aunty who suffered from heart disease and high blood pressure. At that time, she was over 60 years old. I said, “You can come to my house to practice Falun Dafa and your body will recover.” She was also illiterate, so she would listen to the practitioners as they read Master Li’s teachings during our group Fa study. After returning home, she would listen to the recordings of Master’s lectures. Now, this Aunty is already 86 years old and can live an independent life. She can cook meals, plant vegetables, and gather firewood all by herself. Her children are all very thankful to me. I said, “You all should thank Master Li. It is the Master of Falun Dafa who cured your mother’s illnesses.”

Cultivating While Practicing and Looking Inward

In the aspect of improving my xinxing, I also took detours. In the beginning, all I knew was to study the Fa all day. I did not know how to cultivate and get rid of human attachments. I was constantly anxious and did not know how to be tolerant. My husband had high blood pressure and his physical state was not very good. Thus, he was always slow in working. Seeing that, I would get anxious and lose my temper. I thought, “Other people’s husbands can all earn money and make a living for the family but my husband is the opposite. Not only does he not earn money, but all the work is also done by me.” Therefore, I always looked down on him and bore grudges against him. I even thought of making use of Dafa to lead a good life like everyday people. Sometimes, I would even have thoughts of leaving him. My son was also another problem. He is already over 30 years old but has yet to find a partner. Therefore, I also could not let go of him in my heart and would become anxious because of that. I totally did not take myself to be a cultivator. In the end, I suffered from stomach problems and my whole body felt heavy, and I had no appetite. During that period of time, I lost more than 10kg (22 pounds).

My son saw my physical state and said, “Master said, ‘You put in the effort and your teacher will handle the rest.’” (The First Talk, Zhuan Falun) You must seek enlightenment from the Fa. You can’t stay stagnant at this level. Or else, when you go clarify the truth to people and they see your physical state, they are not going to believe you. In that case, you might as well not cultivate anymore.” This was Master using my son to enlighten me. Master is giving me a test to pass so I must pass this test, let go of my attachments and elevate in my cultivation state. 

Therefore, I increased the intensity of my study of Zhuan Falun and Master’s lectures in the different regions. I also read the Minghui Weekly and looked inward as I compared myself with these lectures and cultivation experiences. I also shared my cultivation experiences with fellow practitioners so that we could learn from each other and elevate our cultivation states together.

Through this process, I found that I had many attachments such as anxiety, holding grudges, jealousy, thinking that I am better than others, and looking down on my husband. I was not very tolerant. These are all the worst attachments! They stem from selfishness and are stubborn notions formed after birth that must be discarded. We must cultivate ourselves constantly based on the Fa and compare ourselves with the requirements of the Fa to look within ourselves. Only then can we truly cultivate and improve. I must get rid of all these bad attachments and notions.

Master said, 

“This means that if you want to change, you have to change yourselves from deep down within, from your very nature. Only that is true elevation and true transformation. If the nature of your xinxing doesn’t change, when you encounter a problem [your attachment] will come right up—it will swell up and display itself. Wouldn’t it be terrible if Buddhas were like that? Changes have to come from one’s very nature. That’s why I’ve said that cultivation is a very serious thing. It’s useless if you don’t truly change yourselves from your very nature.” (Teachings at the Conference of Changchun Assistants)

Cultivation is a serious matter. We must change ourselves fundamentally from the bottom of our hearts, overcome human notions, and thoroughly remold ourselves. Only then can we obtain true elevation in our cultivation as that is a path that every cultivator must take.

Through studying the Fa, looking inward, and cultivating our xinxing, our cultivation state will improve and our bodies will gradually improve too. My husband and both of my children support me in my cultivation. Whenever I go out to tell people about Falun Dafa or distribute materials, they are all willing to take me there on their bicycles. Later, my husband also started to cultivate and he improved physically quite a lot. 

The Fa-rectification is already at the last part of its last stage. During this really precious period, we must all the more cultivate ourselves well, save sentient beings, fulfill the great prehistoric contract that we made and complete our historic mission.

Thank you to Master for his benevolent salvation! Thank you, fellow practitioners!