(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa in January 1997, and I’m now 83 years old. Recounting my journey of cultivation over the past 26 years, I’m filled with gratitude for Master’s grace. I used to suffer from multiple illnesses and had a strong competitive mentality. Falun Dafa gave me a new life and I became a healthy, happy, sincere, and compassionate person.
I understood the purpose of life and why I was so ill. I would have died twice without Master’s compassionate protection. I know that Master extended my life and I would like express my gratitude for his compassionate salvation.
One day in June, I tried to get up from the sofa, but my legs felt so heavy that I couldn’t stand. I called for my husband. He ran into the room and supported me so that I wouldn’t fall. I had to edge my way to the bathroom with my husband’s support. He carried me back to the sofa. The pain kept me awake all night.
The alarm clock sounded at 3 a.m. It was the time to get up for exercises, but my legs were too painful to move. I remembered Master’s words,
“When going through real tribulations or tests, give it a try. When something is hard to endure, endure it for a bit; when something looks impossible or hard to do, give it a try and see if it’s possible to do after all. If you can truly do that, then you will find that there is “light at the end of the tunnel.”” (“Teaching the Fa and Answering Questions in Jinan,” Explaining the Teachings of Zhuan Falun)
I overcame my fear of pain and slowly got up. I asked my husband to get me a mat, and I did all five exercises while leaning against the bed frame.
After sending forth righteous thoughts at 6 a.m., I called the practitioner who I planned to go out with to clarify the facts about Falun Dafa. I asked her to come straight to my home. I sent forth righteous thoughts for half an hour after breakfast and begged Master to enable me to go out. Despite the pain, I didn’t want to skip any days of truth-clarification because people were waiting to hear the truth. I refused to recognize any arrangements forced on me by the old forces. If this was a process of dissolving karma arranged by Master, I begged Master to let me endure it later in the day. Master already shouldered so much for me, I ought to endure my share.
I told the practitioner about my pain when she arrived. I said, “I’ll go out with you as we planned, but I may need you to support me.” She agreed. To my surprise, my legs felt stronger as soon as I walked out the door. Before I knew it, the pain was completely gone. With Master’s help, I helped six people quit the Communist organizations that morning and I told many people about Falun Dafa.
On the morning of August 1 of this year, my husband and I finished doing the exercises. It was close to the time to send righteous thoughts, but my husband insisted on going out to get water. I felt frustrated and told him to send righteous thoughts first, but he refused to listen. He opened door and left. I was so mad that all my grievances against him resurfaced. My mind was so disturbed that I couldn’t concentrate while sending righteous thoughts.
When I tried to get up after sending righteous thoughts, I felt heavy and unstable. My body tipped backward. I cried out, “Master, please save me!” I fell backwards onto the floor and couldn’t move, but my mind was clear. I begged Master to help me.
Before long, I was able to move my arms and legs, and I slowly got up. I checked everywhere and found I was fine. I realized that my loophole had been taken advantage of by the evil in other dimensions. Though it seemed right to tell my husband to send righteous thoughts, he didn’t listen. I reflected on myself and my cultivation, and found many attachments.
First of all, I always looked down on my husband. I thought he was poor, not well-educated, incompetent, and didn’t know how to work with people. I used my connections to help him relocate to our city. I thought I was capable and superior.
Second, I was holding grievances. My husband didn’t like to accept my advice about doing the three things. He hadn’t gained a clear understanding of the Fa or done anything to clarify the facts about Falun Dafa. He even complained about my truth-clarification activities. I thought he was disappointing.
As a matter of fact, my husband has a lot of merits. He’s taken care of all the housework for more than 20 years, because I go out to clarify the facts of Falun Dafa every day, rain or shine. I leave at 7 a.m. and come back around noon. He has a delicious lunch ready by the time I get home. He also washes the dishes and never lets me do anything. Seeing how sleepy I was while sending righteous thoughts, he reminded me to go to bed early and not to read too long at night. He always takes care of me.
When the local authorities came to our home to pressure me to stop practicing, my husband showed a great sense of justice and refused to cooperate with them. While I was imprisoned my husband protected the Falun Dafa books. Whenever I experienced symptoms of sickness karma, he took good care of me.
As a cultivator, I should focus on other’s merits instead of their shortcomings. In addition to looking within, I also need to help him improve his understanding of the Fa, and compassionately help him. Any negativity is against the principles of compassion and should be eliminated. After I corrected my notions, I didn’t feel mad or disturbed when I heard my husband’s offensive remarks. Instead I thanked him in my mind for helping me.
I also realized that everyone has a different understanding based on their level. Cultivation is not something anyone else can do for you. Everyone has to walk his or her own path. I can help my husband, but I can’t rush him or solve his problems. It would only add to my attachments. Given the limited time for cultivation, I must treasure the fleeting opportunities to cultivate diligently and fulfill my mission of saving sentient beings. I can’t let Master or sentient beings down.
Thank you, Master for your profound grace! I also thank my husband for his great support and help!