Letting Go of the Fear of Life and Death

(Minghui.org) Master Li, the founder and teacher of Falun Dafa, is always watching over us practitioners. I will share what Master did for me when I went through a serious trial.

Master said,

“In the several years of your cultivation, I have not only borne an incredibly great deal for you, but also constantly given you hints for your improvement, looked after your safety, and settled the debts that you owed at different levels so that you could achieve Consummation. These aren’t things that just anyone can do, nor can they be done for ordinary people.” (“Drive Out Interference,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress II)

Falun Dafa practitioners in Changchun City, Jilin Province, intercepted a routine television signal in 2002. They instead broadcasted programs exposing the lies made by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) slanderous propaganda aimed at Falun Dafa. The CCP leaders were furious when this happened, and illegally arrested 5,000 practitioners across the province. Many were sentenced to prison, others were taken to forced labor camps, and some died when being tortured. I was one of those arrested and detained in Chaoyanggou Labor Camp in Changchun.

In early April, the labor camp launched a “transformation” campaign to force faithful practitioners to give up the practice of Falun Dafa. They required a 100 percent transformation rate and linked the rate of conversion to monetary bonuses. Guards who failed to meet the goal did not receive a bonus or were laid off. Thus, the guards were heartless and used all kinds of methods to torture practitioners in order to make a profit. Hence, the place became hell on earth.

Practitioners’ screams were heard throughout the camp. Some died and others were permanently maimed. Some agreed to stop cultivating when they couldn’t bear the pain, which left a bad mark on their cultivation paths.

In those days, I had a shallow understanding of the Fa principles and a lot of attachments. I didn’t fully believe in Master and Dafa. After being beaten for two hours, I couldn’t take it anymore and agreed to say I would no longer practice. I let Master down, and I regretted it so much that it felt worse than dying. Other practitioners who gave in felt the same way, and we knew we had made a mistake. We were afraid and didn’t let the guards know how we felt. We failed to declare our faith in Dafa and did not nullify our statements renouncing Dafa.

A guard named Wang was in charge. He was young and had a bad temper. He liked to beat detainees, so everyone was afraid of him. Practitioners recited the Fa and encouraged each other to raise our xinxing. At this time, Master gave us an opportunity to improve. We were told to write a “self-assessment.” I wrote about the wonders of Falun Dafa, listed the false accusations by the CCP, and said I wanted to nullify my statement and declare my faith in Dafa. A detainee read what I wrote and said, “Wang will skin you alive.”

Wang summoned me one night when he was on duty. Practitioners worried about me and I was nervous too. I then remembered Master’s words, 

“If he is able to let go of life and death, he is a god; if he isn’t able to let go of life and death, he is human.” (Teachings at the Conference in Australia)

I realized it was time to let go of my fear of life and death and follow Master. I calmly walked into the room. Wang was naked and lying on a bed under the covers. He told me to close the door and asked why I wanted to practice. I told him Falun Dafa is a Buddha Fa that teaches people to be good, how I benefited from the practice, and that the persecution was a mistake.

Wang said, ”No one has ever dared to talk back to me. Do you know why I’m lying under the covers? I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself and will beat you. Your report is known to the team. You can leave now, and don’t tell anyone what I said.”

People were surprised that Wang hadn’t beaten me. Master dissolved a difficult tribulation. I cried in bed and thanked Master for giving me another chance. I understood later that Master resolved a tribulation when my xinxing had reached a certain level. Thank you Master.

The Fa-rectification of the cosmos is coming to an end and will soon transition to the Fa-rectification of the human world. I have no reason not to be diligent. We are fortunate to follow Master and Falun Dafa. During this special historical period, let’s improve ourselves, and fulfill our vows and wishes. Thank you, compassionate Master.