I Finally Overcame Sleepiness

(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Dafa in January 1997, and I’m now 60 years old. My older sister began practicing in October 1996, and she encouraged me to try. I took medicine for whooping cough since I was a child, so I took my sister’s advice and watched Master’s video lectures with her. However, I always fell asleep within the first 10 minutes. Two months later, I finally got Falun Dafa’s main book Zhuan Falun.

Unfortunately, I was busy and rarely did the exercises or read the Fa. My legs hurt when I meditated, and I usually fell asleep. Since I didn’t study the teachings with other practitioners, and I seldom read the Fa on my own, I didn’t understand many Fa principles. Later, when I was forced to leave home to avoid being persecuted, my sister discovered that I fell asleep when I meditated. Since I didn’t know that I was sleeping, I was unhappy when she pointed it out. I kept trying to break through the sleepiness, but I felt dizzy, and I wanted to sleep. I also fell asleep during Fa study, which truly upset me.

My right leg began to feel cold in 2017. I didn’t pay much attention to it—I thought I was eliminating karma. However, not only was my leg cold, but my bones began hurting in 2021 and kept hurting throughout 2022. I wondered what was wrong. I recalled that in 2001, after I was released from the labor camp for a month and then detained in the detention center for another month, I was taken away by officials from the town government and was locked up for further persecution. I was beaten three times that day, and five people took turns beating me. My body was covered with wounds and my clothes were torn.

I silently told Master: “Master, I can’t stay here. I want to get out. There are many sentient beings waiting for me to save them, I must leave.” I escaped a week later.

By December 2023, I still hadn’t broken through the interference of falling asleep. I thought, "This can’t continue any longer." I recalled that Master helped me when I went to Beijing to appeal for Dafa twice—in 2000 and 2002. When I left home to avoid the persecution in 2002, I once rode an old bicycle to deliver information about Falun Dafa to other practitioners about 20 miles away. Halfway there, the bicycle started to shake and seemed to be collapsing. I immediately asked Master for help. I continued riding for few more yards, and the bicycle was fine. I believe that when I’m truly determined to make a breakthrough, Master will strengthen me.

I Finally Make a Breakthrough

I looked inward and thought I was too comfortable sitting on the bed. I decided to sit on a cushion on the floor and do the sitting meditation. It’s very cold in December. My right leg was always cold, and it recently started hurting. I knew the cold was karma that I needed to eliminate. If the pain was severe, I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. I know I just needed to be persistent and believe in Master and Dafa. Master would definitely help me walk out of this tribulation and I would be able to meet the requirements for a true cultivator. Don’t I even have the perseverance to cultivate? I must be persistent.

The first day I sat on the cushion to meditate, I stopped dozing off. After I did this for three consecutive days, I was surprised to find that I was no longer sleepy or tired when I meditated or read the Fa. My legs, which had been cold for seven years, were no longer cold or painful, and my blurred vision improved. I no longer feel sleepy when I meditate, send righteous thoughts, or study the Fa. I know that Master helped me.

Thank you, Master! I’m also grateful for other practitioners’ help.