(Minghui.org) I am a 56-year-old Falun Dafa practitioner. I was once a teacher at a well-known model elementary school and worked diligently in the educational field for 20 years. My grandmother believed in Buddhism which had a great impact on me. I always yearned for being in an environment that had no competition and stood aloof from worldly success.
Unfortunately, communist China’s educational policy led to strong competition within school departments among different classes and teaching staff. I found it most annoying that staff was expected to attend social activities and participate in various kinds of entertainment which included dancing and drinking.
Because I believed in Buddhism and was influenced by the traditional culture, I hated this kind of entertainment. I underwent a lot of pressure and criticism for not attending the activities. The financial loss was also another form of punishment for not cooperating. Therefore, I developed a desire of wanting to be liberated. Finally, I decided to quit teaching and leave the lovely children, job and family behind. I began my difficult journey to seek answers to life and death.
Becoming a Nun
My journey lasted for 18 years. Everywhere I went, I often encountered situations about building temples. I did not forget why I left everything behind and always disciplined myself. I tried very hard to endure hardship as I believed that one-day things would turn out to be well. But somehow, whenever the construction of a temple was finished, there was always someone, such as a person-in-charge who kicked me out. So I had to find another place to live.
Although the path was very difficult to walk, I never regretted my choice. I felt that Gods and Buddhas were watching over me. I didn't go to the mountains or big temples; instead, I went to a small temple on a deserted mountain. What I found there were temples of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. I lived next to the one that had a Bodhisattva and locked myself inside it.
Once I met a Falun Dafa disciple who gave me a Shen Yun Performing Arts DVD. I watched the program and felt it was wonderful. But at the time I was very attached to Buddhism and was still puzzled by the illusion of life and death. I didn't know what to do.
I lived like that for some time, feeling hopeless and helpless. Then some people suggested that I build a big temple under the mountain, and that in the future, I could lead some lay Buddhists.
I tried my very best to collect funds and have all the materials prepared. But by then, someone at the religion department blocked the effort, saying that the location was already approved to be a tourist site and that any construction needed to be coordinated.
Then, it was suggested that I go to the South. When I got there, again, I was faced with the matter of building a temple. Thus, I went from one place to another but in the end, everything was in vain. I had to return to my hometown.
Hearing about Dafa
In December 2014, my mother was seriously ill. My family told me to go home to see her for the last time. My mother had been a vegetarian and believed in Buddhism for more than 20 years.
My mother suffered from high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stomach problems, hemorrhoids, bile duct stones and other diseases. The family tried Chinese and western remedies and prescriptions but none of them worked. I helped her to read scriptures and chanted all day long, but she was still in much pain. When she was about to die, she lost all confidence in chanting Buddha. She complained and became moody. Everyone in the family suffered too.
As I was feeling helpless, the Dafa practitioner who once gave me a Shen Yun DVD happened to come by to see my mother. She said to me, “Please put aside your Buddhism for now and focus on getting your mom to say Falun Dafa is good and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good. It will help her feel better. If she is meant to go, at least, she will be at peace.” So I began whispering the words in my mother’s ear and told her to repeatedly say them in her mind. Then, after a few days, indeed, she got better and better, which made my whole family overjoyed.
When the Dafa practitioner saw that my mother got better, she brought over Teacher Li’s (the founder) lectures on video and suggested that we watch them. She said we shouldn’t watch more than one lecture a day because the strong energy field might affect the patient. We followed her instructions. In nine days, my mother was making a speedy recovery.
I was shocked by Teacher Li’s wonderful lectures and touched by his profound Fa principles. Teacher didn’t have any notes when he lectured. He spoke fast but in a calm voice. I couldn’t describe the wonderful feelings I experienced while surrounded by the positive energy. All I knew was my body was constantly being purified.
How I hated myself for not responding to the Dafa practitioner’s tireless efforts sooner and letting go of the attachment to Buddhism years ago! I learned all the Buddhist religions’ theories and thought my knowledge was quite comprehensive. But my health was deteriorating. I had cervical spondylosis, lumbar spondylosis, headache, stomach pains, and gynecological diseases. I fought hard against these illnesses when I was in the temple and was buried in the matters of releasing dead souls day in and day out. But what for? I worked so hard, disciplined myself so well, why was I feeling so distressed?
The Dafa practitioner gave me the book Zhuan Falun and I read that Teacher said:
“In particular, many of our qigong practitioners who study one practice today and another tomorrow have already messed up their own bodies. Their cultivation is bound to fail. While others advance by taking the main road in cultivation, these people are on the side roads. If they practice one way, the other way will interfere. If they practice the other way, this practice will interfere. Everything is interfering with them, and they can no longer succeed in cultivation.” (Zhuan Falun)
What was written in the book was exactly my situation! I eagerly read the book daily. By the time I was finished, a complicated mixed feeling filled my heart and everything was tumbling in my mind. Why did I obtain the Fa so late? I could only blame my strong karma!
Stepping Into Dafa
The Dafa practitioner came to visit my mother again. This time, when she heard that I had finished reading Zhuan Falun, she told us to cherish this opportunity. There were so many monks and nuns in Buddhism, but among them, only a few would obtain the Fa. We should take the opportunity to practice cultivation.
Thus my mother and I decided to practice cultivation. Every day, I read Zhuan Falun to my mother. One day, she coughed badly and was almost out of breath. I didn’t know that this occurred because Teacher was purifying her body. My whole family became tense and got busy preparing things for her death. I asked Master for help.
After a while, she seemed to be a bit better and fell asleep. The next day, she stopped coughing. Her illness was gone! From then on, we read two lectures in Zhuan Falun every day.
Very soon, all my stubborn illnesses disappeared! I thought of how hard I tried in the past to practice Buddhism but my karma never seemed to be cleared. Now, I have only practiced Dafa for three months, but all the illnesses were completely gone! My sister-in-law did a checkup on me and said everything was normal. It made her and my brother very happy. Since then, they have not interfered with our cultivation practice in Falun Dafa.
Talking to People about Falun Dafa
I am deeply grateful for Teacher’s help in my efforts to validate Dafa and awaken people. I was determined to do the three things well, let go of my attachments and help to awaken people.
After studying the Fa for some time, my mother enlightened that she should not take medicine anymore. Eventually, all her illnesses disappeared. My mother and I frequently went to our relatives’ and friends' homes to talk to people about Dafa and persuade them to renounce the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its youth organizations.
My mother is 85-years-old this year. It has been three years since we began practicing Dafa. She is like a live media reporter! Everywhere she goes she tells stories about herself, which helps people understand and believe in Falun Dafa. They all want to repeat the phrases of "Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”
