(Minghui.org) My entire family traveled from Wuhan to my hometown to celebrate Chinese New Year in January. Soon afterward, Wuhan was locked down due to the coronavirus and the epidemic became increasingly severe. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) state media hid the extent of the outbreak and instead broadcasted fake news. As I read reports from overseas media my heart became heavy.
I began to cough around January 26. At first I only coughed softly and occasionally. Then my coughing increased and I woke up at night because of it. I began to have bouts of loud, racking coughing. My family was worried especially my elder sister. She kept asking my wife and I what other symptoms I had. I understood her concern. The coronavirus had spread so quickly that people turned pale at the mere mention of it.
I had no other symptoms except for coughing. I repeatedly explained why there was no need to worry about me. But that didn't stop my sister and my family from worrying. Some of them suggested I drink cough syrup, others advised gargling with salty water. Everyone had helpful suggestions.
As a practitioner, I reflected on my cultivation and what caused me to cough.
I sent righteous thoughts to eliminate the factors behind my coughing and I kept looking within. I found my attachments to comfort, lust, affection for family, showing off and pursuing. In the process of identifying these attachments, my coughing lessened but didn't stop.
I realized that I hadn't found the reason behind my coughing.
I recently read reports on The Epoch Times and New Tang Dynasty Television. When I saw so many Chinese people were infected and died because the CCP covered up the truth, my compassion arose. I kept shedding tears for those people who were still being deceived. I thought, “I will try my best to save people!” I gradually sorted out the reason I started to cough.
When we traveled to my hometown a villager came and asked me to help his child prepare for an upcoming exam. I knew the real reason he came was to learn the truth. I helped the boy prepare for the exam. Afterward, I clarified the facts about Falun Dafa to him and his father. When I advised them to withdraw from the CCP and its affiliated organizations, they agreed. I started coughing the following day. When I thought back I realized that the old forces caused me to cough so that I could no longer clarify the truth to people.
In the following days, as soon as I started clarifying the truth to someone, I burst into heavy coughing and I was forced to stop talking. I sent out righteous thoughts to clear the factors that interfered with my clarifying the truth to people. But, as soon as I sent out this righteous thought, I burst into uncontrollable coughing. I extended the time I sent forth righteous thoughts. My wife told me that my palm did not remain upright when I sent forth righteous thoughts and I slouched. I felt something was blocking me. I clearly understood what was happening but I couldn't focus so I couldn't exercise all my power.
When I went out this morning I met a neighbor. I'd been giving him informational brochures for years. He always said he liked reading them and understood the facts.
Today he said, “Give me a Dafa book, I want to read it.” I was surprised, “You want to read Zhuan Falun?” He said, “Yes!” He asked if he could still smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. I told him that smoking and drinking are bad for one's health and that he would get rid of these habits in the process of practicing. My father-in-law stopped these habits and became very healthy after he began practicing. He was happy, asked me to get him a book and said he wanted to learn the exercises.
I copied Master's lectures in Guangzhou and the exercise music on my MP3, and I gave it to my neighbor. He was very happy.
I kept coughing while I showed my neighbor the exercises. I could hardly finish a sentence without coughing. I was afraid that my coughing would prevent him from practicing. I found the reason that caused me to cough. The old forces didn't want me to speak. They wanted to stop me from saving people!
Master repeatedly encouraged us to cultivate well, save more people, and hurry to save even more people before the old forces destroy them.
As soon as I realized this and understood the Fa principle, my coughing quickly stopped. Any interference we encounter is an illusion; what's key is identifying it.
Category: Improving Oneself