(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa in early 1999, when my husband’s classmate told me about it.
My husband is a middle-level manager at a school. He was straightforward, decisive, and kind-hearted, but he also had a bad temper. I was timid, not good with words, tended to be indecisive, and never seemed to have my own ideas. I always tried to avoid hurting others—I was fearful of being hurt myself, and I worried that people might misunderstand me. Whenever my husband and I had conflicts he spoke bluntly, which often hurt me deeply. Afterward, he would behave as if nothing happened, while I would feel wronged. I was concerned about losing face or upsetting my in-laws, who lived with us. I hid my anger, regardless of how bad I felt. Over time, I developed strong resentment toward my husband.
After I started practicing, the principles of Dafa nourished my heart like spring rain. I went from being a timid, over-concerned person, to an open-minded, tolerant Falun Dafa practitioner. Shortly after I started practicing, my chronic headaches and gynecological issues disappeared. I experienced several physical sensations that Master described in his teaching, such as feeling Falun spinning, boarding a large golden Fa boat in my dreams, and levitating. I was determined to practice Falun Dafa.
On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) led by Jiang Zemin, began to slander Falun Dafa and persecute practitioners. My husband, deceived by the CCP’s lies and propaganda and pressured by his superiors, began to hinder my cultivation. I had only practiced for six months—now journey of cultivation became grueling. Because I remained committed to my practice, my husband beat and cursed me, and we were on the brink of divorce.
I initially practiced in the company dormitory and did not tell my husband. I thought, “I should cultivate openly and with dignity, how can I practice secretly?” In 2004, I had the wish to attend group Fa study with other practitioners. However, it was so hard for me to do this.
One summer day in 2004, a practitioner from another city came to our city to share cultivation experiences, and I attended. My husband happened to come home during lunchtime that day. Seeing I was not at home, he drove around and looked for me. When he found me, he beat me and grabbed me by the collar, in front of the other practitioners. He threatened to call the police and report us. I did not argue with him.
On my birthday in 2004, my husband was happy and bought me a big cake and we celebrated. After dinner, he went out for a walk. I told my daughter, “Dad is in good mood today. I want to attend group Fa study.” My daughter was worried, and said, “What should we do if he finds out you’re not home?” I told her not to worry. “I will be back soon. I really want to attend Fa study.”
My husband saw me on my way to group Fa study. He started yelling at me from a distance. Once he caught me, he pulled my hair and pushed me to the snow-covered ground, and struck me. My daughter, who was already in high school, cried and begged, “Dad, please stop. Mom is just going out. How could you hit her so hard?” My husband was completely crazy, and would not listen. After beating me for a while, he stopped, but he continued cursing me. My husband was not a bad person. He was afraid that I would be persecuted and our family would be implicated. He was terrified of the CCP’s rampant persecution of Falun Dafa.
Similar events happened many times. He abused me for four years. The past is too painful to recall. Through my cultivation journey, I came to understand that my husband’s abuse was caused by the CCP’s persecution and my karmic debts. But, I approached this situation with human notions rather than with righteous thoughts.
I started looking within to see what my problems were. I still had many attachments, such as resentment toward my husband, fear, competitiveness, feeling wronged, and looking down on him. Those attachments were fundamental obstacles that prevented me from progressing in cultivation. Master asked us to do the three things well, that practitioners should do. I understood that these include everything we need in our cultivation. I must let go of my human notions while doing the three things.
I began to recognize my husband’s strengths. He is honest, likes to help others, never takes advantage of others, and sacrifices himself for the greater good. He had a good reputation among his coworkers, friends, and family. His irrational behavior toward my cultivation shows how the CCP’s persecution of kindhearted Falun Dafa practitioners is dehumanizing people. I should use the compassion I’ve cultivated by practicing Falun Dafa so that he can receive salvation from Dafa. As a Falun Dafa practitioner, and as his wife in this lifetime, I believe he has a predestined relationship with Dafa.
When I continued to look within and correct every thought using Dafa’s standard, my husband went through a big change. In the past, he would grab my Dafa books and destroy them whenever he saw me reading. He later began to defend me when the police came to harass me. In the past, when he caught me doing the Falun Dafa exercises, he would try to stop me and he beat me. Now, he’s quiet when I send forth righteous thoughts. He no longer yells when I clarify the truth about Falun Dafa to him. When I asked him to withdraw from the CCP and its affiliated organizations, he quietly agreed. He even agreed to the solemn declaration I wrote for him to denounce his past actions of destroying the Dafa books and Master’s portrait. His attitude toward Dafa and my cultivation completely changed.
In the fall of 2024, my husband experienced side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, including weakness, frequent dizziness, and high blood pressure. When it was time to harvest chestnuts, I told him, “There are few chestnuts this year. You do not need to go. I can take care of it.”
I went to the hill and filled a big bag with chestnuts. Since the bag was very heavy, I called my husband to come and help me. However, he was eating at a restaurant. So I tried to carry the heavy bag of chestnuts down the hill by myself. I lost my balance and tumbled down a very steep slope. My legs were in so much pain that tears filled my eyes.
I thought, “This is bad. My foot must be injured.” Then I immediately dismissed this thought, and said, “That isn’t right. I have an indestructible body. How could my foot get hurt? No problem. I am okay.” I carried the heavy bag and slid down the hill. I asked someone to help me bring the bag home with his car, and I rode my electric bike home. I attended group Fa study that evening and I did the exercises. When I got home, my foot had swollen and hurt.
From the Fa principles, I knew a practitioner does not have illness. I must have a xinxing issue that caused this tribulation. Looking inward, I realized that the pain was a result of my inability to let go of my attachment to emotion. My husband wanted me to go to the hospital to have an X-ray and get some medicine. I said, “I don’t want to go that route. As a practitioner, I follow my Master’s guidance. Don’t worry. I’ll be well in three days.”
On the fourth day, my foot was back to normal. I went to the hill with my husband to gather more chestnuts. My foot did not hurt at all when I climbed the steep slopes. My husband witnessed Dafa’s wonder, and was convinced that Dafa is good.
In December 2024, my sister-in-law’s family planned to make steamed buns. She was taking care of her grandson at her son’s home at the time, so I told my brother-in-law, “Don’t worry! I’ll help you make the steamed buns the day after tomorrow.”
But that day, I suddenly remembered I needed to go to group Fa study. So I planned to ask another relative to help. I told my husband my thoughts. He was mad and complained, “You ask others to do the things you promised to do. What will our brother-in-law think of you?” The more he talked, the angrier he became, and he started to curse me.
I was alert, and thought, “He’s so angry about such a trivial matter. What’s wrong with me?” While I was cooking, I started looking inward. I suddenly realized that not keeping a promise was not being truthful, and was not in line with the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I did not act based on the Fa, and that’s why he was upset.
I placed food on the table and asked him to eat. He was still upset and didn’t eat. I pleaded with him not to be upset. “I know I was wrong. I need to cultivate ‘Truthfulness.’ I already promised our brother-in-law that I would help him. If I do not help, I’m not being truthful. How would others see me as a practitioner? I’ll take care of my business, and then I’ll help him. Please eat first, after that, I will step out for a while and I’ll be right back.”
After I said this my husband sat down and ate. Once I looked inward and apologized, things turned around—the skies cleared and the sun shone brightly. I also made sure not to neglect my cultivation duties.
Whenever I cultivate well, my husband treats me kindly and supports me with his actions. For instance, when I miss my midnight alarm to send forth righteous thoughts, he reminds me. He also encourages me by saying, “You should make breakfast earlier so you’ll have enough time to practice.”
When I need to help with a Dafa project, I tell him, “I’ll be home later. Please don’t worry.” When I returned, he already has the bed prepared. I realized when I rectified myself according to the Fa, my husband’s behavior and attitude reflects my positive changes.