(Minghui.org) Staff from the 610 Office along with the local police arrested my husband and me at our home the evening before the 2008 Olympic Games. They ransacked our place and confiscated Dafa books and numerous household essentials. My husband was detained at the county detention center and later sent to a forced labor camp simply for installing satellite dishes so people could watch New Tang Dynasty Television. I was detained at another township’s detention center.

Master taught us,

“No matter what the situation, do not cooperate with the evil’s demands, orders, or what it instigates. If everyone can do that, circumstances will change.” (“Dafa Disciples’ Righteous Thoughts Are Powerful,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress II)

Because I had committed no crime and was not a criminal, I refused to wear a prison uniform, take on forced labor, or recite the prison regulations. The female prison instructor instigated male inmates to forcibly put a prisoner’s vest on me. They also handcuffed and shackled me.

One day, police officers from my locality came to the detention center to interrogate me. They mocked me and tried to seek information. I managed to handle their inquiries with wisdom and did not give them anything they wanted.

During the first few days of my detention, a fellow practitioner and I practiced the exercises in a spot where we could avoid the surveillance cameras. Just as we finished, an inmate stormed over and took away the small stools we were using. I remained silent.

Later, I approached her, saying, “Do you have any idea what kind of person I used to be? My older sister and I were constantly at odds. Even though we shared a room, I could go three years without saying a single word to her. We would even get into physical fights. If this had happened in the past with you taking my stool away, I would have started a fight with you straight away. But I didn’t do that. That is because I practice Falun Gong. My Master teaches us to treat others with kindness, to refrain from fighting with anyone, and to exercise forbearance when difficulties arise. That is why I didn’t say a word earlier.”

Realizing she was in the wrong, the inmate asked, “Why do you insist on practicing Falun Gong?” I replied, “If I didn’t practice Falun Gong, wouldn’t the two of us have ended up in a fight today?” From then on, she stopped being hostile toward me.

One day, the prison warden asked me, “If you had to choose, would you choose your daughter or Dafa?” I replied, “I choose both.” She replied, “That’s not allowed! You can only pick one.” I answered again, “I choose both.” At the time, my daughter was only seven years old, and was being cared for by her grandparents.

Because I refused to do forced labor, the detention center instructor became furious. He visited my cell several times to pressure me into working. The other inmates also took turns trying to persuade me. The instructor even threatened that if I did not work, the hot water supply to the cell would be cut off. This caused all the inmates to turn against me. The situation became increasingly grim. I felt deep sorrow in my heart, for I wished that they could understand the truth. I did not compromise and eventually the hot water supply to the cell was restored.

Some of the inmates speculated on my situation, saying, “You’re probably going to get sentenced to several years.”

I would reply, “No, I won’t. I haven’t broken any laws. I’ve simply strived to be a good person. On what grounds could they possibly sentence me?” Resisting persecution within such a terrifying and malevolent environment was an immense psychological burden. At times, when I was dragged out for an interrogation, I truly had to face the ordeal with the mindset of casting aside all fear of death.

After a month went by, I asked myself, “What else remains for me to do here?” Two fellow practitioners did not have access to the Fa teachings, so I wrote down as many poems from Hong Yin as I could recall for them. I also left a letter for the inmates in my cell with kind personal comments for everyone.

I wrote to the head warden, “Hello, sister Shan! I hope that you are as kind-hearted as your name [Shan means compassion in Chinese] suggests. The other day, when someone was crying and missing her child, I saw you turn your head away. I glimpsed the heartache of a mother. I know that you, too, are missing your child. You simply choose not to show it in front of others.”

One of the detainees was an accountant, arrested for embezzlement at the bank she was working at. She was eloquent and sharp-tongued. When her colleagues came to tour the detention center, she was deeply ashamed and tried to hide. However, a prison guard called her out and made her feel humiliated.

I wrote to her, “That day, I noticed how you felt ashamed. Please don’t feel that way. Do not look down on yourself. Only when you can respect yourself will others look up to you and treat you with respect.”

She later said with deep emotion, “You have truly moved me. When I go back, I will certainly make a point of reading your Dafa books.”

After finishing the letter, I felt I had done everything there, and that it was time for me to leave. A few days later, I was indeed released.

I know deep in my heart that without Master’s protection, I could not have made it this far. I am deeply grateful to Master! Whether the road ahead is short or long, I will continue to walk it with unwavering determination.

This is my personal understanding. Please point out anything inappropriate.