(Minghui.org) I’m 71 years old and I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1997. I’d like to tell you about some of my cultivation experiences.
My Difficult Youth
I sell clothing. Before I started practicing Falun Dafa, I suffered from multiple ailments, including insomnia, heart disease, a stomach problem, breast hyperplasia, lower back pain, rheumatism in my legs, frozen shoulder, bone spurs on two vertebrae, and corns on my feet. I suffered both mentally and physically. At age 40, I was pale and thin, and I had very little strength or energy.
My husband had a bad temper. After he was laid off from work he became addicted to gambling. When I asked him to watch the stall while I went to restock, he took the cash I made from sales and used it to gamble. He even brought people home and they gambled late into the night.
Whenever he lost money, he threw big tantrums at me. If he asked me for money and I refused, he would get upset. I tried many times to persuade him to stop gambling.
My husband was oblivious to everything around him when he gambled. One day, while I was away restocking, he went off gambling instead of helping me unload the merchandise. I felt unwell after driving back and forth and by the time I finished unloading and got home, he was already gone. I was deeply upset and disappointed.
My son was even more problematic. Spoiled by my husband and neglected by me, he spent the lunch money I gave him on other things but did not tell me. He often skipped school to hang out with street thugs, and began smoking, drinking, fighting, gambling, and stealing money from home. The neighbors complained so often that I was nervous whenever someone knocked on our door. I lived in fear every day.
My Physical and Mental Transformation
June 22, 1997 was an unforgettable day. That morning, I arrived at my stall early and saw the owner of the neighboring stall reading a book. I asked her what she was reading, and she told me it was Zhuan Falun. She said it is Falun Dafa’s main text and is a cultivation practice in the Buddha school.
I asked, “May I borrow it after you finish reading?”
She replied, “Sure. I’ll be watching Master’s video lecture series soon. I’ll let you know as soon as I get them.”
Later that day, I asked her, “Could you please watch my stall for a little while? I have an appointment with a Chinese medicine doctor.” She agreed.
The Chinese medicine doctor felt my pulse and said, “Young lady, there isn’t a single part of your body that doesn’t have a problem.” He then prescribed medicine worth more than 100 yuan (US$15).
When I returned to my stall, the lady said, “I got the lecture videos. Let’s watch them tonight.”
I was deeply moved when I watched Master’s lectures that evening. Every word he said touched me, as if opening up a window in my heart. I decided to practice Falun Dafa.
After I got home, I threw away all my medications, including the ones I just bought, and I haven’t needed any medicine since then.
After we finished watching Master’s lectures, I bought a copy of Zhuan Falun. I read it eagerly, as if quenching a great thirst. During the day, I read this precious book whenever business was slow, and in the evenings, I read it with other practitioners. I was bathed in the Buddha light every day.
At that time, there were no exercise instruction videos or music available, so I taught myself the exercises by following the illustrations and instructions in the book Falun Gong. When the exercise music was later available, I got up early every morning to practice with other practitioners in the park.
Through studying the Fa and doing the exercises, I underwent tremendous changes. All my illnesses disappeared. Because I did not start practicing Dafa for the sake of improving my health, I never thought about illness.
One day, as I was washing my feet, I noticed the stubborn corns that bothered me for years were gone. I was so excited that I called to my husband, “Come take a look! My corns are gone.”
It was then that I realized all my ailments had completely disappeared. It was truly amazing. My pale complexion changed from sallow to rosy, and I was full of energy. I smiled every day.
Through studying the Fa, I came to understand Falun Dafa’s principles and I gradually let go of my resentment towards my husband and son. My husband witnessed all the changes in me and appreciated how wonderful Falun Dafa is. He gave up his addictions and he also began practicing.
One day, not long after I began practicing, my son was taken to the police station and did not come home that night. We did not know what was going on and we were worried.
The next morning, I started to wake up but didn’t want to get out of bed. In a dreamlike state, I saw Master in the sky, sitting on a lotus flower with a big halo behind him, just like in his portrait. I called my family, “Come, see, Master is here!” I put my hands in the Heshi gesture (with palms pressed together) and said repeatedly, “Greetings, Master!”
I got up feeling excited. I went to my stall and told people about my dream. They were all happy for me and said, “Don’t worry—your son will be okay. Master is watching over everything and came to tell you not to worry.”
I replied, “It feels wonderful to be protected by Master Li.”
That evening, our son indeed returned home. I was grateful to Master from the bottom of my heart. Thank you, Master, for resolving our family disaster!
My son said, “Mom, guess what? My two buddies were involved in a gang fight, and someone died. They both got arrested and are facing felony charges. I was so lucky I stayed home that day, otherwise I would be in the same situation.”
I replied, “Because your mother is a practitioner Master protected you and spared you from this tribulation. Master said, ‛When one person obtains the Fa, the whole family benefits.’ (‛Teaching the Fa and Answering Questions in Jinan,’ Explaining the Teachings of Zhuan Falun) I thank Master for saving you. Master has resolved your tribulations.”
My son changed from that day on. He became sensible, no longer caused trouble, and supported me in practicing Dafa.
Master transformed my son, saved me, and saved my family. I cannot repay Master’s grace. Thank you, Master!
Letting Go of the Attachment to Personal Gain
I’ve gradually understood many Fa principles, including the purpose of life. Master told practitioners to take the Fa as our guide in cultivation practice. I hold myself to a higher standard and keep reminding myself that I am a practitioner and I should handle issues with a practitioner’s mindset.
Although many years have passed, I can still recall some incidents vividly. For example, one day, while restocking, my supplier said, “Go ahead and take a bundle—there are 10 pairs of pants in each bundle.” I counted them and found there were 11, so I returned the extra pair to him.
He said, “I’m so lucky to have met a good person today. Thank you!”
I replied, “Don’t mention it. I’m a Falun Dafa practitioner, and I won’t take things that belong to others. Please remember, ‘Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.’”
He repeatedly said, “Yes, yes.”
Sometimes customers accidentally pay too much. One day, a customer paid me with a 100-yuan bill. I took the money and ran my fingers through it; there were actually two bills. I gave the extra bill back to the customer, and she said excitedly, “Thank you. You’re so kind!”
I replied, “I’m a Falun Dafa practitioner, and I won’t take money that doesn’t belong to me. Please remember, ‘Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.’”
She said, “Yes, I’ve memorized this. I’ll come back and buy something else from you.”
I accepted counterfeit money when I wasn’t paying attention. They were fake 50-yuan or 100-yuan bills. I destroyed them without hesitation so that no one else would be cheated.
I never got into an argument with my suppliers or with customers who returned to exchange or return garments. The vendors near me were the same. An acquaintance once told me, “The stall owners on this side have a better attitude than the ones over there.”
I replied, “It’s because everyone on this side knows that Falun Dafa is good. Some of the people on this side even read Dafa books. You know, Falun Dafa is a Buddha Fa that teaches people to be good and to cultivate compassion. The ‘Tiananmen Square Self-immolation incident’ was staged to deceive people.”
She said, “I see, so that’s what it was all about!”
I continued, “Please remember, ‘Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,’ and you will have a bright future.”
She replied, “Thank you for sharing this with me.”
One day, a middle-aged man bought a pair of pants without haggling over the price. After he left, I noticed a pair of pants was missing, so I quickly tracked him down and said, “Please show me the pants you just bought.”
He had two pairs with him, but I didn’t say anything. I simply took back the extra pair of pants and told him compassionately, “What you did was wrong. Please don’t do that anymore. You’re lucky to have met me; if it were anyone else, you might not have been treated this way.”
He replied, “I’m sorry, I was wrong. Thank you.”
I said, “I practice Falun Dafa. If you want to thank someone, please thank Dafa’s Master. Please remember, ‘Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.’”
He nodded repeatedly.
Sometimes it took a lot of effort to sell a single garment so I occasionally felt frustrated. Some customers lingered for a long time and kept comparing prices at different stalls before they made a decision. As soon as I recalled Master’s words, I no longer felt upset.
As long as I keep Master’s Fa in my heart, conduct myself according to Master’s requirements, treat others kindly, and think of others, I don’t feel that I’ve lost anything. Instead, I feel at ease.
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