(Minghui.org) I was born in a rural village in northeastern China, the third-oldest of six girls. My family was poor and life was a constant struggle. After I got married, I suffered an ectopic pregnancy when my first child was three years old, however the doctor did not discover it at first. I experienced a severe hemorrhage and was rushed to the hospital, where I spent three hours in surgery. The doctor said I would have died if we waited another 30 minutes. Afterward, I suffered from mastitis, enteritis, and headaches, all of which caused me significant pain.
In 1999, I rented our house to a cousin who practiced Falun Dafa. He explained that many people had their illnesses resolved when they did the Falun Dafa exercises so I decided to go to a practice site near my home in April. I was a amazed: all my illnesses disappeared within two weeks. The first time I did the second exercise my stomach ached. After I rushed to the restroom, I was able to continue doing the exercises. The practitioners assured me that Master was cleansing my body. I was soon able to feel the law wheel spinning in my belly, and I diligently did the exercises.
On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began persecuting Dafa. Many new practitioners were too frightened to continue practicing, and my family also urged me to stop. Agents from the township government and local police station visited every house, pressuring practitioners to turn in their books and sign pledges that they wouldn’t practice. While many complied, I refused to turn in my books.
In 2000, nine of us practitioners planned to go to Beijing to appeal the persecution. Four us boarded the train, but we were intercepted by the police, an event that sent shock waves throughout the village. Our family members all rushed to the police station, desperate and concerned. The police demanded that we write guarantee statements that we would not practice in exchange for our release. My child clung to my legs sobbing, “Mom, stop practicing.” My sister overwhelmed with fear, slapped me twice and said I was heartless. Even my husband tearfully pleaded with me and asked me to sign. However, I refused and reminded him that Master eliminated all my illnesses, and I was very grateful. The police then took four of us to the detention center.
Most detainees were practitioners. I knew I didn’t belong there, and I resolved to go home. Two weeks later, police, the village CCP secretary, my husband, and my father-in-law came to take me home. They pleaded with me to write the statement as a condition for my release. My husband got on his knees and begged me, and my father-in-law threatened his son would divorce me if I did not sign. I replied calmly, “So be it.” No matter what they said I remained steadfast. When the police chief realized he could not force me, he allowed me go home under close supervision. They extorted 2,500 yuan from my family.
After I was released, I saw a Falun (law wheel) spinning in Zhuan Falun when I read and ever since, I see it spinning every day. The Falun is with me wherever I am. Even when I rode a bicycle, a ball-like Falun led the way.
When I visited a neighboring village to tell people about the Dafa, I noticed an elderly woman sitting by her door, and I asked how old she was. She said she was in her 80s. When I asked if she heard of Falun Dafa, she said no. I explained that Falun Dafa is here to save people and asked her to remember “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” She agreed.
I distributed pamphlets to each house. I met a woman who appeared to be well educated. I told her about the beauty of Dafa and that Dafa asks us to be good people wherever we are. She agreed and said that Master is truly great.
Local practitioners and I went to each home and we talked to people. There are 12 villages in our township, and it took us over a month. Many people owned dogs, and they would bark as soon as we entered the village. At first we were frightened, but then we told the dogs, “Remember, ‛Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.’ We are here to help your owner.” The dogs would quiet down.
We asked the other practitioners to send forth righteous thoughts toward the village we were about to visit to eliminate any interference and we asked Master to protect us. When the other practitioners told people the facts, I stayed on the side and sent forth righteous thoughts. Our intentions were pure and we would strike up a conversation with anyone we met. We carried a big bag of truth-clarification materials with us. When a man said, “Aren’t you worried about the police?” I said we were doing great deeds; police deal with bad people not good ones. But sometimes we met people who threatened to report us.
Across from my house are an elementary school and a middle school, so the area is quite busy. I sometimes stood in front of the door, and explained the facts about Dafa to people who were waiting for the bus. Some quickly chose to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. One elderly lady was tired, so I got her a bench. She thanked me, and after I told her the facts, she agreed to quit the CCP and said I was a kind person.
Trust Master and DafaMy cultivation journey has been filled with joy and challenges. Over 25 years, I was arrested and taken to the detention center four times, and sent to a forced labor camp once. Despite these challenges I never wavered in my faith. My husband often said I was courageous and a genuine practitioner. He said he admired practitioners as we never betray each other. My brother also said that Falun Dafa is remarkable.
Two fellow practitioners and I studied the Fa at my home, but someone reported us. They were sent to jail and I was taken to the detention center. I realized there were shortcomings in my cultivation. I memorized Zhuan Falun for three months and I often recalled Master’s words while I was detained, and I searched inward. I realized my negative thoughts allowed the old forces to exploit my weaknesses. While cleaning the bathroom, the cell head always reminded me to brush the floor next to the wall. I thought it might be Master hinting for me to eliminate the old forces at their root.
I constantly looked inward and searched for my attachments. I realized that all attachments are inherently selfish and imposed on us by the old forces. Whenever I identified one, I eliminated it. I sincerely asked Master to help me go home so I could talk to people about the persecution. One night, I had a dream in which Master enlightened me; no test is too difficult to pass as long as I firmly believe in Master and Dafa.
The police searched extensively trying to collect “evidence” against me. They pressured me to sign a guarantee statement, and promised they would release me if I complied. They also threatened me and said if I refused I would be detained for at least three years. I remained steadfast, believing that only what Master says truly matters. During the court session, I clarified the truth to them via video, stating that there is nothing wrong with following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and striving to be a good person. They sentenced me to a year in prison, and when I asked for a shorter sentence the judge said it was impossible since I showed no remorse.
I sent forth righteous thoughts while I was in the detention center and asked Master to let me go home, since I did not belong there. The cell head said I would join the other practitioners when I was transferred to the prison, and I replied I would go nowhere except home. When the formal sentence was announced—eight months— everyone in the detention center was happy for me and said I was good at bargaining. However, I knew it was not my bargaining ability—it was Master protecting me.
Three generations of my family live together, and sometimes my mother-in-law stays with us for several months. She is 83 years old, deaf, has poor vision, trembling hands, and persistent back and leg pain. She does whatever she wants and insists that she’s in charge. My husband often feels frustrated. At night, she snores and often makes a mess when she has diarrhea, but denies it when I ask. I felt upset, but then reminded myself I’m a practitioner and I should consider others. I prepared a bucket for her to use in the restroom and this resolved the problem.
Sometimes I say things other people may not want to hear, and my daughter-in-law would snap at me. I would quickly look inward to rectify myself. At times, all five people living at home vented their frustrations on me. My husband smokes and drinks, and he often yells at me. It was hard, but now I’m able to endure and not take it to heart.
My entire family benefited because I practice. My husband quickly recites “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” when he has a headache or fever and he recovers quickly. At my sister’s workplace a steel rack fell to the factory floor, hitting her head. Her scalp was cut, but her skull was not fractured and the doctor said it was a miracle. My brother-in-law reads all the information about the persecution I give him and he hates the CCP.
I visited my sister-in-law’s home last year. The village recorded property deeds collectively, and ours was under my father-in-law’s name. My sister-in-law kept it after he passed away, and she wanted me to pay 500 yuan to divide the title. When I later asked about it she angrily slammed the table and insisted I hadn’t given her any money even though her two daughters were present when I did. I argued briefly with her but she refused to admit it, and I became upset.
After I returned home I reflected on the way I behaved. “I am a cultivator. This behavior is wrong. Isn’t this an attachment to competitiveness and personal gain?” A few days later I called my sister-in-law, and I said it wasn’t important whether she received the money or not, just don’t be upset. I said it was my fault. She replied that she was no longer upset.
Before I began practicing Falun Dafa, my husband and I fought a lot. I had a quick temper and I threw anything I could put my hands on. My temperament was much like my father’s, who was known as a fierce fighter. Once after we ate, my husband hit my head with chopsticks, leaving two red marks. My mother-in-law witnessed it but didn’t say anything.
In my anger, I overturned the dining table and grabbed an axe, striking out at my husband. My mother-in-law tried to intervene and injured her hand, leaving her unable to cook for a couple of weeks. When my sister-in-law asked what happened, I admitted that I hit her when I fought with my husband. The police said that I was known for raising my voice—regardless of whether I was right or wrong. That was the kind of person I used to be—but everything changed after I began practicing Falun Dafa.
Dafa has transformed me into a completely different person. I have not taken any medication in the past 25 years, and I think of others first when I do things. I cannot express my gratitude to Master enough. I am determined to work hard to clarify the truth and help him save people.