(Minghui.org) I was born in the 1980s, and was just turning 17 when I began practicing Falun Dafa (Falun Gong). Looking back, perhaps my childhood aspiration to seek the Way laid the foundation to later obtain Dafa.
When I was seven or eight years old, the television series Journey to the West was a massive hit in mainland China. The first episode I remember watching was the one when Sun Wukong witnessed the death of an old monkey and had a realization; in search of the secret to immortality, he crossed the ocean to seek guidance from Patriarch Bodhi.
Watching that show awakened a vague sense of purpose and I had the thought, “Oh, so that’s why people cultivate themselves, so they can transcend life and death. To be alive is to cultivate oneself.” By the time I started middle school, this conviction had grown even stronger.
Once, my uncle asked what I wanted to do when I grew up. I said I wanted to become a monk, adding, “I feel that everyone must die eventually; no matter how much money you earn, you can’t take it with you—even if you’re happy your whole life, you’ll still die in the end. Life seems so empty.”
But my uncle replied, “Well, if you become a monk, who’s going to take care of your parents?” I couldn’t answer him, and I didn’t know what to do.
Later, all the TV stations were flooded with slander about Falun Dafa. My father told us, “If the Communist Party is persecuting Falun Dafa, then the practice must be good.”
Having lived through decades of Communist rule and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) political movements, my father had realized its evil nature. He often told us, “There’s no room for anything good under Communist rule.”
Influenced by my father, I had held a negative view of the CCP since a young age. In 2000, when the Party was already waging its frenzied persecution against Falun Dafa, my school kept organizing activities to denounce the practice.
I spoke privately with a close classmate: “Our school is constantly bashing Falun Dafa, but I don’t see things that way. The Party only presents its side of the story. Why won’t they let Falun Dafa practitioners come forward and openly explain what they’re really about? Why do we only hear one side of the story? Although I don’t know much about Falun Dafa, I don’t believe what the CCP says. Maybe it is actually a very good practice.” At the time, that was all I dared to say.
It wasn’t until later that a Falun Gong practitioner clarified the facts about Dafa and the persecution to my father. After learning the truth about Falun Dafa and reading a series of Dafa books, my father began cultivating. Shortly after he started practicing, his herniated lumbar disc was completely healed.
Having witnessed the miracle of Dafa with my own eyes, I also began reading the Dafa books. As soon as I started reading, I was deeply moved and realized: “Wow, so this is what I’ve been looking for!” Our entire family began to practice Dafa.
When I was 12, I had pneumonia. Shortly after I began practicing Falun Dafa, I experienced symptoms of pneumonia again. After watching Master’s lecture videos for two days, Master completely cleared away this sickness karma. While watching the eighth lecture, I felt a sense of lightness in my body—it was a truly wonderful experience.
When I was in my 20s, I went through a life-and-death ordeal caused by serious sickness karma. I was bedridden for nine days, my face so swollen that I couldn’t open my eyes. I understood that this stemmed from karma and elements of persecution by the old forces, serving as a test of the steadfastness of my faith in the Fa. I resolved to remain firm in Dafa, let go of concerns about life and death, and not let Master down.
However, the manifestations of the “sickness” grew increasingly severe; the swelling in my face and eyes rapidly shifted to a swollen, painful throat that made eating—and even speaking—difficult. This was accompanied by a high fever and generalized body aches so intense that sleep became impossible. This state persisted for nine days.
What thoughts went through my mind during those nine days? I thought to myself: “This might be it—the old forces might be coming to take my life—but I am not afraid. I didn’t cultivate well in the past and failed to live up to Master’s compassionate salvation; this time, I absolutely will not let Master down.” I steeled my will and remained steadfast in Dafa.
When the pain was so severe that I couldn’t get out of bed or speak, I would mentally recite Hong Yin. Whenever I could manage to get up for a while, I would do the exercises. Day after day, I endured immense suffering, yet my righteous thoughts never wavered.
During those nine days, I neither spoke nor ate, consuming only a little water; I completely let go of any attachment to enjoying life. As long as I had one breath left, I would simply practice the exercises and study the Fa a bit more—I was no longer attached to anything. I had truly let it all go, and my heart was completely at ease.
The only slight regret was a lingering sense of unwillingness to pass away just like that, as I had not yet fulfilled my mission of helping Master to save people. But later, I found peace with that as well; whether I stayed or left was up to Master—I had completely entrusted everything to him. Nine days later, I miraculously recovered.
Just then, a fellow practitioner came to visit me. As soon as she walked in and saw my face, she said, “You’ve gotten through a major hurdle, haven’t you?”
Surprised, I replied, “Yes—how did you know?”
She said, “I could tell just by looking at your radiant complexion.”
Being able to practice Falun Dafa is the most sacred and fortunate opportunity in life. I also hope that those with a predestined connection will be able to seize this once-in-a-lifetime chance.