(Minghui.org) Cultivating Dafa transformed my selfish heart into one full of compassion. Whether in my family, my work, or in society, I have done my best to fully embody Dafa's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. In the face of great challenges and loss, this path has given me indescribable joy.
Taking Up Cultivation
Before I began practicing Falun Dafa, I wasted much of my time playing cards and going dancing with friends.
My neighbor told me in 1997 that I was squandering my time and that I should consider learning Falun Dafa. I had no knowledge about Dafa so I asked her what it was all about. She told me it is cultivation practice to attain Buddhahood.
“How can a human being become a Buddha? Are you dreaming?!” I asked.
She replied, “Isn't a Buddha someone who has completed cultivation practice? You will understand if you read the book Zhuan Falun.”
I read Zhuan Falun and was captivated by the boundless inner meanings of Dafa. I found answers to so many questions in life and came to understand that our lives are not meant for generation after generation of suffering.
I understood that most people in modern China are lacking morality and are obsessed with money. They are all victims. I understood that one can return to one's true self through cultivation practice, thus elevating one's morality and realm.
I decided to practice cultivation. I was fortunate to have obtained the Fa and was happy. I strived to follow the Fa principles to conduct myself, be a good person and be considerate of others.
My husband died unexpectedly when I was just 40 years old (February 1999). I had just been laid off my job, and I had to pay my former employer to remain eligible for my pension. My son was still in middle school. My financial responsibilities were high. During a gathering, my friends and relatives suggested that I remarry. My mother-in-law said, “I will be okay and could live by myself.” After everyone was gone, my mother-in-law came to me in tears.
She said, “I want to stay with you. My other two sons live out of town and I do not want to be a burden to them. You practice Falun Dafa and are always kind to me, even when I yell at you, you are never upset. Can we please continue to live together, as mother and daughter?” Soon after I told her I would not marry again, and we would still live together.
My mother-in-law and I read Zhuan Falun every day and practiced the exercises daily as well. We sang Dafa songs and imitated the graceful movements of Shen Yun dancers. Dafa gave us a peaceful and happy life.
One day, her youngest son came to visit her. He had been very busy with making a living and was tired. He felt guilty and sad for not being able to take care of his mother.
I told my mother-in-law, “Tell your son not to worry about you. He can focus on his career. We both practice Falun Dafa and follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Our life is good.”
After I was laid off from the textile factory, I bought two flat knitting machines and opened a knitted clothing store. I have a technician certificate and all the skills to knit clothes myself. I conducted myself as a practitioner and treated all of my customers fairly and kindly.
A young man and his mother came to my store. She said she had purchased two pounds of yarn years ago and she now wanted to have a sweater made out of it. I took her measurements and then they left. I weighed the yarn, it was 3.5 pounds. When she returned in a week to pick up the sweater, I told her she had given me too much yarn and returned the extra.
She thanked me and said: “You are honest and kind. I like the sweater, and it fits perfectly. It was my neighbor that referred me to you. She said you practice Falun Dafa, make high-quality products, and always treat your customers well.”
“She also told me after you lost your husband, you continued to live with your mother-in-law, and always treated her as if she were your own mother. That is why I asked my son to bring me here. You are indeed a good person. Thank you!”
I said, “Master Li Hongzhi teaches people to be honest and kind, and not take advantage of others, to be considerate of others, be a good person in all circumstances, and not to fight back when mistreated.”
“Falun Dafa is great!” said the customer.
In the past, before I practiced Dafa, I suffered from lower back pain, irregular menstruation, headache, dizziness, bloodshot eyes, skin diseases, cervical problems, and no appetite. I was physically uncomfortable nearly all the time. After taking up the practice I became free of illness.
Through practicing cultivation, my illnesses vanished, I had no more discomfort, and I had endless energy. I would knit during the day and sew late into the night. I slept for a while and woke up to do the exercises and read the Fa. The routine repeated day after day, I was never tired.
My mother-in-law underwent amazing health benefits as well. Before cultivation practice, she needed to be hospitalized on an average of once a year. She took medicine and tonics every day. After starting cultivation practice, she did not need any medical attention or medicine.
We were practicing cultivation and constantly improving ourselves. However, the persecution of Falun Dafa by the Chinese Communist Party has been ongoing since July 1999. A group of police broke into my house in September 2011. They ransacked my home and took me to the police station. I was sentenced to three years in prison for my faith.
After this, my mother-in-law fell seriously ill. While I was in prison, she passed away. My son knew it would be a big blow to me and so he did not tell me about her death until I was released from prison. Sadly, I returned to a dust-covered, empty home.