A New Practitioner's Experience Learning Falun Dafa in America

I am a new practitioner who just started to learn Falun Dafa. I came to know of Falun Dafa two months after I came to America. I'd like to share my experience learning this practice.

Due to my bad habits, I had chronic stomach diseases. When my stomach ached, it was extremely painful. I had taken numerous medicines, but they never cured me.

After I came to America, I again started to suffer from the stomach aches. My relative sympathised with me, suggesting, "I have a friend who is a Falun Gong practitioner. I heard that Falun Gong is really good, would you like to try? Maybe it will be good for your stomach." I was scared upon hearing this. The Chinese media all reported that Falun Gong is a bad religion. They also showed the footage of an alleged Falun Gong practitioners committing suicide. I hastily responded, "No. It is a X religion." My relative said, "From my understanding, it is not what you think. Do you want to learn about it first?" I thought her suggestion was good, so I agreed.

I went to the exercise site that weekend, and Falun Gong practitioners earnestly taught me the exercises. They also gave me some introductory materials about Falun Gong and the book Zhuan Falun. So I understood the principles of Falun Gong that day. After I went back home, and casually opened the book Zhuan Falun, I was very compelled by its contents. Teacher Li used popular and easily understandable words to express why we should be good people and follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. I found that in Chinese society, relationships between people have become more complicated. They deceive each other, recognise money as the most important thing, encounter corruption in every occupation, and people have no conscience, sense of justice, righteous thoughts or ideals. It has become a completely unlivable society. As I read Zhuan Falun, I found the lighthouse that could guide me through the night. The principles in the book are profound, and when I connected them with my experience in society, everything became so clear. All of my worries disappeared, and my life suddenly became enriched, active and wonderful.

I then started to do the exercises, study the book, and share experiences together with other practitioners in the park two times each week. Relaxing under the bright sun, listening to the birds chirping, smelling the flowers, it felt like paradise. Surprisingly, after two months, my stomach no longer ached. I also had other mysterious feelings. For instance, when doing the "Penetrating the Two Cosmic Extremes" and "Falun Heavenly Circulation" exercises, I felt strong energy flowing from my hands.

After learning Falun Dafa, I felt that my body and heart have become better, and I feel like a different person. I hope that people who had the same barriers to learning Falun Gong that I did will learn the truth about it and try this wonderful practice, and that it will benefit them physically and mentally.