How I Learned Falun Gong in Prison

On March 9, 2000, I was sent to prison for something I did not do, but to my surprise, this mistake was a blessing in disguise. Before, I had no idea what Falun Dafa was. I was only 17 years old and had heard that people would be beaten up when they entered the jail. When I walked in the cell trembling with fear, I encountered a very peaceful atmosphere. It was very cold that day. I only had on a thin shirt and was shivering with cold. One lady let me wear some of her clothes and another one gave me a pan of warm water to wash. They were so nice to me. I later learned that they were Falun Dafa practitioners.

One of them told me the facts about Falun Dafa. After several days with them, I felt that life was wonderful after all. My mother had committed suicide soon after I was born. My father gave me away to his comrade-in-arms before he left for far away places. From the time I was young, I had felt that life was pointless. I tried suicide when I was only 13-years-old but was rescued. One lady in my cell told me that their Master said suicide is sinful and explained why we should not kill. We should be compassionate to all and treasure this human body. No one comes to this world without a reason, and only beings with human bodies are allowed to cultivate, escaping the painful cycle of birth, old age, sickness, and death. It was then that I first understood the true meaning of life's existence. When she recited Master Li's poems, I was so moved that I said to myself, "I must learn Falun Gong when I get out of this jail." On the 13th day of my detention, I was sentenced to penal detention. I hated the police, but the Dafa practitioners told me, "The reason you have been wronged is because you need to pay back the karmic debt that you owe from previous lives. Do not hate them." The police tricked me when my adoptive father was very ill. In order to see him, I was forced to admit that I was guilty and sign my name on their false records. To my astonishment, this forced admission resulted in one whole year in prison.

But the most fortunate thing was that I learned Dafa. Now I can see that was the beginning of my new life. On April 12, 2000, I started learning the exercises. I would recite Master Li’s poems every night. In 6 days I had memorised all 72 poems in Master Li’s collection of poems – Hongyin.

The tribulations came next. My cellmate reported to the authorities that I practiced the exercises. A police officer called me to her office and slapped me as I stepped in. She cursed me and asked me if I would continue to practice the exercises with the practitioners. I felt my ears burning. I asked her calmly, "Is it wrong for me to learn to be a good person? If I quit the exercises, can you change me into a good person? I was a very bad girl before, but I have changed a great deal. What is wrong with that?" She beat me with a book she had on the table, while shouting repeatedly, "I'll see if you dare to practice the exercises!" When she was tired of beating me, she asked, "Will you still practice exercises?" I answered her firmly, "I will be sure to keep practicing." In the end she cuffed both of my hands and sent me back to my cell. My cellmates said, "You are not here because of Falun Gong; why are you asking to suffer? You just tell them you will not practice with them any more, and then you will not be cuffed." I told them I could no longer speak against my conscience.

After being locked in jail for more than a year, I was about to be released. I told the police officer who had beat me up, "I actually do not hate you at all, because our Master taught us to be nice to everyone. I am about the same age as your daughter. Would you feel your heart ache if others treated your daughter this way? Not to mention that you knew I was truly willing to become good person. You should know now why your hands hurt when you beat me. I will keep cultivating from now on, and I hope you will not be hostile towards us. I do not resent all that you did to me. Please remember, "once a person learns the truth and the real meaning of life, he will not regret giving up his life for it." [a quote from one of Master Li's articles.] I saw the tears in her eyes. Maybe her clear-headed side was moved by my compassion.