My Road to a New Life

My name is Xiaotian Liu. I am a Falun Dafa practitioner from Denmark.

From a high school student knowing nothing about Falun Dafa, through tribulations of life and death I started cultivation and became a Falun Dafa practitioner during this special period of time, the Fa rectification period. It was Falun Dafa that gave me a new life.

When I was just about 16 years old and in the 8th grade, an unexpected disaster struck my family. In the afternoon of Friday, 23rd November 2001, both of my parents were taken away by police on account that they practised Falun Gong. I was at school at the time. The police came to the office of my teacher in charge and asked about me. Such sudden trauma dumbfounded me. Under the urge of classmates, I managed to run away from school in a panic. From then on, I, who had been living in the loving care of my parents without a single worry in the world, started a long journey in exile filled with loneliness, sorrow and fear.

That night I saw that my whole house had been shattered as if struck by an earthquake. In the neighbour’s storage shed, I spent the first sleepless night hiding in a gunnysack. With police on the search, the kindhearted neighbour sent me on the road to find my uncle who was a farmer thousands of miles away. Surviving fatal accidents on the road of escape, I finally managed to reach my uncle’s place in the countryside of Fujian province. But half a year later, one day in May of 2002, the police again showed up at my uncle’s house. Under the police’s threats my uncle could no longer look after me. He had to send me into hiding in a warehouse in Shen Zhen. I spent 13 months in isolation in the deserted warehouse. During this time I was surrounded by nothing but solitude, grief and horror. In the dark nights I often woke up in tears from nightmares. After waking up, I would curl up with my head buried, and cry my eyes out in a corner. Each day brought such pain and suffering that my mental health was seriously damaged. When I left the warehouse, I could no longer speak normally.

To save my life, at the end of June in 2003 my uncle who lived in poverty himself took on a daunting debt for me to be taken to Denmark. Within a few hours of arrival, I was abandoned by those who took me abroad. A Samaritan took me to the Red Cross in Denmark. But I was still living in enormous fear and sadness. One night I woke up with a start from nightmares, which alarmed the staff on duty. The next day the person in charge of the Red Cross shelter had a chat with me. Without knowing why exactly, I asked her whether there was Falun Gong in Denmark. Under her help I got into touch with some Falun Gong practitioners in Denmark. Slowly I started to appreciate why my parents wanted to practise Falun Dafa, came to know Falun Gong practitioners, and gradually understood Falun Dafa.

Luckily attaining Falun Dafa

Initially I wanted to know why my parents practised Falun Gong, why the police arrested them and why the police would not allow my uncle to keep me even though I did not practise Falun Gong. I had so many questions for the Falun Gong practitioners. But once I saw them, I could not help bursting into tears. My first sentence was, “Could you help me find my parents? I really miss them.” An elderly Falun Gong practitioner told me, “If you want to know why your parents were arrested by the police, you should come to our practise site next weekend. You can learn what Falun Gong is, what Falun Gong practitioners are thinking and doing. Perhaps you will understand your parents and why they were arrested.” The following weekend, I came to the practise site at the New King’s Park in Copenhagen. The lady who spoke to me before gave me a copy of Zhuan Falun, a book containing the core Falun Gong teachings. Auntie urged me, “Read this book after you get back. You will find all the answers to your questions.” Since then I got to know more and more Falun Gong practitioners. Their kind attention really warmed my heart.

When I first started reading Zhuan Falun, my mind was confused and my spirits low. I could not comprehend anything. One day shortly after, I suddenly reached a state of tranquillity when I was meditating. I saw my mum, who was sat on a lotus flower. At that time I did not understand the book, so I did not know what that meant. A fellow practitioners told me that it was the founder of Falun Gong, Master Li, who was encouraging me by showing me my mum’s grand appearance in another dimension.

A few months later, I finally managed to settle down and read the book. Psychological damage from the fugitive life had completely turned me into a different person. When I was in school, I had always been a top student with the best grades. But after the tribulations, especially after 13 months of isolation in the warehouse in Shen Zhen, I could not even express myself properly. My logic was confused. Whilst reading I could not finish a sentence without making a mistake. Fellow practitioners spent a great deal of time to help and encourage me. Sentence by sentence they patiently corrected my reading. Firmly breaking down my psychological barriers, I finished reading the various Falun Dafa books one after another. Falun Dafa unveiled to me a magnificent world. During that time, I spent every minute I had studying the Falun Gong teachings, practising the exercises, and sharing experiences amongst fellow practitioners. Gradually my heart felt lighter and lighter. I started to understand the root of all hardships, life’s philosophy, and that the real meaning of life is to return to our own true selves.

Remove all attachments, walk the path of a Falun Dafa practitioner in the Fa rectification period

After starting to practise Falun Dafa, I came to see Falun Dafa for what it truly is and I felt so lucky. How fortunate is one to be able to practise Falun Dafa during this special period of time. I saved up as much as possible from my meagre monthly allowance for tickets to Copenhagen so that I could attend the group Fa study and experience sharing sessions. In a pure cultivation environment, I made rapid progress and was actively devoted to Fa rectification cultivation. (Fa - Law or Principles, the teachings in Falun Dafa)

On the World Anti-torture Day in June of 2004, practitioners held the first anti-torture exhibition at the centre of Copenhagen. I played the role of a Falun Dafa practitioner being burnt. I was reminded of my parents, of all the other Chinese practitioners being brutally persecuted. I had to act it all out. Many onlookers were moved by our performance. I was thinly clad and maintained one pose from beginning till end. In the chilly Northern European weather, I did not feel cold at all. My mind was entirely focused on clarifying facts to the people of the world. When the event finished, fellow practitioners kindly asked whether I felt cold. Only then did I register chilliness and immediately I was shivering with cold. The power of this event was tremendous. All participating practitioners performed wholeheartedly, enduring physical pains from the anti-torture show. I could feel a particularly strong energy field that day.

Subsequently I took part in anti-torture activities in various major cities in Northern Europe, e.g. Finland, Norway, Sweden. Although life on the road was tough, I felt happy and content to participate in Falun Dafa disciples’ Fa rectification activities.

In July of 2004 on my way back from an anti-torture exhibition in Norway, I experienced some tribulations. At night I dreamt that my parents had passed away and that my uncle had signed a piece of paper under the threat of the police. Upon learning this, fellow practitioners in Denmark immediately called my uncle. For the first time, my uncle told me the truth. As a matter of fact, in April 2002, five months after they were arrested, my parents had both been persecuted to death. It was for this matter that the police called upon my uncle in May of 2002. They would not produce any documents or evidence, they simply insisted that my parents “had committed suicide.” Meanwhile they forced my uncle to sign a declaration to terminate all relationship with my family. Unable to protect me any longer, my uncle had no choice but to send me into hiding in a warehouse in Shen Zhen. In China there was no more relation for me to seek protection from and no other way out. To save me from the hands of the police, my uncle took on a huge debt so as to be able to send me abroad.

The news about my parents that I had been looking forward to for so long turned out to be news that they had died from the brutal persecution! The evil took their lives only because they believed in “Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.” Again it was Master and fellow Falun Gong practitioners’ compassion that helped me through such a devastating blow. I appreciated Master’s merciful salvation.

In July of 2004 my refugee application was rejected. There was only one chance left for appeal. At that time I felt despair again like an ordinary person. I had a wrong idea. When I first came to Denmark, out of fear I told the police something that I should not have. Now my parents have left me. Even my uncle, my only relation left in the world, dared not to keep me. I had nobody to depend on and no hope for anything. It would not matter even if I was sent back. When fellow practitioners took me to see a lawyer, I answered the questions mechanically. I appeared numb, and foggy-headed. It did not occur to me to use my parents’ case to clarify the facts. After that, fellow practitioners challenged me, “Our visit was not meant to go through the motions or be attached to whether you would stay in Denmark or not. It was to clarify the facts based on your experience. Currently you are the only orphan as a result of the persecution against Falun Gong who has come abroad. There are still children like you in China. Many are young children who are being persecuted. They desperately need us to rescue them. You need to have a clear understanding of your role during this period of time. You need to be calm, clear-headed, and know what you should do as a Falun Dafa practitioner. Wouldn’t you want to speak up on behalf of your parents?” After Fa study that night, fellow practitioners explained to me compassionately, “We feel for you. You lost your parents. We lost our fellow practitioners. That’s all the more reason for us to rationally expose the evil persecution to various levels of government and the people. This will lessen the pressure of the persecution on practitioners in China. It will also enable those children who are being persecuted a chance to return home and see their parents again. We have to save the worlds people. Through understanding the truth about Falun Dafa, fighting against the persecution, and helping Falun Gong practitioners, they will position themselves well.”

I realised I had omissions in my cultivation which made it difficult for fellow practitioners to clarify the facts. I made up my mind to diligently cultivate myself and get rid of my attachments. From then on everyday I did the three things required by Falun Dafa practitioners: exercised, studied Fa, sent righteous thoughts, and told people around me the misfortunes of my family. To supplement my language skill, I asked fellow practitioners to print some materials based on my experience, which we distributed everywhere in large quantities.

Believe in the Master, maintain righteous thoughts and righteous actions

In October of 2004 Denmark Refugee Tribunal held the final court hearing on my application. Most of my fellow practitioners in Denmark went to the court to send righteous thoughts. Some practitioners even travelled from other cities. Maintaining peace and calm through righteous thoughts, I answered the questions truthfully. Even though fellow practitioners helped me put together some materials about my parents’ persecution, the decision was still negative as news about my parents only came out right before the final trial. The Danish government notified me to leave for China as soon as possible. In this situation, I did not falter. I firmly believed in Master and Falun Dafa. I still did the three things the Falun Dafa disciples ought to do as usual: exercised, studied the Fa, sent righteous thoughts, and clarified facts. In an experience sharing, fellow practitioners enlightened that we ought to take advantage of this opportunity to further clarify facts to the Danish government and the media.

Subsequently Falun Dafa practitioners all over the world were mobilised. Letters from various countries flooded the Danish government. Fellow practitioners produced media reports based on my experience. In Denmark and other European countries, the practitioners took to the streets to collect signatures and call for help from Congress, media, non-governmental organisations, and the United Nations. Some very influential non-governmental organisations in Denmark wrote to the government to call attention to my case. The Chairman of the Legislative Committee in Congress gave several media interviews about my case. He was of the opinion that the government underestimated the persecution Chinese Falun Gong practitioners suffered. He clearly showed his support for my case. A local TV station also aired a special report on me. Many kindhearted people showed their sympathy towards Falun Dafa, their indignation against the Chinese Communist Party’s brutal persecution, and positioned themselves well for their own future.

As a result of strong support from Falun Gong practitioners worldwide, the Danish government revised their decision to immediately deport me to China. After some efforts to show them the situation in China, the Danish government obviously appreciated the seriousness of the persecution against Falun Gong. Consequently, two other Falun Dafa practitioners’ refugee applications were granted relatively smoothly.

In the environment of Fa study and sharing with fellow practitioners, I improved rapidly in my cultivation.

Later I was transferred to several different places far away from Copenhagen. I could not see most practitioners as often as I used to. Even though the cultivation environment was relatively lonely, I realised that being in different places where there had not been any Falun Dafa practitioners were indeed opportunities to bring Falun Dafa to the people in those places. I could use my own experience to clarify the facts to more people and save them. One had to create one’s own cultivation environment. I quickly adjusted myself and set up a group Fa study and practise site along with several local practitioners. Each day I exercised, studied the Fa, sent righteous thoughts, and clarified the facts. I kept my living standards to the lowest possible to save up for various Fa rectification activities, and to post truth materials and the Nine Commentaries to China.

One weekend a fellow practitioner and I demonstrated the exercises in a crowded place, which attracted a passing reporter. Despite language problems, I showed him my materials and clarified the facts in the few Danish words that I knew. The next day a big photo of our practise was posted in a local newspaper.

After reviewing large quantities of Falun Dafa related materials, the Denmark Refugee Tribunal reopened my case for trial. At the end of April 2005, my refugee application was granted as an exception.

Treasure the lucky karma through the ages, cultivate diligently

As a kid knowing nothing about Falun Dafa, I was very nearly destroyed by the persecution. Thanks to Master’s merciful salvation I was able to return from the verge of collapse and I am now a healthy cultivator both mentally and physically. It is Master Li whom saved my life. Words cannot express my gratitude towards Master. Falun Dafa practitioners worldwide have given me so much loving care. Dear Master, thank you! Falun Dafa practitioners worldwide, thank you!

My parents must feel very comforted in the other dimension. The path I am taking now is the path they hoped for the most. It is the brightest of all with the most beautiful future. I am determined to do well the three things that Falun Dafa practitioners should do - use my life’s story to clarify facts to and save the worlds people.