A Nordic Mother's Experience of Coming to Practise Falun Gong

Since 1995, Falun Gong has spread widely across Europe. Numerous residents in the five Nordic nations have started to practise Falun Gong with each of them having their unique story of how they came across the practice and particularly of how Falun Gong has brought dramatic changes to their lives.

At the Airport in Geneva, I encountered a Nordic mother and her daughter, both of whom are Falun Gong practitioners. The mother’s name is A-Ying and looks quite young; while her daughter aged twenty is called Xiao Jing. It’s hard for people to guess that A-ying already has a grown-up daughter. Prior to the coming of World Falun Dafa Day, I would like to write down A-ying’s story, a story among other common stories.

Minor arguments on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and fights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays

A-ying of petite stature looks healthy and easy going, with her round face wearing a constant smile. She put in order our baggage and packages of material which had been scattered around and then went on to pick up the littered candy wrappers and threw them into the trash can. Her prudent behaviours impressed me that she must be a person of order, capabilities and great considerations for others.

“I was not what I am now,” said she in a southern accent. “I dare not imagine what kind of person I would be if I had not practised Falun Gong,” she continued,

“I might just look like one in the form of a human, but with poisons accumulated inside! Really! I was heavily addicted to smoking, drinking, games of Mah-Jong, and gambling. Though I didn’t look like an evil person, I indulged in bad behaviours that could easily be found in our society. My friends around me were as self-indulgent as me and on top of that my family life wasn't in a good state. I used to have minor arguments with my husband on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and vehement fights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Neighbours in our community were quite used to our domestic chaos. I led such a meaningless life day by day.

One day in 1998 on my way home after playing Mah-Jong for the whole-night, I encountered a neighbour who I had not seen for days. Her face was glowing with health replacing her sick facial expressions. Out of curiosity, I asked her what she was energetically engaged in so early in the morning. She replied that she was practising some exercises. I then asked what exercises she was practising and she told me that she was practising Falun Gong.” “I knew that she had been plagued by various illnesses, like stomach cancer and a gallstone. Now, however it was if a different person was stood before me. She said that Falun Gong brought such great changes to her and proceeded to loan me a book containg practitioners sharings about how cultivation has affected their lives. When reading the book at home, I was attracted by what I read. The next day, I went to the practise site with my neighbour where I learnt to practise four of the five Falun Gong exercises, and determinedly finished practising the second set of exercise which lasted for thirty minutes. On that very day I borrowed the book Zhuan Falun.

The first day when starting to read Zhuan Falun, I felt sleepy. After having read it for a while, I fell asleep. In my dream, I was changed to another person who could endure any hardships at any time and any place. After waking up from my dream, I re-examined what I was in reality, a person who frequently uttered vulgar words, had constantly fought with others, and was unwilling to be taken advantage of.”
“I spent one month reading Zhuan Falun. Unaware of the gradual changes, I stopped gambling, drinking, scolding others, and quarrelling with my husband. My neighbours who had been quite accustomed to our quarrelling were amazed. In my daily life, I demanded myself to adhere to the moral principles of a practitioner.

At first I had difficulty quitting smoking. In the seventh chapter of Zhuan Falun, Master said, ‘Aren't we practitioners trying to purify our bodies? We want to keep purifying our bodies, and keep moving up to higher levels. So what are you putting that in your body for? Isn't that the opposite of what we're trying to do? Besides, it's another strong desire. Some people do know it's bad, but they just can't quit. I can tell you that it's actually because they don't have the right thoughts guiding them, so it's not easy for them to just up and quit. See yourself as a cultivator, and treat it as an attachment today and try to quit, see if you can quit. If you really want to cultivate I urge you to quit smoking today and I guarantee you can quit.’ Really! After reading the chapter, I quit smoking with ease, much to my amazement.

When staring to practise the fifth set of exercise, meditation, I couldn’t have my both legs crossed. So I just had one leg crossed. Nearly half a month later, on my left leg appeared a swelling as large as a fist, and it hurt! I came to realise that it was intended to reduce my karma, and that Master was having my body purified. No matter how painful it was, I still insisted on practising the exercises and meditation. Seven days later, the swelling was gone and I could practise meditation with my both legs crossed.

At that time I genuinely felt Master purifying not only my body but also my mind. Whenever I encountered a chance to take advantage of someone, or was in conflict with someone, I always conversed with my inner self. One part of me persuaded me to follow my conscience, while the other part of me convinced me to betray my conscience. Finally, I opted to adhere to the moral principles.

My neighbours and friends felt curious about my glowing face and the favourable changes brought to my behaviours. I told them it was Falun Gong that changed me. I practise Falun Gong and live my life by the principles of ‘Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.’ Meanwhile, I hoped they could join me to practise Falun Gong.

Afterwards, I went overseas. But wherever I am, I keep reminding myself that I am a Falun Gong practitioner. In the meantime, I made continuous efforts to introduce Falun Gong to those around me and to tell them the facts of Falun Gong. At home my daughter and I are practitioners. Though my husband does not practise Falun Gong, he knows that Falun Gong is good. On one hand, I manage to have my house chores done. On the other hand, I try my best to participate in various activities and to do the three things well which Master has demanded us to do.

A-ying said that she often silently read to herself one of Master’s poems to encourage herself:

Predestiny Leads Back to Sacred Fruit
Seeking Master for how many years
One day seeing him in person
Obtaining Fa, cultivating to return
Reaching Consummation, returning with Master