An Elderly Practitioner Learns How to Use a Computer

In 2006, when I was sixty-seven years old, I thought it would be a good idea to learn how to use a computer. Little did I know how hard it was going to be, especially since I could neither read nor write English or Chinese Pinyin.

One day, I read an article written by a practitioner entitled, "The Mouse and the Hoe." It was about the many trials and tribulations that the author had to overcome in order to learn how to use a computer. I thought to myself, "Before he used a computer, he was a farmer who only knew how to use a hoe. But I'll bet he's not as old as I am." Although I was inspired by his story, I was still reluctant to learn about computers.

In 2008, a local practitioner who had regularly provided us with Dafa materials was arrested and sentenced to several years in prison. This made it very difficult for me to get a copy of the Minghui Weekly, which I enjoyed reading daily. All of a sudden Teacher's Fa came to mind which made me realize that I should follow my own path in my cultivation and not rely on anyone.

One day during group Fa study, I mentioned that I wanted to learn how to use a computer so I that could read the Minghui/Clearwisdom website, but that I was afraid that I would never be able to learn it because I was too old and illiterate. Everyone encouraged me, saying, "Don't worry, you'll be able to learn it, it's really not that difficult. You simply install a few programs, click here and there and that's it!"

Unconvinced, I called my son and asked him for his advice. He immediately objected to my plans and reminded me that I was still on probation for four more years with a suspended three-year-imprisonment. After I insisted on learning the computer, he suggested that I first visit an Internet café and learn there.

When the young owners of the Internet café that I went to saw my age and my eagerness to learn the computer, the first thing they patiently taught me was how to use a mouse. After my third visit to the café, I learned how to use the mouse. Before leaving, I clarified the truth about Falun Gong and urged them to quit the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations. After that, I made up my mind to buy my own computer.

When I called my son and told him about my plans, he strongly objected. So I decided to buy a computer on my own in September 2006, and got connected to the Internet. I asked a practitioner that I knew to help me install Free Gate, a very popular software that is used to break through the Internet blockade in China.

At first, I found it very difficult to use the software and complained to the person who installed it, suggesting that he may have installed it incorrectly. I felt so helpless and illiterate that I sat in front of Teacher's picture and sobbed.

Then I decided to read the Fa, thinking to myself, "Since I have Teacher's help and Dafa, I will be able to break through any difficulty!" I calmed myself down and asked my fellow practitioners to continue to teach me. As a result, they patiently guided me and even wrote down their instructions on paper. When I came across an English word that I didn't know, I made a point of finding out its meaning.

As a result, I started to make steady progress. I said to Teacher, "I will not cry any more. Crying without really making the effort to learn, is not meeting the standard of the Fa. No matter how difficult it is, I will push ahead as I believe that Teacher will help me!" The local practitioners around me continued to encourage me, too.

I now know how to download files, print documents, and search on the Internet for truth clarifying materials. When I opened the Minghui website and saw Teacher's Fa lecture, I was very excited and printed it out immediately.

I accomplished what I did, not because I am a smart or clever person, but rather because Teacher helped me to unlock my wisdom when he saw my determination.

Teacher says:
"If you want to improve yourself, you need to look inward and work hard on your mind."(Zhuan Falun)

I believe that Teacher will always give us the best things, as long as we are determined.
I feel as if I have melted into the Fa, and as a result my mind is clear and I am relaxed. I sincerely hope that every computer-illiterate practitioner will take the initiative to learn how to use the computer so that they can read the Minghui website.

Since my cultivation level is limited and my education level is low, please point out anything improper.