Fellow Dafa practitioners in Changchun:
How are you?
Last month when I went back to visit China, you asked me to say hello to our respectable Teacher for you when I see him. Now your wish has come true! Our great and benevolent Teacher knows everything and he understands you.
On the night of October 20, hundreds of practitioners from all over the United States gathered in downtown San Francisco to mourn our fellow practitioners who sacrificed their lives for the Fa-rectification. The sky was very clear with sparse stars and the moon was shinning brightly. We lit candles and some meditated while others read articles written by the Teacher. It was really a solemn and serene scene.
At about 8:30pm, we were packing baggage into the trunk of our car when a car drove over and stopped on our left. I thought this car was waiting for the parking space so I told them they did not have to wait. However, this car didn't move. Instead, the window by the back seat was rolled down. I approached the car with curiosity and was thrilled to see the Teacher sitting inside. I rushed up to hold the Teacher's hands tightly, and said: "Teacher, practitioners in your hometown say hello to you!" Teacher answered, "I know, I know everything." I was too excited to say more words. Teacher patted me on the shoulder and said kindly: "Everything has long been arranged. It will be fine pretty soon." I backed up several steps with tears in my eyes, but then I ran back to the car. Teacher shook my hand once again and I put my hands together to do heshi. I didn't even know when Teacher's car drove away and later stood there with regret: "Why didn't I know what to say when seeing Teacher?"
The second day, we had the Fa conference and practitioners shared experiences. At 3:30pm in the afternoon, to our surprise, the Teacher came to the conference and gave a majestic 30-minute speech.
Fellow practitioners, the Teacher cares about every genuine practitioner and he knew what was on my mind. Why did I have the chance to see the Teacher in person? I am a practitioner from the Teacher's hometown and I lived in the suburb of Changchun. Not long ago, I went home to visit my family, and fellow practitioners took the initiative to talk to me and share their experiences with me. I was deeply moved and realized that practitioners in my hometown are true heroes! They are rectifying and protecting the Fa with their lives.
I heard many stories about my fellow practitioners. Five middle-school teachers did not get paid and were threatened to be dismissed from work because they refused to write the promise to stop their practice. They were arrested because they went to appeal to the government. A female teacher told me: "I was detained for 14 days in the detention center last November. It was freezing cold in Changchun in November and the temperature was far below zero Celsius. The warden forced us to stand in the snow for one hour everyday." But she said that they never felt cold. Another young female teacher was also detained for 14 days because she went to appeal. Her parents and even her husband badly beat her after she was released. Moreover, her husband threatened to divorce her. Yet, she did not bow to these people who were used by evil forces. Instead, she became even stronger and firmer.
I also met a middle-aged practitioner who was detained because he went to appeal. The warden found a piece of paper in his hand and forced him to turn it in. However, the practitioner put the paper into his mouth and swallowed it. He was cruelly beaten for 4 days as a result. I asked him if it hurt while being beaten and he said he did not feel any pain. I then asked him if there were any injuries and he said he didn't even take a look at it. One of his toes was stomped on by the warden with the heel of a leather shoe and became swollen. However, the toe was all right after 3 days. He said: "In fact you can do nothing. Teacher said, 'Cultivation depends on one's own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one's master.' Everything is done by the Teacher. Let go of your attachments and you will fear nothing." His wife was also in jail at that time and she had to work for 16 hours everyday. Someone told me that they were hung up with handcuffs and shackles on for 20 minutes everyday when they were in jail.
A practitioner, who had an arrest warrant out for her, asked me to visit her. Over ten practitioners went to her home on that day. Some of them were just released from jail but they were all very firm in cultivation. With Dafa in their mind, they will subdue the evil for sure. They missed the Teacher very much and they repeatedly asked me to say hello to the Teacher when I get a chance. In addition, they wanted me to tell the Teacher to set his mind at ease because they are strong and will be good disciples of the Teacher. I said I would say hello for them. However, I wondered when I would get a chance to see the Teacher. I never expected to see the Teacher just several days after I returned from China, not even in my dreams. This is the greatest encouragement from the Teacher to practitioners in his hometown. Let us strive forward with great confidence to assist the Teacher to rectify the Fa in this world!
A Practitioner in the US
October 25, 2000
