PureInsight | February 11, 2002
Dongdong’s best friend is not one of his classmates in school, not his father or mother, not his grandma who dotes on him, but his little uncle who came to Beijing to study at the university. Dongdong’s uncle is a distant younger cousin of his father, and lives with Dongdong’s family. In the past five or six years, Dongdong’s little uncle has been watching him grow up, helping with his homework, and playing with him. Dongdong considers him like his elder brother.
When Dongdong was in his second year of elementary school, his little uncle became interested in Qigong. He bought a lot of Qigong books, and practiced the exercises in the park every morning. He often demonstrated a few movements to the family. Dongdong admired his little uncle very much. He thought that his little uncle would soon become a xiake (a person adept in martial arts and given to chivalrous conduct in olden times), just like those in the martial arts movies. One day, little uncle came home with a blue-covered book and solemnly said, “I finally found what I want. From now on I will cultivate Falun Gong. I want to introduce to you this book, Zhuan Falun.”
The whole family became very curious and everyone was eager to ask questions, “What is this? In what way is it good? Aren’t you going to practice other schools of Qigong too?” Little uncle explained, “There are a few million people who practice Falun Gong in China. If one truly cultivates, one’s health will improve and illnesses can be cured. And it can even purify one’s mind.” Little uncle also said, “Eldest aunt, eldest cousin, and sister-in-law, would you please read this book? Dongdong, you have already learned many Chinese characters, you can try to read it too. Many children are practicing it as well. They are all good children, and after practicing, they study even better.” Upon hearing this, Dongdong immediately opened the book. He saw that the book irradiated golden light. It is miraculous! However, he could not fully recognize all the characters in the book. He could not read the whole book.
From then on, Dongdong’s grandma and parents started to practice with his little uncle. They went out with a tape recorder to practice very early in the morning. More and more people from the neighborhood started to practice with them. Sometimes, many people came to their home on Sunday to read Zhuan Falun. Later, Dongdong also started to practice the exercises. Every time he practiced, he felt a warm stream flowing all over his body. Dongdong felt peaceful when he heard the beautiful exercise music and Teacher’s kind voice.
One Sunday, grandma brought Dongdong to the open square in front of the telecommunications bureau to practice the exercises. Many people turned up. They stood in rows to do the exercises. Many people on the other side of the road wanted to take a look. Dongdong heard people say, “I wanted to learn Falun Gong for a long time. Free teaching! It is a righteous way.” Dongdong felt very happy. Gradually, Dongdong found that his family members changed. Grandma, who was 70, looked younger. Her hair turned dark and she walked much faster. She seldom went to the hospital. The relationship between Dongdong’s parents improved. Before, they used to argue over small matters and this frightened Dongdong. Little uncle, who was just over 20 years old, became much stronger. He did well in school, and upon graduation, he was exempt from taking the examinations for post-graduate studies. Of course, he became busier with his studies. He helped his professor run the lab and on Sundays, he went to the suburbs with Dongdong’s father to teach Falun Gong exercises. Even though Dongdong seldom spent time with his “big brother,” the whole family was very happy at that time.
Soon, Dongdong became a fourth year student in elementary school. One day, mom and dad came home with a glum look. They asked grandma to sit down and turn on the TV. They did not allow Dongdong to watch the news. But Dongdong watched it secretly. Dondong’s favorite male news reporter appeared on the TV. He also looked glum and spoke in a serious manner. Dongdong could understand some of what he said. The news report claimed that Falun Gong was bad and was banned in China. Dongdong was very surprised at those lies. He did not like what was said on TV and wanted to tell the announcer that he liked to practice Falun Gong very much. The news report also showed people burning Zhuan Falun. Dongdong shouted, “They are burning uncle’s book, stop them!” Dad, mom and grandma turned around and saw that Dongdong was standing by the door. Dongdong saw tears in their eyes, and Dongdong also started to cry.
Since then, Dongdong’s parents and grandma no longer went to the practice site. They were afraid of being arrested by the police. Grandma hid all the Falun Gong materials because she was afraid that those bad policemen would search their home and burn them. Little uncle had not been home for a few months. Dongdong was very unhappy since he could not practice. A couple of times, Dongdong saw that some of the young female practitioners, who used to come to his home to read the book, talked to his grandma and mom in the yard and handed them packages. From then on, Dongdong found that his parents and grandma became busy and they looked happy again. Dongdong did not understand why, but he was also happy about it.
In school, Dongdong noticed that there were many small strips of paper pasted on the building with the words, “Falun Gong is good,” “Stop persecuting Falun Gong.” His classmate, Xiaoming, also received such messages at home. Who pasted them? Dongdong also wanted to do it. The more such messages were pasted, the more people noticed them. In one of the class meetings, the teacher held a big piece of cloth and said, “Everyone, the whole nation is criticizing Falun Gong. You, the young pioneers, cannot lag behind. Everyone must sign their name on this piece of cloth and we will send it to the UN in Switzerland to express our wishes.” Then all the students signed their names on the cloth. When it was Dongdong’s turn, he stood up and said, “Teacher, can I not sign? I think that Falun Gong is good.” The students became quiet and the teacher opened his eyes widely and said, “Wang Dongdong, you should listen to teacher, listen to the Party. Falun Gong has killed so many people. Wasn’t this mentioned on TV?” Dongdong said, “But those are lies. Teacher, my grandma no longer needed to go to the hospital since practicing Falun Gong. And my uncle…” The teacher interrupted Dongdong, “You sit down. Tell your father to come and see me tomorrow.”
Dongdong’s father did not meet with the teacher. Dongdong’s father and uncle were taken away by the police. It was because they held up a banner with the words, “Falun Dafa is good” on Tiananmen Square. Grandma cried as she told Dongdong that little uncle was pressed down on the ground and beaten by several plain-clothes police. Dongdong tried to hold back his tears and told grandma, “I told the school teacher today that Falun Gong is good.” Then he went to the kitchen to cook instant noodles for his grandma. He is the only “man” at home now.
During the winter holiday, an old lady from the residence committee brought two policemen to Dongdong’s home. They wanted to bring grandma to a brainwashing class. Grandma refused to go. The police said, “Please cooperate with us. Help us maintain social stability. The Chinese New Year is just around the corner and we have been kept busy because of Falun Gong. Please cooperate, so we can give a report to our superiors.” Grandma answered them resolutely, “Who is destroying social stability? Who is not allowing us to spend a good Chinese New Year? Look at this child. A very good child, yet his father was taken away by your people. I will not go to watch that slanderous TV show. Young man, you should have some conscience.” Dongdong never saw grandma so angry before. Then he turned to see those two young policemen. They seemed to be trembling.
On the eve of the Chinese New Year, Dongdong sat in the living room all by himself. He really missed his father and little uncle, “Where are they now? In prison or in labor camp?” He heard mom say that the police would not release them unless they wrote a written pledge to state that they would no longer practice Falun Dafa. They refused to do so; hence they could not be released. Mom and grandma were not allowed to visit them, either. Dongdong looked out from the window with his hands on his cheeks, thinking about the happy times when the whole family practiced Falun Dafa together two years ago.
Grandma and mom were discussing something in the small room with the door closed. Dongdong knocked on the door and went in. He asked grandma to take out Zhuan Falun. Grandma took it out from a box under the bed, and very cautiously handed it over to Dongdong. He went in the living room and read each page carefully. The book was still emitting the golden light, but there was a difference. This time, Dongdong could understand it, not only could he recognize every character, but also the meaning behind these characters. Amidst the golden light, his whole body was slightly warm. Dongdong remembered that the school teacher used to say, 'A man should live with a goal, live a meaningful life and serve others.' Dongdong realized that Zhuan Falun covered that saying with the aspects of truthfulness-compassion-forbearance. It did not make sense that people were prohibited from practicing Falun Dafa and that some people would lie and fabricate stories to defame Falun Dafa and Master. Dongdong’s father and little uncle are good people. But they were taken away by the police who should be catching the bad guys. It was ironic. He understood the reasons why father and little uncle wanted to clarify the truth in spite of the danger. Falun Dafa can bring real happiness to people because people should tell the truth. All of a sudden, Dongdong put the book down, rushed into the other room and excitedly told mom and grandma, “I can understand the book.” Then he saw a big piece of yellow cloth on the table with some thick colored pens beside it.
In the early morning of the Chinese New Year, Tiananmen Square was crowded with many people who were waiting to watch the Flag Raising Ceremony. More than ten medium sized vans were parked all around the square. Uniformed and plain-clothes police were on patrol. Three people appeared from one side of the square: Dongdong, grandma and mom. The harsh cold wind blew on Dongdong’s face. It was just as cold every year during the Chinese New Year. But Dongdong knew that once winter ended, warmer winds would blow, the yellow spring flowers would blossom all over the earth. In a short while, spring will come, so quickly and unknowingly. When the time comes, father and little uncle will come back. They could again practice and read the books together. Thinking about this, Dongdong smiled. He subconsciously felt the yellow cloth inside of his down coat. Then he held his grandma and mom’s hands tightly. The three of them walked with firm strides towards the crowds who were watching the Flag Raising Ceremony.
Translated from:
http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2002/1/9/13259.html
