(Clearwisdom.net) I am a 28 year old woman living in Eureka, California. My experience with Falun Dafa began almost two years ago.

By the time I encountered Dafa, my life had become worthless. The decency I originally had was deteriorated beyond recognition by the time I had reached 27. I had become a chain smoker and a drug user. I was addicted to many things. This was horrifying to my family and friends, because they knew I had been an asthmatic since I was three. I carried cigarettes and an inhaler with me wherever I went. I knew that smoking was a terrible risk to my health, but although I tried to quit dozens of times, I never could go more than a day without a cigarette. Cigarettes helped fill a gaping void in my life, a void that I did not understand. As time passed, my health truly deteriorated. I gained weight, and began to have circulatory problems. I had recurring boils on my body. The difficulty I had breathing worsened, but I gave up on quitting smoking. I never thought I would be able to. I simply expected to die soon.

Then one day at my job, I lifted a heavy object, and I felt a sharp pain on the right side of my neck and shoulder, as well as through my entire right arm. A few days later, my neck froze up completely. I couldn't turn my head, and my whole body hurt. I went and saw my doctor, and he prescribed muscle relaxants to ease the pain and to help me regain movement in my neck. But without the medicine, I couldn't sleep, and my neck would start to freeze up again. In a daze, I contemplated the fact that my life was over.

Nearly a month went by, and I spent the majority of the time in bed. I could barely bend over, and had to be cautious when it came to moving a certain way or lifting anything at all. Then one day my neighbor knocked on my door. He told me about some exercises he had learned the day before. He also had a bad back, and he said that after learning these exercises, his back felt great, and that all the pain he had previously felt was gone. He said that the exercises were taught free of charge, and that he couldn't remember the name of the practice, but that it had been outlawed in China.

I asked him if it was Falun Gong, and he said yes. I had heard of Falun Gong being persecuted in China, and had wanted to learn more, but I had never know it was practiced in the United States, or even what Falun Gong was. I just remember being very sad when I heard that Falun Gong was being persecuted. I remember crying without even knowing why.

When my neighbor told me he had learned the Falun Gong exercises, and that he felt so good, I immediately wanted to go and learn. So, my neighbor and I went to the practice site, where we read "Zhuan Falun." I was amazed and entranced by the fact that this book existed. I had probably read a thousand books in my life, but not one of them had ever compared to the first few pages of Zhuan Falun. I was taught the exercises by the practice site coordinator, and as we were doing the last exercise, I remember feeling the bones moving in my neck. After I went home, I noticed that all the pain in my body was gone. My neck and back were fine. I had energy and felt wonderful and light and happy. I knew I had encountered something amazing, something I had searched for all my life.

As I read through Zhuan Falun for the first time, my whole life changed. I understood that Master had purified my body so that I could practice cultivation. I quit smoking. The withdrawals that had haunted me before were non-existent. I gave up cigarettes and have never wanted one since. After I began to read Zhuan Falun, all the symptoms of asthma went away. I threw away all the inhalers and pills for asthma that I had previously needed. The disease that had limited me all my life disappeared overnight. I lost thirty pounds-in the blink of an eye my clothes became baggy. My complexion became rosy, and the dark circles under my eyes faded away.

The wrinkles that had begun to set in from a lifetime of ill health and stress also faded. I realized I could walk up a hill like it was flat. Before, I had to stop to catch my breath - now I have to slow down to be considerate of others walking with me. I have no pain or stiffness in my neck or back at all - I can lift whatever I want. The feeling of health and energy I have now cannot be compared to how I felt before I began to practice.

But the biggest change has been in my mind. I used to swear all the time - a word could hardly come out of my mouth if it wasn't foul. But after reading Zhuan Falun for the first time, all the foul words in my mind disintegrated. I became kind again, and from reading Zhuan Falun, began to learn how to truly be a good person.

I am now able to be more patient and gentle and kind. I live my life according to "Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance." Before practicing Falun Gong, I was selfish and angry. All the things that were wrong in my life were problems with they way I thought, and when those were set straight, my life became livable. In fact, I am more alive than I had ever been. I feel as if what I had been searching for all my life has been found, and that it is more magnificent than I could have ever dreamed of.

Falun Gong saved my life and restored me to goodness. My body is free from illness, and my mind and soul have been set free. The benefits of practicing are immeasurable. Without it I would surely be bedridden from the damage to my neck. And yet I was taught Falun Gong for free. This wonderful, amazing practice was imparted to me with no thought to making money. People would pay anything to have their horrible diseases cured and their health back, but I was given the benefit of this great practice for no charge.

I am saddened that people in China are deprived of this practice. Something as good as Falun Gong should never be outlawed. It goes against common sense. Falun Gong came from China. I live in the United States and practice Falun Gong, but people in China cannot. They are being denied their heritage. I can only hope that the people in China can realize that Falun Gong is a good practice, and that people who practice Falun Gong do so because they want to be healthy and happy.

All my personal relationships have improved since I started practicing Falun Gong. I no longer quarrel with my parents, instead, I try to help them when they need me to. I am a good employee, and am on time for work now. All my dishes are done, and my house is cleaner than it was before I started practicing. The discipline that I lacked before is now much stronger. I have returned to college after many years away. All the people around me have noticed the big change in me since I started practicing. They are all very happy for me that I have found Falun Dafa. I am very happy that I have found Falun Dafa too.

Falun Dafa and Master Li saved my life and restored me to goodness. My body is free from illness, and my mind and soul have been set free. Everything I have was given to me by Falun Dafa and Master Li. I would give anything for return, but Master Li simply says that I should tell people that Falun Dafa is good. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be a Falun Dafa practitioner.