In the summer of 1999, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) suppression of Falun Gong in mainland China was as fierce as a storm, affecting the entire world with this sudden wave. Meanwhile, in Saskatoon, Canada, Dr. Yang Xiaoguang, a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), found himself on the edge of that storm, embarking on a legendary journey that would transform his life and career.
Chapter 1: Life being in danger, divine rescue
Dr. Yang Xiaoguang comes from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. Growing up surrounded by it, he was initially reluctant, but eventually inherited the family business and became a skilled TCM physician. However, he had suffered from congenital heart disease and asthma since birth.
“My grandfather said that this illness is a debt inherited from a past life, which needs to be repaid bit by bit and treated over many years. Throughout my life, my body has caused me no end of trouble,” Dr. Yang Xiaoguang recalled his childhood with a hint of helplessness.
Dr. Yang Xiaoguang’s chronic illness was like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. That critical moment occurred in March or April 2000, when the Canadian prairies were blanketed in snow, and the long winter had not yet ended. For an important business project, Dr. Yang Xiaoguang drove west from Saskatoon to meet a university classmate in Vancouver. After eight hours of driving alone, danger unexpectedly approached on the snow-covered mountain road.
As his car sped down the mountain, he suddenly felt as if a giant hand had seized his chest and squeezed it hard — his heart disease had flared up! “I still remember that feeling with lingering fear,” Dr. Yang Xiaoguang said solemnly. “My heart tightened instantly, and I hurriedly slammed on the brakes, crashing straight into a snowbank on the roadside. Fortunately, a car behind me also braked hard and didn’t hit me.”
But a greater crisis erupted inside the car. He realized that he had no strength left in his limbs, felt nauseous, and his chest felt like it was being crushed by a boulder, with his heart racing uncontrollably, possibly exceeding two hundred beats per minute. As an experienced physician, he instantly realized: “It’s over; I might die.”
In a state of extreme fear and despair, a voice struck his heart like lightning — he remembered that he was a practitioner of Falun Dafa! This awareness suddenly filled him with an indescribable sense of sacredness and calm, with only one pure and firm thought: “I want to practice Dafa!” At that moment, a miracle occurred!
“At that time, my heart felt like it was about to burst, but in that half-second, when I thought of Dafa, that tension immediately relaxed!” Dr. Yang Xiaoguang raised his voice: “That feeling was like someone suddenly lifted a huge boulder off my chest! I was so excited, knowing that Master (Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa) was looking after me!”
Sitting in the car, trembling and in tears, he clasped his hands together in gratitude to the Master. Half an hour later, he restarted the car and continued his journey. Along the way, he felt light as a feather, like a feather in the clouds, riding the wind — an unprecedented feeling of ease and joy.
From that day on, Dr. Yang Xiaoguang never experienced heart disease again. This experience solidified his firm belief in the principles of Falun Dafa, which he regarded as surpassing all medical knowledge.
Chapter 2: Initial connection with Falun Dafa, resolving doubts with heavenly books
Dr. Yang Xiaoguang came to Canada at a young age. It was not until July 20, 1999, when the CCP began to suppress Falun Gong, that he first heard the term Falun Dafa. “It was a colleague at my workplace who practiced Falun Gong and introduced it to me. I remembered I had asthma, so I thought I would give it a try and learn the first set of exercises,” he recalled.
To his surprise, after the first exercise session, the asthma that had plagued him for decades miraculously disappeared! This personal experience led him to realize immediately that this was not an ordinary qigong or fitness practice.
Later, during a long vacation trip home, he eagerly read Falun Gong’s main work, Zhuan Falun, and found answers to numerous questions that had troubled him for years. “I read from dusk until about four or five in the morning without feeling sleepy at all, finishing all nine lectures.”
Dr. Yang Xiaoguang reported that he had previously practiced other forms of qigong and was not entirely unfamiliar with qigong or cultivation. However, after finishing Zhuan Falun, he pondered for a week and made a significant decision: to focus on practicing Falun Dafa and not to be sidetracked. “Because only Zhuan Falun truly teaches people to cultivate their hearts and minds!” he said.
Chapter 3: Elevation of heart and nature, as tolerant as the ocean
Before practicing Falun Dafa, Dr. Yang Xiaoguang admitted he was pretty stubborn. When faced with problems, he was prone to nagging and pointing out others’ faults, often in a piercing manner. “Although I was satisfying my own need to vent, my relationships with colleagues and family became increasingly strained,” he lamented.
After starting the Falun Gong practice, he strictly followed the guiding principles of Falun Dafa — “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance” — and learned to look inward during conflicts, reflecting on himself. “Whenever I thought of blaming others, I would hold back and not say anything. At first, it was very uncomfortable and painful, but I was willing to hold myself to the standards of a practitioner.”
Gradually, he not only stopped blaming others, but also began to enjoy listening to others’ opinions. Family and colleagues were amazed at the remarkable changes in Dr. Yang Xiaoguang! At home, he made a shocking transformation that astonished his wife. Since his wife had always been concerned about the family’s financial difficulties, Yang decided to forgo his attachment to fame and profit entirely.
“I earn money to support the family by myself, and to reassure my wife, I handed over all the money to her, even giving her control over the company shares and putting only her name on the house deed… I have no unhappiness with any decision my wife makes,” he said.
This process of relinquishing fame and profit was not easy for him. “Every time my attachment to fame and profit was challenged, I felt bitterness. But I knew that this difficult process was precious; overcoming each hurdle gradually elevated my heart and nature.” Once he completely let go of his attachment to interests, his family became extraordinarily harmonious. His wife would tell everyone: “Old Yang has changed so much! It’s a complete turnaround!”
To be continued
Translated by Joseph Wu and edited by Helen London
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