My name is Huiling (pseudonym), and my younger sister is Meiling (pseudonym). Born in 1969, Meiling was bright and full of vitality since childhood, with a graceful appearance that drew many admiring glances. After graduating from a technical secondary school, she worked in a prosperous state-owned enterprise, where she excelled in her technical role. In 1993 she married, and was blessed with a devoted husband and a happy family, earning the admiration of everyone around her.
Yet Meiling could never have foreseen the dramatic turn her life was about to take.
Falling into the Trap in Her Pursuit of a Child
During the first few years of her marriage, Meiling and her husband lived a carefree life filled with work, mahjong and shopping. But as nearly three years passed without a pregnancy, mounting pressure from her mother-in-law to produce a grandchild began to weigh heavily on Meiling—wounding her pride and putting a strain on family ties.
I had once advised my sister that, after a few years of marriage, it might be time to have a baby. She seemed open to the idea. But now, more than six months later, there was still no sign of a pregnancy. Under growing emotional pressure, Meiling began quietly seeking medical advice. Doctors explained that infertility could be caused by psychological stress or issues on either side and recommended thorough testing. But Meiling, afraid that a diagnosis might place the blame on her, remained hesitant.
In 1997, on her way home from work, Meiling ran into a neighbor, aunt Zhang. With a beaming smile, aunt Zhang complimented Meiling lavishly, making her feel both flattered and awkward. Then aunt Zhang asked whether Meiling had gotten pregnant yet, which left Meiling even more embarrassed. Changing the subject, aunt Zhang said, "You know, there’s a miraculous practice spreading across the country called Falun Gong. It doesn't require injections or medication—it cures illnesses and leads to consummation. Want a baby? No problem. You can get anything you want." She continued, "I can't explain it all clearly, but try it and you’ll see." Filled with hope and longing for a child, Meiling began practicing Falun Gong, full of anticipation and excitement.
Obsession and Alienation
Initially, Meiling arrived at the practice spot every morning, standing at the back and mimicking the moves like simple calisthenics, thinking this was all it took to practice. And she'd rush home for breakfast before work after just a short while. But aunt Zhang soon said, "You must follow the Maste's instructions exactly, study the teachings and practice the exercises." Her words left my sister utterly bewildered.
Confused but devoted, Meiling purchased a copy of Zhuan Falun and immersed herself in Li Hongzhi's teachings—his theories of karma elimination, perfect completion and protection by the "Fa-body". She spent all her time studying the teachings and practicing with fellow disciples. Punctuality and concentration at work gave way to chronic lateness, unexplained absences and distracted performance. As a junior technician with a secondary-school diploma, she often read from Zhuan Falun to elder practitioners. Their frequent praise made her feel proud and uplifted, gradually leading her from excitement to complete obsession.
In July 1999, when the Chinese government banned the Falun Gong cult according to law, Meiling believed she was on the verge of reaching consummation, unwilling to give up. Since she could no longer practice publicly, she turned her home into a practice site. When her husband returned home, there was no food or warmth—just a group of people meditating in silence. Furiously, he often stormed out. Yet Meiling remained firm, saying, "Once I achieve consummation, our child will come." From that point on, her husband frequently stayed out drinking and playing mahjong. Even when they did see each other, they could hardly exchange a few words without arguing. I tried many times to persuade her, but she was like a different person—completely unwilling to listen. Following Li Hongzhi's directive to go forth, she led a group of practitioners on endless trips to spread the "dharma", scarcely ever returning home. Eventually she stopped going to work and even took desperate risks to test the law, suffering legal sanctions as a result.
She failed to conceive, her husband divorced her, and her family fell apart. Having left work for years to participate in cult activities, she never attained consummation and ultimately lost her job.
Tragic Decline and Death
One would think that faced with so many irrefutable facts—especially after Li Hongzhi fled to the United States and became a tool of anti-China forces in the West—Meiling would wake up and turn back. But she remained deeply obsessed, stubbornly refused to repent, and was unable to extricate herself.
In early 2020, after the outbreak of COVID-19, Meiling went out to distribute anti-government propaganda, falsely claiming that chanting the “Nine-Character Mantra” would ward off the virus. She was apprehended following a public tip-off. Authorities later searched her home and confiscated a printer, a photocopier, and more than a thousand pieces of Falun Gong propaganda materials used for dissemination.
During a medical examination under police, she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and severe anemia. She was released on bail pending trial, and police urged us to persuade her to seek immediate treatment. But each time I tried to take her to the hospital, she strongly resisted.
Meiling was firmly convinced that Li Hongzhi's "Fa-body" would help her "ascend in level" and “erase name from hell”. She insisted on taking no medicine and receiving no injections. But the “Master” she placed her deepest trust in did not send her healing power or give her mindfulness. Her illness worsened by the day. She lost all appetite, became bedridden and unresponsive.
On June 16, 2021, my sister passed away—full of doubt, sorrow, and regret. Her death left me heartbroken. I thought: how could Li Hongzhi protect anyone when he couldn’t even protect his elite disciples or closest aides?
In Li Hongzhi's eyes, the lives of his Dafa disciples are no more valuable than ants. What he truly cares about is blind loyalty and self-sacrifice. My sister became one of many stepping stones and casualties for his cult empire.
Though she is gone, I hope Meiling's death—and the deaths of countless others deceived by Falun Gong—can serve as a wake-up call for those still lost in its lies. May they come to see through the evil nature of Li Hongzhi and his cult, stay far away, cherish life, and live well.
(All names in this article are pseudonyms)
