Zhuan Falun Guides the Path of Life: A Photographer Grows Together With His Child

In 2009, 6,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Taiwan formed the cover image of the book Zhuan Falun. (The Dajiyuan)

[People News] From suffering congenital amblyopia from the age of four and wearing thick glasses for many years, to regaining normal eyesight within one month, Ivan’s life underwent a major turning point in the summer of 1996. Years later, after becoming a father, he integrated his experience of practicing Falun Dafa into the daily upbringing of his son, Shawn. With Zhuan Falun as their companion, this father and son have walked a life journey centered on honesty, kindness, and growth.

This year marks the 31st anniversary of the publication of Zhuan Falun. Written by Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, this cultivation book expounding the principles of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” was officially published in China on January 4, 1995. To date, it has been translated into 50 languages and distributed in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide, influencing countless readers of different ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, and age groups.

At the start of the New Year, Ivan, now a professional photographer living in Canada, told The Dajiyuan, “Grateful to Master. This disciple will certainly cultivate myself well, guide the little disciple well, and not fail Master’s compassionate salvation.”

For Ivan, the summer of 1996 remains an unforgettable memory. That year, he was 11 years old but had already worn thick glasses for seven years. Diagnosed with congenital amblyopia at the age of four, his left eye was 900 degrees and his right eye 850 degrees. The vision problem not only affected his daily life but also became a long-standing concern for the whole family.

“At that time, the glasses were really thick, like the bottoms of liquor bottles,” Ivan recalled. His parents tried almost every possible method to treat his eyes—from conventional medical treatments to various folk remedies, and even consulting qigong practitioners—but his eyesight showed no improvement at all.

After practicing Falun Dafa, professional photographer Ivan, guided by Zhuan Falun, walked with his son on a life journey of honesty, kindness, and growth. The image shows Ivan being interviewed. (Provided by the interviewee)

The turning point came in the summer of 1996. A distant relative came to visit and introduced them to a qigong practice called “Falun Gong,” bringing with him Master Li Hongzhi’s book Zhuan Falun as well as videotapes of the “Nine Lectures” given in Guangzhou. The whole family watched the videos together and began learning the five sets of Falun Gong exercises.

“At the time, I didn’t think too much about it. I felt that Master was teaching people how to be good,” Ivan said. He did not focus on healing illnesses or improving health.

Changes Within One Month: Even Doctors Found It Hard to Believe

What Ivan did not expect was that about one month later, his body began to show obvious changes. “I found that wearing glasses actually made me very uncomfortable, and I felt extremely dizzy; but when I took them off, everything felt very clear.” At first, the family thought it was just a change in prescription and did not consider the possibility of “vision recovery.”

It was not until his parents took him to the hospital for another eye exam that the results shocked everyone. Ivan was not only able to clearly identify the eye chart, but he even read the very bottom line corresponding to a visual acuity of 1.5. The attending physician who had treated him for many years said on the spot that it was hard to believe and even suspected that Ivan had memorized the chart. “But I knew very clearly that I had never been able to see the very bottom line before.”

After that examination, Ivan no longer needed to wear glasses. He described the result as “extremely miraculous,” especially since his father was a surgeon and understood well that, according to modern medical knowledge, such a recovery was almost impossible to occur within just one month.

Physical and Mental Transformation Through Family Cultivation in Childhood

Not only that—after the whole family began practicing Falun Gong, Ivan’s parents also discovered that chronic ailments that had troubled them for many years, such as stomach problems and issues with the cervical and lumbar spine, quietly disappeared. “We don’t know exactly when they got better; we just felt light all over.”

However, Ivan emphasized that physical improvement was not the greatest gain. Through reading Zhuan Falun, the whole family gradually came to understand the meaning of “looking inward” in cultivation and learned to reflect on themselves when conflicts arose. “In the past, quarrels were inevitable in daily life. After cultivation, when something happens, family members discuss it and first think about where they themselves can do better.”

After practicing Falun Dafa, professional photographer Ivan, guided by Zhuan Falun, walked with his son on a life journey of honesty, kindness, and growth. The image shows Ivan reading Zhuan Falun. (Provided by the interviewee)

This change significantly improved the family atmosphere. “The biggest change is psychological—the mindset is different. One becomes more broad-minded, can face difficulties more easily, and can view interpersonal conflicts in life in a positive way.”

In his view, this represents a fundamental change in how one looks at life and adversity.

A Child’s Innocent Words Awaken a Father’s Sense of Responsibility

Years later, Ivan moved to Canada, started a family, became a professional photographer, and welcomed the birth of his son Shawn. Because he works in film and photography, with long working hours, he admitted that during the early period after his son’s birth, he spent relatively little time accompanying him, with most childcare shared by his wife and elders.

Until Shawn was about two years old, he often asked Ivan a question when no one else was around: “Dad, do you know where I came from?” The child then said that he “came from heaven.” Once, Ivan asked in return, “Then what were you doing in heaven?” The child answered, “I was watching, and then I chose you.” This innocent remark deeply touched Ivan.

“At that moment, I suddenly felt that this sentence seemed to be reminding me that I have a responsibility for my child’s upbringing.” From then on, Ivan adjusted his work pace and deliberately set aside more time for family and his child.

The Core of Education: Kindness and Honesty

When thinking about how to educate his child, Ivan said, “Most importantly, I hope he becomes a kind person, and I also hope he is an honest person.” In his view, kind people can feel happiness from others’ goodness and live enriched lives, while honesty is the foundation of one’s character.

Based on this philosophy, from an early age he began guiding his child to understand what is right and what is wrong through traditional Chinese culture and the Falun Dafa values of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.”

When Shawn was a little over two years old, he began memorizing Hong Yin, written by Falun Gong founder Master Li Hongzhi. Ivan explained that Hong Yin consists of short, easy-to-understand pieces, and children have strong memory—he could memorize one piece in a day or two. “On the one hand, he studies the Fa; on the other hand, he learns Chinese. For children growing up overseas, it’s killing two birds with one stone.”

In about one year, Shawn finished memorizing the entire book of Hong Yin, and his Chinese proficiency improved noticeably. After that, he began memorizing one sentence a day from the opening essay “Lunyu” of Zhuan Falun, which also took about a year to complete.

Such learning gradually manifested in the child’s behavior. Ivan mentioned that his son likes dancing, and during training he often has to endure physical pain. In difficult moments, the child would silently recite lines from Hong Yin about “tempering one’s will through hardship,” encouraging himself to persevere.

On another occasion, the child saw a worker mowing the lawn in hot weather and主动 hugged a bottle of mineral water and gave it to him. “From this, he experienced that being kind to others is something that brings joy.”

After practicing Falun Dafa, professional photographer Ivan, guided by Zhuan Falun, walked with his son on a life journey of honesty, kindness, and growth. The image shows Ivan’s son practicing the exercises. (Provided by the interviewee)

The Glass Ball Incident: A Test of “Truthfulness”

What truly tested the child’s values was an incident that occurred in first grade. The teacher reported signs that the child might be lying, and classmates accused him of hitting someone. Emotionally agitated, Ivan once sternly scolded him. The child was frightened to tears but continued to deny it. Afterward, Ivan felt deeply remorseful, reflecting that he had spoken to his child with emotion and had not truly resolved the issue.

After calming down and reflecting, Ivan changed his approach. The next day, he deliberately created a relaxed atmosphere, took his child to a favorite restaurant, first apologized to him, and then patiently talked about the importance of honesty.

After the meal, Shawn accidentally broke a decorative glass ball in the restaurant lobby. “The moment it shattered, the child was definitely nervous. He looked at me,” Ivan said. Instead of scolding him, Ivan gave him two choices: quietly leave, or bravely admit it.

After thinking it over, Shawn held his father’s hand and walked into the office to honestly apologize to the manager. Not only did the manager not blame him, but he gently comforted the child: “You didn’t do it on purpose. It’s okay.” The matter ended amicably.

After leaving the restaurant, Ivan said to his son, “You did very well. You are a brave and honest child.” This experience allowed Shawn to truly understand that honesty does not bring harm.

A week later, the teacher also reported that the child’s previous lying behavior had no longer appeared.

After practicing Falun Dafa, professional photographer Ivan, guided by Zhuan Falun, walked with his son on a life journey of honesty, kindness, and growth. The image shows Ivan’s family. (Provided by the interviewee)

Continuing to Grow Together With the Child in Cultivation

Now nine years old, Shawn still studies Zhuan Falun every day. Ivan has practiced cultivation for nearly 30 years, and in the process of accompanying his child, he continues to correct himself. “When talking to children, speak calmly and without emotion. ‘Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance’ are actually reflected in every small thing,” he said.

Ivan stated that as a new parent, raising children is not easy. There is a lack of experience, and each child’s development is different. But he said, “My son is very fortunate. After coming into contact with Falun Dafa, obvious changes have gradually appeared in his life.”

Whether it is his attitude of being kind to others, his emphasis on honesty, or his perseverance when facing pain during dance training, Ivan feels that “these are subtle influences he has received in the process of studying the Fa.”

“For a child, the most successful education is to guide him onto the path of cultivation, so that in daily life, at every moment, he measures his own behavior with ‘Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.’” As a fellow practitioner, Ivan has come to feel this more deeply after many years of being with his child.

Ivan recalled that once, after finishing Fa study, his child suddenly said to him, “Dad, I didn’t choose wrong.” These words filled him with deep comfort and strengthened his resolve to continue walking together with his child on the cultivation path guided by Zhuan Falun.

(Interview and report by Dajiyuan reporters Cheng Mulan, Yi Ru, and special correspondent April Zhu)
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