(Minghui.org) I often received an email advertisement promoting a lottery, which I promptly deleted. However, towards the end of last year, I decided to click on the email link.

I then browsed the lottery website and discovered that the sponsors behind the event were quite well-known. By spending as little as one yuan (about US $0.15), I had a chance to win a wide range of prizes, from daily necessities to a brand new car. I was curious, so I decided to check out the available prizes.

When I saw that one of the prizes being offered was a large-screen iPhone, I was moved, and decided to spend one yuan to participate in the lottery.

A short message appeared on my smartphone three days later, informing me that I had just won a new iPhone. Although I was quite skeptical, I still texted the company my mailing address.

About six days later, a courier handed me a package, saying, “I can see that you won the lottery. You're really a lucky person!” His eyes were brimming with admiration. When I opened the package and saw a brand new iPhone with a large screen, I was a little overwhelmed.

I thought, “My previous iPhone had a small screen. Now I own an iPhone with a big screen, and I only spent one yuan for it!” A light then went off in my head, “Getting something for nothing isn't right! I thought, “Now, what am I going to do?”

A friend in my work unit excitedly said, “This is your phone, no matter how little you paid for it!” A fellow practitioner who wasn't very diligent also suggested that I keep the phone.

I knew that it wasn't right for me to play the lottery, but I went along with it anyway. I decided that I needed to go home to study the Fa.

Master said,

“There was a student in Beijing who once took his kid to the Qianmen shopping area for a walk after dinner. They saw a van with loudspeakers promoting a lottery game. The kid wanted to join in the fun and play the game. 'If you want to play, go ahead.' So he gave the kid a dollar to play. The kid won second prize right on the spot, and got a deluxe kid’s bike. The kid was so excited. But then suddenly, 'Bing!'—a light went off in the dad’s head. 'I’m a practitioner, how could I ask for something like this? Now that I’ve gotten this for nothing, how much virtue will I have to give back in return?'” (Zhuan Falun)

I was a little taken aback when I read these words because I knew Master was referring to me! Then I thought, “What other attachments do I have besides the attachment of personal interest?”

Master's words, “join in the fun,” made me realize that I clicked on the lottery link to join in the fun. I also exhibited the attachments of curiosity and pursuit.

At the next group Fa-study, we read the following:

“A lot of people can’t handle themselves well, and this has brought a lot of challenges into their cultivation. Some people say that a Buddha told them something. Whoever tells you that you’re going to have trouble today, or that something bad is going to happen, and they tell you how you can avoid it, or if someone tells you today’s winning lotto number and tells you to draw one, unless your life is in danger and they’re telling you how to get out of it, whenever someone tells you how to gain something out in the ordinary world, that’s a demon.” (Zhuan Falun)

I enlightened to the fact that the old forces had taken advantage of my attachment to personal interest and set up this test for me.

After the Fa-study I told two fellow practitioners that I had won a lottery. I then explained, “I will donate the total cost of the iPhone to our truth-clarification production site.” They thought my idea was good. I then searched online and found that a new iPhone cost 4,800 yuan (about US $725).

I told the practitioner at our materials production site that I would pay 3,000 yuan by the end of the month, and the balance the following month.

Although I was on a tight budget that month, I was happy to have passed this test under Master's protection.

I later realized that playing the lottery is a form of gambling. I also learned that some people are so hooked on playing the lotto that they're now financially bankrupt.

Most of my colleagues heard that I had won an iPhone, but they also know that I am a Falun Gong practitioner. So, in order to eliminate any negative impressions they may have of me or Falun Dafa, I told them, “Playing the lottery is a form of gambling. I was wrong to participate in it. I have donated the total value of the iPhone, so the phone I won is now fully paid for using my own money.”

Although they were surprised by my words, they respected me for my righteous attitude.