Leading the Mind to Happiness

(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Xin Guang (pseudonym) is a company manager in his 30s. He has been practicing Falun Gong for over three years. He has a youthful smile, but his serene temperament makes people feel he is amiable and trustworthy. Below is a conversation between Xin Guang and the reporter about "happiness."

Reporter: I am curious. I thought that in today's China, most young men like you would not be interested in cultivation.

Xin Guang: My previous goal in life was success in my career and personal gain, but I resigned from a state-run work place in order to allow me and my family to live a better life. I have a friend whom I considered to be a "successful man" and my role model. He often socialized with his clients, which involved a lot of drinking. Afterwards, he did not feel too well, but he tried to hold out. He was eventually diagnosed with advanced liver cancer. He spent lots of money in topnotch hospitals in Beijing, but that did not save his life. When he passed away, he was less than 30 years old. At death, he came to realize that health is more important than money. Later, I met many people with successful careers. People see their surface glory but do not know the pressure and pain they have suffered. I started to doubt that kind of success and thought about what true happiness is.

Reporter: It looks like these things have given you new things to reflect on in your life.

Xin Guang: I started to pay attention to how people think and study psychology, to analyze their inner fears, anxieties, and trepidations. Although I knew the reasons, I could not fundamentally free myself from them. I read Dao Te Ching and the Bible and even practiced Christianity for some time. Although I found some peace and comfort, I could not fundamentally control my mind in today's society. I still smoked and drank alcohol and I still had desires for women other than my wife.

Reporter: How did you think of practicing Falun Gong? Since 1999, the Chinese Communist Party has slandered and persecuted Falun Gong, and many people in China who do not know the facts are afraid of getting close to Falun Gong.

Xin Guang: I had opportunities to hear voices from the media outside China, so I never believed in what the Chinese Communist Party said. Once, a friend of mine obtained a truth-clarification DVD titled "Between Heaven and Earth" and I watched it. Another time I received an overseas email with anti-web-blocking software, which enabled me to download and read Zhuan Falun. This book resolved much of the confusion that I had in my heart. I finally understood that the meaning of life is to return to one's original, true self and elevate one's mind.

Reporter: What is your biggest change after practicing Falun Gong?

Xin Guang: I feel more calm and happy in my heart. I now understand that there are predestined relationships among things in this world. I can now take many things as they are and not argue or fight with others. I don't have any bad habits and I try to help others selflessly.

Our Master, Li Hongzhi, asks us to look inward when we encounter conflicts. This way we can immediately untie the knots in our hearts and reach a state of peacefulness. Life is like a string. The more knots, the less smooth. Doesn't the string become smooth when the knots are untied? Only the power of belief can untie these knots. We'll be happier if we don't have so many knots and worries in our lives. It will be just like Master wrote in a poem:

"Light are the boats, quick the travel
with attachments cast aside"

("Self-Evident is the Heart " from Hong Yin)

I have truly experienced the beauty of this realm.

Reporter: Human morality is sliding downwards rapidly. Everyone has, in fact, been adding fuel to the flame of human morality's great demise. What was the attitude of your family members after you started practicing Falun Gong?

Xin Guang: They had worries in the beginning. They have come to understand after seeing my actions and behavior. Who wouldn't accept a nice person, let alone my own family?

Reporter: Have you not experienced any pain during your cultivation?

Xin Guang: There have been trying periods. But the "pain" endured as a result being a good person according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is completely different. Because I understand its meaning, pain or happiness depends on how you look at it. I think true happiness is the process of eliminating the attachment of selfishness. The more you are selfless and compassionate to others, the happier you are. Isn't there a saying "Happy like a deity?" Why are deities happy? Isn't it because they don't have everyday people's attachments to selfishness? So my true feeling is: The better I cultivate, the happier I am.

I feel very fortunate to be on the cultivation path of returning to my original true self. I hope more people can learn about Falun Dafa. I hope more people with predestined relationships can attain the Fa and be happy.

July 3, 2010