(Clearwisdom.net) Greetings to Master and fellow practitioners!
Today I would like to share with everyone some understandings I gained through working at the New Tang Dynasty (NTDTV) Station.
Maintaining a steady cultivation state and being responsible to our TV viewers
As a news anchor I deeply understand the importance of having a good cultivation state. The more viewers we have, the heavier my responsibility. The better my cultivation state, the more viewers will benefit from watching our programs. Conversely, a less than ideal cultivation state will impact our viewers negatively.
When we first started our TV station a practitioner told me that when she saw my program one day, she could sense my unhappiness. This comment left a deep impression on me. Since then, whenever I encounter tribulations, I try to suppress my attachments and refrain from bringing these problems to viewers.
I once had to read a lengthy expose report from China, on the harvesting of organs from living Falun Gong practitioners for a live broadcast. I had never read such a long report on-air before. Sitting in front of the camera I thought: No matter how many viewers there are, I will eliminate all evil elements behind those who listened to this news report. Immediately I felt the whole broadcast room enveloped in Buddha light. To my astonishment I narrated the lengthy report fluently. This incident made me experience that in I must maintain righteous thoughts to do my job well and give viewers the greatest benefit.
It is difficult to maintain a good cultivation state. I have to remind myself to pay attention in all respects. I am particular about doing things efficiently; but it so happened that the editor in charge of recording the program once had problems with the equipment. I had to wait; there was nothing to do. Having waited for a long time I became upset and realized later on that this is wrong. I should not complain about this. When I encountered a similar situation again I began to recite the Fa. However, it seemed as if the waiting time dragged on and on. Reciting the Fa could not suppress my impatience. Subsequently I brought Zhuan Falun to the recording sessions. Whenever the equipment malfunctioned I focused my attention on Fa study. Indeed, my mind calmed down after reading the Fa. The longest time I had to wait was 40 minutes; after that, these incidents stopped.
Once a graphics editor told me, "you did not do your make-up properly today." I recalled my makeup regimen that day and the products I used, but it was the same as before. Thus, I used the break in between two news sessions to do some Fa study as well as the exercises. After that the graphics editor looked at me and said, "You look much better after a touch up." Indeed, I had a touch up but the change was due to Fa study and exercises. Sometimes the graphics editor would comment, "Your makeup is done perfectly today." I understood this was because of my better cultivation state those days.
If I was on a night shift I could only got to rest after midnight and then get up at 4:30 a.m. No matter how late I slept, or how early I got up, I always persisted in completing the meditation exercise before going to bed. I felt that the less time I had to rest, the more I should keep up with my one hour of meditation practice, because that is the best way to be in a good state when I had to be in front of the camera next.
Looking Inward
During the second NTDTV's Chinese culinary competition I had to be present for the three days. The last day of the competition it happened that I had to be on night shift. I asked another colleague to take my shift, but she said that she had other matters to attend to and would have to rearrange her schedule to do it. Up till the last day of the competition I did not get any confirmation from this colleague. It was very hectic at the competition venue; the production team did not even have time to stop for a meal. I left a message for my colleague, reminding her to take my shift. I also left a message for the coordinator, asking her to help confirm that someone was going to take my shift.
The competition finished after ten at night. While driving home I got a call, asking where I was and was told that everyone was waiting for me to do the midnight news recording. Although I was a little shaken I managed to keep calm. Arriving at the TV station I learned that the news presenter who was on the morning shift had already removed her makeup, but redid her makeup and did the midnight news. The graphics editor on the morning shift also stayed behind to help me record my part in preparation for the next day's 7 a.m. news. I felt a little guilty that the production crew worked overtime because of me.
Then I met a practitioner who asked what I was doing at the station. I replied that I was doing the night shift. She was taken aback because she had been involved in the first culinary competition before and knew how exhausting the role was.
Later on the coordinator wanted to discuss what happened. I did not defend myself, because after all I was supposed to be on that shift. Nevertheless, my attachments were exposed by ensuing incidents. A director said that I was irresponsible. I was stung by the remark. I worked very hard, doing everything yet I was accused of being irresponsible.
Several months ago the same director sent out an email, requesting that I be removed from the role of news presenter because I was too plump. This happened all of a sudden. Several coordinators held a discussion and decided to monitor my performance for a few weeks before making a final decision.
I was a little hurt, but then I thought: the dancers in Shen Yun train very hard and yet they watch their diet to maintain their figure. So, why can't I make sacrifices like them? I kept my position and I finally lost several pounds.
Thinking back about the things this practitioner (the director) had done to me I was puzzled and upset: I don't have any interaction with this practitioner at work, and there is no conflict between us; so, why is he always picking on me? I knew in my mind that there must be a notion I need to get rid of but I did not know what it was. Then suddenly one day I recalled what Master said in Zhuan Falun,
“One is that you might have treated this person badly in your previous life. You feel in your heart that it is unfair, "How can this person treat me like this?" Then why did you treat this person that way in the past? You might claim that you actually did not know it at that time, and this life has nothing to do with the other life. That does not work."
I told myself: Perhaps I owed him in the past. Regardless who is right or wrong on the surface, I should forbear and repay this debt. When I looked at the incidents from this perspective I felt better all of a sudden.
Removing attachments and working hard when cooperating
At the end of last year the head of the news department asked if I could shorten the community show I hosted to 15 minutes. I replied, "The last episode was over 60 minutes, and you want to shorten it to 15 minutes; how can that be possible?" He hesitated and said, "Then this program should not take up the station's resources."
Three weeks later he approached me again and said, "This program's production team including me will be transferred to another news program." Outwardly I appeared calm, but my mind was upset.
During that time, the moment I was agitated I instantly recalled Master's teachings and suppressed those notions, but then after a while they came up again. This went on for two months; yet, I could not fully rid myself of the attachment. When I encountered a tribulation I would usually get over it in one or two days, never longer than in a week. But this time two months went by and I was still thinking about this. I was unsure what attachment I had to get rid of and was very anxious. I cannot remain in the same spot on the path of cultivation! The only way out is to study the Fa more.
I read “Fa Teaching Given in Manhattan” again and again, hoping that this would spur me on and be more diligent. I don't know how many times I read the lecture, but when I read these words, “Master knows that as you go about cultivating you will, in the end, manage to do well.” I suddenly I burst into tears. I felt then and there that I had not read these words, but it was Master who said this to me with great compassion. At the same time it was as if I saw Master looking at me with boundless expectation and trust. I had struggled to overcome this tribulation; when I lost confidence in myself, Master hoped and believed that I could do well.
I thought: It does not matter who doubts me. The most important thing is Master does not doubt me. Consequently my mind was at peace and I clearly understood that I had passed this test.
While in the new production team I went to a school once to shoot a news feature and came into contact with an unapproachable elderly lady. Her attitude did not affect me, and I communicated to her our requirements. I chatted with her during the shoot and clarified the facts. Usually I don't have much to say when I am with strangers, but that day I said many things. On her way to an interview she was so happy that she walked and hummed a song.
I did not have much time to coordinate the previous community news program with the new workload. But the content of the new program is improving, and reporters from all over the world are adding their news to this program, making it even more interesting. It is even better than what I previously had done, despite putting in a lot of coordination effort.
Recently I often heard comments from practitioners that I looked prettier. This is because I adhered to the requirements of Dafa, and my xinxing has been raised.
Offering sentient beings salvation is my only wish in this life. It is also the only way to repay Master for his mighty grace.
Thank you Master and everyone!
