(Minghui.org)
1. Fortunate to obtain the Fa
In the winter of 2007, I spent a night at my friend's school dormitory because I had to take a test the following day. On the way there, a bicycle stopped next to me. A fellow in his 30s smiled at me and said, “Excuse me, can I talk to you for a minute?” I thought he was promoting something, so I did not want to talk to him. But he did not give up and said, “Just give me a few minutes. I want to tell you about something important.” He began talking about the wonder of Dafa and the truth of the persecution. Since I had some understanding of Dafa in the past, I began talking with him as we walked. He asked me where I was going, and I told him that I was going to school. He took me there on his bike. During our conversation, I developed a desire to know more about Falun Dafa. I told him so, and he gave me contact information. I was deeply moved by his sincerity and kindness.
Later, he continued to help me. Since I was a student with very limited financial means, he purchased an MP3 player for me and downloaded all of Master's lectures. He told me to study the Fa more. During those days, I discovered that everthing he said and did was so honest and sincere, not cunning and sly like everything else going on in society. I was impressed that Falun Dafa could make a person so upright and positive, so I began cultivation, too.
2. Cultivating xinxing and becoming an excellent student
I am the only child in my family, so was spoiled since childhood and had developed many unhealthy character traits. I was short tempered, jealous, preoccupied with minor benefits, and very possessive. These traits dominated me, and even my family did not know how to deal with me at times.
After I obtained Dafa, I eagerly read all the Falun Dafa books, including Zhuan Falun and all the other lectures and articles. “I will abide by Dafa and be a truly good person.” That was my mentality after I learned Dafa. From that point on, whenever a classmate upset me, I would remember Master's Fa:
“that as a practitioner one should not fight back when being punched or insulted, but should conduct oneself with a high standard.” (Zhuan Falun)
“Oh, yeah, I am a cultivator, I really need to be tolerant.” Whenever I thought that way, my anger subsided; whenever I wanted some petty little gain, I would remember what Master taught:
“We obtain that de through suffering, enduring setbacks, and doing good deeds; the black substance is accrued by committing bad deeds and doing wrong things or bullying people. Nowadays, some people are not only bent solely on profit, but they even go so far as committing all evils. They will do all kinds of evil things for money, and they will also commit murder, pay someone to kill, practice homosexuality, and abuse drugs. They do all kinds of things. One loses de when one commits wrongdoing.” (Zhuan Falun)
When I thought that way, I eliminated the heart for petty little gains. Whenever I had a conflict with a fellow student, I would remember Master's teaching right away:
“So, regardless of the setting or circumstances in which you run into problems, you must maintain a compassionate and merciful heart in handling everything. If you cannot love your enemy, then you cannot reach Consummation.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference in Australia”)
I would calm myself down first, admit my mistakes and shortcomings, and sincerely apologize to the person, and we were friends again. After I obtained Dafa, I constantly used the Fa to rectify my thoughts and deeds, and I finally learned how to be a good person, a better person. After my classmates noticed how I had changed, they liked me even more.
In 2008, our department chose several students who were academically excellent but were struggling financially to apply for a scholarship. I was a suitable candidate at the time: my mother got ill and had just passed away; my father was laid off and had just begun a factory job with low pay; and I had high scores in class. At that time I learned that a girl in our class had a father who had a stroke and was paralyzed, and her mother was struggling to support her daughter in school. “Should I discuss my situation with the counselor? It would take my father a long time to make 8,000 yuan!” As I hesitated, I remembered what Master required of us:
“You should always be benevolent and kind to others, and consider others when doing anything. Whenever you encounter a problem, you should first consider whether others can put up with this matter or if it will hurt anyone. In doing so, there will not be any problems. Therefore, in cultivation practice you should follow a higher and higher standard for yourself.” (Zhuan Falun)
I thought, “If I get the scholarship, how much will the other classmate's mother have to work to support her?” I decided to give up applying for the scholarship. Before graduation, my counselor learned about my home situation and talked about it, but I just smiled and let it go.
After I obtained the Fa, I became kind and upright, was diligent in school, and gave all my classmates a very good impression. When I later clarified the truth to them, they accepted it well and quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations and chose their wonderful future.
During that period of time, I was awarded the top scholarship in the university, was regarded as an “excellent student,” and received other awards. I knew these all came from Falun Dafa.
3. Uphold ethics in business, no greed for ill-gotten gains
After graduation, I got a sales job in a big corporation. Most of the people who worked in sales knew it was quite common to get extra income from kickbacks. It was all viewed as normal:
“"If a person is not after self-interest, heaven and earth will kill him"—this has already become a motto!” (Zhuan Falun)
One time when I successfully signed a large contract, my supervisor found out and asked for a kickback, giving a portion to me to keep quiet. I did not feel right when I got this money, it was an ill-gotten gain through the company, it did not belong to me, but I also did not know how to handle it.
I remembered Master talked about a Dafa cultivator donating his ill-gotten gains. I used the money to buy gifts and gave them away to clients during the holidays. This established a better relationship with clients and also saved company funding for such things. It was good for both parties. If I wasn't a cultivator, I would for sure have taken the money, but as a cultivator I remembered Master's Fa very clearly:
“How should our practitioners treat losses and gains? It is different from ordinary people. What everyday people want is personal gain and how to live well and comfortably. Our practitioners are not this way, but exactly the opposite. We do not seek what everyday people want. Instead, what we get is something everyday people cannot obtain—even though they want to—except through cultivation practice.” (Zhuan Falun)
Over several years in the corporation, I worked hard and diligently, did business ethically, and gave a very good impression to the administrators and staff.
I cannot imagine what I would have become if I did not obtain Falun Dafa. How could I have resisted the temptations of the secular world? I am deeply grateful for Falun Dafa, which enabled me to understand the meaning of life and made my future a bright one.
I still have a long way to go to meet Master's requirements, but I will be more diligent in true cultivation, do the three things well, and let “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are good” flourish in more hearts.
