(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa in 1996 when I was 22 years old, and have been cultivating for almost 20 years.
Through me, people at work and in my family have come to see that practitioners are good people--nothing like “cult members,” that the Chinese Communist Party has accused us of being. I never have to go out of my way to prove anything—just being a practitioner, in itself, spreads the goodness of Dafa.
“Teacher of the Year”
I am a teacher at a day-care center, and work with small children. Kids are innocent and cute, but they are also a lot of work. My line of work is very tedious, and sometimes can be very frustrating, but as a cultivator of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, I constantly remind myself to be patient, remain compassionate toward each and every child, and do the best job I can.
Over time, my good work has earned the respect of my students, their parents, and my co-workers. I have been voted “Teacher of the Year” for many years in a row.
When the persecution started in July 1999, I had just been recommended for “Teacher of the Year.” In my report, I wrote that the reason why I excelled in my work was because I was a Dafa practitioner. Master told us,
“Then, as a cultivator, you should make use of all feasible conditions to spread Dafa and validate Dafa as a correct and true science, rather than preaching or idealism—this is every cultivator’s obligation.” (“Validation” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
The school Party secretary asked me to leave that part out of my report, but I refused. That year, “Teacher of the Year” was given to someone else. I never regretted it, because to a true practitioner, such recognition means nothing if they cannot be truthful about their belief.
In the subsequent years, I was forced to go through several brainwashing sessions, and was not eligible to be “Teacher of the Year.” Some of my co-workers still voted for me. One of them told me, “Only you deserve it. I wouldn't vote for anyone else.”
After each brainwashing session, I was not allowed to work directly with children for some time. However, because many parents and co-workers petitioned on my behalf, I soon was asked to return to the classroom.
During my last brainwashing session in 2005, I did not comply with the 610 Office order to renounce my belief, so they had me demoted to a warehouse distributor at the school after my release. I did not let this affect me and did good work, as always. The school administrators were very touched. My supervisor told me, “You are the 'Teacher of the Year' at our school every year.”
After returning to my teaching position a few years later, a new school committee member recommended me for a city-level award. When an official pointed out to her that I was a Falun Dafa practitioner, she responded, “So what? She is an excellent teacher.”
Because of her, I was recognized by the city education department. I thanked her, and told her, “My Teacher tells us that we have to be good people wherever we are—at work, at home, and in society. Falun Dafa is a righteous cultivation way that teaches people to be good.”
Taking Self-Interest Lightly
In today's society, bribery has become very common—everyone does it to some degree to try to gain an edge. It is no exception even at school—Parents often give me very expensive gifts and gift cards. I never accept any of them, and treat all my students the same regardless.
The school cafeteria provides lunch for the children, but, against the rules, almost all the teachers eat the cafeteria meals, too. Some even take food home. As a practitioner, I knew I couldn't do that.
Being different prompted sarcastic comments from my co-workers at first. However, they slowly got used to it, and became impressed that I conducted myself so well consistently.
When a co-worker once made a negative remark about Dafa, another co-worker took issue with the comment and said, “Falun Gong is not like that. Other than the practitioners at our school, which one of you could honestly say that you had never had a bite of the kids' lunch?”
When I worked as an inventory distributor between teaching positions, the school entrusted me to be in charge of not only all of the books, but also the entire school's inventory of furniture, stationary, electronics, etc. I have never taken anything--regardless how small--for my own use.
Working Hard and Treating Others with Compassion
I get along with everyone in our big family of teachers and staff. Master taught us,
“From now on, whatever you do, you should consider others first, so as to attain the righteous Enlightenment of selflessness and altruism.” (“Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
I do my best to help others at work, and whenever I am asked, I help them with problems in their personal lives, as well. I explain the principles of Dafa to them, and encourage them to be honest and compassionate.
I always used to get to work early to clean the entire office and take out the trash. After a while, everyone started picking up after themselves, and helped keep the place clean. Some even started taking turns to clean the office before I could get to it.
Though it was extra work for them, they took pride in doing what I did. And this made a big difference, because before this, no one wanted to come in early or stay late to clean. The selflessness of a practitioner truly brings out the goodness in others.
A Good Wife, a Good Mother, and a Good Daughter
I am also a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a daughter-in-law.
Besides working full time, I do household chores, and prepare three meals a day for my family. I take care of our son, and help him with his homework. I am raising him to be a happy and kind person. Though he's young, he tries to always do the right thing according to Dafa's principles. He is able to study the Falun Dafa teachings by himself now.
I care for my mother-in-law as if she were my own mother. When she was hospitalized, I went to visit her every day. Another patient in her ward said to her, “You are so lucky to have such a good daughter.” She was really pleased to tell her, “That is not my daughter. She is my daughter-in-law.”
