(Minghui.org) I began to practice Falun Dafa in 1996, and have benefited so much from the practice throughout these years. I have felt the joy and hardship that comes from cultivation.
My Attachment to Sentimentality
I opened a small company after I retired, but didn't develop it much, as I wanted to have time to do the three things a Dafa practitioner should do.
My brother and sister invested in a business in August 2014, and they were short of hands, so I was asked to help. I didn't really want to do it, but they were very persistent. As such, I promised to help them out for a year.
Things did not go as well as we expected. New rules and regulations put out by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) created some issues for us, our landlord increased our rent, and one of our partners withdrew part of his investment after he experienced financial difficulties.
The way the company was then run made things more complex and caused conflicts among us. Everyone, owners and employees, were in conflict with each other.
People also complained about me, no matter how hard I tried to do the right thing. I felt hoodwinked because I wanted to do Dafa work, but I had to waste my precious time on mundane things for the business.
When I complained about my situation at our Fa study group, other practitioners said that I was too attached to sentimentality, and was therefore taken advantage of by the old forces.
However, one thing made me happy in all of this. Although my brother and sister did not practice Dafa, they were supportive of my cultivation practice, and had quit the CCP and its affiliates.
Nothing Is Accidental
When the resentment towards my colleagues reached unprecedented levels, Teacher's words echoed in my mind:
“Cultivation is hard. It’s hard in that even when a terrible calamity strikes, even when evil madly persecutes, and even when your life is at stake, you still have to be able to steadfastly continue on your path of cultivation without letting anything in human society interfere with the steps you take on your path of cultivation.” (“Path,” from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I looked within and wondered why I had encountered all these tribulations. Nothing is accidental for a practitioner. I realized that the old forces must be interfering with me. However, I couldn't figure out where I fell short.
I realized that I needed to send forth righteous thoughts more often to eliminate the old forces' arrangements. I also told myself, “I am Teacher's disciple, and will only walk on the path arranged by Teacher—not the old forces.”
Old Forces Cannot Drag Me Down
The requirements for practitioners is becoming stricter as the progress of Fa-rectification nears the end. Practitioners need to work hard on improving their hearts and minds. Additionally, practitioners have to work hard on forbearance, thoroughly cleansing themselves and eliminating all attachments.
Teacher said:
“Amidst the complex environment of everyday people and its interpersonal xinxing frictions, you are able to rise above and beyond––this is the most difficult thing. It is hard in that you knowingly lose your vested interests among everyday people. Amidst your critical self-interests, are you moved? Amidst interpersonal mindgames, are you moved? When your friends or family suffer, are you moved? How do you weigh them? This is how difficult it is to be a practitioner!” (Zhuan Falun)
I came to see through the plot of the old forces. They feel that I have come this far but have not been really tested. Just when the Fa-rectification is about to end, they are attempting to drag me down.
I said to the old forces in my mind, “Whoever wants to interfere with me and slow me down on my cultivation path will not succeed.”
It is just as Teacher said, “Just by staying unaffected you will be able to handle all situations.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Conference in the Midwest-U.S.”)
Every Relationship Helps Us Cultivate
I enlightened that everyone we run into is someone who has a predestined relationship with us. They came here for two reasons, to help us cultivate, and with hope that they can be saved. I thus began to appreciate everyone I ran into, and valued the tribulations they created for me. This helped me calm down.
Around this time, I sorted out the company's directory, and then sent out Falun Dafa informational materials to all on the list. I also went and talked to them about Dafa, and helped them withdraw their memberships from the CCP.
A board director quit the CCP and said, “Falun Dafa is wonderful! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is wonderful!”
Cultivation is Serious
I woke up at 3:00 a.m. one day, did the Dafa exercises, and then studied the Fa. It was very quiet in the early morning and I could easily enter into tranquility. I have stayed on this schedule almost every single day since.
As I was very busy during the day, the early morning was the best time to study the Fa and do the exercises.
Since I was taking cultivation more seriously, Teacher heightened my wisdom to help with my work, which impacted the company's business greatly.
For example, we needed cash, and the company was considering taking out a loan. The president asked me to make up some figures to over-exaggerate what we really needed.
“We can deceive people for only a short time,” I said. “Eventually, the truth will come out, and they will realize that we lack honesty, and refuse to work with us. We would still be at a loss at the end of the day.”
He was touched by my words and brought these thoughts up at the next board meeting.
My wisdom and ability demonstrated at work has made people look at me in a different light, and has helped me to show people the wonderfulness of Dafa.
Improving My Family Relationships
My father-in-law, in his eighties, had a serious fall down the stairs in August 2015, and was admitted to the hospital.
My mother-in-law wanted to use imported medication to help him, but the cost for the family was so great, compared with medication produced in China. No one in the family agreed with her because of the cost factor. I therefore agreed to bear the costs.
My father-in-law's situation improved slightly before his health deteriorated and he passed away. When it came to the funeral, I contributed the amount they asked for without any hesitation.
Our family relationships started to improve afterward and become more harmonized.
When it was time to take care of my mother-in-law. My father-in-law's cousin hosted a meeting between us all. He expected to mediate conflicts between us. Instead, we all offered to help in whatever way we could. I told everyone that I had no problem taking care of my mother-in-law, although my financial situation was not good.
All of this happened because I practice Falun Dafa.
Through this situation, my husband came to understand a lot of things about Dafa. He was also touched by the selflessness and kindness of a practitioner.
Category: Improving Oneself
