(Minghui.org) As a practitioner of Falun Dafa, I've always wanted more free time to raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s persecution of this spiritual discipline based on the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
My wish was granted late last year, when I changed jobs and became an apprentice baker. Not everything was smooth sailing, but I remembered to use Dafa principles to conduct myself at my new workplace. Many of my co-workers have quit the CCP, and some even began to read Dafa books with me.
One day, after doing the sitting meditation exercise in September 2015, a voice inside me said, “I just want a simple and stable job.” Later I came across an online job posting for an apprentice baker position that would pay around 2,500 yuan per month. I was hired after a brief interview with the head of the company.
As the company was not open for business yet, he had me and several coworkers clean the office space. The cleaning was very tedious. Most coworkers started to play with their cell phones after they dusted a few desks.
I thought, “I am a Dafa practitioner. I ought to be worthy of my wage and do my job in good faith.” I cleaned all the desks thoroughly.
Another time, my coworkers and I were instructed to clean the tall windows and the restrooms. My coworkers were unwilling to do this, but I tried my best to complete the tasks. I had to climb up ladders to reach the windows and scrubbed the toilets by hand.
Besides doing chores around the facility, I was enthusiastic and quick to learn baking skills. Both my superiors and peers liked me, which naturally created a friendly environment for me to talk to them about Falun Dafa and quitting the CCP. Most people in my division have quit the CCP and its youth organizations. I also took every opportunity to read Dafa books when there was a break. Coworkers even gathered around sometimes to read the book with me.
Although my work environment was pleasant and generally positive, I did experience conflicts that presented xinxing tests in my cultivation.
One day this March, a division manager, who was a friend of mine, stopped talking to me. There was no apparent reason for this change, but she reassigned my work duties to a newly-hired coworker. I became worried about the dramatic change in her attitude.
As a Dafa practitioner, I knew that I must search inside for shortcomings. Had I done something that might have hurt her feelings, or was it a debt I had to repay from a past life?
Master taught us,
“You should always maintain a compassionate and calm heart. Then, when you run into a problem, you will be able to do well because it gives you some room as a buffer.” (Zhuan Falun)
I tried to keep a calm heart, but I could not help feeling abandoned. I cried when I was alone. Why did I care so much about her attitude toward me? Did I seek her favor and hope that she would promote me or give me a raise? Once I sensed even a shred of selfish thoughts, I immediately eliminated them in my mind.
I greeted her the next day at work. She did not even look my way. Her reaction discouraged me. Bad thoughts came to my mind again. I even considered quitting. I started chatting with a coworker and vented my bad feelings. The coworker did not sympathize with me or seem to understand. It shocked me and made me clear-headed.
How can I seek consolation from everyday people when facing a challenge in my cultivation? My coworkers have heard me talking about Dafa. If I cannot conduct myself well, wouldn't it tarnish the way they view Dafa? Dafa teaches me to be better than any good everyday person can possibly be. Have I achieved what is required of me?
Since my work was reassigned to others, I had more time to study the Fa after I helped my coworkers with their tasks. Whenever I found an attachment, I would do my best to eliminate a portion of it every day.
I could feel my karma diminish little by little every day. Gradually, I truly had a calm heart. I no longer paid attention to the division manager's attitude and could look at her with compassion.
One day, she suddenly initiated contact and chatted with me. She also assigned more work to me. Everything seemed to have returned to normal. I felt a sense of happiness and accomplishment, because I knew that I had passed this test and matured a little in my cultivation. Thank you, Master!