(Minghui.org) My father and I had the opportunity to attend Master's lecture in Chongqing in May 1994. My entire family has been steadfastly practicing Falun Dafa ever since. Master said,

“One’s lifetime is limited. Oftentimes you plan things quite well, but do you know whether you will have sufficient time left for your cultivation?”

“Once you miss the opportunity, when will you be able to get a human body again in the sixfold path of reincarnation?” (“Practicing Cultivation After Retirement” from Essentials for Further Advancement)

Due to our busy schedules, we decided to stick to a routine of getting up right after 3:00 a.m. every day to study the Fa and do the Dafa exercises together. Whenever we had an opportunity during the day, we used it to study or recite the Fa. Most of our holidays were devoted to studying the teachings.

Letting Go of My Attachment to Material Interests

I was hired as a physician by a hospital after graduating from college. An apartment soon became available in October 1997, so my workplace was looking to assign it to someone.

Most of the staff already had an apartment allocated to them by the hospital, so I felt the apartment should be given to me since I was the only staff member without one. Yet, others also wanted the apartment for themselves.

I began to witness a drama unfold in front of me to see who would be able to get the apartment. Other staff members began “building” up their case with the help of their friends. My mind became unsettled and I was upset.

If I fought to protect my right, I would be putting my own self-interest before others, and that was against my belief. The situation caused me to think deeply!

Master said,

“It has been said: 'When I come to this ordinary human society, it's just like checking into a hotel for a few days. Then I leave in a hurry.'” (Zhuan Falun)

I realized that I should not be attached to material things. Even if the apartment was assigned to me, I should be able to let it go if others really wanted it.

Master also said,

“… one day his workplace gave out an apartment unit. The supervisor said: 'All those in need of the apartment come here to describe your conditions and explain why each of you needs the apartment.' Everyone provided their own reasons while this person did not say a word. In the end, the supervisor found that this person had a greater need for it than others, and that the apartment should be given to him. Other people claimed: 'No, the apartment shouldn't be given to him. It should be given to me because I need the apartment badly.' This person said: 'Then you can go ahead and take it.'” (Zhuan Falun)

I decided to not fight for the apartment even though I had the most reasons to get it. The apartment was eventually given to a colleague who had previously given up her housing entitlement to receive a cash payment of an amount equivalent to the worth of an apartment offered by the hospital.

If I had insisted on getting the apartment, my supervisor would have most likely given it to me instead of that colleague. But I chose to let her have it.

The apartment incident stirred a discussion at my workplace. People were surprised to find out that I was able to let go of my own benefit over another person's needs. They believed that no one else would have been able to do what I had done.

All of my colleagues thought highly of me, and, in turn, of Falun Dafa practitioners as a group.

I later experienced a similar situation, and since I was able to completely let go of my own self-interest, I was eventually given an apartment that was better than what I could have ever imagined!