(Minghui.org) Some of my co-workers and I were illegally arrested for distributing information about Falun Dafa in 2016. Our managers pressured us to promise to stop practicing. They said that if we continued, they would fire us from our teaching positions.
Because I refused to comply I was transferred to another area. I was removed from my position as head of teaching and research and demoted to disciplining seventh graders and daily hygiene. Since I had not done this before, it took me some time to understand the requirements of my new job. I asked the teachers who had more experience for advice. Every day, I cleaned the classrooms and did all the dirtiest chores that everyone else avoided.
One day a student got sick and threw up. Everyone walked around the mess. I helped the student clean up and she was very touched.
When I found feces in a toilet, I looked for a pail and a mop and cleaned it up. A group of officials was touring the school that day, and one of them came to use the toilet while I was cleaning it. She told my superiors that our staff was outstanding. The next day several co-workers told me what happened. They knew I was a Falun Dafa practitioner. Some of them remarked that practitioners have a higher moral standard than ordinary people.
Whenever I see garbage or discarded tissues in the corridors, paths or even in the fields I automatically pick them up. Although I was fired from my teaching role, I followed the teachings of Dafa and still did my best in whatever I was asked to do. My attitude and behavior were observed by my co-workers and superiors, and I could see their expressions change from mistrust to admiration.
There was a shortage of teachers in the subject I formerly taught. When I was teaching those classes, because I applied the principles of Dafa, that is, being Truthful, Compassionate and Tolerant at work, my students' results were always the best of all the public schools.
After I was demoted to my new position I worked hard without complaints, I was considerate and took personal gain lightly. During a management meeting, several co-workers put a word in for me. They reminded the management that I was a good teacher and since there was a staff shortage, it was a waste of my capabilities not to reinstate me to my former role.
During this time, practitioners also went to see the managers in our organization and clarified the truth about Falun Dafa. At the start of the summer term in 2017, I was allowed to go back and teach. However, I wasn't placed in my former position – head of teaching and research. The lady who had replaced me used to be a doctor in a rural school. I am a university graduate. Since my qualifications and experience were better than hers, it seemed that the arrangement was unfair. However, I knew that this was an opportunity for me to improve. Wishing to view the situation from the standpoint of the Fa and eliminate any resentment, I studied the Fa diligently and looked within.
I knew that because I had held that position for several years that I had a wealth of knowledge and experience. However, without my realizing it, I had begun to feel that I was better than others. I spoke and did things in an overbearing manner. I was secretly afraid that the new department head was better than me, so I kept wanting to appear more capable than she was. Our relationship began deteriorating. She sometimes did things without discussing them with me and would even secretly do things by herself.
At one point my manager who knew I had more experience asked her to show me the questions she had written for an exam. Out of a sense of responsibility to the school, I frankly expressed my opinion, but in my heart, I looked down on her. When I told her I thought one of the questions might be misleading, she insisted that she was right. We got into an argument. In the end, I told her, “Do whatever you want.”
When I thought about what happened afterward, I knew there must be something wrong with my moral character. I realized that I must still have some attachment that triggered her reaction. I realized I was self-centered. I wanted to show everyone that I was more capable than she was. This incident exposed the many attachments I had. I decided to change the way I spoke and how I handled things. I went to her and said, “You don't have to be influenced by what I said. You have your opinion and if you disagree with me just consider it a suggestion.” She told me she was very angry in the past when I told her my ideas but now she understood that I was only trying to be responsible to the school.
Afterward, our relationship improved and now the department head discusses things with me before she makes a decision.
Master said:
“I often say that if all a person wants is the well-being of others and if this is without the slightest personal motivation or personal understanding, what he says will move the listener to tears. I have not only taught you Dafa, but have also left you my demeanor. While working, your tone of voice, your kindheartedness, and your reasoning can change a person’s heart, whereas commands never could! If others are not convinced deep down inside but only superficially comply, they will still conduct themselves according to their own will when no one is around to see them.” (“Clearheadedness” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
Through this incident, I learned that we should act according to the requirements of the Fa in everything we do. I am thankful that Dafa guided me to become a better person.
Doing my job well will also help the people around me to have a better understanding of Dafa.