(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1996. I realized that overcoming any tribulations or problems is possible as long as I abide by Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. When I do, everything always turns out for the better.
Due to a staff shortage, the principal asked me to teach Chinese classes for two different grades, in addition to my class. Teaching one class was already challenging, let alone teaching three classes. I had to do lesson plans, give in-person lectures, grade homework and work on tests and examinations for each class. It was a big workload. However, I abided by what Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa, said.
Master said,
“Nothing is truly unbearable or impossible.” (The Ninth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
I graded students’ homework until very late at night and I was never absent from class. As a result, my students always had good grades. During staff meetings, the principal praised me for being an exemplary teacher.
I work in a school where most of the students are from the countryside. Since the school was on a tight budget, the principal decided to open a small convenience store. Instead of profiting from the store, the school kept suffering losses. The principal placed me in charge of the store because she knew I was a Falun Dafa practitioner and that I wouldn’t pocket any money.
Managing a convenience store wasn’t an easy task. A teacher from student services was assigned to purchase items for the store. I managed to stop the teacher when he tried to take things for himself. When the principal refused to pay for items at the store, I was straightforward and told her that she had to pay, like everyone else. Finally, the school’s convenience store started to make a profit.
The school cafeteria also started to lose money. The principal assigned me to take charge of it because of the discrepancies between the amount of money collected and the numbers of boxed lunches sold.
The principal and her daughter often ate lunch at school. Whenever I tried to collect money for their lunches, the principal would get upset and say, “Can’t you see that I am busy?” It was obvious that she did not want to pay. I followed the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and I did not argue with her. I recorded the number of times she and her daughter ate lunch. At the end of the month the principal said, “Show me the lunch bill for the month, I will pay it.” When I showed her the bill, she said, “Are you sure you calculated correctly? It cost more than I expected.” When I assured her that I calculated correctly, the principal had no choice but to pay for the lunches.
Many of my human attachments started to surface. I felt that it was unfair for a Chinese language teacher to manage a convenience store, help in the school’s kitchen and work as a cashier at the cafeteria. The work was tiring and I was exhausted. On top of that, I felt that doing this kind of work lowered my reputation as a teacher. How was I ever going to overcome this? Master suddenly enlightened me when I read the Fa.
Master said,
“...Let joy be found in hardship...” (“Tempering the Will,” Hong Yin)
“Fame, gain, emotion—cultivate each away.And ascend to the Firmament at Consummation,...” (“Success at Consummation,” Hong Yin)
Master’s Fa helped me view the situation as a practitioner should and I no longer felt exhausted or that the work was tiring. I did not feel ashamed doing this work because I knew Master arranged this to cultivate away my attachments to reputation and ego. I knew that suffering hardship is a way to improve my cultivation. At any moment in life or regardless of the rank I hold, I need to be a better person because I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. When my mentality changed, the school cafeteria started to make money.
The history teacher became sick just as the students were preparing to take the National Academic Test for junior high school students. The principal had no choice but to assign me to teach the history class. I was surprised and said, “The students have been taking this history class for four years. They will take the test in two months. What happens if they get bad grades because I don’t know the subject?” The principal said, “I have no choice but to pick you as the substitute. You’re my best option.” In “Tempering the Will” (Hong Yin) Master said,
“...Each and every barrier must be broken through,...”
I set my mind to overcome all barriers.
During the education meetings I consulted with the history professors. They told me not to worry, “You shouldn’t worry. Teaching the Chinese class is more challenging than teaching a history class. You are also very hardworking and capable. It won’t be a problem for you.” I felt relieved and began reviewing questions from the past history examinations. I read the history textbooks from the past four years and went over the test questions with the students. In addition, I also had students do sample history tests until they mastered the content.
All but two students, who were regularly absent, scored full marks on the test. I was awarded “Best Overall Improvement” prize from the district and received the school’s highest bonus pay.
Eight students from the graduating class were very mischievous and everyone called them the “eight warriors.” The principal transferred them to my class and asked me to discipline them. I abided by Master’s requirements and taught them patiently. I never gave up on them and when they settled down and began focusing on the lessons, they were transferred back to their original classes.
The principal told me, “Everything about you is good. It’s just that you practice Falun Dafa.” I smiled and replied, “You should say instead, that because I practice Falun Dafa, everything about me is good.” The principal smiled and nodded.
During my 20 years of cultivation, I experienced both bitterness and sweetness. However, with my steadfast belief in Dafa I was able to safely make it through to today with Master’s protection. Thank you, Master for guiding me! Thank you, Dafa for bestowing me with confidence. I will listen to Master, do the three things well and follow Master home.