(Minghui.org) Greetings to Revered Master. Greetings to fellow practitioners.
I founded a brand name nine years ago that produces handmade goods from wool felt. Because of my own interest and hobby, I developed the know-how to use wool felt to make a variety of decorations shaped like traditional food in Taiwan. I wanted to use my company’s influence to promote traditional culture and as a tool to clarify the truth about Falun Dafa. I left the job I had held for 16 years with the firm belief that the brand name would help me do Dafa work.
My product initially received extensive media coverage and became so popular that I struggled to keep up with demand. I found myself completely absorbed with production and had no time for anything else. Anxiety started to overwhelm me, and I often asked Master Li in my heart whether this was the cultivation path intended for me. I then realized that I had the attachment to quick success and impatience, but I later realized that without a sound business model, I would not be able to accomplish the goal I had in mind. At this challenging time, I met a business expert, who after hearing my situation, advised me to build a team for support.
When I started my own team, I had to establish company rules—a task I found tedious but necessary to do every day. Training others in handicrafts wasn’t as simple as giving step-by-step instructions. Every product has a different appearance that requires different techniques and a cultivated sense of beauty, which could not be mastered in a short time. Often the finished products needed revisions, which left some team members frustrated and annoyed. This truly tested my xinxing. I looked within and reviewed my style of teaching, and realized that even though I thought I had explained everything clearly, some team members remained confused. It became clear that I needed to organize a basic technique training session, allowing the team members to gradually understand and achieve the standard I required.
As the training was heading in the right direction, one of the members, Tang, bought a copy of Zhuan Falun. This marked the beginning of a test for both of us. During training sessions I often reminded the team that we needed to control our tempers when teaching our customers. Despite this, Tang often acted emotionally, which created a negative atmosphere in the classroom. Although I reminded her several times, it had no effect. I eventually decided to give up on her and not give any guidance. However, that night, while I studying the Fa, I read:
“...when compassion develops one will find all beings suffering...” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)
In that moment, I instantly felt Tang’s pain.
The next day I was able to speak with her openly. She shared that in her previous job she often felt jealous and anxious about being replaced. When her ideas were not adopted, she said she felt sad, and she constantly suffered from these feelings. Listening to her made me cry, as I could sense her genuine desire to improve herself through Dafa’s principles. From that day forward, we often shared based on the Fa, and I suggested that we study the Fa together before work. Later another team member joined our Fa study sessions. They often reminded me to temper my mind whenever I complained. I realized that not only have they learned professional skills, but they have also gained a deeper understanding of the Fa.
My team acts like a microscope, often revealing my hidden attachments that I normally don’t see. When I looked within, I recognized feelings of superiority, an aversion to criticism, and a selfish and profit-oriented mindset. I wasn’t afraid to discuss my shortcomings openly in front of them. When I worked on improving my xinxing, positive outcomes often followed. I understand that being a teacher, I should not only focus on improving my professional skills, but also on cultivating strong character and moral integrity. Master said:
“If you don’t cultivate yourself, how are you to help me rectify the Fa? How am I to make use of you?” (“Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume XI)
The journey of building a work team progressed as my understanding on Shen Yun’s teamwork deepened. I had watched Shen Yun’s video “What Does It Take” more than a hundred times. A few phrases I’ll never forget, “It takes a mind of steel and limbs of rubber,” “It takes falling over a hundred times only to get back a thousand more,” and “No matter what it takes, it’s worth it.” Before demonstrating wool felt handicraft techniques to our customers, I played this video for inspiration. All of my team members have attended Shen Yun’s performances. The nine years of working as a team, passing tests, and improving xinxing have provided a strong foundation for me to promote Shen Yun more effectively.
In recent years, I have validated the Fa whenever we were invited to teach a workshop. I integrated Shen Yun artists’ understandings and videos into my teaching. Every time I ran into a test, I knew it was time to take a big stride in cultivation. I went from worrying about my performance to being confident in front of an audience, knowing that I was a practitioner doing Dafa work. I was able to keep righteous thoughts when facing unexpected troubles. I knew that Master was helping me the whole time I was on the podium speaking.
I often felt that the vast wave of Fa rectification was pushing me forward, whether I was ready or not. With the next class approaching, I knew I had to quickly improve my xinxing. My attachments would get exposed one after another. As soon as one test was passed, the next one would surface. My team members helped me like guardian angels, because they knew why I wanted to teach more classes.
Feedback from the students who attended the classes revealed a range of reactions. Some were surprised to find that the basic techniques we taught closely resembled those used by Shen Yun artists. Others suspected that we were just using the class as a front to promote a religion. However, many eventually expressed genuine interest in attending a Shen Yun performance.
I vividly recall one student who seemed very impatient in the first half of the class as I explained the basic techniques. She was eager to begin working on the wool felt. After class, she shared her thoughts and apologized to me. In the beginning she wasn’t sure why a handicraft class focused on Shen Yun’s work, and suspected I was promoting a religion. Ultimately, she realized that Shen Yun’s work was the foundation and inspiration for my creative work. She felt guilty that as an art therapist, she judged my class with a shallow understanding. Before leaving, she expressed her wish to talk to me about art again. I suggested that we attend a Shen Yun show together. She agreed, and we went to the show in Taoyuan that year.
After class, a high school teacher came to me to say goodbye. She shared that the three-day class was the best workshop she had ever attended. Seeing that she didn’t want to leave, I gave her a hug to show my appreciation. Tears welled up in her eyes, and I was quite touched. That night after returning home, I felt compelled to call her. Over the phone she revealed that she had been in a car accident on her way home, but was safe. At the scene, she looked up and saw a towering Shen Yun advertisement. In that moment she thought that maybe she could invite me to go to the show with her, but didn’t have the courage to do so. She then got my phone call, and felt that the coincidence was quite amazing. I told her, “Then we definitely should go to the show together.” We later did so.
A few of the younger team members told me they had already seen Shen Yun together. I felt sincerely happy for them, knowing they went not out of obligation to me, but for their own reasons—because they truly understood the truth.
I signed up to get a graduate degree last year, to help improve my business. Things became hectic, and I felt that I hadn’t been doing the three things well. I became attached to doing Dafa work, and not improving myself. I constantly felt physically exhausted and struggled to finish a task. After a while, doing Dafa work became a formality. I know I need to keep up the quality and frequency of my Fa study and exercises to ensure I fulfill my historic vows.
I am deeply grateful to Master for guiding me in promoting traditional culture during the Fa rectification. This allowed me to connect with predestined people through classes and trade shows. Whenever I faced difficulties or sought answers, I often found guidance and support by listening to Master’s lectures or Minghui radio while driving. The joy I experience from improving my character is truly indescribable.
I feel honored to help save people through my work and to be a part of the Fa. I sincerely hope to do even better in the future so as not to disappoint Master’s compassionate salvation.
Thank you, Master, and thank you, fellow practitioners. I welcome any suggestions or corrections to my sharing.
(Selected article from the 2025 Taiwan Experience Sharing Conference)