(Minghui.org) 35-year-old Zhang Jiasheng was once considered a “problem student” by his teachers. His early experiences of being ignored and bullied made him irritable and subject to extreme behavior, and at times he tried to prove himself using revenge and violence.

Constant failures in life left Jiasheng entrenched in frustration and confusion, until he discovered Falun Dafa—a mind-body cultivation practice based on the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. He began to understand that one’s true strength is not about defeating others but about being kind and cultivating oneself through these principles, and learning to control his emotions and take responsibility. Through practicing Falun Dafa, Jiasheng began to feel peaceful and calm—feelings he had never experienced before.

Transforming the “Problem Student”

Zhang Jiasheng was born into a large family in central Taiwan, with an older brother and a younger brother. “My mom always asked me to do things, but it was never my turn when good things happened. As time went on, I began to feel an imbalance in my heart, and I often cried and became irritable and annoying.”

While in kindergarten, he was bullied and once pushed into a ditch. This terrifying experience sparked a strong desire in him to never to be bullied again. His behavior became increasingly extreme.

On his first day of elementary school, Jiasheng aggressively hit others during playful teasing with classmates. After his friend tricked him out of his pocket money, he began to extort money from that friend, and even started stealing things and cash, and formed a small gang-like group.

His conduct was way out of line, with frequent emotional outbursts, which led to a downward spiral of self-destruction and despair. Teachers shook their heads, convinced that he was hopeless. Fortunately, his homeroom teacher recognized a kind nature beneath all the bad behavior.

The day before graduation day, the teacher asked the students to clean up the teaching aids cabinet. Only Zhang Jiasheng responded and completed a thorough cleaning of the cabinet by himself. He thought: “This is my last day at this school, I must do one good thing at least.” Unexpectedly, the teacher praised him in front of the whole class and rewarded him with merit points.

At that moment, Jiasheng realized he was not a bad person. His teacher’s praise and the reward made him feel very proud and he was filled with a warm feeling he had never experienced before. He began to change his behavior and to control his emotions.

While in middle school, he started practicing Taekwondo and boxing to build his strength. He earned a Second Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo and was awarded Third Place in a National President Cup Boxing Championship.

In high school, he became very outgoing and eager to stand out in every situation. “I wanted to prove that I was not a bad boy, and I wanted the whole school to know who I was.” He participated in various social group activities and competitions just to be seen by others.

In his final year of high school, Jiazheng channeled his determination and energy into his academic studies and was accepted at the university of his choice. However, his weak academic foundation caused him to repeatedly fail exams, leaving him feeling frustrated and lost.

He sought answers in various psychology courses, got involved in pyramid schemes, attended various seminars to expand his network, and tried to find a renewed sense of self-worth through making money. However, after engaging in the insurance industry and direct sales, he not only failed to earn any money but also ended up in debt, which plunged him into even greater anxiety.

“In the past, each time I experienced a failure after working hard, I would give up and try something different, a process that made me feel energized. However, when I didn’t see any result, I lost confidence and started to retreat again,” Jiazheng shared.

Finding Zhuan Falun

In 2009, in deep despair, he learned about the book Zhuan Falun at a seminar. Filled with great anticipation, he bought the book and started reading it as soon as he got home.

Zhang Jiasheng reads Zhuan Falun, a book that he believes can fundamentally change one’s life.

Initially, he read the book with a desire to become stronger, hoping to find the strength to change his fate. However, as he delved deeper, he began to understand that true change comes from cultivating one’s xinxing (character), and that seeking power to prove oneself to others only results in continued anxiety and despair.

He said that in the past, he would try to avoid things that might cause frustration, but after he started practicing Falun Dafa, he became willing to face his weak points and to take responsibility for things that needed to be done instead of being led by emotions.

He began to realize the true meaning and goal of life—to return to one’s true self, rather than seeking fame and gain or competing with others. Along with this new understanding, Jiasheng began feeling peaceful and calm inside, and when he practiced the Falun Dafa exercises, he could feel an energy current flowing and a Falun rotating inside his body. “I knew this is not just another form of qigong, but a mind-body cultivation system, which can truly change one’s life,” Zhang Jiasheng said.

Not long after, the spinal scoliosis and sciatica he’d suffered from healed without treatment or medication. “I found that my back stopped aching, and the numbness in my feet disappeared too.”

Falun Dafa also helped Jiasheng become aware of interference in his thinking. In the past, before an exam, he often thought: “It’s so hard. I won’t pass it.” He didn’t realize that such negative thoughts were manipulating him.

Eventually, he really began paying attention to his thinking. Whenever negative thoughts arose, he would remind himself not to let them affect him and he would try to eliminate them. During one exam, he focused on what he needed to do and passed the subject he thought was the hardest. He deeply felt that Dafa opened up his wisdom and enabled him to concentrate on his tasks.

Firmly Cultivating Based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance

Zhang Jiasheng is a reliable and trusted excavator repair technician.

Since childhood, Zhang Jiasheng has sought to “be acknowledged,” which fostered a strong desire to show off. After he began practicing Falun Dafa, he rectified his thoughts and conduct based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and became more considerate of others.

For example, while at university, he lived away from his hometown and seldom returned home to visit or help his parents. The only thing on his mind was becoming independent as soon as possible.

After he began practicing Falun Dafa, Jiasheng started visiting his parents and took the initiative to do household chores. The thought of “why me” was long gone.

He also demonstrates the fine character of a Dafa practitioner at work. Currently, he is a logistics manager for a trading company, operating forklifts and driving large trucks. He is also an excavator repair technician.

Jiasheng said that he started from scratch working in heavy machinery maintenance and was often blamed and laughed in the beginning. He thought to himself: “I’m a Dafa practitioner. I should check whether I have done anything wrong or have any attachments to let go of so that I can do better the next time.”

Zhang Jiasheng is a diligent and conscientious worker who never complains about others. His fine character won the trust of the leadership, and he was soon handling tasks independently on the management, maintenance, and repair of excavators.

His kindness and sincerity are well-known and respected at work and he has become a reliable and trusted excavator repair technician among his customers.

In the workplace, it’s common to see people inflating parts prices, but Zhang Jiasheng never does such a thing; his price quotations are always transparent and precise. Sometimes, his customers even felt he was undercharging them and offered to pay more.

“It can be difficult to refuse their kindness at times, so I had to accept their offer, but I would pay them back next time,” Zhang Jiasheng said with a smile.

Zhang Jiasheng, who once harbored much resentment as a teenager, has become a new person who has learned to look within when things go wrong and continues to improve himself on the path of Dafa cultivation.

He expressed deep gratitude: “Thank you, Master Li, for not giving up on me all these years. Although I have stumbled and struggled on my cultivation path, and there are many things I have not done well, I will never give up. I will continue with cultivation in Dafa by conducting myself according to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and I will try to take every step properly on my remaining path of Dafa cultivation.”