(Clearwisdom.net) In the early 1990's, I yearned to learn a cultivation practice. The reason was very simple: I did not want to get sick and was afraid of needles and taking medicine. I read some Buddhist scriptures, and also Tao Zang and Xingming Guizhi. I practiced other qigong as well. I looked for herbalist doctors who practiced qigong. I visited some holy sites mentioned in history, such as Qingcheng Mountain in Sichuan and Baita Temple in Zhongjiang, but neither could fulfill my wish.
In April 1997, a friend of mine introduced me to Falun Gong and lent me the book Zhuan Falun. When I read the book, I liked it very much and thought how well Teacher had spoken. Things that I did not understand before, or were not explained well in other books, were all clearly explained in detail in this book, and some of the contents seemed to be aiming at me. I was so excited because I had finally found what I had been looking for. I had a Teacher now. I went to Fa study and group practice every day. I also took Zhuan Falun with me when I went to work, so I could read it during my spare time. Reading between the lines in Zhuan Falun, I noticed that Teacher was being very responsible for every genuine practitioner. He explained very clearly about instances that practitioners may encounter during their cultivation process and how we should cope with them. Sometimes I was moved to tears and full of admiration for Teacher's hardships and endurance while saving people and practitioners. Between the lines in Zhuan Falun, I see the beauty and holiness in other dimensions. Practitioners can only return to their true selves by ceaselessly abandoning all attachments. Through studying the Fa, I understood the true purpose of being human. A year later, I had the wish to cultivate diligently and return to our true home with Teacher.
On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) crazy rumor mongering propaganda and vicious attacks began. Faced with threats from the police and unreasonable requests from community cadres, I remained calm, believed in Teacher and the Fa, and refused to cooperate. After Teacher published "Hurry Up and Tell Them" in 2002, I actively joined the Fa-rectification force and clarified the facts to save sentient beings. For several years, we have clarified the facts, distributed and posted materials, hung banners, handed out the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, and gone to every surrounding village and town. On the path of cultivation, we do what Teacher asks of us. I have also slacked off at times and had moments when I did not pass a xinxing test well.
Along with the quick process of Fa-rectification, in order to clarify the facts to even more people, I found a sales job. I quickly got to know the sales operation well, and had a good relationship with my colleagues. According to the Fa principles:
"Validate the Fa with rationality, clarify the truth with wisdom, spread the Fa and save people with mercy" ("Rationality" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I grasped every chance to explain the facts and handed out material and the Nine Commentaries. I talked to colleagues and customers about quitting the CCP and its affiliated organizations, and the results were relatively good.
When a manager asked me to speak about my marketing knowledge, coincidentally the boss of our company joined our meeting with several people that day. I thought that the boss's arrival was not accidental and that bosses were sentient beings who I was supposed to save--I could not miss this chance. I had to tell him the truth. However I had already clarified the truth to my colleagues more than once. Would they listen attentively again? What if while I was talking, the big boss stood up and stopped me? But I quickly realized this thought was not correct. I am a Dafa practitioner in the Fa-rectification period. I needed to save them and I was capable of saving them. Therefore, I calmed down and eliminated my thought karma, all sorts of bad notions, bad ideas and external interference, and asked Teacher to strengthen me. Very quickly I developed a plan of how to combine my speech about the operation with clarifying the facts.
I unhurriedly went to podium and calmly said to everyone: "My speech today is mainly about three words; the first one is 'Truthfulness.'" I turned around and wrote the word "Truthfulness" on the blackboard. I talked about speaking the truth, being honest, and the principles of how to be a good person. I said, "Reflecting on our work, we need to be earnest and responsible, sincere to customers, introduce products practically and realistically, and not exaggerate." Then I wrote "Compassion" and "Tolerance" separately on the blackboard. When I talked about these three words and how they are related to marketing and being a good person in our daily lives, everyone in the meeting was exceptionally quiet. After I had finished, I asked everyone whether these three words were good. They answered in chorus "Good." I then wrote the word "Good" after "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance" and mentioned that someone had said Falun Gong talks about "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance." I said, "I think we all need Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, and since you all agree that "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance" is good, I hope we can all standardize our behavior according to these three words and apply them in our work and life from now on. I wish you happiness and safety." Everyone applauded and I returned to my seat. Then the boss from the parent company walked up to the podium and said, "I have joined many meetings but have never heard a speech like the one today. Are 'Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance' that Li Lian (alias) mentioned good?" "Good!" everybody answered together. The boss said, "Then let's give her another round of applause." The warm applause gratified me deeply. These lives had been saved.
In August 2006, just as I arrived at work, my manager said to me, "Li Lian, you are doing quite well in your job. Can you talk about your sales skills today?" I agreed. Because this could be a chance to clarify the truth, of course I was happy to do so. But where should I start? The time was passing and I had only two minutes left. I immediately sent out a thought, "Eliminate the evil CCP spirits, dark minions, and rotten ghosts in other dimensions that interfere with my clarifying the truth." Then I begged Teacher in my heart to give me wisdom. Just after I finished this thought, the manager wanted to hear about some news. Hearing the word "news," my eyes brightened. I had a well-thought-out plan and walked up to the podium. I wrote the name "Yuan Sheng," who had to take refuge in the US due to the persecution, on the board. I asked, "Have you heard the news about Yuan Sheng?" Some answered. "No." Some asked, "Who is Yuan Sheng?"
I started by telling about Yuan Sheng and then talked about the CCP's evil, cruel, and brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. A colleague asked, "I watch the news every day. How come I don't know about this?" I said, "Because the CCP's news is all fake. During the Cultural Revolution, Chairman Liu Shaoqi was said to be a baddie, but after the Cultural Revolution, he was said to be great. Of course you won't see or hear true news, probably only the dates are real. If you want to know about the true world outside, you may want to go on the Internet." I wrote "Nine Commentaries" on the blackboard and told them that it is a rare book. "After its publication in November 2004, it was flown into China from abroad and triggered a tidal wave of over 13 million resignations from the CCP. In 2005, 25 people from the Central Party School collectively withdrew from the Party, and 47 military officers together announced their withdrawals. Don't you want to know why? The Nine Commentaries is closely linked to your lives. You are living during such a special historical time, and not reading this book would be a real shame! I suggest that whoever has not read the Nine Commentaries, should read it quickly." At once, someone shouted: "OK, I'll buy one after the meeting. Does the bookstore have it?" I told him that bookstores do not sell it but he could ask me for a copy. Then I changed the topic and asked, "Well then, how does this relate to marketing skills?" Someone immediately answered, "We should not to deceive people with lies like the CCP. Deception will probably cause the loss of customers." I agreed and added, "First of all, treat people sincerely. Next, look at it in the long term--don't take a business opportunity too seriously. And most importantly, win the customers' trust.
Not long after the meeting, I delivered the Nine Commentaries and informational material to my colleagues. I had built a favorable foundation for quitting the CCP and its related organizations.
The above are some of my experiences. Please point out any shortcomings.
