(Minghui.org) I am an educator. Since I started practicing Falun Gong, I have conducted myself according to the Falun Gong cultivation principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I have since identified many of my bad thoughts and overcome them. I continue to validate that Falun Gong is good by what I say and do.
1. My Boss Proudly Told the Committee: “She Is a Falun Gong Practitioner.”
Last year my work organization participated in two teaching analysis and evaluation competitions in the city, which required end-of-semester evaluations. Teachers at my school were reluctant to be part of it and offered all kinds of excuses. My boss approached me when he could not find any volunteers to participate. As a Falun Gong practitioner, I am not supposed to fight over self-interest or shy away from challenges. Despite my reluctance, I agreed to participate in the evaluation. I didn't pay attention to the end result. Instead, I focused on teaching and research. I ended up winning the first prize in the city competitions. My boss proudly told the committee and the leadership of other academic organizations, “She is a Falun Gong practitioner.”
When it was time for accomplished schoolteachers to exchange educational experiences, no one in our school volunteered. My boss handed the responsibility to me again. I gave a lesson on the effects of moral education and presented scientific analysis. The students learned the effect of a person's speech and actions on their environment. Students learned the significance of being a better person. In this category I was evaluated as an excellent teacher. The teaching concepts, design, and instructional video also won awards at the provincial, city, and regional levels.
In 2011 there was a national teaching competition. My boss had decided not to participate, but he asked me to register for the competition close to the deadline. I didn't have much time to prepare for it, so neither he nor I had much hope. Nevertheless, I did my very best since it was a request from my boss. Four months passed. When we had long forgotten about the competition, we received a notice that my class had won third place in the national excellence teaching competition. My boss gave me a hug, and hopping about in glee, said, "You are wonderful! You make us proud!"
My colleagues commented, "You are so lucky! You won awards at every competition!" As a Falun Gong practitioner, I know it looked as though I was lucky, but the truth is that I could never have won those awards if Falun Gong had not transformed me from within.
Before I started practicing Falun Gong, I thought only of myself. I competed for teaching performance. I thought only of showing off my abilities, and I was selfishly motivated when I taught. Even if I came up with the most creative teaching methods, neither my students nor my audience would enjoy it. Nowadays, I don't fight to enter any competition. I only enter a competition when my boss asks me to because no one else is interested. I am not interested in showing off myself when I register for a competition. Practicing Falun Gong continues to purify my mind. When my mind is pure, I can think from my students' perspectives. I am no longer vain or fake. I am very grounded when I conduct research on better ways to impart knowledge and skills and to teach students to become better people. As a schoolteacher, I feel I am becoming purer and more generous. It becomes easier for me to find the truth. This is the reason why what I say and do are able to touch people. These awards were all regarded as great accomplishments at my annual review by my school and the education bureau.
2. When I Treat People with Sincerity and Kindness, There Is No Misunderstanding That Cannot Be Resolved
There is a hobby class usually taught by a schoolteacher who is paid by the hour. My boss decided to have a faculty member who was inexperienced in the subject teach the class instead. My class would be the “guinea pigs.” However, the inexperienced teacher really did not earn the tuition and the class was not worthwhile. I contacted my boss and talked to him about the problem. Finally, he agreed to refund the money and offer the class for free for half a semester. I felt better when the parents got the refund.
When it was time for all teachers to get awards for hobby classes, I was not upset at all that I did not win an award. Nowadays people harm each other over petty interests. As a Falun Gong practitioner, I must follow Teacher's principles and be thoughtful and considerate. I must not have the parents suffer any financial losses in exchange for my own interests. I must not take any money I did not earn. I have never explained any of this to the parents. Naturally, no parent knows what I have done for them. There are many Falun Gong practitioners like me that make silent contributions to society.
One day a parent had a misunderstanding with the school, and she wouldn't listen when I tried to explain. Overcome with rage, she wanted to speak to my boss and threatened to transfer her child to a different school, but her child refused to transfer. The parent had to respect the child's decision, but she was embarrassed to face us. She decided to call me instead. I made an explanation and advised her not to transfer her child. I explained the negative effect of transferring the child. She commented, "I didn't know you were really thinking about the best interests of my child. My child really likes you. I have misunderstood you."
She tried to give me money several times, but each time I refused. I explained to her, "The most important quality of a schoolteacher is morality. If a schoolteacher has no moral values, you would not trust your child with her even if you gave her money. As a Falun Gong practitioner, I am required first and foremost to be a moral person. You needn't give a Falun Gong practitioner any incentive for him or her to treat your child fairly. That is the kind of person I aspire to be." She never again offered to give me any money.
One day a child was transferred to another school. My boss told me that the parent complained that I was rude to her. The next day I met with the parent to return teaching materials to her. I took the opportunity to apologize to her. I also returned a gift card to her. I explained to her, "I only accepted the gift card so that you would feel that I would treat your child fairly. You might think I would not treat your child fairly if I didn't accept the gift card. Now that your child is going to a different school, I will return the unused gift card to you. I treat all parents the same way." I took the opportunity to explain what Falun Gong is to her. I added that I was not a very good Falun Gong practitioner, but I have always tried to improve myself. She was shocked and replied, "I didn't realize what a nice person you are. I am shocked. I have long worked in public service and seen all kinds of people, but I have never met anyone like you. Okay. I will take the gift card back. One day we will meet again."
She transferred her child back after six months. She told my boss, "I misunderstood the teacher. She is a great teacher. I must send my child back. No more transfer." My boss was astonished and asked me, "What on earth did you tell her? How did you persuade her to transfer her child back here?" I replied, "If I failed to treat the child well, no words would have brought her back." My boss agreed. "Indeed. It's everyday work that counts."
Sometimes I look at these kids and wonder, "I have been so nice to them, but their parents don't understand." Sometimes parents misunderstand me and blow things out of proportion. Occasionally I am struck with grief. On the other hand, people are very smart these days. Those parents who have confronted me still leave their children in my care. Doesn't it show they trust me? Obviously they know I will treat their children with sincerity, kindness, and tolerance. They must trust me to give their children the best education. I will never let them down!
3. My Conduct as a Falun Gong Practitioner Won High Respect from My Colleagues
Last year I was given the award for “progressive employee.” This is the first time I won the award since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) banned Falun Gong in 1999. Because of the CCP's ban and hate propaganda against Falun Gong, people in China discriminate against those who practice Falun Gong. Where I work is no exception. Several years ago someone in the leadership often insulted me and made fun of me, and some of my colleagues joined the ringleader. As a result, I felt frustrated and did not want to have any contact with anyone at work. After a while I began to search inward when the leadership jeered. I gradually purged my bad behavior. When I interact with my colleagues, I try to be thoughtful. I volunteer for unwanted tasks. I stopped fighting over self-interest. After that, the leader could no longer find any fault with me. These days he is always happy to see me.
One day we had a sports competition at school. It was cold and windy that day. Everyone was shivering. One colleague had a fever. I took off my jacket and put it over her shoulders. I was surprised that she started crying and said, "You are cold, too!" Coldness is really nothing for Falun Gong practitioners. We have had it much worse.
One day the school announced a re-organization. A teacher was in tears because she did not want to part company with me. Some teachers envied those who would end up working with me. One colleague said, "You have a spiritual presence. You have a kind heart. Whoever works with you is lucky." There are some people at work who are known to be selfish and narrow-minded, but when they work with me, they actively take part and even fight for work assignments. When I need help on a personal level, my colleagues even fight to assist me. Why has my work environment transformed? It must be Falun Gong. The mighty power of Falun Gong will bring compassion and serenity to people around me. That must be the reason why people feel comfortable around me.
One day our school had a party, and many leaders from different government agencies were invited. I organized a traditional Chinese costume show, in which I introduced the ancient concept of man being an integral part of the universe. The show was accompanied by Falun Gong music and songs. The audience was drawn to the show and applauded enthusiastically. The general comments were that the show was innovative and reached great depths in illustrating traditional Chinese culture. The audience had learned a lot about Chinese culture. Despite the CCP's political movement to separate Chinese people from their traditions, people still long for a connection with our traditional culture.
A colleague was once diagnosed with an illness that I also had at one time. My boss knew I once suffered from the same illness, so he suggested that she ask me about how I was cured. The colleague replied, "I know she was cured because she practices Falun Gong. I also want to practice Falun Gong." As a result of ongoing communication with my colleagues, many of them know what Falun Gong really is, and have agreed to resign their membership in the CCP and its two affiliated student leagues.
One day I went to the canteen to have lunch, but there was no seat. Suddenly an entire row of teachers got up to offer me their seats. I didn't know what to do. A leader at the scene commented, "You truly are highly respected for your high morals!"
Yes! And it is all because of Falun Gong!
After 13 years of suppression, Falun Gong continues to blossom worldwide. It has been 20 years since Falun Gong was introduced to the world in 1992. In the cruel society ruled by the CCP, where the media runs hate propaganda against Falun Gong, there are many Falun Gong practitioners like me who face terror and pressure daily. Yet we continue to validate that Falun Gong and Mr. Li Hongzhi are good with what we say and do. We try to awaken people's kind nature by clarifying the truth about Falun Gong. Many people, like my colleagues, have seen through the CCP's lies about Falun Gong and approved of this wonderful cultivation practice.
(From the Call for Submissions to Commemorate the Twentieth Anniversary of Falun Dafa’s Introduction)