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Practicing Falun Dafa Changed My Irritable Temper

Sept. 7, 2024 |   By a Falun Dafa practitioner in Liaoning Province, China

(Minghui.org) I’m 82 years old and grew up in the countryside. The harsh environment made me capable of enduring hardship, but it also made me hot-tempered. After I married, I moved to the city. Because I had a rural household registration and no job, my sister-in-law and mother-in-law looked down on me and often gave me disdainful looks, which I pretended not to notice. They scolded me and criticized everything I did. Whenever something was missing, they accused me of stealing it. As the scolding progressed, they started hitting me. I was filled with resentment!

One day, my anger erupted like a volcano. When my mother-in-law scolded me, I charged at her, pushed her down, and then grabbed a knife from the kitchen and rushed towards her. She never expected me to react so violently and was petrified. Fortunately, someone nearby managed to take the knife away, otherwise I may have killed her.

On one occasion, my husband was about to go out and asked me to find him some pants. I said, “I’m talking to a neighbor and you’re telling me to find your pants.” This was a casual conversation between my husband and I, and we weren’t angry. However, my sister-in-law overheard and thought I was mistreating her brother. She grabbed a teacup from the table and threw it at me. I wasn’t prepared, and it knocked out one of my teeth. This made me so angry that I went to her home and smashed everything I could find. After that, we didn’t speak for many years and treated each other like enemies.

I couldn’t control my temper and frequently argued with my husband and son. If things didn’t go my way, I fought them. If I had a gun, I might have used it.

Falun Dafa Changes My Life

I ran a small barbershop on the street and, over time, I got to know a woman who lived in the nearby building. She practiced Falun Dafa and often told me how wonderful the practice is. After I began practicing, I finally found the true meaning of life. I eagerly read the Fa (teachings) every day. I even prepared simple meals to save time so I could read the Fa.

Studying the Fa greatly improved my xinxing. Looking back on the conflicts and grievances in my family over the years, I realized these disputes were actually due to my karma. I must have owed them something from a past life, which was why they treated me poorly. I shouldn’t resent those who harmed me.

Understanding the principles of the Fa, I took the initiative to reconcile with my in-laws. I told my sister-in-law, “It was all my fault. After all these years, let’s not hold grudges against each other. Let’s forget everything and start anew. We should get along. I practice Falun Dafa and our Master teaches us to be good people. I will treat you well from now on.”

My sister-in-law smiled when she heard this. Afterward, I treated every member of my husband’s family warmly, and our relationships became harmonious. I also helped them do the “Three Withdrawals” (quitting from the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations).

I also used to have conflicts with my daughter-in-law. When my son got married, I bought him an apartment. I also had two other houses, which were later demolished and replaced with two new apartments. My daughter-in-law wanted to transfer the ownership of all of them into their names. I got so angry that I overturned the table and had a big argument with them.

I later realized I had an attachment to personal gain. Could I really take the houses with me in the future? Sooner or later, I’d have to give the houses to them. Once I understood this, I said, “If you want to change the names on the registrations, then go ahead. They are yours now. Do whatever you want with them.” When I let go of my attachment, they stopped pushing me to transfer ownership.

I also reflected on myself and realized that losing my temper was a manifestation of negative emotions. I resolved to control myself and not lose my temper anymore. I wanted to improve in my cultivation, and I realized Master arranged for my son and daughter-in-law to help me with that.

One time, I went to my son’s home. As soon as I walked in, I saw my son and daughter-in-law rummaging through drawers and cabinets. They said they were looking for money, but couldn’t find it. My daughter-in-law asked, “Did you take my money?” I replied, “I didn’t take it.” She said, “If you didn’t take it, then why is it missing? You must have taken it; You know where my money is.”

“I didn’t take it,” I said. Suddenly, she exploded with rage and shouted, “Just leave! Go home, get out of here!” I decided to leave to avoid further conflict. As I was heading to the door, my son opened it for me, and I said, “Son, please try to calm her down and make sure she doesn’t get too upset. Don’t worry; she’ll find the money.”

Before I could finish talking, my son also shouted, “Leave, just go!” When I got home, I wasn’t angry. I thought to myself: I often gave you money, so why would I take it? You’re just testing my patience, I won’t be upset with you. I passed this test smoothly. They later found the missing money.

While running my barbershop, I ran into many people and began telling them about Falun Dafa. My customers came from all walks of life, which provided me with many cultivation opportunities. One day, a neighbor with a mental disability came to get a haircut. He said, “I haven’t had my hair cut here before, so you’d better give me a good haircut!”

I worked quickly, finishing his haircut and shave in just a few minutes. He thought I was treating him poorly, and he became enraged, hitting me and shouting at me. He left without paying. I didn’t say a word and endured his abuse. I thought this was an opportunity for me to improve my xinxing.

I constantly remind myself that I’m a cultivator and shouldn’t be concerned with trivial matters. Among the people who’ve come and gone, there are disabled individuals, those who are mentally impaired, and others who are not normal. I gave them all free haircuts. I saw their suffering and wanted to help them.

I no longer cut hair—instead I go out every day to clarify the truth about Falun Dafa and the persecution. I talk to everyone I meet. I encounter different people—some scold me, some thank me, some praise me, others threaten to report me. I remain unshaken and remember to treat all beings with compassion so that they may be saved.