(Minghui.org) To cultivate is to improve one's character and expand one's wisdom. In my opinion, if there were no persecution in China, all Falun Dafa practitioners would be doing well in their professions. Their lives would be completely different from the slanderous descriptions put out by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The persecution has broken up practitioners' families and caused untold inhuman suffering. I have experienced the persecution, but despite unfair treatment I was able to cultivate and do well in my profession. For me, this personal experience is a reflection of the great power of Falun Dafa.
Being Forced Out of an Agency
I was employed in the human resources department of a military institution. The work was not difficult and the pay was good. My boss was pleased with my performance and was ready to promote me to a more responsible administrative position.
But the persecution of Falun Dafa that began on July 20, 1999, was the turning point in my professional life. I was not sure what to do. I finally decided that I should tell my superiors. I told them that I practiced Falun Dafa and that I was not going to renounce it. The outcome was inevitable. Despite my superiors' personal preference, they had to fire me. They were grateful to me for making it easy on them.
One of them wanted to understand why I couldn't just practice at home and not tell anyone about it. So I told him that truthfulness was a principle that all practitioners must follow. He said that if he were the manager of a private enterprise, he definitely would hire an exceptionally good person like me. He then expressed his concern that with all odds against me under the communist rule, I would have difficulty making a living. In my own mind I knew that by assimilating into the Fa and with Teacher's help, I could overcome any difficulty.
As I was leaving, my colleagues said, “You are a truly good person. We will miss you.” One colleague, who was able to sense the kindness and compassion displayed through my cultivation, said, “The kindest person within our agency has been forced out. There is no justice in this society.”
Cultivating Without Regrets
After leaving my job, I went to Beijing to appeal for the right to practice Falun Dafa. The police beat me, but I did not hate them. They were to be pitied for not knowing the truth about Falun Dafa.
After returning home, I was confident that I could find a job. Indeed, before long a private firm hired me as an office manager. There is a big difference between a public agency and a private firm in terms of benefits and pay. However, for a practitioner, fame and benefits don't matter. My focus continued to be on cultivation.
Despite my position, I did whatever was needed to improve operations, even to the point of moving all goods into the company warehouse without any help. My boss was taken by surprise, but I knew that a practitioner should always be helpful. Being considered an exceptionally good person is part of that.
My boss was convinced that he could trust me, so he assigned me many important matters and gave me raises.
I set up a small Falun Dafa truth-clarifying processing center at home. When I went out of town on business, I distributed the materials.
Facing Adversity Successfully
Although I lost my job with the government, I had a happy family life. My husband was not a practitioner. He worked in a government agency, but he supported my decision to cultivate. He understood the evil nature of the CCP and had been worrying about my safety.
In 2006 my husband was under a lot of pressure while handling family matters. He faced great adversity, and, due to the pressure, he died. The burden of caring for my family fell on me ,and I had to quit my job. At the age of 37 I lost my husband, and faced a mountain of debt and being misunderstood by relatives and friends.
It was certain that I was being persecuted by evil elements, but I stood up straight, because I knew that, as a practitioner with great compassion and tolerance, nothing could stop me. I took care of my daughter and my parents. Life was very tough, but I continued to believe that living by the principles Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance could dispel the darkness I was facing.
I joined several companies between 2006 and 2009. My bosses often told me that I was exceptionally good and not an ordinary woman. I continued to tell people the facts about Falun Dafa and worked hard on improving my professional skills.
In 2009 I was hired by an excellent medium-sized company. Although the position was earmarked for a younger person, I was hired.
The manager was impressed by my communication skills, and when I asked for a somewhat higher salary than the job called for, he talked his boss into giving me what I asked for. They were so impressed with my first month's performance that they offered me a permanent position. Within six months I was promoted to manager of a department and paid an even higher salary.
Being Compassionate Because of Falun Dafa
As a human resource professional I am responsible for interviewing potential employees.
One day a candidate brought a mentally retarded child to the interview. After inquiring about the child's situation, I told him to recite “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” at home and told him that he would receive blessings. He sensed my compassion, and after returning home he called and said, “Because of you I want to work at your company so that we can be colleagues. I cannot give up this opportunity to have you as my colleague.”
Dafa cultivation has made me much more amiable. Finding the right employee is difficult, but I have been able to hire people that my company needs. My supervisor said, “You are predestined to be a recruiter. You always find the people our company needs.”
I believe what others say about me is true. I am compassionate, and people enjoy working with me. But, if I did not practice Dafa, where did my compassion come from? I was a timid child. Without cultivation, it is highly doubtful whether I could have overcome the adversities I faced.
Through cultivation I learned that the real purpose in life is to return to my real home in heaven. I am not concerned with benefits and fame in this world, but this does not mean I cannot have them. When we are focused in doing a good job without expecting any return, we become superior employees.
Falun Gong cultivation has brought me everything I have. More than ten years of trials and tribulations have made me more mature and with a better understanding about cultivation.
Category: Improving Oneself
