(Minghui.org) I've come across many trivial things since I started cultivating in Dafa. However, I realized that for Fa-rectification Dafa disciples, how we handle these “trivial” things is related to validating the Fa and they may determine whether people around us can have positive feelings about Dafa so they can be saved.
Apples flourish in our area. Harvesting and bagging them is an intensive seasonal job. Each year, apple growers need to hire people to do the job. For counting purposes, the growers put a certain number of small bags in a big bag and then give it to each individual. As the big bags look the same, it's easy to occasionally mix them up.
Once I mistook Ms. Wang's bags as mine and finished a few hundred small bags for her. When I realized the mistake, I told Ms. Wang about it. She didn't say anything. I felt I suffered losses instead of regarding myself as a Dafa practitioner. Although I didn't say anything, I felt rather uncomfortable inside. Just then the grower who hired us came over as he overheard what I said. Instead of being grateful for the job I did for her, Ms. Wang gave me another bundle of small bags from her tree and said to me, “This is yours. Go and fill them with apples.”
I was stunned and started thinking like an everyday person: “The bundle was hanging on your tree. How could it possibly be mine? I've already done a few hundred for you. You've already gained at my expense, how can you be so greedy? Aren't you bullying me?” I really didn't want to take the bags.
Just at that moment, I felt something in my heart and remembered what Master said,
“As practitioners, you will suddenly come across conflicts. What should you do? You should always maintain a heart of compassion and kindness. Then, when you run into a problem, you will be able to do well because it gives you room to buffer the confrontation. You should always be benevolent and kind to others, and consider others when doing anything. Whenever you encounter a problem, you should first consider whether others can put up with this matter or if it will hurt anyone. In doing so, there will not be any problems.” (Lecture Four in Zhuan Falun )
Looking Within
Master told us again and again that whenever we encounter issues, we must look within and improve our xinxing. But whenever I've come across issues that can help me improve my xinxing, I still kept holding onto self-interests and looked at things with everyday people's notions. How can I count myself as a Dafa disciple? So I quietly told myself that I must do things according to what Master taught us.
I understood that our compassionate Master was using this to help me improve my xinxing. What can be more important than elevating one's xinxing? There's no need to argue who is right or who is wrong. So I didn't say anything and took the bags from Ms. Wang. Although I'm usually pretty capable, it was a bit hard for me that day as I had to finish my own bags, in addition to what I had done for Ms. Wang and the extra bags she gave me. However, I remembered I'm a Falun Dafa practitioner and I must validate the Fa through my actions. I didn't say anything and simply kept bagging the apples. Maybe Master was strengthening me, because I became more and more skillful and worked faster and faster.
Showing the Goodness of Dafa
The grower saw all this. At lunch time, he said to me in front of everyone, “You're such a good person. No one would have accepted that bundle of apple bags, especially since you've already done a few hundred for her. You're extraordinary!” I said, “I practice Falun Dafa. My Master has told us to be good people and always consider others first under any circumstances. We mustn't fight with others for personal gain. It's nothing if I suffer some losses. I wouldn't have accepted those bags if I weren't a Falun Gong practitioner. I would have argued with her and caused interference to the work we were doing.” His wife said, “Falun Gong people are so good! They are totally different from what the Party's TV said.”
I then went on and said, “These days human morality is degenerating and there is corruption everywhere in society, from top to bottom, especially those high-ranking officials. They fight with each other for power and money. Nowadays, officials no longer behave the way they should and people also behave improperly. Master Li Hongzhi has disseminated Falun Dafa at this critical moment to teach people to be good and to do good things.
This has played an important role in saving people, stabilizing society and improving people's ethical values. However, the CCP, out of extreme jealousy, launched the persecution of Falun Gong. They ignored the Constitution, fabricated lies to deceive people and committed horrendous crimes against humanity. They wanted to take the Chinese people to the abyss by taking them into the CCP and its associated organizations. We mustn't allow ourselves to be their victims. We must help ourselves by withdrawing from their organizations and choose a bright future for ourselves.” I then told them about how to do the three withdrawals and helped those who wanted to quit the CCP.
Our Actions Are Not Trivial
A few years have passed and I thought the apple grower had long forgotten about this trivial incident. But the next year, and the year after, two more groups of women from my village went to work for him. When they came back they told me that the apple grower told people about this incident every year and praised Dafa and the noble character of practitioners. He said, “Falun Gong people are really good. They have such a noble character. It's not a big deal to do a hundred bags. It takes only ten minutes. However, if you ask someone to do a hundred extra bags, they won't do it, but Falun Gong people did it, and without any complaint. I really admire them.”
It was just a trivial thing. But for a practitioner, if we do things according to the Fa's requirements, it may leave people with a beautiful memory. It not only validates the Fa, but also helps people become good when they spread the beauty of Dafa and choose a bright future for themselves.
This is the first time I've written a sharing article. Please kindly point out anything improper.
Category: Improving Oneself
