(Minghui.org) I was born in the year of the monkey, and I was nice-looking and popular growing up. After graduating from college I landed a good job in the provincial Broadcasting Bureau. My peers liked me because I was broad-minded.
It took a long time to find a husband because I was very proud and picky. After I lowered my standards I found my husband, a kindhearted, quiet and dependable doctor.
My marriage was all but bliss because of my in-laws' control and my husband's younger sister's weekly visits. My husband sided with his family every single time and even criticized me.
When I was five months pregnant, my in-laws found out the baby was a girl and were quite displeased. My husband even suggested that we get a divorce. I moved back in with my father.
“I will find a better husband after my divorce,” I thought. “I'm popular, cheerful, nice-looking, and have a good job. I will find the free, simple, and romantic lifestyle that belongs to me.”
My Fate
My fate changed after I read Zhuan Falun, the main book of the cultivation practice Falun Dafa. In Lecture Four, it helped me understand why there are illnesses and unhappiness in life.
Each word taught me how to be considerate of others and how to become a good person. I realized that my husband, his family, and myself must have a predestined relationship that brought us together. I also learned how to handle conflicts. More importantly, I finally understood the real meaning and purpose of life. I felt every word in the book was talking to me.
Master Li Hongzhi, the teacher of Falun Dafa, said,
“One should return to one’s original, true self; this is the real purpose of being human.” (Zhuan Falun)
After reading Master's words, I instantly let go of my resentments toward my husband's family, no longer thought of getting a divorce, and returned to my home.
I no longer felt like I was being wronged; instead, I blamed myself for having too strong of a character.
Forbearance Is Painful
Upon returning home, I followed Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, but it was much more difficult than I expected.
I had spent two months reading Zhuan Falun and found myself changing into another person. My illnesses that had bothered me disappeared. My face started to glow and I felt light for the first time in my life.
Dafa opened my eyes and I realized that I was too competitive. When I did not follow the principles of Falun Dafa, my life was filled with tribulations.
As I had to return to work, my father-in-law watched the baby during the day. My in-laws did not let me hire a nanny. But I had to come home at lunch time, to feed not only the baby, but also my father-in-law, which left me without time to eat. There was no one to help, yet my husband and his family complained constantly.
I felt aggrieved because although I had a good income, I was not allowed to hire help. I thought, “If it were not for Dafa we would have fought constantly.”
Master said:
“Ordinary human affairs, according to the Buddha School, all have predestined relationships. Birth, old age, illness, and death exist as such for ordinary people. Due to karma resulting from past wrongdoing, one has illnesses or tribulations.” (Zhuan Falun)
Falun Dafa taught me to accept my lot in life because I might owe everyone from my prior lives. So I would forbear, but it was so painful. However, with time I let go of my stubborn and arrogant behavior.
Joy of Passing Tests
Whenever I experienced a painful endurance, my body changed and I felt light. This only happened after I cultivated in Dafa.
Master said,
“Once you upgrade your xinxing, your body will undergo a great change. Upon xinxing improvement, the matter in your body is guaranteed to transform. What kind of changes will take place? You will give up those bad things that you are attached to.” (Zhuan Falun)
In the course of our cultivation practice, you must clean out various bad things in your body so that you can move up. This characteristic of the universe exactly plays this role.” (Zhuan Falun)
I truly understood the mighty power of Dafa’s Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance!
After going through painful rounds of endurance many times, I’ve found it has become much easier to endure. I’m knowingly practicing cultivation now instead of forcing myself to do it for health reasons.
My coworkers wondered why I had changed so much. They thought that my tribulations were unjustified. Alas, how could they understand the joy of passing xinxing tests!
Master said,
“What everyday people want is personal gain and how to live well and comfortably. Our practitioners are not this way, but exactly the opposite. We do not seek what everyday people want. Instead, what we get is something everyday people cannot obtain—even though they want to—except through cultivation practice.” (Zhuan Falun)
I now understand the broad meaning and magnificence of cultivation practice. I obtained peace of mind and can handle joys and sorrows, as wells as ups and downs easily. Everything around me has become so simple, unsophisticated, and trivial.
I have come to understand that conflicts and difficulties, no matter how big they are, can be dissolved by following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Category: Improving Oneself
