(Minghui.org) Before I began to practice Falun Dafa, I was influenced by Communist Party culture. I struggled with others and pursued self-interest. I thought highly of myself and never thought of others. When people took advantage of me, I would get my revenge, even in secret. I convinced myself that nothing I had done was wrong.
I lived across the street from my in-laws. My father-in-law had a good position in a big enterprise, and my mother-in-law was arrogant. I was not intimidated by them, and we would frequently argue.
When my sister-in-law was preparing to get married, we were all having a meal together. I was tending to my baby, so I started eating just as everyone was finishing up. My mother-in-law, while clearing the dishes, began taking my food away. This angered me, and I was on the verge of tears. I got up and immediately went home. My mother-in-law followed me home, came in and slammed the door.
After I put my baby down, we began to argue. She then tried to hit me with her head but I pushed her out of the way. Her head hit the wall hard. The remaining family came over, and they all argued with me. I did not believe that I had done anything wrong, and I felt that my mother-in-law was just being mean to me. I could not stand it anymore and took my baby and went to stay with my parents.
Even at a young age, I had developed several illnesses, such as heart disease, and insomnia. I had suffered a lot. I took medications, tried massage and other methods, but never found a cure. Without learning Dafa, I would not have known that this was the karmic retribution I was receiving for fighting with others.
A relative came to visit my mother-in-law in the summer of 1996 and told me about Falun Dafa. I went to watch Master Li Hongzhi's (the founder of Falun Dafa) video recording for one day but did not continue after that. This same relative returned in the spring of the next year and again introduced Falun Dafa to me. This time I finished watching all of Master's video recordings and came to understand the cause of one's illnesses and tribulations in life. My view of the world changed.
Since then, I have been studying the Fa, doing the exercises, and holding myself to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. My relationship with my mother-in-law and neighbors improved. When I ran into a conflict with my mother-in-law, I often still felt agitated inside, but I could forbear and did not fight with her. Over time I calmed down and did not feel disturbed inside at all. Consequently, all my illnesses were healed.
My husband entered the workforce when he was just 18 years old. We did not marry until he was nearly 30 years old. Prior to our marriage, his mother wanted all of his salary. She promised she would use it for all his needs when he got married. She did not keep that promise and even spent some of it on a new television for herself.
When times were tough after my husband was laid off, they did nothing to help us financially even though they were able to. My sister-in-law however never had to give her pay to her mother, and when she got married, my in-laws bought her everything. They were even preparing to leave her their house. When I discovered all this, I was hurt and thought to myself: “I will not take care of you when you are old!”
Through continuous Fa-study, I came to truly understand what Master said:
“The Buddhist doctrine of karmic rewards and retribution holds that the design of your life is based on your karma. So even someone immensely talented might end up with nothing in life if he doesn’t have much virtue.” (The Seventh Talk, Zhuan Falun)
I then thought that maybe this was the debt we owed my sister-in-law. By taking my husband's income and using it for my sister-in-law, my mother-in-law helped us pay it back. After I came to understand this, I felt more balanced.
Master also said:
“The altercations or mistreatment that you encounter as you practice might be either of two scenarios. One is that you mistreated the other person during a past life. Perhaps the situation preys on your mind, and you can’t believe someone would treat you as they are. Well, then you shouldn’t have treated them that way in the past. You might say that you didn’t know better back then and that this lifetime has nothing to do with that one. But you can’t write it off like that.” (The Fourth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
I thought perhaps I did not treat my mother-in-law well in my previous life, so she was treating me this way now. From then on, I got rid of my resentment towards her. Moreover, when I had some good food that I knew she liked, I would share it with my in-laws. I also helped them with household chores. When she was ill, I helped carry her up and down the steps to go to the hospital.
When she was hospitalized, we took turns taking care of her. I did everything I could for her, including helping her with her personal needs. She was very touched and often repeated, “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” Because of that, her condition improved.
One time she was sick but decided not to go to the hospital. I had to travel a long distance to bring a doctor to her. After the check-up, the doctor said she required albumen shots. Then I managed to obtain a few bottles of albumen for her. She praised me and said, “You have changed so much!”
When my neighbors added on to their balcony, it interfered with our view. I knew they were aware of it and avoided me. I felt it was unfair but recalled Master's words:
“If you can always be compassionate and calm, you will handle the issues that arise in your life well since you will have a buffer, in a sense. Things will work out well if you are always compassionate and good to others, thoughtful towards people, and handle whatever situations you get into with people by first pausing to consider how well your actions will go over with the other party and whether anyone will be hurt by them.” (The Fourth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
If I did not practice Dafa, I would have insisted they re-do their addition.
In my day-to-day life, I have often found valuable items. One time, I found a fancy Samsung cell phone sitting in the washroom. When I showed it to my coworker, he offered me 800 yuan. I refused him, for I am a practitioner, and I should not gain at another's expense. I found the owner of the phone. She thanked me, and I said, “I practice Falun Dafa. You should thank my Teacher.”
I also found a platinum bracelet. When I could not find the owner I gave it to my manager, in hopes that the owner would claim it eventually.
The persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been going on for nearly twenty years. Other practitioners and I have been hanging up truth-clarification materials, handing out flyers, telling people face-to-face about Falun Dafa, handing out the Nine Commentaries of the Chinese Communist Party, truth-clarification DVDs and calendars, making truth-clarification phone calls and handing out software for breaking through China's Internet censorship.
I met a young driver who had developed gout and had trouble walking. I told him about Dafa, and he decided to withdraw from the CCP. He also sincerely repeated, “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” He was soon able to walk perfectly again. He felt it was truly amazing. There was another driver who took the initiative and came to me to declare his withdrawal from the Party. He also asked me for a copy of Zhuan Falun and wanted to learn Dafa.
I felt so happy seeing these people saved. In my future cultivation, I will listen to Teacher and continue to assimilate into Dafa. Thank you, Master, for your saving grace!