(Minghui.org) I have practiced Falun Dafa since May 1996. In my more than 20 years on the cultivation path, there have been ups and downs and Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa, has been there for me any time I needed him. I cannot express my appreciation to Master enough.
I have always lived by the principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” and earned trust and respect that way.
Steel Window Contractor: Practitioners Don't Accept Gifts
I was put in charge of the General Bureau under the First Bureau in 1997. Then, in the spring of 1998, I was also appointed as the leader of the Housing Supervising Group. My job description included oversight of contracts and fund allocation for a multiple-use building project. The department head publicly announced the assignment, saying that he highly trusted me in handling the project because, as a practitioner, I have high moral standards and always consider everyone's welfare.
The steel window contractor Mr. Zhang asked my co-worker Mr. Zhan for my address. Mr. Zhan said, “Do not waste your time – he will not accept gifts.”
Mr. Zhang responded that he wanted to thank me for awarding him this large contract. To make sure that Mr. Zhang got the message, Mr. Zhan said, “He is a Falun Dafa practitioner. He does not accept gifts from anyone.” Mr. Zhang did not believe this and said, “I do not believe it. I have been everywhere and have never seen anyone declining a gift.”
When Mr. Zhang came to visit me, he gave me a bulging envelope, full of money. Mr. Zhang put the envelope on the table and said, “I came on behalf of my factory manager to thank you for the contract.”
I took his arm and put the money back into his pocket before he left my house. I said, “I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. Our Master has taught us to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Practitioners always consider others' needs first. I do not accept gifts. It is not easy for you to make money. Please take back your hard earned money.”
Mr. Zhang insisted, “If you do not take it, I cannot report back to my manager.”
To ease his mind, I asked him to use this money to improve the quality of the materials for the project.
Mr. Zhang said, “Indeed, Falun Dafa people do not accept gifts! I have not come across anyone like you!”
However, Mr. Zhang did not take no for an answer and approached my wife privately. She also refused, because she is also a practitioner. He finally asked my wife and me to have dinner with him, which we accepted.
When Mr. Zhang was ready to pay the bill, he was told that the bill had already been paid. I had left the table for a minute and paid for the meal.
Office Director: Falun Dafa People Don't Abuse Their Position
I was in charge of logistics management and billing. I approved and signed off on all expenditures for my department. My relatives, friends, and co-workers including supervisors always thought that I had the authority to pay for anything. For this reason, they took it for granted and often came to see me for a free meal or asked me to sign off on their expenses for dining and other miscellaneous items.
The secretary of the village, where I used to work, visited my office with a group of people near noon one day and asked me to buy them lunch. I took them out and paid for the expense out of my own pocket. The village secretary asked my office director why I did not ask for a receipt. The office director said, “It is of no use to have a receipt. Our bureau chief always pays with his money. He never abuses his position and will not pay for anything with project money.”
After the building project was done, the construction contractor laid floor tiles in the apartments for key project leaders. I figured the total cost for my unit to be about 2,800 yuan. I thus compensated him for 3,000 yuan.
The construction contractor visited my office a few days later. He said, “I just wanted to express my appreciation. You Falun Dafa people do not accept gifts. Besides, you even paid an extra 200 yuan. What can I say! Our country would be much better if every leader were like you.”
My department has a budget of more than 100,000 yuan for entertainment and hospitality every year. To keep a good relationship with us, the hotel owner always added extra to the receipt as is the custom, above what we actually paid, but I would only ask for reimbursement for the actual amounts.
I also declined all gifts that my coworkers offered during holidays. As a Dafa disciple, I must live by the Dafa principles.
Public Security Chief: You Are a Good Person
I was detained in my county's First Detention Center for my belief in June 2000. One day, the director of the police departments administration division took me to his office. He said, “Listen, my brother! The county party secretary, leaders from the 610 Office and police department decided to launch an investigation into your past performance. Once any violation is found, you will be severely punished. That will affect your job and your family. If you promise not to practice, you can go home and I can cover for you.”
I said, “I have never done anything illegal.” I was taken back to the detention center.
A few days later, a cadre from the county Discipline Inspection Commission came to the detention center to verify with me a promissory note of 3,000 yuan, which I had signed earlier. I said that I processed it at the request of the county committee. The money was paid to the court for their services.
Eventually, the court cleared things up. Later, the former court president called me and said, “Brother, I registered the money you paid and the payment was already verified by the cadre. I could not get you out of the detention center because you practice Falun Dafa. You take good care of yourself.”
About two weeks later, the administration division chief again called me into his office. He offered me a glass of water and said, “After an investigation, we found that you have not violated any law in any of the positions that you held. You do not go to sexual entertainment places like others do. Only Falun Dafa people can really say that for a person in your position. You are really a good person!”
First Bureau Director: Give Everyone a Copy of Zhuan Falun
I always read Zhuan Falun during my spare time at work. I created a relaxed and quiet working environment for every person. I also shouldered some of my supervisor's responsibilities and helped people solve problems.
One morning, I heard loud noises outside of my office. The Party secretary was shouting because my supervisor refused to approve his relative to work in our department. I said to him, “Please come to my office to talk it over.”
He not only berated the department chief but also blew up at me. He hit my head with books and newspapers. He broke a trash can and the office door. But I still remained calm. In the end, people pulled him out of my office.
He returned to apologize in the afternoon since I had nothing to do with the original incident. He asked, “Why weren't you mad? You even smiled at me when I berated you. Were you looking down on me? And why didn't you fight back? Are you afraid of me?”
I told him that I was stronger than he was. He disagreed and insisted that we have an arm wrestling contest – of course, he lost.
He said, “Unlike other people, you Falun Dafa people do not fight back when punched or insulted. You are amazing!”
The First Bureau chief appreciated my help to solve this problem for him. He later said, “Where can I buy the book Zhuan Falun? I want to give everyone in our department a copy.” Because of his effort, I distributed more than six copies of Zhuan Falun. Later, he also became a Dafa practitioner.
Detention Center Supervisor: I Quit to Protest the Arrest of a Good Cadre
I was removed from my administrative job and taken to the County First Detention Center in October 1999 by the county party secretary and his underlings for my belief. In the morning of the second day, the supervisor from the county procuratorate, who was assigned to the detention center, came to see me. He asked me from the cell window: “Who sent you here and why?”
“The county Party secretary,” I answered.
The supervisor said, “Listen, you just tell them that you will not practice. Once you are released, you can still practice at home.”
I said, “No – practitioners do not lie.”
He started to curse at the county party secretary, “This person is the only good cadre in the county, and you locked him up. He solved all the problems that other people failed to do. I will go after you!”
The supervisor came back in the afternoon. He told me that he went to meet the county party secretary but did not see him. He then told the prison guards that I am a good person and they should not harm me.
I was detained for nine months, during which I did not follow the prison rules. I did the Dafa exercises and studied the Fa every day. When the guards complained, the warden said that I was under the supervision of the County Commission.
(Submission to “Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day” 2018 on the Minghui website)
