(Minghui.org) I am a female Dafa practitioner in my 70s. I worked in the disease prevention branch of the government prior to retirement. I started practicing Falun Dafa in 1997 after hearing about it from a relative. Soon afterward, my acute and chronic ailments were cured and I was fortunate to experience a light body, free of illness. I have not had a single pill since.
Dafa has not only blessed me with a healthy body, but more importantly, taught me the meaning and purpose of life. Dafa has taught me to be a good person and strive for becoming even better. I try to conduct myself according to high standards based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in my daily life, especially when facing conflicts. To show just how wonderful Dafa is, I would like to share the remarkable story of my caretaker and her family.
Caretaker Turns Out to Be Mentally Ill
My mother developed Alzheimer's disease at the age of 86 in 2002 and could not look after herself. Because she insisted on not living with me, I hired a caretaker at the recommendation of a friend.
The caretaker, Ms. Yin, was in her 50s. She was honest and hardworking, and seemed to be a perfect fit in the beginning. But I soon found out she was mentally unstable. She often talked to herself and would show up at my home to ask me to keep her company at night, as she feared that someone from her hometown was searching for her and trying to kill her.
From the friend who recommended her to me, I learned that Ms. Yin's husband had had an extramarital affair and decided to leave her. When two of her sons refused to live with her, she had to stay with her youngest son, who quarreled with her all the time and constantly asked her for money. Because she had no income, she was forced to go out of town and do odd jobs. After that, her deteriorating emotional and psychological state eventually led to mental illness.
Although I was sympathetic toward her, how could I hire a mentally ill person to take care of someone with Alzheimer's? Prior to practicing Dafa, I would have given her a month's salary and let her go. But now I had to conduct myself according to a practitioner's standards.
Master said,
“As practitioners, you will suddenly come across conflicts. What should you do? You should always maintain a compassionate and calm heart. Then, when you run into a problem, you will be able to do well because it gives you some room as a buffer. 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. Therefore, in cultivation you should follow a higher and higher standard for yourself.” (Zhuan Falun)
I knew that she would have become homeless and her illness would worsen, with a potentially tragic end. Wouldn't I then have committed a bad deed? I decided to instead comfort her and warm her heart with the compassion that I obtained through cultivation. Dafa's power is boundless and Dafa would be able to save her.
So I started to go back to my mother's often to read Dafa books to her and my mother. Dafa's teachings made her realize the purpose of life and the reason for hardships in life. She gradually learned what true happiness was and how to achieve it. She became more receptive to the teachings in Zhuan Falun and eventually asked me for a copy of her own and started reading it whenever she had free time. Whenever she saw an Chinese character she didn't know, she would note it down and ask me what it was when I came over to visit. She also learned the five exercises from me.
Her health improved gradually and her symptoms of mental illness never returned. Dafa changed her life and gave her a healthy mind and body. She expressed her gratitude to Master from the bottom of her heart: “Falun Dafa is good.”
Fuss about a Washing Machine
In the second year after she started caring for my mother, the two of them had a big conflict.
Because my mother's house was small and her memory was impaired due to her age and illness, I did not buy her a washing machine. Instead, I took all her clothes back to my home to wash them.
One day Ms. Yin saw a small washing machine on sale for less than 1,000 yuan and decided to purchase it. When it was delivered, an old wardrobe had to be swapped out to make space. My mother was infuriated and demanded that she return the washing machine.
When I heard about their argument, I rushed over to my mother's. Before I got there, the friend who'd recommended Ms. Yin to me intercepted me and apologized, “I am so sorry I did not know she was such a headache. How dare she make such a big decision without consulting your mom? Don't be nice and don't reimburse her for the washing machine. She needs to be taught a lesson or she will never respect you.” Before she could go on, I stopped her: “I have to go take care of the situation first. Let me talk with you later.”
Once in the door, I first told the neighbors who'd come over to keep the women apart to leave. Then I asked Ms. Yin to start making dinner while I sat down with my mother. She was in a severe car accident at the age of 84 and had sustained multiple fractures and internal bleeding. Once she regained consciousness, she insisted on going home without further medical treatment. She said, “At my age, I will let it be and leave it to fate.” She followed my advice and kept reciting “Falun Dafa is good and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” She recovered without a single pill, so I knew she firmly believed in Master and Dafa.
I asked her, “You have recited 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good' but do you know what it means? 'Truthfulness' means to be sincere and genuine. 'Compassion' means to be kind and considerate of others. 'Forbearance' means to endure and be tolerant of others. You scolded Ms. Yin and made her cry. Isn't that the exact opposite of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance? Also, Ms. Yin bought the washing machine with good intentions, thinking that it would alleviate my burden of taking all the clothes home to wash. Aren't you concerned about that as well? You always say you want to follow Master's teaching and be a good person. As a good person, you have to be good to everyone.”
She seemed to reach a conclusion and said to herself, “Hmm, I guess it's my fault. I treated her badly.”
The power of Dafa resolved a major disturbance. Later, I asked Ms. Yin why she did not tell me first about buying the washing machine. It turned out that she saw the sale and planned to buy it with her own money. If it worked well, she was going to send it home the next time there was a vehicle coming from her hometown. She feared I wouldn't reimburse her, so she did not tell me.
I told her, “I should pay for it without question. You take care of this home, and we should provide decent working conditions. I am sorry that I overlooked it. And we will cross that bridge when the time comes for you to get your own washing machine.”
I was surprised that I was so calm and peaceful in dealing with the situation.
Master said,
“We have said that good or bad comes from a person's initial thought, and the thought at that moment can bring about different consequences.” (Zhuan Falun)
If I had forgotten that I was a practitioner, I would have berated Ms. Yin and even fired her in anger. That would have led to a very bad outcome. It was the power of Dafa that changed me and the whole situation for the better.
Dafa Resolves Resentment Among Family Members
Once, after Ms. Yin had worked for us for six years, she went home for the Chinese New Year break, but did not return after two weeks as planned. When I called her home, she said that her husband wanted to come back with her. She refused to let him, but he then wouldn't let her leave. I told her it was okay to bring her husband along. She was concerned that my mother did not want a man in her home. I told her not to worry and that I would help persuade my mom.
I later learned that after Ms. Yin started practicing Dafa, her personality completely changed. She was no longer unreasonable and easily irritated, but gentle and easygoing. Dafa resolved her family issues and brought about huge changes. Her husband regretted his affair, told his mistress to leave, and welcomed Ms. Yin back home. Her sons were all willing to live with her. Her youngest son also no longer badgered her for money.
She told me in private that her husband was a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) member and she wanted me to help him. So I seized the opportunity to talk to him about Dafa and the persecution. He eventually agreed to quit the CCP and later joined Ms. Yin in practicing Dafa. Four months later, he had to go home due to some urgent family matter.
I learned afterwards that he'd insisted on following Ms. Yin to work because he was concerned that his wife might be mistreated by her employer. Now he was very comfortable with the fact that she worked for a kind family who also practiced Falun Dafa.
Final Thought
That is the story of my mother's caretaker. The tremendous changes in Ms. Yin and her family attest to the power and beauty of Dafa. It is Dafa that transformed her family into a happy one. From their story, I want to tell everyone, especially those who have misconceptions about Dafa, that Master and Dafa are here to save all sentient beings. Don't listen to the fabricated lies and propaganda that slander Dafa. Let go of your prejudice and listen when practitioners explain the facts. Cherish the once-in-a-million-year opportunity and choose a happy and bright future for you and your family.
On this World Falun Dafa Day, I kneel to thank Master for his benevolent salvation and celebrate his birthday!
(Submission to “Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day” 2018 on the Minghui website)
