(Minghui.org) Heading towards 40, after searching for a long time, I finally found Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) on the Internet. I will never forget how glad and excited I was at that moment.
Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, wrote in Chapter Eight of Zhuan Falun:
“Many people have practiced qigong for a very long time. There are also people who have never practiced it, but who have pursued and pondered the truth and the meaning of human life. Once they learn our Falun Dafa, they will understand at once many questions in life that they have wished to understand but could not answer. Perhaps along with their minds being elevated, they will become very excited—this is for sure. I know that a genuine practitioner will know its weight and cherish it.”
The power of reading the Fa topped all my previous experiences of various spiritual pursuits. I experienced fundamental changes in my mindset via an irresistible yet compassionate force. I was moved to tears. I knew that my life was no longer what it was before.
I quit some very bad habits after reading Zhuan Falun for the first time: I stopped browsing porn online, deleted all video games from my computer, stopped cursing, and quit alcohol. I also cleaned up my bookshelf, removing all inappropriate books, so nothing would interfere with my Fa study.
My Workplace Is My Second Home
I often pondered whether my current job suited me, and I thought that maybe I should find a different one. I sometimes even doubted the meaning of my work. I felt that I wasn't appreciated enough, and I envied those who had their dream jobs.
I started showing more and more symptoms of burnout. However, during Fa-study I gradually understood that I was exactly where I needed to be. I sensed the genuine connections between me and my colleagues. I can help them every day. This may be trivial to me but very beneficial for them.
Whenever the situation seems unfair or tense at work, my colleagues help me to identify my shortcomings and wrong thoughts that stem from a need to validate myself. Once I identify my mistakes or shortcomings, I can then elevate myself by eliminating them. In conflicts, if I can remain calm and treat my colleagues with kindness, they provide me with opportunities to reduce my karma.
Therefore, when I pay off my karma after a conflict, our relationship is restored—as if the conflict never occurred. The cycle repeats after some time. Who knows how many beings I have hurt life after life?
My boss and I are very different. He tends to look at issues from the perspective of potential problems, searching for obstacles, so he is wary of any kind of change or new things. By contrast, I see solutions and opportunities in these tasks and dive in without obtaining a complete picture of the situation. Our opposing styles have generated a lot of debate and tension.
As my understanding of the Fa increased, I started to see how our very different ways of working could complement each other. His strengths could correct my weaknesses. There was a way for us to move forward instead of getting stuck in permanent disputes. I gradually learned to appreciate him, and our cooperation improved greatly.
We went through a really hard time last year. A re-organization at the group level generated a great deal of work, stress, and pitfalls. Sometimes the mental pressure was indeed huge. Problems piled up. I was becoming more and more pessimistic about the situation. But I recalled the Fa I'd learned and took a step back. Then I saw things that were not being handled the way a practitioner should handle them. When I corrected those issues, the situation improved immediately, and the tension was eased.
I realized that I was looking at the problems with my human notions, so they seemed to be very serious, but they were actually minor. I often stuck stubbornly to my own ideas of implementation, or I was frightened by the number of problems I faced. So I had to stop for a moment and let go of the fear and stress.
We eventually did such a good job that the management highlighted our outstanding performance at the end-of-year ceremony. They also thanked us personally later. My boss thanked me and said that he couldn't have completed the work without me.
Office protocol doesn't endorse discussing religious subjects, so I have not yet found a way to talk about Falun Gong with my colleagues. However, we do have freedom of religion, and I have hung up posters that say “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” at my desk.
Because I work in the information technology department, many colleagues visit me and can see the posters. This is how I am raising their awareness at the moment. I know that I have to find a way to break through this situation and clarify the truth.
The Principles and My Family
My early excitement upon finding the Fa might have slightly disturbed the family atmosphere, but I've finally found the right balance. Our life has become more stable and more harmonious. Previous family tensions have also been dissolved. My wife and my daughter continue to support my practice, and all other family members understand that Falun Dafa is good, and they are all against the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
I try to schedule my time to practice early in the morning and late in the evening, so I don't cut into our family time, and I can study the Fa and do the exercises much more quietly.
Falun Dafa's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are reflected in my family's everyday lives as well. For example, we bought a small rug at discount from a home furnishing shop at a very good price. We had wanted to replace our existing rug for a long time, but we did not want to spend a lot. When the cashier tallied up our purchase, I told her that I appreciated the discount but that the price seemed far less than I expected and asked her to double-check the total.
My wife had visited the store before and was told that the rug was not priced. The cashier said that she had scanned the barcode, and it had to be right. Then I showed her that there were other barcodes on the rug, and not all of them were related to the price. Together we found the correct barcode associated with the advertised price.
In between, we joked that although the rug was discounted, we did not want to take it so cheaply. She was very grateful, and the lady next in line also noticed the situation. She said that she did not even think that there were such honest people. This is of course second nature for me as a Falun Gong practitioner, but I was very happy that my wife handled it the same as I.
A short time ago, my daughter asked me to help her with a classroom project. It was an opportunity at her school to make a short presentation about religions. She chose the topic of Falun Dafa. Of course, I was very happy when I heard that, because it was her decision and from her heart. In addition, this will be a very good opportunity to help clarify the truth. Though Falun Dafa is not a religion, and has no religious form, if people look at it this way in the beginning, it is not a problem as I understand it.
I have participated in several parades to distribute flyers and carry banners. These were indeed extraordinary experiences. Everything I've done so far in truth-clarification is far from enough. I know that this is related to my inadequate understanding of the Fa. In the time to come, in addition to strengthening my personal cultivation, I need to reach out to more people to inform them of the facts about Falun Gong and the persecution in China, because Falun Dafa is truly great. It benefits people and society in countless ways.
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!
