(Clearwisdom.net) Ms. Zhang Cixi is an elementary school teacher at Fuxing Elementary School in Taichung County, Taiwan. She always wears a smile and her friends say that she is a model daughter-in-law.
She has been living with her sisters and brothers-in-law and their families since she got married over twenty years ago. She takes care of a family of nine, in addition to working as a school teacher. In Taiwan's society where small, two-income families have become the mainstream, her story is unusual. In particular, her dedication to taking care of her elderly father-in-law and running the house has won the hearts and admiration of many friends and relatives. However, it was only after she started practicing Falun Dafa that she was able to accomplish and contribute so much, unconditionally and without regret.
Weak and Fragile Before Practicing Falun Dafa
Ms. Zhang's husband is the eldest son in his family. Therefore, after getting
married, Ms. Zhang was responsible for cooking and handling all the household
chores, despite the fact that she was a working woman who did not have strong
physical stamina. Trying to juggle between work and family had taken a toll on
her health; she became thinner and her face appeared a waxy yellow. In the
summer she dreaded working in the closed space with the high humidity in the
kitchen. She often got heat stroke after cooking a meal, which led to
excruciating abdominal pain and vomiting. Her poor health and the burden of
taking care of a big family was very exhausting.
Worried about her unhealthy complexion and weak physique, some of her co-workers
told her, "Cixi, when you get to be our age, your health will be
ruined!" She knew very well that she was in terrible health, so she tried
to make changes. She worried that when she got older, she would require medicine
on a longterm basis like her in-laws. She did not plan on being plagued by
sicknesses, lying in bed and depending on her family to take care of her when
she gets old. After her children attended junior high school, she started
thinking about her own health and planned to take something like a Taichi class.
One day in school she saw a flier with information about Falun Dafa's nine-day lecture video seminar, which mentioned the benefits that Falun Dafa has on mind and body. Ms. Zhang thought that it was exactly what she needed. She called and signed up for the nine-day seminar. The man who answered the phone talked to her for about 30 minutes and told her about the changes in his wife after she started practicing Falun Dafa. Ms. Zhang said that when she thought back, she felt embarrassed because she had taken so much of his time. But the man's kindness and warmth was Ms. Zhang's first impression of Falun Dafa.
Beneficial in Many Ways
Ms. Zhang started going to a practice site to learn the Falun Dafa exercises on the second day of the nine-day seminar; that was seven years ago. Now, her complexion has a rosy glow. With deep appreciation, she described the changes in her mind and body, "I have gained good health since I started practicing Falun Dafa; I'm energetic, as if I have unlimited energy."
The threat of heat stroke has long disappeared. She said shyly, "In the past when my health was not good, I was constantly apologizing to my husband and family for not being able to do my work in the house. My health has improved so much since I started practicing Falun Dafa. According to the teachings of Falun Dafa, I should do what I'm supposed to do, and in addition, I should to do even better." Now her physical strength is so good that she can work all year round without taking a break.
The changes in her are beyond physical health. The change in her mindset is the fundamental reason behind her being able to do things better. This is clearly demonstrated in how she has been able to take care of her bedridden father-in-law, who suffers from diabetes, gallbladder problems, and lung cancer. Since his gallbladder surgery, he has been on a fat-restricted diet. He has difficulty chewing lean meat and once threw the food back on his plate, refusing to eat.
Before Falun Dafa, Ms. Zhang would have cried for days over the incident. She would have gone to her parents to tell them how miserable she was. After practicing Falun Dafa, when this happened, she realized how pitiful her father-in-law was and that he could not do anything about human beings going through birth, old age, sickness and death. She understood deeply his pain, and she no longer had the feeling of being wronged. "I must think of others in everything I do, and treat people kindly." Ms. Zhang said that she was following Teacher's instructions.
Many women think that it is difficult to be a daughter-in-law. Conflicts are inevitable in a marriage like Ms. Zhang's because she came from a family with different values, concepts, customs, and preferences. Her father-in-law is in charge of the family's financial resources and has developed a misunderstanding with her sister-in-law regarding some financial issues. Ms. Zhang tried to explain to her father-in-law that he could stop worrying about his offspring and focus on his health. Her father-in-law misunderstood her and complained to the whole family that she would not listen to him and that she contradicted him. He became so mad that he ignored her when she was in the room.
When she asked him to eat as she usually did, he would ignore her. Three days had passed, and he was still mad and still ignored her. Ms. Zhang thought about giving up. Yet, she thought that if she did not take care of his needs, she would aggravate his pain since the old man was already tormented by his poor health. She persisted in asking her father-in-law to eat after she finished cooking a meal. On the fourth day, her father-in-law's anger finally subsided and he responded to her invitation. She smiled because of this. The traditional value of filial piety has become almost extinct in this day and age, and it is so rare that one can be so dedicated and so caring unconditionally and without regret. Ms. Zhang said, "The principles of Falun Dafa have given me the strength."
Father-in-Law's Support
Ms. Zhang's father-in-law was worried about Ms. Zhang's practicing Falun Dafa because he had learned about the persecution against Falun Dafa from TV news programs. He asked his wife to tell Ms. Zhang, "China is brutally persecuting Falun Dafa. Don't practice anymore so that they won't catch you." However, the family members all supported and praised Falun Dafa because they had seen the changes in Ms. Zhang's body and mind.
Ms. Zhang has been doing all the housework without grievance and her sisters-in-law have no complaints about her. They actually praised her from the bottom of their hearts, "Sister-in-law, you have done so well!" Her younger sister-in-law even offered great support to her and volunteered to do the housework or find helpers when she was out participating in group Fa-study or other Falun Dafa activities. Consequently, Ms. Zhang's husband also started practicing Falun Dafa.
When Ms. Zhang's father-in-law was in pain because of his illnesses, Ms. Zhang invited him to sit in meditation with her and her husband. He replied that he was too old to cross his legs, and that they could just go ahead and practice on their own. Ms. Zhang discovered that her father-in-law had changed gradually, and instead of worrying about them, he encouraged the couple to practice together.
Resolving conflicts with a compassionate mind, constantly thinking of others in everything she does, and gradually and subtly winning the support and admiration of others--this is a true reflection of Ms. Zhang after she started practicing Falun Dafa.
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