(Minghui.org) November 24, 2002 was a special day, as from this date forward I started my journey on the path of Falun Dafa cultivation. Over the past ten years, I have received many blessings, including good health, the elevation of my xinxing, and the improvement of my relationships with other people. Therefore, I would like to share with fellow practitioners the positive impact I made on my family and at my workplace due to the profound influence of Falun Gong.
Changing the Family Environment
Before practicing Falun Gong, I was very thin-skinned and reacted to anything that didn't agree with my way of thinking. I used to fly into rage over minor issues. Everyone in my family feared me, and all tried to avoid any conflict with me. I was a utilitarian, very selfish, and also was after the pursuit of perfection. I couldn't tolerate any mistakes. My family was at a loss as to how to please me. At first they pointed out when I was in the wrong, however I was stubborn, indifferent, and uncompromising. They got sick of me and tried to avoid me as much as possible. This was inevitable, as no one likes to deal with an autocrat who is impetuous and arrogant. No one cared to point out my shortcomings, so I lived with the illusion that whatever I had done was correct and whatever I had chosen was the best.
I didn't change and always acted self-centered. When I embarked on the cultivation path, I looked inward for the very first time. After reading Zhuan Falun repeatedly, I understood many questions that had been on my mind but I couldn't find any answer. However, I changed fundamentally without realizing it. Teacher said,
"To tell you the truth, the entire cultivation process for a practitioner is one of constantly giving up human attachments." (Zhuan Falun)
I tried my best to assimilate to the highest principles of the universe.
Looking back over the years before I practiced Falun Gong, when I measured myself by selfish thoughts instead of the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, I realized that what I thought was correct was in fact not, with some notions being rather warped. Once I realized this, I was very much ashamed and understood why my family felt aggrieved and wronged. I had held twisted notions and a self-centered attitude. Luckily I found my conscience, and continued looking inward.
I finally understood my family and tried very hard to change myself. My inflexible attitude, ice-cold demeanor, and tone became gentle and tolerant, and I could feel my family gradually changing their attitude toward me. I had finally learned to touch their hearts and communicate with them. I no longer flew into rages, and instead I helped with chores, such as washing the dishes and cleaning the house. Our atmosphere became harmonious and I also could see the happiness in the eyes of those around me.
In the past I was angered when I saw any injustice, and when people argued, I butted in. I simply couldn't turn a blind eye when I came across an argument, and wasn't satisfied until the matter was resolved as a result of my mediation. Whenever I got involved in an argument, my children asked me to not get involved. They felt embarrassed to be around me. I had always thought that it was important to stop people from arguing. After reading Zhuan Falun I understood why one should not meddle when other people fought. Since I did not know the karmic relationship, I would accrue karma if I insisted on getting involved. After looking within, I enlightened to the understanding that I came across other people's arguments because I was still very competitive. I then followed the teachings in Zhuan Falun, maintained a mind of kindness, and gradually let go of being competitive. After some time, I no longer came across people arguing. I realized that nothing is accidental. The best way to resolve any problem is to look inward. I am so fortunate to have embarked on the Falun Dafa cultivation path. Otherwise, how could I understand such a profound principle?
Changes at the Workplace
I have been a public servant in the local court at the senior management level and lived a very simple life. Since I began practicing Falun Gong great changes have taken place at work. According to my understanding, Zhuan Falun teaches one to be a good person in any environment and one should not fight back when punched or insulted. This sounds so easy, but in fact it is not easy at all.
In the third month after I began practicing Falun Gong I picked up a wine glass during a work-related event, and it immediately broke into two pieces. Ever since then I stopped drinking alcoholic beverages. Before cultivation practice, I thought it was almost impossible not to drink during work-related meetings. Therefore, I never thought that I would stop drinking. However, shortly after I started cultivating I stopped drinking. Even more miraculous, my colleagues, once they learned that I didn't drink because I practice Falun Gong, stopped offering me drinks. I haven't touched alcohol for the last ten years.
Ever since I started practicing Falun Gong I have felt responsible for my surroundings. In or outside the office I would pick up trash from the ground without feeling embarrassed. It was so natural because it was an action that came straight from my heart. My fellow employees now even pick up trash before I do when we are in each other's company.
After cultivating for five years, one of my subordinates invited me to officiate at his wedding. I hesitated because being the master at a wedding ceremony was considered a very high honor. Even the higher ups at the court had never been asked to officiate at a wedding. After thinking about it, I gladly accepted the invitation. This subordinate invited me to officiate at his wedding because he respected my decision to cultivate. Because I practice Falun Gong I tried my best to assimilate to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and harmonize the environment around me. The other employees accept the Falun Dafa principles and I felt very proud and fortunate to be a Falun Dafa practitioner.
Since then, I have officiated at six weddings. My congratulatory message to the newlyweds and the guests focuses on the principles Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I ask that they take these principles as the highest standard in their lives. The feedback from the guests has been very good. They said that that it was the best congratulatory message they had ever heard and expressed their gratitude. I always felt honored to be a practitioner and hold a boundless gratitude to Teacher for providing me the opportunity to practice Falun Gong.
One day, I couldn't find a certain lawsuit record book. According to the rules and regulations, the record book should be kept for a certain period of time. It was confirmed that the book had been destroyed before I worked there.
The litigants and a human rights representative came to our office and challenged us, telling us to find the book immediately or they would lodge a complaint with the chief justice. I first asked them to calm down and then told them the truth. I said, "The record has been destroyed. It was our mistake."
I kept a positive tone and admitted the mistake. As a result the litigants calmed down, heading off a major dispute. Witnessing my sincerity by admitting the mistake, the human rights representative also helped the litigants calm down. He said, "If it were not for your demeanor, or if you had tried to find all kinds of excuses and shirk responsibility, we would have lodged a complaint with the chief justice. We even planned to sue you in a higher court, and expose the issue to the media. I have been doing human rights activities for a long time and have dealt with many public servants. Generally, everyone tries to find an excuse and shirk his or her responsibility. A public servant who admits a mistake is unknown and you are the first I have met who has done so."
I felt that the human rights representative was a very righteous person and had a very strong sense of justice. I talked to him for a long time about Falun Gong. Once he understood that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) persecutes people for practicing Falun Gong he expressed indignation and promised to help Falun Gong practitioners through human rights associations. Since then he has introduced many human rights advocates to me and has actively participated in human rights activities concerning Falun Gong.
Understanding the Falun Gong Principles
One day I was invited to give a speech about Falun Gong at a CEO training course of the postgraduate school of the University of Incheon. I was told that I would be paid 50 thousand Won (Korean currency). They asked for my bank routing number, so that they could transfer the money into my account. I understood that as long as one was a cultivator, for any activity publicizing Falun Gong, one should not be paid. Therefore, I asked them instead to buy the book Zhuan Falun and give it to the students who attended the lecture, which was done.
Not long after, a fellow practitioner shared what the wife of the publishing house owner had said. After the head of the publishing house told his wife that I used the money I was given for the lecture to purchase Zhuan Falun for the students who attended the lecture, his wife said, "Falun Gong practitioners are noble people just like divine beings!"
Upon hearing these words I felt even more deeply how fortunate I was and how glorious it is to be a practitioner.
I have been cultivating Falun Gong for ten years and I've changed completely. I have to thank Falun Gong for the improvement in my morality and the positive impact it has brought to my life. I experienced that Falun Gong betters ones life and helps establish a harmonious environment.
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Category: Improving Oneself
