(Minghui.org) I was young when I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1997. I later stopped practicing because I loved to have fun and disliked hardships.
But Master did not give up on me and continued to watch over me so that now I have the good fortune to return to the Fa.
My Early Years as a Practitioner
I started junior high school in 1997. Because my mother became a Dafa disciple, I became one, too. Through Fa study, I began to think seriously about Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and to become aware of what I needed to do to be a truly good person.
I tried to practice Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in my daily dealings with my friends, so my classmates looked up to me. In the eyes of grown-ups, I was a very good child.
Losing My Way
Because I was preoccupied with fun and games, I gradually gave up on cultivating myself in early 2000. After that, my xinxing started to fall.
At first I simply stopped paying attention to the way I talked and acted. I then progressed to using curse words. Eventually, I picked up the bad habits of smoking and drinking, listening to degenerate rock and roll music, letting my hair grow long, marking my body up with tattoos, and piercing my ears. With guitar in hand, I plucked and danced away with abandon, like a wild man. I filled the walls in my house with graffiti. I completely let myself go, and thought I was hip and cute.
It was no easy task for my family to save enough money to send me to a university. However, I did not study hard, stopped going to classes, and threw money away on online games. I stayed up all night playing those games, and then dropped off to sleep during the day. I was turning into an absolutely unfeeling and callous individual, without regard for my studies, without regard for how hard my parents worked. I was becoming completely devoid of conscience.
Taking Advantage of Others
My family supported me financially after graduation, so I could look for work in Beijing. I gradually became more skilled and was able to earn more money. Yet, I continued to ignore how hard the financial situation was at home, and I spent my money carelessly. My moral baseline was practically non-existent.
I lived with a girlfriend, broke up with her, and went looking for another one. I became irritable, selfish, and greedy.
Meanwhile, I started to have physical problems. My good eyesight became increasing poor, my spine started to curve a little, I suddenly developed a problem with my heart, and I then had a strange case of rhinitis.
Although I had somehow turned into such a mess, Master did not give up on me. I often remembered Master’s teachings on how to be a good person and how to live a life of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Every time I thought of this, I felt ashamed and my heart was filled with pain for my misbehavior.
Priceless Return of the Prodigal Son
I returned home from Beijing in 2001. After a number of heart-to-heart exchanges with my mother and relatives who are Dafa practitioners, I became deeply sorry for all the foolish things I had been doing, so I made up my mind to return to Dafa cultivation practice.
From the moment I restarted my cultivation and again started living by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, I underwent tremendous changes both physically and mentally. After having smoked for a dozen years, I quit all at once, without experiencing any side effects. Then my physical problems disappeared. The most significant change was the return of my sense of morality. Assimilated into Dafa’s principles, my heart became pure, my casual lying and my bad habit of cursing disappeared.
I had treated my parents with complete disregard, never caring for them and being extremely selfish. I now always show them genuine concern and give them – and anyone older than I – due respect. I used to fight with others over self-interests and always wanted to be in power or in control, but I now consistently think of others first and try to look inward to make sure I am not lacking in whatever I do.
Whenever there are opportunities at work, I talk about what it really means to be a good person. Because I follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in everything I do, my colleagues can see and experience that Falun Dafa is good through everything I say and do. My boss has even commented that he has never met such a good person, who even refuses monetary rewards.
I remain healthy. I remain a person society considers praiseworthy. I show distinction at work. I earn an enviable salary. I am fully aware that all these are bestowed upon me by Master and Falun Dafa. I am profoundly grateful that I practice Falun Dafa. At the same time, I deeply feel the beauty and wonder of Falun Dafa.
To express my gratitude to Dafa, I seal carved (a classical Chinese technique) the following verse in Zhuanti, a style of Chinese calligraphy:
Cultivate the heart and a person returns to being good
A pure lotus is nurtured in this turbid field
Sweet rain falls all over the land
Blessings fill the world
Carved King Stone
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