(Minghui.org) I am an executive in a corporation which has changed its ownership from state to private. The result has been no real change. The only difference is that some people can now use their power to gain personal benefits. This means we have all kinds of conflicts, and the situation is now very complicated.
Although we have a "discipline inspection system" and a "management system," it is almost impossible not to give in to greed in this environment. Anyone with power does everything possible for his or her own personal gain. The only difference is in the amount taken. If I was not practicing Dafa, I would be lost in that quagmire of fame, personal gain, and lust, and would be unable to extricate myself. Fortunately I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1998.
Rectifying Myself
After beginning the practice, through Fa study, I began to understand the meaning of life. With further in-depth Fa study, I realized that my previous behavior was sinful and self-destructive. I experienced the joy of a life being saved. In daily life and social interactions, I began focusing on using the Fa to discern right from wrong, and began to correct my own incorrect behaviors and thoughts.
I had once used my position to get reimbursed 4,000 yuan for a correspondence course I took. That was a violation of the company rules, and I voluntarily returned the money to the finance department. When I worked at a lab, I took home a silver crucible lid and later I returned it. Before I practiced Dafa, I took home a variety of small household items such as electrical equipment and office supplies. After practicing Dafa, I began to purchase those items with my own money.
In 1998, after I finished studying at Tsinghua University, several of us graduates issued false invoices. At that time I did not have a deeper understanding of the Fa, so I went along with it. I knew in my heart that this was wrong however, so I deducted the amount on the false invoices when I got my reimbursement.
Looking back on this now, I still had strong human attachments at the time. I sometimes felt very reluctant about doing certain things. But it was a starting point. I improved in stages, from being unaccustomed to doing the right thing to gradually getting used to it, from reluctance to doing it naturally.
Before I obtained the Fa, I was already the head of a branch factory, and I thought I was comparatively honest and fair in dealing with gifts, rebates, etc. Although I did not deliberately ask for things, deep in my heart I did not think there was anything wrong with accepting the gifts and rebates.
As time passed and I gained more authority in my job, my greed also increased. If I had not started practicing Dafa, I would have ended up committing crimes.
I went through some xinxing tests at first when I tried to refuse those temptations. Some of the gifts were intended to appeal to a person's interests. When these gifts were offered by my close friends, leaders, acquaintances, and relatives, I found refusing them very hard to do.
My family members who did not practice Dafa didn't understand how I was handling things. I sometimes adopted an extreme method, such as refusing to see people so that they couldn't give me gifts, or I would return their gifts untouched. My attitude was very rigid, which made things awkward.
I once exchanged ideas with a fellow practitioner who reminded me what Master Li said:
“... 'I'm not an ordinary person. I'm a practitioner. You shouldn't treat me this way, for I'm a Falun Dafa practitioner.' Once this thought emerged, everything suddenly disappeared since they were all transformed anyway.” (Zhuan Falun)
I began to understand that only when one follows Dafa's standard and requirements, can one reform all incorrect conditions. When I encountered the situation again, I was able to let go of my human attachments and tell people about Dafa's requirements for practitioners. I also had a peaceful mindset and attitude, and people were happy to hear me out.
Later I ran into these situations less and less. If there were gifts that I really could not refuse, I tried to find an opportunity to return them or put them to use in the company's business activities.
During the past two years, I have been in charge of a technology project worth over two million. During that time many manufacturers and factories approached me to work on the project. Some promised to give me lots of money to get the chance to work on the projects. Some offered me cash or bonds, etc. to express their appreciation. I controlled myself and was not influenced by their offers. I followed the requirements and rules strictly, and was truly fair and just in handling the situation.
For an everyday person, or if I have not practiced Dafa, it would be unthinkable to be responsible for such a huge project and not ask for a penny. But as a Dafa practitioner, I was able to do so. And I did it naturally, not by forcing myself.
Over the years, many departments, customers, suppliers, and company employees changed their views of me. They went from not understanding to understanding, and then from recognition to admiration. Some customers and employees had the chance to get to know Dafa, and learned the truth about Dafa. Some predestined people also began practicing Falun Dafa.
Validating the Fa
A doctor at the factory noticed and said, “You don't come to the clinic.” People could not believe that I had had brain surgery in the 90s. (After beginning the practice I understood that Master has endured a lot of suffering for practitioners.) I participated in several of our company's organized exercise events by playing basketball. I played the entire game without a break. Even the young people could not keep up with me.
In the company and also in the residential community, I am well-known for wearing a T-shirt in the winter. This is true even when the temperature was 25 degrees Celsius below zero (-13°F).
Some people were not convinced and tried different ways to explain my behavior. None were able to explain it, because Dafa is an extraordinary science.
I remember reading articles by practitioners about how they recovered from various illnesses by reciting a few simple sentences. Nothing was described in detail, and everyday people are not able to understand it. In fact, the process of recovering from illnesses was quite amazing. I sometimes didn't even feel anything, and then I was well.
Even if an everyday person genuinely believes in Dafa with righteous thoughts, miracles will happen. My wife's uncle hurt his ankle and could not move it at all. That night he had to catch a train. I told him to sincerely recite, “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” The result was unexpected. As he began to recite the words aloud, he said, “Oh, I can feel the change.” Both he and his wife began to recite the words constantly. By 11:00 p.m., he was back to normal and got on the train without any help.
I have a nephew who had been for married several years and had not been able to have children. He and his wife had visited numerous doctors without success. I clarified the truth to them and they both withdrew from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. They both memorized those nine words. Shortly after watching the Shen Yun New Year Performance DVD, his wife became pregnant and later they had a healthy baby boy.
“Nowadays, whether in a state-run company or in other enterprises in this country, interpersonal conflicts have become very unique.” (Zhuan Falun)
In ordinary daily work, many conflicts occur due to selfishness. If there is a problem, people try to avoid taking any responsibility, or accuse others. Even if the person knows it is his/her own fault, they still try to find an excuse to avoid taking responsibility.
For different problems and different audiences, I use opportunities such as meetings and face-to-face private talks, etc. to guide people to first look inside themselves and try to solve their own problems.
There was once an issue of product quality at work. The production workshop and leaders of the management department met as usual and started to argue as usual. At the beginning of the meeting, I told them I would first try to find my own problems and try to find a solution. The atmosphere immediately changed. Through a calm discussion, people gradually realized their own problems and we quickly resolved the issues.
During the years when I was in a management position, I always insisted on looking inward. I also recommended that the management team look inward. So many problems and conflicts were easily resolved.
In my daily work, I always consider others first no matter whether I am dealing with leaders or subordinates. I try to do things to support them, and not oppose them. People say, “You and the chairman cooperated so well with each other. It was a perfect working team. We don't have any excuse not to cooperate with you.” Dafa bestows wisdom, which is reflected in our daily work, and it has a huge effect.
During the past few years I have worked on different jobs. I can work on each project with ease and quickly play the required role. A few years ago, I participated in the selection exam for enterprise level cadres. I got the highest score in the city. Due to the CCP's persecution of Dafa practitioners, they secretly removed my name from the list of qualified people. However my score had a big effect among local enterprises. Those people who learned the truth expressed their grievance to the authority's selectors.
Summarizing the past 14 years of my cultivation journey, I feel I still have not reached the standard of a genuine Dafa practitioner, and I still have quite a distance to go to catch up, when compared with Master's requirements. For a long time, I still have not been able to fundamentally eliminate some attachments.
Compared with the time I first obtained the Fa, I feel that I am not as diligent as before. I am thankful to the Minghui website for providing such an opportunity and platform. I can calm down and reform myself,
“Pause for a moment of self-reflection,and increase your righteous thoughtsThoroughly analyze your shortcomings,and progress with renewed diligence.”(“Rational and Awake” from Hong Yin Vol. II)
I will follow Master's requirements. In the limited time left, I will try to find the enthusiasm I had when I first started cultivation, and do the three things well.
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