(Minghui.org) I am a Falun Dafa practitioner and follow the principles Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Daily life creates issues that need to be resolved. Given that I practice Dafa, I resolve these without creating conflict. This provides me an opportunity to clarify the truth about Dafa and the persecution. I also tell people the importance of withdrawing from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations.
Community Service
I live in an old building, one of two such buildings. The community association assumes responsibility for the trash removal, but nothing else.
The majority of owners in the complex rent their apartments out, and as a result, don't care much about the surrounding area. Thus, the overall community sanitation is poor.
After I moved into my apartment, I hired someone to clean the common area and the neighbors appreciated it. This made it much easier to talk to them about Dafa and also about withdrawing from the CCP. I helped them to understand that if they remained a member of the CCP they would be implicated at the time the Party is no longer in power.
Repair Opens Door to Talk About Dafa
A kitchen drainage pipe in the building opposite mine clogged frequently due to improper maintenance. It clogged again recently and dirty water accumulated outside the entrance. Nobody seemed to care, although someone put some bricks on the ground as stepping stones to avoid the dirty water.
I visited an apartment and was told, “I used to have the pipe cleaned when clogged, and it cost me around 100 yuan each time, but some of the other residents refused to share in the cost. Thus, I had to pay the major part of the bill. The pipe is old and must be replaced to solve the issue. This will cost much more.”
“I can pay for it,” I said. “But I'm too busy to oversee the repair. I can call the handyman to replace the pipe. Can you stay home to cooperate with him?”
He responded, “How can I ask you to pay for it? You don't live here. Why would anyone offer to pay for this repair?”
“We are all neighbors,” I said, “and share a common area. Environmental sanitation is everyone's responsibility. I pay the cost and you contribute your effort. We do this good thing for the community. Everyone here will be happy.”
He told me that it was great to have me as a neighbor, especially since I already had resolved other problems for them.
I called a handyman for an estimate. This person was astounded when he heard that I did this voluntarily and said, “It is hard to find someone like you today!”
This was another opportunity to talk about Dafa. I invited him for a cup of tea and told him I was a Falun Dafa practitioner and live by the principles Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. He listened carefully to my truth clarification and agreed to withdraw his membership with the Young Pioneers, a CCP affiliate.
My neighbor in the other building was happy to hear about the repair. After I told him that I would pay 600 yuan for the repair, he chipped in 100 yuan. I talked to him and his wife about Falun Dafa and advised them to quit the CCP and both agreed. He said, “Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” when I was leaving.
He told his neighbors that I paid for the pipe replacement and told them that I was a great person.
Taking Personal Interest Lightly
Before I practiced Falun Dafa, I was no different from any of my co-workers in the government. I had a little power, so people asked me to help them get a job. Bribery and corruption is the norm in China.
One person asked me to help find job for his wife in an enterprise. I did not know the director of the enterprise, but I thought I could ask others to help. Thus, I told him I needed money to bribe others in power to help him.
His economic condition was not good as his wife did not work, yet he gave me 3,000 yuan. I invited some friends for dinner and gave them gifts. I spent about 2,000 yuan and kept the remainder although I did not get a job for his wife.
This occurred close to 20 years ago. I took a cab last year and told the cab driver that he looked familiar. He asked if I still worked in some government department, and then explained how he knew me.
I was stunned and thought that the issue must have made an impact on him as he remembered it clearly. This meeting with him would be a chance for me to repay him. He told me that he was poor at the time, so he remembered the incident.
“I am sorry,” said I, “The matter was not solved. But, I spent your money and did not return the remainder. Do you remember how much you gave me?” He told me that it was 3,000 yuan
“I am really sorry,” I said. “Meeting with you today is not a coincidence. I must repay you. I don't have that amount of money with me. Give me your telephone number. I will call you.”
He was surprised and could not believe that I would repay him. I still asked for his telephone number and returned the 3,000 yuan to him.
He was touched and said he did not think that I would keep my word. So he did not mention the issue to his wife before coming to meet me.
This was another opportunity to talk to him about Dafa and I asked him to quit the CCP. He quit the CCP Young Pioneers and said, “Seeing your conduct, I know Falun Dafa is good.”
There were other such issues that I could solve after practicing Falun Dafa. This shows everyday people that practitioners take personal interest lightly.
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Category: Improving Oneself
