(Minghui.org) Many people want to become wealthy, attain a higher status, and enjoy life. These people gradually lose their inherent nature, however, and work incessantly for a lifetime of pursuit, which truly is an illusion.
Because of Falun Dafa, I learned to be a good person and to let go of the attachments to fame, wealth, and sentimentality.
Considering the Image of Dafa
I began to practice Falun Dafa when I was about to graduate from college. This cultivation practice taught me that one should not pursue fame or material interests. I knew I must follow Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to guide my actions.
Before cultivation, the purpose of so many years of education was to find a good job and live a good life. But now, I cannot follow ordinary people's principles and rely on networking to secure a good job.
I worked for a company, and I also taught after I graduated from college. I also took several civil service examinations. After passing the written tests, I lost out during the interview. Many relatives and friends told me that the civil service interview requires one to network, which I refused to do because I was a cultivator.
By being diligent in my Fa study and from experience sharing with other practitioners, I gained a better understanding of the issue of finding a job. I came to understand that we must consider the image of Dafa in the world.
At the age of 33, I took the national civil service exam again and passed the written test. Again, many relatives and friends suggested the network route and how much money I would need for bribes. I believed that my life was arranged by Master, however, and thus I did not have to follow society's norms.
I increased the intensity of sending forth righteous thoughts and actively prepared for interviews. In the end, I passed the interview and placed first. I got the job of a civil servant in the central government agency, which was the envy of many people.
Resisting Temptation
I am an inspector. As such, any lower unit is generally expected to provide meals, entertainment, and even gifts and money. However, I do not accept anything from those I inspect.
When I once inspected a chemical company, I was given an envelope, a common practice in China. I refused to accept it, which made the person think that she had done something wrong.
As I had not told my work unit that I practiced Dafa, I told her that my mother is a Falun Dafa practitioner, and she told me to follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. She taught me to be honest and kind and not to accept bribes. She understood and no longer tried to bribe me.
Her supervisor was surprised to hear that I did not accept gifts. He tried to hand me an envelope after dinner. I told him my reasoning, and for that, he respected me and wanted to be my friend.
After I was promoted to section chief, a unit in Inner Mongolia congratulated me, promising to mail some Inner Mongolian specialty products. I declined the offer, thanked him for his kindness, and told him not to worry, as I would always treat him fairly.
There were many opportunities for me to decline bribes, and at the same time to open the minds of others about the goodness of Falun Dafa.
Letting Go of Attachments During Title Evaluation
When it was time to be evaluated for a senior title, I prepared very well for it. During the evaluation process, one has to have papers published in core journals, as well as pass exams in English, computers, and professional knowledge. After having completed all the requirements, I got ready for the exams. Colleagues prepared cheat papers and even tried to give me a copy.
Plagiarism can pass examinations. Yet I remained true to the Dafa principles and answered questions based on my knowledge. I did not pass the exam, while those who plagiarized passed.
I felt a bit angry but looked inward. I realized I still held attachments to fame, wealth, reputation, and jealousy. I am grateful to Master's arrangements that helped me see my deficiencies and to improve.
Letting Go of Affection to Family, Negating the Persecution
In 2012, my mother was arrested for her belief in Falun Dafa. For a time, I was afraid, resentful, and worried. My mother helped me when I encountered problems in cultivation, so I was very dependent on her.
Master said:
“Dafa disciples are suffering,But who is ruined are sentient beings.”(“Every Lifetime Was For This Life” from Hong Yin III)
I knew that I could not allow family members to have further misunderstandings of Dafa. After a great deal of Fa study and reading practitioners' sharing articles on the Minghui website, I gradually put aside my attachment to my mother.
I took care of my father and encouraged him to use legal remedies against the persecution. From his initial helplessness and fear, my father became brave and fearless. He went to the public security bureaus, police stations, procuratorates, courts, prisons, 610 Offices, and central inspection teams to appeal for my mother. He also studied criminal law himself and sent a large number of complaints and appeal materials to the central and local governments.
In this process of rescuing my mother, my father became more and more aware of the true facts of Dafa, as well as the evilness of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). When he visited my mother in prison, he openly supported her. “You should not be afraid,” he said. “I'm still appealing for your case. And I'm not just doing it for you: I'm also doing it for the sake of justice!” He never cooperated with the 610 Office and never admitted that my mother was guilty. After my mother was released after serving the term in prison, my father also resisted the attempt by the 610 Office to take my mother to a brainwashing center.
After my mother returned home, my father supported us more. He did more housework every day so that my mother could study the Fa and practice the exercises. He also went out to tell people the facts about Dafa and the corruption of the CCP.
Master said: “Whoever does even just a small kind deed or minor good thing for Dafa disciples during this time of persecution will definitely become a divine being!” (“Fa Teaching at the 2007 New York Fa Conference” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference VIII)
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