(Minghui.org) It has been almost four years since I moved to Frankfurt. I joined the Epoch Times after I came to Frankfurt. I had more opportunities to find my attachments and remove them in this new practice and work environment.
Experienced the Feeling of “After Passing the Shady Willow Trees, There Will Be Bright Flowers and Another Village Ahead.”
When I first came to Frankfurt in September 2017, I put clarifying the truth to local dignitaries last on my list to do things, because I had already too much on my plate. In addition, I needed more time to adjust to my work at the Epoch Times. I learned that clarifying the truth to local dignitaries had been weak in Frankfurt. This gave me more excuses not to get involved in this, as I thought we would not be able to break through it.
At that time, state elections were scheduled one month later. I knew it was an excellent opportunity to contact the dignitaries before the elections. Still, I found all kinds of excuses for not doing anything for three weeks.
One week before the election, I felt uneasy because I would miss the opportunity to meet with dignitaries. I stood before Master’s photo, and asked: “Master, what am I going to do? I still have to do it, right?” Immediately, I got an answer in my mind: “Of course, you should do it.”
At that moment, I felt relieved. I knew Master cleansed my negative thoughts and took away the factors holding me back from getting involved.
I began to look at each party’s campaign events schedule. It took me less than half an hour to find some valuable information.
Then, I sent the information to other practitioners in the hopes that they would participate in the events. I met with several dignitaries face to face during the following week. One of them has written us congratulatory letters every year since then.
This made me realize that we should seize every opportunity to save people. We should not judge things according to what we prefer. Master will help us as long as we can let go of our attachments.
Since then, we have formed a group that tells the truth to dignitaries. We have made some breakthroughs. Over the past two years, we have won support from several parties. A few dignitaries spoke at our events twice. We have also received congratulatory messages or letters of support for the May 13 and July 20 events.
When I clarified the truth to dignitaries I realized that we should save people with righteous thoughts.
Once, a dignitary replied to my email and said he did not want to receive any Falun Gong information in the future. He was rude. I felt a little hurt and had negative thoughts toward him. I thought to myself, “Then I will not send you any more information in the future.”
However, when I wrote back to him the next day, I realized that I had an attachment to myself. I only cared about my feelings without thinking of him. I asked myself why I did not want to give him another opportunity to hear the truth. I then wrote to him, explaining why I sent him information, and expressed my willingness to have a face-to-face appointment with him. Soon after, I received an invitation for a face-to-face meeting with him.
At the meeting, he said he had read some negative comments about Falun Gong online. I told him they were all the CCP’s lies and explained the facts to him. His attitude immediately changed, and he said he wanted to receive more information in the future. Later, this congressman sent us congratulatory messages several times. He also contacted a mayor who permitted us to hold a “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” art exhibition at City Hall.
On World Falun Dafa Day in 2021, I read the news about the support from dignitaries in other countries. For example, in Canada, more than 150 MPs wrote support letters. I saw the gap between our fellow practitioners and them. I know we still had a lot of work to do. We needed to make more efforts to clarify the truth to dignitaries.
Improving Xinxing in the Media Environment
I had a challenging time when I first worked at the Epoch Times. In retrospect, I realized that Master arranged this new environment for me to cultivate, find my attachments, and get rid of them.
First of all, I realized that I was self-centered. I used to be the coordinator of some projects. I got used to planning and arranging things for others, so I became stubborn and self-centered.
My work environment changed back and forth when I started to work at the Epoch Times. I had to take the tasks assigned to me every day, and I had to send my work to others for proofreading. They often pointed out all kinds of problems in my writing, which moved my self-centered mindset. I subconsciously found excuses and defended myself. Practitioners said that I did not look inward.
Not only that, but my self-centered mindset also manifested itself in my work. My major was Chinese literature, but my strength was literature pieces instead of journalism. I was new to journalistic writing. My supervisor asked me to read several books to learn how to write news. Some were big books that were hundreds of pages long. I did not have the time or energy to read them. I could not focus on reading even if I found time to read.
I thought that I did not need any professional training. But, it turned out that it wasn’t what I thought. Coworkers at the Epoch Times said what I wrote could not be called reports.
It was only after walking a tortuous path that I began to study how to write news reports, and only then did I know how to write news. I realized that my attachment to self was strong and foolish. I gradually let go of this attachment.
I realized that I had attachments of not accepting criticism. Since I was new to report writing, my coworkers pointed out from time to time my writing problems. Sometimes I was so embarrassed because I repeatedly made the same mistakes. Then, gradually, I realized that I could not improve my writing because I could not accept criticism.
I gradually calmed down when facing tests, and looked at my problems positively when my coworkers pointed them out.
But, there were always tests, sometimes unexpected and even catching me off guard. Once a coworker sent me a message pointing out the problems in my writing and offering some suggestions. I accepted her suggestions and thanked her.
A little while later, I received her message again. She said she didn’t expect my writing skills to be so poor and could not imagine my major was Chinese literature. She then said my writing was far worse than that of other of her coworkers.
I was unprepared and felt as If I had been hit in the head with a stick. I felt very hurt. But after a while, I calmed down, realizing that this was a test of my attachment to protecting myself. When I thought about what she said again, I found that she was not in the wrong. I had been making the same mistakes repeatedly, no matter how many times other coworkers pointed them out to me.
I found my heart was not easily moved afterward. I improved gradually in cultivation.
Master also said: “Our practice has a focus and truly points out those attachments. By abandoning them, one will make very rapid progress in cultivation.” (Lecture Five, Zhuan Falun)
My experience at the Epoch Times allowed me to coordinate some projects in Frankfurt. I am more broad-minded than before. I can accept a different opinion, and remain calm even when I hear unpleasant and irritating words.
I could understand those practitioners who were experiencing tribulations better. I took time to study the Fa, send forth righteous thoughts, share with them, and encourage them without putting more pressure on them.
I cherish the practice environment at the Epoch Times, including my time in Frankfurt. I want to thank Master for his compassionate protection, and my fellow practitioners for their help!
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