(Minghui.org) People around me say that I’m really nice! However, I was not like this in the past. Master Li Hongzhi (Falun Dafa's founder) told us “...to be a good person, or an even better person.” (“Teachings at the Conference in Canada”) and I want to follow what Master said.
I am a young Dafa practitioner and have been cultivating for eight years. I like to listen to experience sharing articles on Minghui.org podcasts in my free time. I have heard stories of practitioners cultivating their xinxing and being a good person, which I found very helpful in my own cultivation.
My Husband Praised Me in Front of Others
I used to have a bad temper, but my husband's temper was even worse. We often quarreled and sometimes kicked each other. He often said that I was narrow-minded. I had a bad relationship with my mother-in-law, and I felt wronged.
Since practicing Dafa, I have strictly followed the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Our financial situation is quite moderate, but my own income is not great. I never ask my husband to buy me things, such as fashionable clothes or accessories. Almost all of our income was used to support our family. It was rare for me to buy new clothes for myself. Most of my husband's friends are wealthy, but I'm not jealous of how rich they are.
Before I started practicing Falun Dafa, my mother-in-law and I were at odds with each other. Since Dafa requires me to be a good and a better person, I started to think of my mother-in-law. I knew she had only one child - my husband – and raised him, saved money for him to get married, and buy a house. She spent most of her savings on him.
My mother-in-law was hospitalized due to a car accident two years ago. We took good care of her so that she could recover soon. I washed her hair, face, and feet, and cleaned the chamber pot. She insisted on not letting me clean it though, saying that she was really embarrassed to see me doing that, and she would wait for my father-in-law to help with it.
While she was hospitalized, I would ask my husband to bring some of our food or other things for her, which made her feel warm in her heart. I was usually reluctant to buy clothes for myself, but I was willing to buy them for my in-laws. My in-laws were very touched.
The reason I did this was because I practice Falun Dafa, and I have been following Master's teachings to be a good and better person.
My husband witnessed all my changes. At a family gathering at the beginning of this year, in front of many family members, my husband raised a glass of wine to my parents and said sincerely, “I thank you for giving me such a good wife.”
Consider Others First at Work
I interact with many customers every day at my workplace. Once a customer handed me a few carwash gift cards. Although my husband had a car, I politely declined them. There were also customers who invited me to dinner. I thanked them for their generous offer but politely declined.
When it was only 10 minutes before getting off work, a customer hurried over and said that he came here from Beijing. Although it was almost time to get off work, a Dafa practitioner must first consider others when doing things. It was not easy for him to come here from Beijing, so I stayed and took care of things for him. It took an hour. He was moved and wanted to give me money to thank me. I told him that I never accept money from a client.
When customers started yelling at me over misunderstandings, I wouldn't say anything and would greet them with a smile. An elderly man who had once scolded me came again for business. When he saw that I was receiving him, he was embarrassed, lowered his head, and blushed, like a kid who had done something wrong. I greeted him as if I was receiving a customer I knew well and answered the questions he raised in a calm manner. He thanked me.
Look Inward When Facing Conflicts
One of my elder sisters and I had been chatting enthusiastically during a family dinner. Suddenly, she stared at me with a straight face. As she kept staring her expression changed to one of hatred. I thought to myself: We were having a good conversation, why do you suddenly look at me like this? I couldn't hold back at the time, and stared intently back at her! We both stared at each other without blinking. There was a stalemate for a while until she moved her eyes away to look elsewhere.
We met again later, and she was still cold toward me. I was puzzled: I didn't say anything bad, so what's wrong? But I knew that when a practitioner has a conflict with ordinary people, it's not a coincidence.
Master said,
“…He's right,And I'm wrong,What's to dispute?”(“Who's Right, Who's Wrong” in Hong Yin III)
I tried to think about what I did wrong. Suddenly, I remembered that when we were chatting that day, I was emotional and spoke loudly. My tone was not peaceful and kind. My sister might have thought I was aggressive and domineering, and she probably couldn’t accept it.
Since then, I have paid attention to my tone of voice and wondered how to reconcile with my sister. One day she encountered some trouble. After I learned about it, I went over to help her.
I paid attention to cultivating myself and my tone of voice. I was no longer emotional and didn't speak loudly. My sister saw that I was sincere in my helping her. Her attitude toward me changed. Her eyes softened, and tears welled up in her eyes. I could tell that she wanted to say “Thank you!” but she lowered her head in embarrassment instead.
Eliminate My Fear and Awaken More People
The mission that Master has entrusted to Dafa practitioners is to help Master awaken people, and I have that engraved in my mind. In the beginning, I didn't dare to clarify the truth to people face to face, so I started by distributing Dafa informational materials.
One night, I held my daughter's hand and went to a residential building to distribute materials. As I was hanging materials on a doorknob, I heard movement from inside the apartment. After I quickly hung the materials, the sound inside the apartment became louder. They must have heard someone at the door. I hurriedly picked up my child and went downstairs.
Because I walked too fast, I missed some steps and fell to the ground with my child. I was terrified and told her not to cry. I got up, grabbed her, and ran away. I was so fearful at the time.
After going out to distribute materials many times, my fear lessened, and I even started to talk to people face to face. My daughter was too young to go to kindergarten, so I carried her on my electric bicycle. Once, while talking to a man, he told me that my daughter was asleep. I replied: “It's fine if my child endures a little hardship, as long as people can be saved. It's what we need to do.”
I was talking to a man in his 40s and advised him to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its youth organizations to ensure a bright future. He said he joined the Young Pioneers. Unexpectedly he suddenly sat on my electric bicycle.
I thought he was trying to stop me from leaving. I was terrified! I solemnly said: “I really want you to avoid the catastrophe and have a bright future. You are a good person, and I believe you understand my kindness. Only by quitting the CCP can you be safe. You should quit the Young Pioneers!”
I looked at him with a peaceful expression. I just wanted to save him. Inspired by my compassion, the man left my bike and quit the Young Pioneers.
I am very busy at work every day and take care of my child and the housework. For several years, I have spent half a day every week going out to clarify the truth and distribute informational materials.
When my attachment of seeking comfort arose, I would want to stay at home or go shopping. Once it was time to go out, somehow I didn't want to. I looked in the mirror and said to myself: “You are a Dafa practitioner. You are a life that came for the Fa. Saving people in this world is the only thing you must do. Master is anxious! Can you watch sentient beings who are in disaster and not help them out? The sentient beings in your heavenly world are still waiting for you to save them!”
Thinking of this, tears streamed down my face.
Wiping away the tears, I went to the city square to talk to people. After speaking with an elderly man, he suddenly said to me: “You are so kind, thank you!” I realized that it was Master encouraging me! There was no reason for me not to do well.
On my path of cultivation, I still have a lot of attachments that haven't been eliminated, especially fear. Fear of not being able to do things well, fear of not being sincere, fear of making mistakes, and so on.
Master said:
“...don’t we need to be free of all omissions if we are to cultivate to the point of Consummation?” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2010 New York Fa Conference”)
In this turbulent world, I should practice Dafa as I did at the very beginning of my cultivation.
Thank you, Master! Heshi
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
