(Minghui.org) I’m a teacher, and I started practicing Falun Dafa in 1998. By following Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, I’ve become a better teacher and a better person.
Master Li Hongzhi said,
“I believe that the world will be a better place if we can each work on ourselves and look at our character, or thoughts, to identify the source of any problems we experience, and then make a point of doing better next time and try to always be thoughtful towards others.” (The Ninth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
I referred to Master’s words as my guide and always considered others first. Many colleagues and students said they could feel my sincerity and kindness.
As a classroom teacher, I educated my students according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance so that they would become truly good. I told them to be kind and stay calm when facing conflicts. My students knew they should not compete or be jealous of others. They learned to help and learn from each other.
I noticed they gradually stopped swearing and fighting. The naughty children began to study hard and respect their teachers. Even substitute teachers said they were happy to teach my class.
One of my students had mild autism. After I told the students about the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the others stopped bullying her. Many invited her to play games or helped her with her studies.
When parents saw the changes in their children, they told me, “You are so good to the children. Only people who practice Falun Dafa are so kind.”
When my school later merged with another school, some of my students left. When their parents came to say goodbye, some wept and bowed to me.
Do Not Expect Reciprocation
I often helped my colleague Ling manage her classroom and recess. Over time, the other teachers said she was lazy and manipulative. Some told me, “Don’t do everything for her. You’re inviting trouble for yourself if her students have problems.”
I replied, “Thank you for reminding me. You know I practice Falun Dafa, and the fact that she asks me for help shows that she trusts me. If anything does happen, I will accept responsibility.”
I helped another classroom teacher, Chan, organize his classroom and clean it. I also helped him order supplies. He praised me in front of the other teachers. I said, “Thank you for the compliment. As a Falun Dafa practitioner, I just want to be a good person according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
Take Personal Interest Lightly
Nowadays, many teachers give after-hour tutoring classes to earn extra money. Some parents said they trusted me and suggested I tutor after school. I thought about their suggestions and making extra money.
Master Li said,
“ …Let each and every thingbe measured against the Fa.Only then, with that,is it actually cultivation.”(“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)
When the pandemic hit in 2020, many parents were worried when their children could not attend school in person, so I decided to help out.
I did research on meaningful educational games and organized my students to play them online. They loved it, and some of their parents got involved, too. The parents said that they were lucky their kids had such a good teacher. They thanked me for doing this and not charging them a penny. Some of my students later participated in a national educational game competition, and five ended up placing in the top 50.
In the summer of 2020, I gave free math tutoring to my students during vacation. Everyone I tutored improved academically and became more confident. They often said, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”
I then taught all my students to say, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” I also told them to go home and share it with their families.
A few days later, one parent told me that his child came home and told the family what I said about behaving and being a good person. He said their child liked me and enjoyed my class.
During the summer vacation, I explained one or two typical math problems every morning, recorded the video, and sent it to the students. Some parents messaged me, saying, “Thank you for your long hours of unrequited dedication, great love, and selflessness. You have not only helped the children but also us parents. Your commitment is obvious. We express our heartfelt gratitude for your dedication. Thank you!”
A Good Wife and Mother
I was rather narrow-minded before I began practicing Falun Dafa. My husband used to have a bad temper. So when we both got angry, we would not talk for days.
Master said,
“Of course, we go about our practice in the secular world, and so we should still be devoted and respectful to our parents and care well for our children; we should be good to others, not to mention our own families, in whatever setting we may be, and treat everyone with kindness. We should treat everyone well, which of course includes parents and children, and think of others first at all times. Your heart will not be selfish, then, but will be loving, kind, and compassionate.” (The Sixth Talk, Zhuan Falun)
I remembered what Master said. At home, I began to respect my husband’s opinion. I also helped his relatives without nagging or complaining.
My husband witnessed my changes, and he also changed. He became very supportive of my practice. I told him last year that I wanted to attend group Fa study in the evening, and he agreed. When I wanted to copy the main text of Falun Dafa, Zhuan Falun, he helped me find the right paper. I asked him to remember to recite “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,” and he said he did it often.
I once asked my son to do something, and he talked back, which upset me. Then I thought, “My son is right. Why do I always see his flaws but not his strengths?” I thought about it and calmed down. When my son noticed that I wasn’t angry, he said, “Oh, your practice of Compassion and Forbearance was not in vain!”
I hope everyone can know the beauty of Falun Dafa and stay safe in this chaotic time.
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