(Minghui.org) The first time I read Zhuan Falun, I realized that I had to give up my profession. Two weeks later I quit my job as a Shiatsu therapist. I knew in my heart that this was the right thing to do. I trusted that a new career path had been arranged for me. Soon afterward the owner of an architectural firm hired me. This was in 2015.
My boss was very religious. When I brought Shen Yun flyers to the company, I learned that two coworkers had already seen the show and were enthusiastic. I showed the flyer to my boss and he said that he would be happy to watch it with his daughter. That was easy I thought.
A few weeks later when I asked if he purchased tickets, he dismissively said that his children weren’t interested. I was surprised. He ignored my reminders to see the show.
A coworker bought tickets for himself and his wife. A few weeks later another company contacted him and invited him to be a board member.
The following year I gave my boss a flyer, and showed him the video for the 2016 show. He smiled and took the flyer, but he did not attend the show.
The following year Shen Yun was scheduled to perform at the Burgtheater. I thought, “This must be the right location for him since he is from the upper class.”
His answer surprised me, “Katja, I know you want something good for me, but it doesn’t resonate with me.” I understood the first part of the sentence was his master soul speaking, and knew exactly what Shen Yun was about. The second part was something blocking him.
I began to have doubts about what I was doing. I felt encouraged to persist because, before I began practicing, I finally attended Shen Yun after a practitioner recommended the show to me for three years. She did not give up on me. This experience encouraged me to not give up on my boss.
The following year Shen Yun performed in Salzburg. It’s a high-class location and my boss owns a weekend house there. I told him how wonderful the show is and reminded him of our conversations about God and the divine. He smiled, took the flyer but didn’t say anything. He didn’t go.
Before Christmas, each one of us could give a “Christmas elf” to a colleague. I thought, “This is my chance!” The elves were assigned to each other by lot.
I drew the name of a colleague and thought about what to buy him. When I was at the entrance to a gift shop, a very clear thought came to me: He gets the Shen Yun ticket! Why hadn’t I immediately thought of that? I was so focused on my boss.
The colleague was very happy, and I privately gave his wife another ticket. I later found out that they bought two more tickets for their children and went as a family. Today, the colleague is on his way to a future where a high management position awaits him.
Another year came, and I tried a new approach. I casually mentioned Shen Yun to the boss: “Shen Yun ... in Graz ... you know, once in a lifetime you have to go ... you will surely like it.” My boss didn’t buy any tickets. I didn’t know what else to do and I started to let it go.
A colleague bought tickets for himself and his wife, and soon after he became the manager of our company. I met him during the intermission and asked how he liked Shen Yun. His words froze me, “You like this kind of thing?” His tone was condescending, and I had the feeling he felt sorry for me.
For the next few years, I avoided asking him about Shen Yun but I couldn’t forget what he said. When Shen Yun returned to Graz in 2022, I recommended Shen Yun to his family, as they lived there. To my astonishment he said, “That’s a good idea. What a beautiful performance!” I was shocked and realized that what he said before was not the real him. It was a test for me.
The show in 2021 didn’t happen because of COVID-19 and the boss had to sell his company. During discussions with the new owners, I learned that he suggested that I be let go. It hurt my heart. This was humiliation as I never experienced before. The new owners, on the other hand, affirmed he wanted me to be in the team and even wanted to expand my role.
Two weeks later we found out the sale had fallen through and my boss was back. The following months were difficult working with him. I decided to talk with him and told him that I knew he was going to fire me. He was very uncomfortable. We went for two walks and I listened as he spoke his mind. It still hurt my heart. I started to think about how I could leave the company.
When promotion for the 2023 Shen Yun season began, I invited him for the seventh time to see Shen Yun. I let my anxiety go and sincerely hoped that he would see Shen Yun. I asked our merciful Master for a good solution and let it go completely.
Sometime later, a colleague called me and asked me to help with the Christmas team as they were having difficulty coming up with gift ideas. I agreed reluctantly, as I had been part of the team for several years and felt I had done enough. We met for lunch and they discussed the program they were planning. I felt it was boring and uninspired. The options were a business lunch, going for champagne, etc. I listened for half an hour and then told them honestly that I didn’t find it very exciting.
Almost simultaneously, the four of them looked at me and said, “That’s why you’re here! That’s why we invited you! In a flash, I realized what to do, and said, “Well, let’s add Shen Yun tickets.” I showed them the trailer. Afterwards everything happened very quickly. My colleague asked how to write about Shen Yun. I looked up the website and copied the link into the Christmas list. Shen Yun tickets were officially on the gift list.
I was very excited for the next few weeks until the Christmas party. Would anyone want a ticket, or would they go for champagne? I had to remind myself several times a day that everything had been arranged. Time passed and it was finally the day of the party. Most people were a little drunk by the time it came to the gift-giving. I tried to get rid of my thought that alcohol confuses the senses. I managed to suppress those thoughts and wished all the beings in the room the best for their futures.
Everyone got a gift bag with four items in it, and each item was a choice of one possible gift. For the Shen Yun ticket, it was a big fabric lotus flower. I watched as my boss opened the bag and took out the flower. He looked straight at me and nodded with a huge smile. He immediately understood what the flower meant, as I had been telling him about it for six years.
Now three colleagues and I presented a gift to be chosen. I played a two-minute trailer that I received from a practitioner a few hours earlier. I was nervous. I said that the trailer spoke for itself and I couldn’t describe it better so I played the trailer. I held up the computer in front of me and hid behind it to send righteous thoughts as thousands and thousands of thoughts were going through my head, and my colleagues were gossiping and laughing, and making comments. Afterwards my boss stood up and said, “A good friend has been telling me for years that I should see Shen Yun and I know that she has always meant well with me. Katja, I sincerely promise, this time I will go.” He put the lotus flower in his hair and said that everyone who wants to go is welcome. Of the 19 people in the company, 11 went to Shen Yun in February.
I knew that my task in the company had been fulfilled. In February I left the company and started my own business. I am confident that something new is waiting and that I will now use everything I learned in the company in a new way.
I realized the meaning of Master’s Fashen looking after us and Master always being with us. I let go of my ego and false self every day. In the moments when the false me is not there, but my very own being, everything it needs is there. Everything is arranged.
Thank you Master! Thank you fellow practitioners!
(Sharing paper submitted to the 2023 European Fa Conference)
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