(Minghui.org) I grew up in a family that wasn’t very wealthy, and my parents had a hard time making money. So, from a young age, I thought money was a good thing since it could buy nice clothes and good food. During my school years, I was considerate of my parents by saving money on living expenses whenever I could.
Back then, I never drank bottled water. Whenever I was thirsty, I just drank tap water from the school. While others were having fun during college, I was already working part-time. After graduating and starting work, I realized that my low salary didn’t match my abilities, and I felt a sense of injustice and resentment. Having to face this reality, I valued money even more and became even more calculating about how to get it.
After I started practicing Falun Dafa, I transformed from being obsessed about money to being able to let go of material interests with equanimity. It is Master Li who has taught me to think of others and how to face losses and gains.
In my business dealings, I’ve also changed a lot. Previously, if shipping costs were high or the shipping insurance was expensive, I would notify the customer to pay the difference. I had the mindset of not doing business at a loss. Through my cultivating in Dafa, I changed this mindset. Now, when some orders only have a profit of a few cents, I even lose money when I deduct the insurance. But I decided not to ask customers to pay the difference anymore.
The fact that they placed an order with our store means we have a connection, and I want to make this a positive one. After I stopped obsessing over losses and gains, I felt much more relaxed about doing business. And in fact, our store’s revenue and profits have remained quite substantial.
Let me also talk about the xinxing tests of self-interest that my wife and I faced. Previously, when my wife and I had conflicts over material things, I always liked to calculate the financial aspects. We would argue about what belonged to her and what belonged to me. Sometimes, it seemed that we enjoyed the process of squabbling over who owed what. Through cultivation, I understood this wasn’t just about self-interest, but also about a competitive mindset. After realizing my attachment, I knew that I needed to let go of it. Since then, I never fight over finances with my wife. I give her all the money I earn, and I no longer even ask how much money we have.
Since I let go of my attachment to material gain, I’ve even forgotten the password to my safe. My life has become simpler through cultivation. I only keep a few hundred yuan in my wallet, and it never seems to decrease. A few years ago, my wife’s sister wanted to buy a house. Buying a house is difficult these days. So I lent her 100,000 yuan. When she was renovating her home, we helped out without considering any personal loss or gain. The year before last, my wife mentioned that her sister had repaid us tens of thousands of yuan, but I didn’t ask how much she still owed, nor did I care.
Two years ago, my father-in-law had surgery that cost 35,000 yuan, which we paid for. My wife came back and told me that her mother had some money and said that we should pay for the surgery first, and they would repay us when their bank deposit matured.
When she told me this, I knew this was another test of my attachment to material gain. My heart was calm. I faced it with equanimity and didn’t say a word. My wife later mentioned it a couple more times, but I remained unmoved. I thought about how hard my in-laws had worked their whole lives, supporting my wife and her sister through school. They had sacrificed a lot, and they lived frugally; earning money wasn’t easy for them. I knew that, as a cultivator, I should consider others, so I said to my wife, “Do you still want the money your mother gave you?”
My wife told me she didn’t. However, she was a little hesitant. But when she finally returned the 15,000 yuan she had received, her mother was moved. My father-in-law has now begun practicing Falun Dafa. He does the five sets of exercises every day at home and when he has time, he reads Zhuan Falun and listens to Master’s lecture recordings. My wife’s sister also frequently recites “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” and sometimes listens to Master’s lectures as well.
This year, Shen Yun was broadcast on New Tang Dynasty Television. There was also a program called “Good Deeds Rewarded,” which was very insightful and moving. A kind thought and a good deed are truly important. This year, I thought to myself, as a practitioner, I also need to sow good seeds. So, during the Chinese New Year holiday, I bought gifts for my uncles and aunts. I didn’t expect anything in return. I bought them out of genuine sincerity, simply to show my respect.
Even though I don’t see my younger siblings’ children, I still gave them red envelopes (New Year’s money). Recently, my mother told me that perhaps because of my good deeds, my uncle, who had known about Falun Dafa for 10 years but hadn’t yet begun practicing, joined a group Fa study after the holiday.
In this society, full of temptations and self-interest, I have learned to let go of the pursuit of personal gain and be a good person. Falun Dafa has opened my heart and taught me to be tolerant of others.
Thank you, Master! Thank you, Dafa!
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Category: Improving Oneself
