(Minghui.org) Dear respected Master! Dear fellow practitioners!
I would like to share insights into my cultivation journey from the past six months while working in a secular job.
Our restaurant lease expired about two years ago. Believing that the Fa-rectification was nearing its end, I considered it secondary whether someone would take over the premises or what the rent would be. My priority was to have more time to save sentient beings. However, several opportunities to lease the space or enter into a partnership fell through. Consequently, the restaurant remained unused for two years. The main obstacle was that our canton (a state-level territory within Switzerland with its own local laws, taxation, and administration) enforces the strictest regulations for the hospitality industry in all of Switzerland, requiring operators to hold a specific professional license. Since I did not want to waste time learning secular skills, I had never taken the exam for this license.
Later, when someone was looking for accommodation for over a dozen workers, I decided without much deliberation to convert the restaurant into short-term rental lodging. I assumed at the time that this arrangement would last until the conclusion of the Fa-rectification. Unexpectedly, a few months later, an elderly neighbor (our former landlord) confronted my husband in a fit of anger.
He asked, “Why are you wasting such a prime restaurant location on rental housing? Many friends think it’s a shame and can’t understand why you no longer run a restaurant. Even the local newspaper has reported on it.” After my husband told me about this, I reflected on the situation. Had we failed to meet Master’s requirement to “… cultivate while conforming as much as possible to the way of everyday people’s society”? (Teachings at the Conference in Singapore)
I asked myself, “Would an ordinary person do what we did—leave a restaurant sitting empty for two years rather than taking an exam for a manager’s license and then running the business?” Certainly not, unless they were billionaires, which we clearly were not. In this regard, I had evidently failed to meet ordinary society’s norms. I realized that I had not acted in accordance with the Fa, and that I needed to correct myself immediately.
I gathered the required materials and began studying diligently. Obtaining a hospitality manager’s license in Switzerland covers a wide range of subjects, including food safety, fire prevention, business management, accounting, biology, labor law, civil law, and various other legal regulations. Not having set foot in a classroom for 20 years, this was a daunting challenge. There were many technical terms that I couldn’t grasp in Chinese, let alone German, a language that is not my native tongue. One can easily imagine how difficult the whole process was.
I had always managed in the past to earn every certification I set out to achieve, and felt quite confident about passing exams. After two months of diligent study, my self-assurance grew even further, and I felt that I handled the exam well. However, when the results were released, I failed a subject I was certain I had passed, and the outcome left me completely baffled.
The regulations allowed me a week to review my exam paper. Upon doing so, I discovered that I had answered 70% to 80% of the questions correctly, yet I was still marked as having failed. Confused, I asked the administrator how the score was calculated, given that no point values were assigned to individual questions on the exam paper.
She replied, “No one knows. Only the examination board knows the grading system.” This clarified the meaning of a note in the exam announcement, which stated that the board would deliberate before the results were released to the candidates. It implied that the grading process was not entirely fair or transparent.
I felt that I had been treated unfairly and suspected discrimination because I was an immigrant. This experience was deeply distressing and dealt a severe blow to my self-esteem. I confided in a more senior practitioner with whom I had a good relationship, but instead, I was met with an inexplicable, angry dressing-down, as if I had somehow wronged her.
This emotional pain compounded the frustration I was already feeling. The dual burden was almost unbearable; I even considered giving up my studies entirely. But I realized, “Wasn’t this a test regarding my attachment to reputation and feelings?” My distress stemmed from a mix of wounded pride, a desire to save face, and emotional pain. I realized it was time to let go of these attachments.
I came to understand later through the Fa that this was a test designed to shake my self-esteem at a deeper level. Previously, I felt things were generally going smoothly for me, which led to a certain degree of self-righteousness. Having failed the test the first time—and finding my cultivation at a standstill, I realized that I had yet to overcome certain mental hurdles concerning my character. By working diligently on my attachment to reputation, my fear of hardship and toil, and my impatience for quick results, I focused on studying diligently. A month later, I passed the test and received my hospitality license.
According to the legal regulations in our canton, the person responsible must be present at the restaurant for at least 80% of its operating hours. Since most Chinese restaurant owners in our canton operate using someone else’s license, many advised me to do the same. They argued that I could easily earn money, in addition to the rent for the premises, without having to work in the restaurant myself. It seemed like a win-win situation. However, as a Falun Dafa practitioner, I could not engage in anything illegal. I was thus left with only one option—to run the restaurant myself so that it would not go unused. I became increasingly convinced that Master had arranged this for me, even if I did not fully grasp the deeper significance.
It was only when I read the Teachings at the Conference in Los Angeles that I understood.
Master said:
“Have you thought about the fact that, if the many occupations and the many fields seen today were brought here from those distant systems of beings, and Dafa disciples are cultivating in this setting, with Dafa disciples cultivating in different occupations, then isn’t it just like rectifying [those systems] with the Fa? Isn’t that acknowledging their existence? Isn’t that saving them?” (Teachings at the Conference in Los Angeles)
This Fa instantly cleared up my confusion. It prompted me to approach my work seriously, as I realized this was not merely an ordinary job, but was a means to save sentient beings in this and corresponding dimensions, and of course an important part of my own cultivation path.
Distinguishing Between Cultivation During Fa-Rectification and Personal Cultivation
The design and renovation of the restaurant proceeded with amazing smoothness. It was as if Master had arranged everything for us. With minimal expense and effort, we managed to create a beautifully designed space that received universal praise. Some guests even assumed it had been furnished by professional designers.
However, the chef and his wife, whom I had initially hired, presented me with significant tests regarding fame, personal gain, and sentimentality. When the chef arrived for his trial shifts, he lashed out at me immediately. My husband remarked that if he were already this angry before even starting the job, I would likely struggle to work with him. I smiled and said, “It doesn't matter. He had his reasons for being angry; it wasn’t out of malice.” Furthermore, there was no more suitable chef available at the time, and I regarded his outbursts as testing my forbearance.
I reasoned that he surely wouldn’t be angry every single day. Later, however, I discovered that he was unable to keep his emotions in check. There was a minor outburst at least once a day, and a more intense one every few days. He also had a habit of smashing things when he got angry. Within just two days, our newly crafted wooden tabletops were dented in several places.
I tried to speak with him calmly, but he refused to listen. For instance, if he made a mistake on an order, he would refuse to admit it, and instead snap at us. No matter how unreasonably he behaved, I kept in mind that I was a Dafa practitioner. I tried to remain calm and admonish him in a gentle tone. He once said to his wife, “You should take the boss as an example. Just look at how mild-mannered she is. Even when I lose my temper, she remains completely unruffled.”
I looked inward, asking myself why I was encountering such a situation. I realized that the chef was deeply influenced by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) culture. I therefore questioned whether I, too, still harbored elements of Party culture, such as a combative mentality or and a lack of compassion, that was preventing me from dissolving the evil factors within him. Was I also unwilling to admit my own mistakes, or have a desire to save face? After some time, I realized that perhaps I had not been taking the sending forth of righteous thoughts seriously enough. This had allowed the evil spirit of the Party within him to gain strength.
As I intensified my efforts to send forth righteous thoughts, I noticed a significant decrease in his outbursts. I could sense that he was gaining better control over his emotions. However, whenever I became very busy and slacked off in sending forth righteous thoughts, he would lose his temper again. On one occasion, he got into a violent argument with his wife in the kitchen, smashing pots and throwing spatulas around, which frightened the guests and caused them to leave. This made me truly angry.
It seemed as though he was there solely to stir up trouble. I later discovered that he not only had a bad temper but also a wretched character. At heart, he was a ruffian and a scoundrel. However, because his wife tried to smooth things over, and out of personal consideration, I refrained from letting them go.
Although acquaintances in the restaurant industry advised me to dismiss both of them immediately, I viewed the situation as part of my own personal cultivation. I wondered if terminating their employment would mean failing a xinxing test. I decided to give him another chance and treated the affair as an opportunity to elevate my xinxing. Nevertheless, the constant turmoil took its toll on me. At times, I suffered from insomnia, and my mental state deteriorated significantly.
One day my husband, who is also a practitioner, told me that things couldn’t continue like this. After all, it was no longer about personal cultivation but about cultivation during the Fa-rectification period, and the two were interfering with my cultivation and saving people. He pointed out that the cook was the sort of person who would betray a friend for a small gain. What if the CCP offers him advantages so that he would disturb us during Shen Yun’s tour?
Those comments were a wake-up call for me, and I decided to fire him. When I was still unsure when to give notice to both of them, someone who used to practice Falun Dafa and knew the chef well contacted me. He strongly advised me to fire the chef immediately. He warned me that it could be very problematic if I waited another week, which would have been three months of employment.
He revealed to me that the cook already had a criminal record. Among other things, he had poured hot oil over the head of a former boss, and he had a history of various crimes and a propensity for repeated theft. This man came forward because he heard that I practiced Falun Dafa and thought I was a good person and wanted to help me. I felt that this was a truly merciful gift from Master. The letter of resignation was immediately drawn up and he was fired.
I thought I would never place too much importance on material gain, but the couple I hired as chefs taught me otherwise. Since I lacked experience in restaurant management and was unable to find a suitable accountant at the time, I had not clearly defined the wage conditions. As a result, the couple ended up taking more money than they were actually entitled to. Fortunately, since I owned the premises, the financial pressure wasn’t overwhelming, so I decided to let the matter go, also because I viewed the lack of clarity as my own failing.
However, they demanded additional compensation under various pretexts. The woman left three weeks before her husband, which is why I settled her bill first. I had initially paid her in full, including all outstanding wages and holiday pay, and she had acknowledged receipt. But just two days later, she claimed that I had underpaid certain so-called overtime. In fact, business was slow at the beginning. We often closed early in the evening, and since she lacked experience, her husband did almost all the work. She spent 90% of her time just sitting and talking to me. The fact that she had the audacity to ask for overtime pay made my heart beat faster, and my face heat up.
Suddenly, I recalled Master’s teaching:
“In this complicated environment of everyday people, you should be clear-minded and knowingly lose in terms of interests. When your vested interest is snatched away by others, you will not go to compete and fight for it like others. With different xinxing interference, you will suffer losses. In this difficult environment, you will temper your will and improve your xinxing. Under the influence of different ill thoughts from everyday people, you will be able to reach above and beyond.” (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun)
I told myself that this was an opportunity to let go of my attachment to personal gain—mindful of the fact that one cannot gain anything without losing something else. Consequently, I paid her an additional sum of over 1,000 Swiss francs and had her sign a document confirming that all outstanding claims had been settled in full. After we had settled accounts with her, she refused to return to her own lodgings, choosing instead to stay in the staff quarters above the restaurant.
During this time, I noticed her secretly consuming my beef and other ingredients in those rooms, while the cook served us only the cheapest produce or scraps—the food was so poor that on one occasion my husband nearly vomited. We viewed this as an opportunity to improve our character and relinquish our attachment to food. Besides, the cook was only staying until the end of the month, so we figured we could endure it. About a week later, the cook’s wife finally departed. I assumed I would never see her again, yet less than a week later, she sent word through her husband, claiming that I had underpaid her for her overtime and demanding the difference.
This time, I spoke sternly to the cook, “Don’t push it, and don’t take advantage of my patience. I won’t give her another single cent!” No sooner had I said this than I realized I had failed to maintain my xinxing. When I discussed it with my husband, I recognized that I was harboring resentment and a sense of injustice. We had worked side-by-side with them for three months, putting in the most effort, yet I hadn’t received a penny in wages, while they had shirked their work and pocketed the money.
My husband advised me, “Let it go. Nothing happens by chance.” I agreed. Perhaps I owed them something from a past life. Moreover, this was a good opportunity to let go of my attachment to personal gain. After all, how else could I reach heaven? At this thought, I felt a sense of relief. A few days later, the woman came to collect the money, and we calmly paid her the difference, the third time we had done so. When the cook left at the end of the month, I used the same method to calculate a final payment for him as well, but this time, I felt no emotional turbulence whatsoever. Before he departed, he stole and damaged several of our belongings, yet I simply viewed this as the settling of a debt.
It wasn’t just the cook; some customers also tried to take advantage of us. For instance, on one occasion, a mother and her daughter used the automated QR-code payment system to pay for only one person’s meal before slipping away. By the time I realized what had happened, they were already gone. Knowing they were locals and not wanting to chase after them over money, I simply took note of what they looked like.
Some time later, they returned to the restaurant. I usually find it difficult to remember the faces of locals, yet I recognized them immediately and even pointed them out to the waiter. But the moment I did, a problem dawned on me, “Why did I remember them so clearly? It seemed rooted in resentment and a desire to avoid a personal loss.” As soon as I realized this, I could no longer recall their faces.
Striving to Meet the Standards of a Dafa Disciple During the Fa-Rectification Period
Thanks to Master’s compassionate grace, we miraculously found our current chef. He was recommended to me independently by three fellow practitioners from different countries. Although he does not practice Falun Dafa, he has read the Dafa books, occasionally joins us for our group exercises outdoors, is a staunch supporter of Dafa, is firmly anti-communist, and possesses a strong sense of justice.
Even though he began his training as a chef relatively late—well into his 40s—his culinary skills far surpassed those of his predecessor who had claimed to cook at a Michelin-star level. The new chef has spared me a great deal of worry, and the business has stabilized to some extent. However, due to the irregular hours in the restaurant industry, I have been unable to continue with the media projects I was previously involved in.
Nevertheless, I seize every opportunity to speak with our guests about Falun Dafa. On one occasion, a member of the cantonal parliament visited with his family. We had a long conversation, and he was happy to accept a brochure about Falun Dafa.
I do not place much importance on whether the business is doing well or poorly. I realize from Master’s teachings that if one undertakes something, one should do it well; otherwise, one should not do it at all. Consequently, I strive to be a competent business owner and to forge connections with more sentient beings, while constantly reminding myself of Masters words: “… Doing, but without pursuit.” (“Abiding in the Dao,” Hong Yin)
I remain calm in the face of business fluctuations, and prioritize the three things above all else every day. Since I have been unable to participate in as many Dafa projects as before, I wondered whether I had fallen behind in my cultivation. Through Fa-study, I have come to realize that my task is to fulfill the three things well on my current path, while steadfastly walking the cultivation path of a Dafa disciple during the period of Fa-rectification.
These are my recent and still superficial cultivation experiences within ordinary society. If there is room for improvement, please point it out.
(Presented at the 2026 Fa Conference in German-speaking Switzerland)
