(Minghui.org) When I talked to people who did not know the facts about Falun Dafa and told them that I had practiced for nineteen years, had a good job and a higher education, their first reaction often was: "What a shame!," which usually meant I must have been deeply brainwashed. I would smile and tell them that practicing Falun Dafa cultivation was the best choice I have ever made in my life!
Where Can I Find Happiness?
I grew up in a large family: parents, grandmother and five of us children. I was the only girl. My parents were strict, especially my father who always seemed grumpy. There was quarreling in the family most every day. I ended up becoming an unhappy child who just kept quiet!
I went away for school at the age of 16 and had no desire to come home during school breaks. My home was not a pleasant place for me. I hoped my future would be different, and that I could find a caring husband and happy family.
This did not happen. My husband was a big disappointment! We argued frequently. Unfortunately, my adult home was much like the one I had as a child. I often thought about divorce.
I Finally Found Happiness
In my darkest moment, I found Falun Dafa when a co-worker introduced the practice to me at the end of 1997.
I followed my co-worker’s suggestion to read Zhuan Falun from beginning to end without stopping. I felt this book was different from any other book. It explained how to be a good person. So I decided to read it again.
I began to learn a little more and realized that this was a good book to guide people in cultivation.
I had not yet made up my mind to cultivate. While hesitating, I felt a warm flow of heat in my body. I was being purified! After that, I began my Dafa cultivation journey.
After beginning to practice, I knew that all the hardships that I had were due to karma. Only after repaying karma could I return to my true self and be happy forever. I then joined a group for Fa study and exercises.
At the age of six I had begun to suffer from stomachaches and they continued for more than 20 years. Now the discomfort was completely gone. My yellowish, pale face turned rosy red. I was full of energy and enjoyed talking and laughing. I finally experienced happiness!
My Change Convinced My Husband to Practice Dafa
My husband often worked away from home. After I began my practice of Falun Dafa, he became angry when he saw me reading the book and doing the exercises. He would get drunk, throw things around and made trouble for me every day. He threatened to destroy my book and even tried to force me to drink alcohol. In the past, I would have fought with him.
Master said,
“For us cultivators conflicts come up suddenly. So what should we do? If you always keep a compassionate heart, and a peaceful state of mind, when you run into problems you’ll handle them well because it will give you space as a buffer. If you are always compassionate and friendly to others, if you always consider other people when you do things, and whenever you have issues with other people you first think about whether they can take it or whether it will cause them harm, then you won’t have any problem. So, when you cultivate you should follow high and even higher standards.” (Zhuan Falun)
I knew I should follow the teachings and decided not to argue with him. Instead, I did my chores with a pleasant attitude. I continued going to work, taking care of the children, doing all the housework and caring for him every day.
Gradually, he did not complain about my practice or try to stop me. He even began to help me with housework.
A friend took us out for dinner and wanted to order him an alcoholic drink. He said he did not drink anymore. I was shocked! His friend could not believe it either. In the past, my husband was known for drinking, and it often got him into trouble.
Once home, my husband said he, too, was learning Falun Dafa. I was surprised and asked him about it.
He replied: “I was wondering how this book could change you so much. When you went to work I began to read Zhuan Falun. It's really a good book.”
He had no problem abstaining from drinking or smoking and became a true Dafa practitioner.
The change in him shocked everyone where he worked. Many of them also began to study the teachings. I finally had a warm and peaceful family!
Cultivation at Home and at Work
I knew that as a practitioner, I needed to follow the standards of the Fa. I should fulfill my responsibilities and demonstrate how kind and forgiving a practitioner is. At work, I cleaned the walkways and restrooms, and helped out friends and their families when they needed help with a wedding or funeral.
My mother-in-law suffered a stroke in 2013. After being discharged from the hospital, my brother-in-law wanted to move her in with his family. However, his wife did not agree. As a practitioner, I tried to help them by having my mother-in-law come live with us. She has been staying with me ever since.
My sister-in-law also lives with us, but she did not help with the care of her mother. My husband worked away from home, so he could not help either. So I had to come home and do all the housework and take care of my mother-in-law. All of the household chores were up to me. I also took care of other relatives when they came to visit. I then started to have a bad attitude about all my responsibilities.
I calmed down and thought about the situation. I realized that I am a practitioner and perhaps these things were arranged to help remove my attachments and improve my endurance. I should accept my hardships and do everything well.
I began to talk to my mother-in-law about Falun Dafa and read Zhuan Falun to her. Then she agreed to listen to the lectures and learn the exercises. Now she does the exercises on her own.
My mother-in-law could not walk up the steps without help when she first came to live with me. Now she can go up and down stairs independently. She can also walk to the market and help me cook. She used to take a lot of medicine, now she takes none. She fully recovered from a stroke and has no lingering symptoms!
My workplace is busy. We went from three of us in our department to just me. I was supposed to get more help, but no one was hired, and it was all left up to me. As a practitioner I needed to be a good person in all environments. I then miraculously found that the work became easier!
I am recognized as an excellent performer every year. My supervisor and co-workers know that I practice Falun Dafa, but they do not interfere. This gives me a stable environment and the opportunity to tell others about Dafa.
Thank you to Master Li (the founder and teacher of Falun Dafa). Dafa has truly changed my life!
