(Clearwisdom.net) My company has more than 300 employees, 20 of whom regularly eat in the company cafeteria. I am the only chef at the cafeteria.
After the persecution of Falun Gong began in July 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) blanketed the whole country with fabrications and lies about the practice, which deeply deceived the general public. Many people were skeptical of Falun Gong practitioners, or even developed hatred toward Master and practitioners. Very few disregarded what the CCP said.
The majority of the employees at my place of work had their minds poisoned by the CCP's lies. I realized that in addition to clarifying the truth, I needed to do well as a cultivator in order to help my colleagues to understand the facts.
I decided to start with small things. My company used to hire outside people to clean up the cafeteria. Since this job was tiring and dirty, it was very difficult to find someone to do it. I took the initiative to do the cleaning. If I couldn't do it all by myself, I would ask my child, also a practitioner, to help. I also tidied up the employees' dorms. Soon our cafeteria and dorms were much cleaner and brighter. The dorms, which in the past were littered with smelly shoes and socks, now have a fresh new look. Both the management and the employees were very happy with what I did.
Next, I began to work on the menu. Every fall I would make at least five or six different kinds of pickled vegetables. Everyone commented that I was so kind and considerate of others, as no chef before me had ever made pickled vegetables for them. Since my company was doing very well financially, I could also afford to make dumplings every Friday, in addition to several other delicious dishes. Everyone was pleased. Someone said, "You're so good at cooking good food. The chef before you never cared about us. She made fried rice for every meal. We were so sick of fried rice! We're so happy now with the food you cook."
People also said, "You're so silly! Other chefs who worked here before took whatever food offered here back to their own homes. They didn't have to buy anything to cook at home and they saved tons of money for their families!" I replied, "That's not good! I am a Falun Dafa practitioner and the principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance changed me for the better. I strive to behave well at all times. The CCP is persecuting and slandering us. Isn't what I am doing benefiting everyone here?" My colleagues all nodded in agreement.
Of course, there were also times when I felt wronged and upset.
Once after a meal, several colleagues lamented, "Today there's not enough food." They then continued, "We'll just have her cook more food. She has nothing to do but cook every day. There's nothing special about her!" When I first learned of this comment from a colleague, I didn't take it to heart. However, I began to feel upset the next day and became really mad at those who had talked about me behind my back. Then at lunch, another colleague came to ask me, "The rice for lunch today looks kind of dark. Did you rinse the rice before you cooked it?" I immediately flew into a rage, saying, "I don't care whether you eat the rice or not!"
After everyone finished lunch and left, I gradually calmed down and thought, "How could I treat my colleague like this? Could I possibly validate the Fa like this?" When I looked within, I found I still had a strong show-off mentality and attachments to competitiveness. I was a quick-tempered person and loved to do things quickly and neatly, which led to those attachments. Master had arranged this tribulation for me to improve, but I failed to do well, thus interfering with my validation of the Fa.
This incident made me further see the seriousness of cultivation. Only by cultivating solidly can I do the three things well and offer additional sentient beings salvation. I began to impose even stricter requirements on myself and hoped to let people see the wonders of Dafa and the compassion of Dafa practitioners, and thus have an opportunity to be rescued.
My continual truth clarification efforts and righteous actions enabled me to show that Dafa is good and let everyone know the truth. Most of my colleagues have withdrawn from the CCP and its affiliated organizations.
Our manager recently hired another person to work with me in the cafeteria, realizing how much work I had to do there. The reduced workload leaves me more time for Fa study.
Once, several higher-up officials overseeing our company came to inspect us. Our manager asked me to cook several more dishes than what is normally on the menu. When I presented the dishes to them, our manager pointed to me and said to those officials, "Do you know that she practices Falun Gong? She's hard-working and never complains about anything. She's nothing like what the CCP claims!" The officials nodded respectfully toward to me, and I smiled back at them. Every time visitors arrive at our company, our manager proudly introduces me to them and tells them openly that I practice Falun Gong, thus laying a good foundation for the visitors to come to know Dafa and practitioners later on.
Quite a few local companies in the same industry like to hold their workshops and seminars at my company because they love the food I cook. Often these workshops and seminars run for several days in a row. I believe that compassionate Master has arranged for them to meet me to learn the truth.
Several higher-up officials have read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. They know that Dafa is good and have expressed willingness to learn Dafa after their retirement. I feel really happy for them.
Once when I spoke to our manager, I mentioned how practitioners risked their own safety to clarify the truth. He asked, "Do you also go out to distribute materials?" I nodded. He said, "No one sees you distributing materials. Even if someone catches you doing it, I am here to protect you!" I was really pleased with his words. At the same time, I strengthened my righteous thoughts and confidence.
Of course, I still have too many shortcomings in my cultivation. I will be more diligent and I will not let Master's compassionate salvation down. I will fulfill my prehistoric mission and return home with Master!