(Minghui.org)
Cheat Others, Cheat Yourself
When I was in my twenties, I ran a shop at a university. All I wanted was to make money. I remember one time when my partner swapped out some “Hongtashan” brand cigarettes with a cheaper brand and sold a few packages. I thought that he had good ideas for making money and even helped him on the side. Soon the Chinese New Year came around and I went to visit my uncle, who was a professor at that university. He cheerfully opened a package of cigarettes and passed them out to his guests. All of a sudden he cursed with anger, “Who is so wicked! Someone swapped 'Hongtashan' with 'Green Gaole!'” I saw that the cigarette packs on the top were “Hongtashan” and the rest were green packs of “Gaole.” Weren't those the packages that we swapped out? Such a coincidence! Those packages were originally bought by a teacher and had been given to others as a New Year's gift. Who knew that one could end up with one of my relatives'!
Because it was New Year's, my uncle complained a little but soon forgot about it. I thought to myself, “It is so true that 'cheating others is cheating yourself.' You reap what you sow. I shouldn't be doing bad things from now on.” But where was I to find such strengh that could truly stop me from doing bad things forever? I was at a loss.
Soon, in 1998, my girlfriend told me that her relatives (all highly educated intellectuals) were practicing Falun Gong. She also mentioned something about moral standards and how one should conduct oneself. Once I started reading Zhuan Falun, I knew it was a book that truly guides people to become good. I finally realized why people live—to return to our origins. I also learned to reform myself according to the universal principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Since then, I have experienced for myself just how extraordinary Falun Dafa is, and often felt amazed that I had such good fortune to have gained the true Buddha Fa.
Incredible Experience of Quitting Smoking and Getting Rid of Illness
I was renovating my home at the time and got tired, so I took out a cigarette and started smoking. As soon as I inhaled I felt sick and wanted to throw up. I thought maybe the cigarette was counterfeit. I opened a new pack but still I felt like throwing up. I tried three different brands of cigarettes and still felt the same. I remembered the section in Zhuan Falun that talks about smoking and how smoking doesn't do any good to the human body. In the cultivation of Falun Gong, Teacher would purify one's body. From that day on I stopped smoking—magically yet naturally—without any effort at all.
I used to suffer from genetic heart disease. The first time I did the meditation exercise, I felt that my chest was blocked by something heavy as if it were turned upside down. I sweated profusely. I felt suffocated and couldn't breathe. I had a hunch that Teacher was helping me to get rid of the root cause of my heart disease. I thought to myself “When it’s difficult to endure, you can endure it.” (Zhuan Falun) After more than ten minutes, I felt that my heart had opened up at once. Since then, I have never had any symptoms of heart disease. My entire body feels so light. The cultivation of Falun Gong is truly the most extraordinary science.
I strictly followed the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and corrected my speech and behavior. People around me also witnessed the wonder of Dafa.
“People Who Practice Falun Gong Are the Most Trustworthy”
At my job, I used to be in charge of checking out small businesses and maintaining cash register equipment. One day, a merchant called and requested service on his equipment. He said that some of their customers were waiting in line since the cash register was out of order. Their manager wanted me to take a look. As soon as I got to the bus station (it's our company policy to take the bus for customer service with the only exception being special circumstances), my phone rang. Someone from that business called and asked me when I could be there. He said that the wait time was getting long and their customers were not happy. The manager was getting anxious since there would be a change of shift soon and the transfer of account would be very complicated. I told him I'd be there in about 40 minutes. The customer couldn't do anything but ask me to try to be there as soon as possible.
After I hung up I thought, “Even though this is not a special circumstance that requires taking a taxi according to the company policy, I am a practitioner. Teacher has taught us to always consider others first whenever we encounter a problem. If I get there late, it cause a lot of trouble for the merchant and their customers. Though the merchant cannot complain if I get there in 40 minutes, I should try my best to save some trouble for others.”
I called a taxi right away and got there quickly. The merchant saw that I got there pretty quickly and said, “You must have taken a taxi.” I nodded and started troubleshooting the equipment. Soon it was fixed and the merchant was very pleased. Once I got back to work I filled out a service report. The manager briefly asked about the problem with the equipment and that was it. I gradually forgot about it.
One day, a merchant placed a service call and they were in a hurry. The manager said to me, “Take a taxi. Don't forget to ask for a receipt so we can reimburse you.” After I came back, I went to the manager to get a signature for the reimbursement for the taxi ride. He said, “I also included on the slip the amount that you spent on the taxi last time.”
I wondered to myself, “I haven't mentioned that last time to anybody at the company.” The manager said, “A few days ago we treated a few merchants to a business meal and found out about it. The merchants reviewed companies with valuable employees and a few of them commented that our company had the most valuable employee. They said that when you do the checkouts the amount is always accurate. You're very understanding of our customers, polite, and friendly. You were highly praised.” The manager said, “If it was someone else, they'd be asking for a reimbursement as soon as they returned. You're truly considerate of others and do not care about your personal gain.” When I was leaving, I heard another manager say, “Employees like this, we know exactly who they are, and we know how to treat them.”
Later, the company had layoffs and many employees tried to look for other opportunities. One day, I also got on the internet and tried to look for suitable positions. When the manager walked by, he stopped and said, “Anybody could get laid off, but not you. We would keep employees like you no matter what.” Later the company developed a new business project and needed a trustworthy person with good qualities to manage products. The manager said, “I think you're the most qualified. Of all the employees of the company, you're the most trustworthy because you have faith.” They all knew that I cultivated in Falun Gong. Many of the merchants also asked me for truth-clarification materials.
One time, we worked overtime until 11pm. Everybody was hungry so we went out to get food before calling it a day. While we were eating, the boss's phone rang. He said on the phone, “We worked late and are eating right now. You don't believe me? Hold on. Yan Ming is also here. You can ask him.” I took the phone and it was the boss's wife on the line. She was a little embarrassed and said, “You guys haven't eaten until now?” I said, “Yes. We'll be going home after the meal.” She said, “Oh, okay. Take your time and have a good meal.” The boss smiled and said to me, “As long as I'm with you, she's not worried no matter how late I get home—she knows that I can't be doing anything bad.”
Before the boss could finish, a manager's phone rang. The manager handed me the phone after having only said “hello” and said, “Only you can solve the problem.” I heard his wife's voice on the phone and repeated again, “We worked overtime and are having dinner right now. We'll be going home soon.” The wife said, “Now I can relax knowing that he's with you.” The manager said, “I should just make sure I'm with you from now on.”
One day, the boss introduced a new employee Xiao Fan (the boss's relative) and asked me to show him around and familiarize him with our line of business. I taught him everything I knew. Whenever he ran into problems at work, I gave him suggestions with good intentions. I took him to business meetings with me and helped him with the planning scope of business until he was able to work independently.
One day, he asked me, “Yan, do you really practice Falun Gong?” I said yes. He nodded “Ah,” then asked, “Why are you so nice to everybody?” I said, “Teacher taught us to approach everything with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. So I try to put it into practice and treat everything and everybody with sincerity, kindness, and tolerance.” He said, “I can tell that you're being nice to others from the bottom of your heart.” He added, “I don't believe the Chinese Communist Party's TV programs. Do you know what the boss said about you? The boss asked me yesterday, 'Are you getting the hang of the business yet? I've assigned the best employee to help you. He practices Falun Gong. You have been working with him for a while now and should have gotten to know him. People who practice Falun Gong are the most trustworthy.'”
On the day commemorating 20 years since Falun Dafa was introduced to the public, I want to express my most sincere gratitude to our great Teacher! I hope that people will stop and learn the truth with a clear mind, and seize this rare golden opportunity in life!
From the Call for Submissions to Commemorate the Twentieth Anniversary of Falun Dafa's Introduction
