(Minghui.org)
After I became a Falun Dafa practitioner I understood that the real purpose of being human is to “return to their original, true selves.” (Zhuan Falun) I wanted to be a good person who met the standard of the universal law and to return to my own universe.
My job is to examine materials used to build highways. I have been doing it for many years. I follow Falun Dafa's teachings faithfully and work very hard. I like to learn new technology and help others. I look within when there is a conflict and I 've built a good reputation and I get along well with everyone at work.
After the persecution of Falun Dafa was launched on July 20, 1999, the local police came twice to where I worked and asked if anyone was a Falun Dafa practitioner. My project manager and a staff said no in order to protect me. Many people at work knew that I was a practitioner, but my supervisor never targeted me. When the Chinese regime slandered Falun Dafa on TV using the state propaganda machine, many of my coworkers asked, “How come he is different from what it says on TV?” I was then able to clarify the facts about the persecution to them.
The director of the test lab I worked for was transferred and the project manager had me take over the job. It was a key lab and I was responsible for the quality control of the construction work. I had to be more diligent and careful at work.
I was very specific about the ground materials we used. The owner of our quicklime supplier tried to bribe me with a mobile phone, which was very expensive at the time and I turned it down. From then on, I was very careful with the quicklime he provided and checked every single batch. I returned every batch deemed unfit. The owner then never tried to give us sub-quality quicklime.
A cement supplier said that it was a policy of his company that I must have a percentage of their profit. I refused to take it and he left me the money and took off. I gave the money to the accounting department.
Once I was examining a construction site and the head inspector pointed at me and said to my project manager, “He's the backbone of your company. It's hard to find someone this responsible nowadays.” My project manager replied, “With him being in charge here, I am assured of the quality of our projects.”
One day I went with three young men to buy sawdust for the company. The sawdust was piled up on the street. We talked to the boss, paid her, loaded the sawdust, and got ready to leave. Before we left, the boss's husband charged toward us, yelling, “You are stealing my sawdust!” He slapped me twice on my face making my nose bleed. The lady came outside and stopped him. He was drunk and later apologized. I told him it was fine and left with the three young men who came with me.
I was naturally calm and not angry at the man. I began to think what I had done wrong as a practitioner, as everything happens for a reason. I was glad that I was able to tolerate it calmly. I remembered before I was a practitioner, I could not tolerate any situation when I was wronged. I would look calm, but always felt upset in my heart.
Teacher said, “To endure with anger, grievance, or tears is the forbearance of an everyday person who is attached to his concerns. To endure completely without anger or grievance is the forbearance of a cultivator.” (“What is Forbearance (Ren)?” in Essentials for Further Advancement)
Now I could finally let go without anger and grievance.
The same thing happened when I felt overjoyed after doing something good. Now it just happens naturally and I don't think much about it. I think this is because I truly reached a higher level, down to my core, not just my conceptual understanding.
My wife took a picture of me while I was practicing the meditation. My boss happened to see the picture one day and said, “He resembles a Buddha.” A practitioner has compassion in his mind. The transformation of his character is bound to change his body and countenance. Falun Gong practitioners often look kind, with a rosy complexion and good health. Before I became a practitioner, I weighed less than 110 pounds and had whooping cough, bronchitis, and chronic intestinal inflammation. My face was waxy yellow. Now I am about 150 pounds and have not taken any medicine in the past dozen years. I am free of illness.