(Minghui.org) When I was little, my biggest fear was being poor. Whenever I saw a starving beggar in dirty clothes, I prayed that I would never share his fate.
However, after practicing Falun Dafa, I completely changed my view on this. Having a lot of possessions is no longer my definition of wealth. Now I want to have good health, live a meaningful life, and contribute to society.
An Ugly Duckling
My parents used to tell me, “If you do well in school, you will find a good job and make good money.”
So I worked extra hard in school. I was slow, however, and it took me a bit longer to learn new things than my peers. While everybody in my class was adding and subtracting in their heads, I was still counting on my fingers.
I tried to make up for it by working hard. I got up before dawn to memorize the textbooks. I was never late to school and was never absent, even when I was sick. Still, my grades were poor and I was lucky if I passed my exams.
I prayed for a miracle, where the ugly duckling would turn into a beautiful swan.
Falun Dafa Changed My Life
My grades were so bad that, after completing elementary school, I was placed in the worst middle school in the city. That year, however, I started practicing Falun Dafa.
I went to the practice site with my parents on weekends and holidays and did the exercises with many other practitioners. The assistant was very nice and helped me correct my movements.
I was only 12 at the time and didn't fully understand the profound principles of Dafa. Even so, my health improved quickly. I used to have a weak immune system and got sick often. My dad always gave me Chinese herbal medicine that tasted awful.
After I started practicing Falun Dafa, I never got sick anymore. Once in a while, I had a runny nose or a little bit of congestion, but it went away quickly. I was so glad that I didn't have to take herbal medicine anymore.
My grades improved as well. I was soon transferred to a special class for advanced students and graduated at the top of my class.
My parents, especially my father, used to lose his temper a lot. Sometimes it seemed like he was going to blow up, but after practicing Dafa he was able to remain calm and control his temper. What a huge difference compared to before. We were not rich, but we were very happy. Dafa had enriched our lives.
No Longer Afraid of Being Poor
The Communist regime started to persecute Falun Dafa in 1999, and the fabricated stories slandering Dafa deceived the Chinese people. Many practitioners were arrested for their belief. My family did not escape this fate.
The police often came knocking, even in the middle of the night. They harassed us and searched our home many times. We were fined for no reason. My father was taken to a forced labor camp and we lost our main source of income.
We couldn't make ends meet and had to live very frugally, but that didn't scare me anymore. Living by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and being kind made me feel like a million dollars. We did not do anything wrong and had a clear conscience. We suffered financial losses only because we remained resolute in our belief.
Good always wins over evil. It's not a big deal to be poor temporarily. If one cannot stay true to what one believes in, discern good from bad, or take a stand for what’s right, then that is a serious problem.
A Happy Person Is Rich
I was forced to drop out of college and start working when I was 20. Although I don't have a degree, I’ve never had much difficulty finding work. I have always been able to gain my bosses' trust quickly and have often been left alone in a business with the safe unlocked. Quite a few times, I was offered a job with good pay after filling in for a few days.
I hardly spend anything on food or entertainment, and people probably think that I have saved up a fortune. Actually, I only have a few hundred yuan in my savings.
What I do spend my money on is printing Dafa informational literature, because only when the Chinese people learn the truth about the persecution and Falun Dafa will they be blessed. This is a worthy cause that I am willing to spend money on.
I have good health and a kind heart, and I am happy that I'm helping others. To me, that's wealthy enough.
