(Minghui.org) I am a young man in my 30's living in a small mountain village in Northeast China. Village people are simple and honest. Our lives depend a great deal on the weather. One year some of us decided to look for work outside our village to make more money.
Turning Into a Bad Person
We felt fortunate to get jobs at a molybdenum mine. Although the work can be dangerous, the pay was good. The prices for molybdenum were up and so many of the miners were tempted to steal some for themselves and sell it on the side for extra income. I was honest and would just work hard without stealing any of the metal we were mining.
Since I was not stealing like the others, they gave me a hard time. I was bullied and blamed for anything that went wrong. Gradually, I gave into the temptation and began to steal. My desire for money then grew and I continued to steal regularly.
I did not know that stealing would create karma. I thought of it as a skill. I foolishly listened to others who told me that we should just enjoy life, have fun and not think about the future. I began to indulge myself with too much eating, drinking, gambling and women.
One's fortune and misfortune are the results of cause and effect from karma. I took that which I had no right to take and so I began to suffer. I was coughing up blood and my health declined rapidly. Finally, I could no longer work and went home to recover. I had wanted to make money to improve my life but instead brought myself financial problems. I felt remorse as well as pain.
Finding a Falun Dafa Practitioner
I wanted to change my life, and my fate, but had no idea how to do it. I could not even borrow money to see a doctor because the villagers had nothing to spare.
I then thought of someone who could help me and went looking for him. He practices Falun Dafa. Many people in our town knew his story. He was once suffering from late-stage liver cancer. While waiting to die at home, he sincerely called for help from Master Li – the founder and Teacher of Falun Dafa.
“If Teacher gives me a second chance,” he said, “I will spend the time given me to save others.”
Teacher gave him a second life. He has been busy telling people about Falun Dafa every day now for 10 years. He introduced me to Falun Dafa.
“Falun Dafa is a practice of the Buddha school,” he said, “It cultivates mind and body. You do not have to go to a mountain nor enter a temple. Instead, you cultivate while living in society. You need to improve your moral character and live by the principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” Cultivation practice is different from physical exercises. Do you want to give it a try?”
I said, “Yes I do. I am dying, I have nothing to lose. I will be a good honest person and practice diligently.”
Following the Dafa Principles
I started to follow the requirements of Dafa and gave up my bad habits. When people asked me to do some unethical work, I refused. Gradually those people began to stay away from me. I devoted myself wholeheartedly to Dafa cultivation.
One day I coughed up some blood. I looked within to see what I was doing wrong. Then, I noticed some molybdenum which I had stolen before. I remembered Teacher’s lecture in Zhuan Falun the main book of Falun Dafa, and the example at the textile mill about returning the fabric that was stolen. I should follow that example and return what I had taken. I quickly returned it.
I started to run a taxi service with a pedicab. I did not argue with customers when they failed to pay me enough. I just thought that they did the best they could. Sometimes I even gave rides for free. Many people said that I am a good person. I do not compete with others. Sometimes my wife becomes angry with me for being so nice. I do not get angry with her either, but try to understand how she feels.
At the gas station I was charged 55 yuan, although my tank could only hold 50 yuan of gasoline. I did not say anything, but the error was noticed and the attendant gave me a plastic container to hold the extra gasoline. The bottle leaked and gas spilled out on the ground. I might have complained if I were not a Dafa practitioner. Instead, I told him it was okay – just an unintentional mistake. He was grateful for my kindness and told me I was a good person.
Through practicing Falun Dafa, I am not only healthier, but my moral standard has improved. I know good from bad. I may look the same, but I have changed into a different person after practicing Falun Dafa. When my moral standard was corrupt, the sky appeared to be dark and the world chaotic. Now, my mind is peaceful, and the sky seems to be sunny and beautiful.
