(Minghui.org) I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1999 and have been following the teachings of Master Li, the founder of the practice, who asks us to always think of others’ needs first. Through Dafa, I’ve learned that the purpose of life is to return to one’s true self. As a practitioner, I should not go along with today’s declining morality.
Correcting Inappropriate Behavior
I used to be an executive at a state-owned enterprise and often accepted “gifts” from clients. I stopped doing that after I began following Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
When my company was having financial difficulty, the owner encouraged the staff to accept sales rebates. “We can’t get a lower price if you don’t take the rebates,” he said. “So why not just take them and then turn them in to the finance department?”
Master said,
“Gods and Buddhas walk in the worldEvil hearts start to worryIn this chaotic world, Dafa is the solutionStopping society’s downward slide”(“Universal Illumination,” Hong Yin, Volume II)
As a practitioner, I shouldn’t encourage or promote any improper behavior or cause misunderstandings about Dafa. I should cultivate openly and with dignity.
The clients didn’t know that I gave their rebates to the company. They only knew that I took them. I knew that my doing that would leave a negative impression of Dafa, so I stopped taking the rebates and focused on clarifying the truth about Dafa and the persecution.
Letting Go of Personal Gain
A manager at a manufacturing business once came to my office after we sent out a bid to his company. He said he wanted to personally thank us for the bid and left a package behind. Inside was an expensive women’s handbag.
I wanted to return it, but the manager’s company was in another province. But I found the receipt inside the handbag and returned it.
I called the manager and asked for his bank account number. “It may be a small matter to you, but I am a Falun Dafa practitioner and shouldn’t take what isn’t mine,” I said. “I know it is not easy to run a profitable business. Because we have a fair trading relationship, I have no reason to take your things, no matter how much money you make.” I then told him about Dafa.
He eventually understood my position and gave me his account number.
Another client gave me a bag full of money—about 100,000 yuan. I refused to accept it and explained why I had always refused to take his gifts in the past. I also told him about Dafa and the persecution.
“Falun Dafa teaches people to be good,” I said. “I am trying my best to be a good person, so I hope you can understand. Over the years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has persecuted practitioners and slandered the practice, causing many people to misunderstand us. If I don’t cultivate honestly and with integrity, then I will just end up feeling sorry for myself and for those who’ve lost their lives in the persecution!”
He was shocked, because it was the first time a practitioner had ever clarified the truth about Falun Dafa to him. He said, “I want to be your friend. If you ever get arrested, I will try my best to rescue you.” After that, we had a good relationship.
A young representative with one of our suppliers kept calling to meet with me when I wouldn’t accept his gifts. When I met him, I said, “I know it’s not easy being a sales representative. There’s pressure from both your boss and your clients. You have to meet the strict sales quota while putting up with the clients’ attitudes and demands. You have quality products at reasonable prices, so I should thank you for meeting our needs. We are friends!”
He relaxed when he heard that. I then told him, “I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. The practice promotes Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, so I can’t accept gifts or other financial benefits. I must think of others first. You are about the same age as my own child, so I know it’s not easy for you young professionals. You can rest assured that we will continue to use your products, even though I won’t accept your gifts.”
I also told him about the staged Tiananmen self-immolation, the forced organ harvesting from living Falun Dafa practitioners, and the heavenly principle of good being rewarded and bad being punished. He listened and asked questions about Dafa.
Before we parted, I said, “Please remember that ‘Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!’ I wish you a good future.”
He stood up and said, “I respect good people. Please let me bow to you.”
In the past several years, I have stumbled many times on my path of cultivation. I feel fortunate to have found Master and Dafa and would like to express my gratitude to Master for letting me know the true purpose of life. I used to struggle for fortune and fame until I began practicing Dafa. I should also thank fellow practitioners for their kind help. I will work harder and do better.
