(Minghui.org) I started practicing Falun Dafa with my parents when I was in primary school. Twenty-plus years have passed. I’m now an analyst in an international finance company.
Thanks to Falun Dafa, despite my challenging childhood I didn’t follow society’s downward trend. Thanks to Falun Dafa, I respect and look after my parents. I think of other people first and work hard in my company. On the occasion of the 24th anniversary of World Falun Dafa Day, I’d like to share some of my personal experiences to tell people how wonderful and amazing Falun Dafa is.
Not Giving in or Giving up
My parents were teachers in an university. My mother suffered from many illnesses when I was a toddler. She constantly went to doctors and took many medications, but nothing helped. Because of her illnesses, she was usually in a bad mood and argued with my father. One day when having breakfast, my parents quarreled fiercely. I grabbed my backpack and walked out. I did not do well in school. My grades were below average.
My mom’s colleague suggested that she try Falun Dafa. Soon after she began practicing, her health quickly improved. Falun Dafa’s profound principles broadened her mind. She lived her life according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. She became a good wife and kind mother and no longer lost her temper. That was 1997 and I was in fourth grade.
My dad and I witnessed my mom’s amazing changes. To put it plainly, the change in my mother was so dramatic that I knew I witnessed a miracle. My dad and I began practicing in 1998. I felt it was a wonderful period of time even though it was very short.
The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) launched the persecution of Falun Dafa and practitioners for no reason in July 1999. Fabrications and framing of Falun Dafa were everywhere. My parents and I couldn’t understand it. Why did the CCP target such a good practice? My parents kept receiving phone calls from the leaders of their university, who demanded that they hand over their Falun Dafa books and give up cultivation. Even the director of the Dean’s office came to see me and asked me if I still practiced Falun Dafa. I told him firmly that Falun Dafa was nothing like what was said on TV.
My mom was arrested when she distributed information about Falun Dafa and was detained during the summer school holiday in 2000. I was not very upset. I felt like I was supported by a powerful force. In my mom’s absence, I took extra tutoring classes and did the homework all by myself. One practitioner made a special trip to see me. Later I heard that she told the other practitioners not to worry about me because I was strong.
Looking back, I realized that my strength and power were bestowed on me by Falun Dafa and helped me withstand the trend.
My parents didn’t give up their belief. The local policemen kept harassing us. My mom had to leave home to avoid them. I didn’t see my mom for a long time when I was in high school. I had to leave my city to avoid police harassment. I was sent to a boarding school in a town where the conditions were not good.
The dorm rooms, the classrooms and the canteen were simple. Ten students were jammed in a room without air conditioning or even a fan. The room was like a steamer in summer. Students were not allowed to leave the school. We were only allowed to go home for two days each month. Most of us were the only child in the family. We were spoiled and could not bear hardships.
The senior high school students often complained about the simple facilities at school and the heavy workload. But I had no complaint. One head teacher commented that I was able to bear hardships and she didn’t expect that a girl raised in the city could bear such hardships.
Falun Dafa’s principles helped me understand that harsh environments could temper my will and improve my xinxing. I regarded hardship as joy. I didn’t see my mom for a long period of time, but it didn’t affect me. I still diligently studied. I missed my mom but I knew how to handle difficulties.
After I graduated from high school, I entered a famous university which ranked third nationwide. I did not have to take any exams and I was admitted to the post graduate program. My parents were persecuted several times while I was in high school, at the university and as a postgraduate. My parents were arrested again and sent to a brainwashing center one year before I obtained my Master’s degree. My mom nearly died due to the persecution.
It was the busiest time for students the year before they obtain their Master’s degree. They have to prepare their thesis and look for a job. In addition to preparing my thesis, I had to call the police constantly and demand they release my parents. The policeman told me that my parents must be transformed before they could be released. I questioned them and asked if they intended to transform my parents into bad people. They cursed at me loudly over the phone.
My relatives came to pick up my mom several months later. She was on the brink of death. I cried a lot, but I was proud of my mom. She became so strong after she practiced Falun Dafa. She didn’t give up her belief even though she was persecuted so severely.
After she returned home, she resumed practicing the exercises and recovered quickly. I also completed my thesis during that time. I got top ratings for my thesis and was hired by a major global finance company.
On one occasion I told my manager about Falun Dafa and the persecution, and also about the persecution my family went through. She was surprised and said, “I admire you. You have gone through so much, yet you are still so steady. If I were you, I might have dropped out of school.”
It would be hard for an everyday person to keep progressing while enduring hardships. As a Falun Dafa practitioner, I do everything according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It is a powerful force that I can hardly describe in words. It helps me overcome any difficulty I encounter in life.
Thinking of Other People First at Work
My job is to evaluate the qualifications of companies that come to the capital market for financing. Enterprises are our customers. Enterprises hire investment banks as financial consultants to communicate with us. I deal with enterprises and investment bankers in my work.
Working as a financial analyst is hard. Many employees feel pressured and vent their frustration. Sometimes employees are scolded by their managers or people in other departments. They shift responsibilities in order to protect themselves. My supervisor once told me that I should learn how to shift responsibilities. I just smiled. As a Falun Dafa practitioner, I behave according to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and would not do that.
I met many investment bankers at work. I could feel that they were under huge pressure. I was also under a lot of pressure at work. But I’m guided by Falun Dafa’s principles and always think of other people first. When the banker didn’t provide me with sufficient documents or shifted the pressure to me, I didn’t blame them.
On one occasion I had meetings with the enterprise and investment bankers to discuss the financial position of the business for the next few years. There were a lot of problems with the documents the bankers prepared. I had to point them out so that I could better understand the business model and the future development strategy.
Their answers to my questions were not satisfactory. Though it made it difficult for me to evaluate the business, I didn’t blame them. I never pressured them. When they couldn’t answer my questions, I always said patiently: “Not a problem. May I trouble you to provide it to me later on?”
Once when I nearly completed a project, one company wanted to change the wording in the evaluation documents. It shouldn’t be altered as they asked. The banker received huge pressure from the company. The banker was in a dilemma and asked me if it indeed couldn’t be altered. I understood how she felt. I guessed that she was trying to avoid being blamed. I told her, “I will communicate with the company directly. Please do not press yourself too hard.” I rang the boss of the company and explained why we put the wording in the document. I told him our thoughts directly. They changed their minds and agreed that our suggestions were reasonable.
After we completed the project successfully, a banker said to me, “Our several investment bankers feel you are very good and not aggressive. You always smile. Do you practice Buddhism?” I said, “Indeed I have a spiritual belief. I practice Falun Dafa.” Then I clarified the truth to them. I said, “The reason you feel I am good is that the principles of Falun Dafa teach me to think of others first.” She thanked me for telling her about the persecution of Falun Dafa.
I complied with Falun Dafa principles at work. I worked hard and did my best. Often times I was the only one in the office building at night. Some colleagues jokingly told me, “Each year our company only gives small pay increase to employees. Why do you work so hard?” But to me, being a good person starts by doing a good job. I mean it when I say I taking work seriously. It has nothing to do with any pay raise.
One day I had dinner with a colleague. She asked me why I was able to work so hard every day. I told her that I practice Falun Dafa and clarified the truth to her. She asked me happily if she could practice Falun Dafa with me. I felt so happy for her.
The COVID virus swept through China again at the end of 2022. Many people tested positive. I rang my previous manager and asked her if her family was safe. She said that her whole family tested positive. I said, “You will be fine if you recite ‘Falun Dafa is good and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good’ repeatedly in your heart”. She was touched and said, “Yes, I believe it. I believe all of what you say. I have worked with you. I know you.”
Closing Remarks
I am so lucky that I started practicing Falun Dafa at a young age. Thanks to Falun Dafa, I am able to discern good and bad in this complicated society. My parents and I have had countless amazing experiences. No words can describe how wonderful and extraordinary Falun Dafa is!
Though the CCP still persecutes Falun Dafa, more and more people around me have learned the truth. I hope that this article will help more people come out of lies and choose kindness.
(Selected Submission Celebrating the 24th World Falun Dafa Day on the Minghui website)
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