(Minghui.org) Some of my friends have said, "You practitioners live a miserable existence. It's not a bad idea to practice early in the morning and late at night, but that isn't my cup of tea." However, Li Hua (pseudonym), feels that living in this “misery” is a source of joy. She said she considers herself to be one of the happiest individuals in the world, because she lives by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. As she continues on her cultivation path, her mind is turning towards goodness and she is getting healthier. The joy that arises from the bottom of her heart can't be described in words.
Li Hua is always smiling. She is dignified, confident, and enthusiastic, and maintains a sense of propriety. After graduating from a university in China, she went to Europe to study economics. Upon graduation, she attended a graduate school and majored in technology management. She has a happy family and is successful in her career. People see her as kind, healthy and energetic.
Why does she feel that way? How does her cultivation path prepare her to become a better person?
1. Pursuing the True Meaning of Life
Li Hua was born into an intellectual family. She has three siblings. As a child, she was carefree, clever, quick-witted, a fast learner, and was loved by her teachers and parents. She displayed a cheerful demeanor and did well under stress, even when there were disagreements and sad times. She enjoyed using her mind and achieved much of what she attempted with little effort. After reaching her goal, she got disinterested and moved onto something more worthwhile. Although others thought her to be satisfied with life, she always believed that life was boring and meaningless. She often wondered why she had been born.
Ms. Li said, "Once one achieves an objective, it certainly provides a certain happiness and contentment. But that joy is of only of brief duration, after which I would feel gloomy and fall into a gray mood. Soon after, I'd come up with another objective, but with the same results. Nothing quenched the unidentifiable thirst or that something my subconscious was looking for. Recalling past years, my primary goal was to attend college and then find a good job in China. After that lost its luster, I wanted to work in a foreign company. Once I achieved my goals, I became bored and went looking for something more interesting. The repetition of chasing, achieving, and becoming bored seemed endless.”
Li Hua wondered about many of life's questions, including why people become ill and why some are cured and not others. Why were there diseases that infected some people and not others? During youth one gets tired after playing all day, but then bounces back after a night's sleep. The older one gets, the faster one gets tired. One goes to work, returns home, and suddenly one is old and one's vitality disappears.
She thought of many things but couldn't find the answers. Although her life seemed to be smooth going, she kept wondering what was missing and why there were so many puzzles.
2. Practicing Falun Dafa Changes Her Outlook and Broadens Her Understanding
In 2000, Li Hua had to write an essay based on market research. The company she chose for her project had just moved to China. She was asked to go to China for her research. She agreed to return to China to research the market for this company.
Sometimes after work, her boss and his employees discussed interesting topics. They also addressed the subject of qigong. Li Hua, not like most others, thought that qigong had scientific implications. Those not interested in qigong suggested that, if something is not tangible, it doesn't exist.
One day, Li Hua and her boss talked about the meaning of life. She wanted to understand
reincarnation and why the world's population was increasing. She asked, "What do people live for, where do people come from, and where do people go to?" Her boss said he couldn't possibly answer these questions but tried to give her a copy of Zhuan Falun and recommended she read it. But Li Hua was busy taking exams and didn't have time to read the book.
One time, she lived on the same floor as her boss and his family for ten days. They talked about some of the same topics they had addressed before, and her boss once again gave her Zhuan Falun.
Li Hua recalled, "He gave me the book Zhuan Falun. I had just finished my exams, so I took it and read it that same night. It was so interesting that I couldn't put it down and yet was not tired the next day. As I read through the book, I gained much understanding about the meaning of life, and all that had gone through my mind was resolved. I remember the exact day, September 11, 2001. I felt wonderful after reading the book and decided to practice Falun Dafa."
Li Hua's mind had opened and she understood the relationship between illness and bad deeds. She said, "Suddenly, without any obstacle, it was as if the electricity was turned on, and once the current circulates through your body you will understand right away. I felt that Falun Dafa was so good after I finished reading Zhuan Falun."
The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong was at its most devastating in 2001. In the beginning of that year, the CCP's Politics and Law Committee directed the most shocking falsehood: the Tiananmen Square Self-Immolation. After reading Zhuan Falun, Li Hua had learned that practitioners are forbidden from committing suicide or setting themselves on fire. But she wasn't afraid to practice Falun Gong. She didn't think of any ramifications, such as not being able to return to China or being persecuted for practicing Falun Gong.
Some time later Ms. Li experienced what it felt like being persecuted for practicing Falun Gong, although she lived in Europe. The Chinese Embassy refused to renew her passport. But, after talking about Falun Gong to Embassy officials, the local government, and the police, her passport was renewed.
3. Cultivating the Mind, Thinking of Others First and Turning into a Better Person
Not everything went smoothly over the past 10 years. There were problems with her family and at work. Li Hua was living by the Falun Dafa principles, but didn't do very well at times. But, she understood that during troubled times she had to look within and figure out why she experienced the problems. She had to find her shortcomings and apologize, which helped the situation improve.
At the beginning Ms. Li's husband was not very supportive of her practicing Falun Dafa. But, with time, he changed and now has begun to practice as well. Her family life improved even further, and her husband now also thinks of her first when the occasion arises.
Li Hua's mother visited, which gave her the opportunity to read Zhuan Falun. After reading the book, her mother said, "This whole book teaches people to be good. There is not one bad word in it." Now, many of Li Hua's relatives have read Zhuan Falun and have begun to practice. They are telling more people about Falun Dafa.
A graduate student once couldn't pay his tuition and none of his friends would help him out. After Li Hua heard about his situation, she gave the young man the money. He was very moved by this practitioner's kindness.
On another occasion she took a bus with one of her friends. They were talking as they boarded, so her friend forgot to pay for her ticket. On getting off Li Hua paid for her friend's bus ticket. She explained to her friend, "Although many people think that after the bus leaves, you don't need to pay, especially if you aren't stopped by one of the controllers, that is not right. We have to keep a clean conscience and cannot leave without paying." Her friend responded, "Ah, you are so great; you put your money where your mouth is."
At work, Li Hua shares local customs, history, geography, and humanity to her guests, and most of the time she doesn't have to think about it for one second. Everything just comes to her naturally. At times she thinks that it is miraculous that she can speak so well for hours. But, she knows that when her mind is pure, Falun Dafa opens her wisdom.
During the past 10 years, Li Hua has let go of her attachments and bad thoughts, and she always thinks of others first when doing or saying anything. Now, when her relatives, friends, and colleagues are bothered by something, they will talk to her and their mood will soon change for the better.
Li Hua said, "When people, such as my sister or niece, have problems they will talk to me and they will tell me that their heart feels lighter afterwards. They say to me, 'What you told me really touched my heart.'"
Li Hua admitted, "In fact, I don't have great counseling abilities. But, I remember what I read in Zhuan Falun and try to match it to their specific situation, and then I just tell them how to think of others first. I tell them how to take a step back,and how to do things in accordance with Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It's that simple."
