(Minghui.org) My mother introduced me to Falun Gong in May 1999. She told me, “This is a really good practice; why don't you practice it as well?” I had witnessed her health improve after she took up Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) in 1996 and decided to become a practitioner, too. Eighteen years have gone by. When I first started to cultivate in Dafa, I had just gotten my first job. Now, I will be retiring in a few years' time. I would like to share a few experiences over the course of my cultivation.

Staying Calm Despite Being Reprimanded by My Supervisor

Cultivation is a gradual process, especially when it comes to the cultivation of one's mind. I learned to get rid of my attachments bit by bit. I used to be strong willed and got angry easily.

I've had several jobs over the past two decades. In 2013, I went to work in the administrative department of a school. My supervisor had a completely different way of handling things than I did, and I was often reprimanded.

Once, several of us worked on a specific project for 21  days in a row. A few employees had to work for another 26 days non-stop. I asked my supervisor to let them take a day off because everyone was exhausted. In return, I was given a tongue lashing. After shouting at me for a while, he got tired and finally stopped.

My mind went blank for a brief moment and then I was filled with pity. I felt sorry for my supervisor. He had lost himself in the culture of the Chinese Communist Party. I did not talk back. I waited for him to finish venting his anger, then returned to my office without a word. I went on with my job as usual.

Looking back, I felt that I made progress in cultivation all of a sudden. In the past, I would have been very upset. I would argue and protest about such behavior. I would be so angry that I couldn't eat for several days and I'd complain to my friends about what happened. It was very obvious that I had a strong desire to compete.

This time, however, I did not get angry or argue with my supervisor. There was no resentment and I did not feel depressed over the unjust treatment. I was very calm. I felt as if I were an outsider looking at someone performing on stage. I only needed to look at the performance. I realized that I didn't need to change or consider anything. It was that simple. My attitude towards these kinds of conflicts had changed. I'm now more forgiving. These things are not worth getting upset over. Isn't this progress in cultivation? I was astonished. This is how one improves one's moral standard!

Eliminating Attachments While Editing Fellow Practitioners' Experience Sharing Articles

I often help elderly practitioners who have no computer skills to edit their sharing articles and submit them to the Minghui website.

This is not an easy job. The grammar is often incorrect, some words are missing, and sometimes while typing up the article, I have to guess what the writer is trying to express. I am often exhausted after completing an article. I don't look down on these elderly practitioners, as I know that it is not easy for them to write their cultivation experiences.

But it takes time and effort and it is a test of my patience. It is a greater test when it comes to editing my mother's articles. For several years, whenever she handed me her sharing, I couldn't help but feel irritated. Why does she keep writing? None of her articles have been published. She writes about everything. I have to guess what some of the words are and what she is trying to say. The sequence of events is all wrong. All kinds of complaints start popping up in my mind and I become very reluctant to do the job.

My mother got really upset with me once. “I'm simply asking you to type out an article. If I could do it myself, would I bother you? This is an easy task for you yet you are unwilling to help,” she said. We each have our own viewpoint and started arguing with each other. In the end, we both got angry and didn't talk to each other for a few days. Later on I felt embarrassed by my behavior and continued working on the article. The problems I ran into made me angry again. In the past it took me a long time to finish one essay.

But now, whenever my mother says to me, “I have an article for you to type,” I simply reply nonchalantly, “No problem.” As I type out the words, I talk to myself, trying to understand the meaning of the sentence. But I don't get upset or irritated. I have also stopped judging whether the article is well written or not. Often while typing, I stop and let out a big sigh. My mother will laugh and say, “Both of us have elevated our xinxing. It's taken us a few years to get here.”

Indeed, I have made progress. Every time I finish typing an article, I look within, study the Fa and gradually learn to see things from other people's perspectives. Some elderly practitioners have a lot of daily responsibilities. They take care of grandchildren and have a lot of household chores to do. Some go out to clarify the truth to people. They are not highly educated and it is not easy for them to write an article. Yet they overcome these difficulties and enthusiastically take part in sharing their cultivation experiences on the Minghui website. This is a test of their xinxing. Through studying the Fa diligently, I unconsciously elevated my xinxing.

Getting Rid of the Attachment to Eating Snacks

I have always loved to eat snacks whether they're sweet, savory, spicy, biscuits, bread, candy, peanuts, you name it. Even at night I would eat snacks. One day I went out in the afternoon and on the way home I bought snacks to last me for two nights, thinking it would save me having to go out and buy some for the next night. That night I had a toothache. The next day, I could not even eat my normal meals let alone eat snacks. I could only have very soft porridge with a bit of soy sauce. Yet my tooth still hurt. It took me an hour just to finish a small bowl of porridge and I was crying due to the pain. I knew it was time for me to get rid of my attachment to snacks. When I truly set my mind to it, the next day, my tooth stopped aching.

I have not had any extraordinary experiences over the course of my cultivation journey. I've felt discouraged at times and have even been depressed for several days. But one thing has been constant, that is, my faith in Master.

Nowadays when I feel down and don't want to read the Fa or do the exercises, I think, “How can I let Master down? So many sentient beings are depending on us. What am I doing? Have I done the three things well?” I say I'm grateful to Master and Dafa. Have I expressed my gratitude through action? Only by doing what Master asks of us, can we truly show our gratitude.

Fellow practitioners, I hope that through my sharing we can encourage each other and practice cultivation diligently.

Please point out anything inappropriate in my sharing.