Since the beginning of 2002, I have worked on and off as a substitute teacher in a compulsory school. In one school I got to take care of a class that was in a state of dissolution due to some restless pupils. This made the whole class worry. The earlier substitutes didn't want to work in this class, and the usual teacher had planned to quit. After a few days there the pupils had got to know me and felt more comfortable in my company. Even if there were still some conflicts and fuss in the classroom, the class managed to handle themselves quite well.
The teachers at the school were very surprised at how a young man, without any experience in education, managed to do this. Because of this, on the day of the school holidays, the principal held a speech to express gratitude towards me. The only thing that wasn't mentioned was how I managed to do this and why. I felt that all of the teachers should know how and why I could do this, since it enabled me to create order in the classroom. The secret was actually three words: Zhen, Shan, Ren - Truth, Compassion, Tolerance. I said that these words were the foundational principles of an ancient Chinese system called Falun Gong, and through practicing this I have learned to have more compassion and patience with the children. Many of the teachers afterwards wanted to hear more about Falun Gong and how something so good could be persecuted in China.
Since this time, I have had several other classes at that school. Many times the children have heard that I practice Falun Gong, and the day has often ended with the pupils learning the Falun Gong exercises. When we do the fifth exercise together, the sitting meditation, it always feels special. The pupils get much less disorderly and many managed to find some serenity in themselves. It is fantastic to see how noisy children turn into small angels in just a few minutes.
In one class, when they were discussing the subject of "art," I printed out several paintings of the Chinese artist Zhang Cuiying, and the students later got to do research and write about her. I said that this artist also tried to live by Zhen, Shan, Ren, and it was from there she achieved the inner tranquility needed for painting such beautiful pictures. Sometimes, when some of the pupils got restless and talked a lot, I would point at the blackboard where I had written "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance" in Chinese characters, and say in a friendly tone: "Just try to have more tolerance." They then often became calmer and got more strength to continue their work. Two months later, when I came back to the same class I couldn't help but smile when I entered the classroom. In front of the black board a big painting was hanging with three beautiful Chinese characters and with the translation in Swedish: "Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance."