We Should Still Maximally Conform to Society While Cultivating and Clarifying the Truth

By Falun Dafa practitioner in China

(Clearwisdom.net) I went back to my hometown for Chinese New Year. During that time, I got together with several of my old classmates and took the opportunity to clarify the truth to them. While clarifying the truth, I found that besides the media's slander and deceit, and the notions formed by the CCP culture, these friends were especially affected by the problems they observed with their neighbors, relatives and friends who practice Falun Gong. They claimed to know practitioners who became sloppy and slovenly, did not keep up with their housework, appeared not to care about their families and children, or even talked irrationally, etc.

Of course, many of these classmates' notions are prejudiced by the propaganda. But from this experience, I was reminded that whether Falun Dafa practitioners can maximally conform to ordinary people's society while cultivating their virtue and upholding the reputation of Falun Dafa is indeed a very important matter.

Whether in the human world or in the heavenly world, Falun Dafa always brings beauty and harmony to the world's people. Teacher said,

"Study the Fa and obtain the Fa,
Share in learning and share in cultivating,
Following [the Fa] in everything,
Compliance is cultivation." ("Solid Cultivation," Hong Yin)

The old saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words." A person practicing Falun Gong should let others see the positive changes resulting from his cultivation. Those who were sloppy and slovenly should become neater and cleaner. Those whose homes are dirty and disorderly should keep their homes tidy and orderly. Those whose family relationships are not good should now have harmonious relationships. The way we speak and act should be wiser and more elegant, so that when we clarify the truth we are more effective and credible, and people can accept and understand us better. Of course, we do not need to intentionally pursue these things, they are the natural manifestation of a true cultivator's Buddha nature, and they are the beauty brought by Dafa. As we approach the end of this crucial period, we should do even better to fulfill our responsibilities, without going to extremes. We should not create obstacles in clarifying the truth by neglecting minor details.

I told these classmates my own understanding and circumstances. I talked about my job, and about how my boss is very satisfied with my work and thinks highly of me. I have received awards for my good work. Prior to the Chinese New Year, the department I manage received the 'advanced department' award. Since I started practicing, I have been promoted more quickly than anyone else in the company. Because I do not pursue fame and interest at work and do not fight, my relationship with co-workers is also very harmonious. I also talked about my family. I told them how I pay a lot of attention to my child's education, how happy my marriage is, how I come back to visit my elderly mother, relatives and friends a couple times every year, and how the local people all say I have good family relationships.

I said the reason I am able do these things is because I cultivate Falun Dafa. My classmates told me I am the first Falun Dafa practitioner they have seen who can do so well and behave so well. They all accepted the truth to varying degrees.

March 1, 2005

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/3/3/96442.html

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