By Waner

(Clearwisdom.net) I can't recall exactly when my life started to become corrupt. I vaguely remember feeling nervous when as a child I took 20 cents from my brother and put it into my purse. I don't know when my classmate's pretty crayon was "moved" into my backpack. During university graduation exams, I compared an answer secretly with a classmate in order to get a good grade. Later, I stayed in the university as a teacher and had the power to decide the students' futures. Still I complained to the school officials for not allowing me to work as a doctor, as I would then have greater power.

As the economic reform progressed, self-taught students who took university exams became a way for university professors to make money. Aside from being paid for giving lectures, which are justified yet insignificant earnings, people were willing to give me large amounts of money. It only takes a wave of the hand-make a change on the exam paper and give a passing grade to someone who did not pass the test! I was not the only person doing it, and it almost seemed like a natural thing to do. People would think it strange if I didn't do that. I only did it once and passively took 200 yuan earlier in my career. My mother-in-law's friend went through connections and found me. She left 200 yuan in an envelope containing the sequence number of her son's test paper. I could not find her when I discovered the money so I logically took it. I gave the green light to people who wanted to become doctors and yet didn't pass the exams. I heard that the price became even higher at a later time. Professors can make 10,000 yuan in one week during grading of exams. This was the thing over ten years ago. The price tag must be unimaginable now.

Teachers who taught clinical courses and also graded the exams like me at the time were even more open to bribes. Because they had long-term contact with patients, they were comfortable taking bribes and were therefore "mature" in this regard. Bribes have become a normal part of their income.

I felt uncomfortable after taking money from the other people. I thought, "How can these students who failed exams become doctors? Maybe I'll 'mature' after taking a few bribes," because a rich breeding ground was surrounding me.

I dared not think further about what kind of person I would become. Perhaps many people would say, "I am passive, or I had no choice. If I didn't do it, my superiors and my colleagues would not put up with me!"

Whose fault is it? Did the students spoil the teachers? Did the patients spoil the doctors, or did the superiors and colleagues turn each other into crooks? Each person is at fault, because each person is selfish, which is the fundamental reason why beings become corrupt!

Due to selfishness, people fight and kill each other. Due to selfishness, people can't eat or sleep well, and they imprison themselves in a cage of their own making. Due to selfishness, people struggle hard and accumulate karma throughout their lives.

Fortunately, before I was "tempered mature" and became completely corrupt, I found hope for life --Falun Dafa!

That was one night in July 1995 when I finished reading the entire book Zhuan Falun, the principles of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance poured into my thirsty heart. I keenly felt this was what I had been looking for in this life. In fact, people do not willingly become corrupt, but they suffer in vain as they fail to find a way to rise up and improve their lives.

One week later I attended a local Falun Dafa class and I watched Teacher's lecture videos. Nine days later I felt as if I was recreated and pure, and each one of my cells contained Truth-Compassion-Forbearance. Words could not express my joy and excitement!

After watching the fourth lecture I went to the bank to cash in matured, high-interest bonds. I was given 80,000 yuan from my 8,000 yuan deposit. I returned the extra money with my mind as still as water. The principles of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance had become a part of me. It was not merely a memory but the power of Buddha Law.

Of course, I never again did such things as changing people's scores and taking their money. Although I was treated as a different race, I stuck to the principles of Truth- Compassion-Forbearance, because I chose cultivation. Gradually, my colleagues and superiors came to understand me. In July 1999, the CCP Committee secretary at my university told all staff members who practice Falun Gong to attack Falun Gong. I told him about how I acted according to Truth-Compassion-Forbearance at school after I started practicing cultivation. The head of my department told the Party secretary, "These teachers performed well and enthusiastically after they practiced Falun Gong. They have a solid performance record, and I don't think their minds were poisoned." The Party secretary was furious, "You can't say Falun Gong is good, even if it is good!"

The CCP expelled me later for persisting in Dafa practice. In private, many colleagues expressed their admiration for those of us who persisted in our beliefs. I had always been a "softie" and rarely had a mind of my own, much less insisting on it. This was the first time I had the courage to persist with my own opinion. It was my life's choice, made under tremendous pressure. It is the magnificent Buddha Law that opened my wisdom and enabled me to see the truth and regain the dignity of a human being. It is the magnificent Buddha Law that helped me give up selfish acquired notions and gave me the courage to persist in the Truth.

I feel blessed to have obtained the Buddha Law, an opportunity of 10,000 years, and I thank Master's graciousness for saving me.

It is the magnificent Buddha Law that washed the dust from my heart and mind and slowly revealed the true nature of my being, and helped me find the path of return.

It is the immense compassion of Master who has endured karma for hundreds of millions of people and given us the chance to return to our true, original selves.

This is an opportunity of 10,000 years, and those who have obtained the Fa know how precious it is. I cannot express my gratitude toward Master even if I exhaust all of my words. My words pale in comparison to Master's broad mind and compassion,

"Master and disciples have no use for sentimentality
Buddha's grace transforms heaven and earth"

("Master-Disciple Grace" from Hong Yin II, provisional translation)

I bathe in boundless Buddha's grace.

Thank you, Master!