(Clearwisdom.net) My name is Bozena. I have been a practitioner for over two years. I live and work in the city of Gliwice, in southwestern Poland. For many years I was interested in and involved with different ways of self-improvement. I was constantly searching but I wasn't able to find something that met my inner needs. I learned about Falun Dafa from a circle of similarly seeking friends. Together we decided to learn more about the principles and basics of Falun Dafa.

First, we decided to read the book Falun Gong by Master Li Hongzhi, which was available free of charge on the Internet. Next came learning how to do the exercises properly. To further this goal, we invited to our town a cultivator from Warsaw who with interest and joy, promised that he would visit and help us. That's exactly what happened.

Very slowly and carefully I exposed myself to the teachings of Master Li. Over 20 years of searching for a spiritual way, with trials and mistakes had left me with many disappointments, teaching me not to be overly credulous. However, the longer I practiced and the more I read, the deeper my understanding of the Fa taught by Master Li became, and the more I noticed positive changes in my own way of thinking.

These beginnings of discovering Dafa were not the most peaceful and harmonious of times in my life. At moments, they were rather dramatic. My immediate family rebelled against my "new interest," as they called it. People who previously had been decent, serene and understanding, turned into my oppressors. They began a process of trying to "save" me and return me to what they called my previous state of "normality."

At this time, one of the largest dramas in my life was playing out. As I experienced suffering in the quietness of my heart, I gained an understanding that the road I had embarked on was in fact my predestined relationship. I understood that ever-changing experiences that I was subjected to were tests and re-tests, sent with the purpose of cleansing my whole being. They were a reflection of a process of repair which had been initiated with the purpose of improving my character.

The battle with the demons lasted almost half a year, and I experienced many unfortunate moments. I was looked down upon, insulted, and people made fun of me. I was threatened with poverty and exile.

I knew that these were tests, and that behind them was a power that wanted to ruin me. But at the same time, I sensed a power that wanted to help me. I tried with all my might to be aware of this process, and the reality that at every moment, I have a choice. I chose then, and at every moment since, truthfulness, honesty, compassion, goodness, serenity, understanding, perseverance, and tolerance. My faith in the righteousness of my chosen path strengthened me. I believed in Master and the direction he gave me. My righteous faith was right. Everything stopped and quietened down. Just as suddenly as it had arrived, suddenly, it left.

Today, in my immediate surroundings, peace and harmony reigns. My family accepts Falun Gong, and is positively inclined to my practice. In my home, we meet with other practitioners and study the Fa-anyone who wants to discover Falun Dafa is most welcome.

Now, I want to share some of my observations about understanding and patience, which I gained not too long ago at my workplace. I work in a chemical laboratory that is part of a coal mining industrial complex. I am a trained laboratory technician and I do a variety of chemical analyses.

Lately I am often asked to come to work on the afternoon shift so as to help different technicians in "quick" analyses, which need to be done with speed alongside the actual process of production.

Until now, I had been working only in the mornings, in a self-sufficient position, and I had not had many opportunities to work together with the other technicians. But all of the technicians at work know about Falun Dafa. At every opportunity, I had told them a lot about Dafa. There are 16 of us in total.

They are positively inclined towards my interest, though that is an understatement-some have said that they are both impressed, and fascinated. Sometimes I am asked, "So what exactly is this Falun Gong all about, Bozena?"

When I respond, I do so trying not to be overly enthusiastic and with a heart filled with compassion. A sort of magical air of quiet takes hold. The voices die down, and all the present techs listen-even those who are sitting further away from me and are not aware of the topic of conversation.

These sorts of opportunities occur quite often of late. Some of the techs then read the materials that I bring, including the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. They ask for fliers, copy down the website addresses, and my heart is filled with joy-they have a chance to be saved.

I have also noticed in recent times many changes in the work atmosphere in the lab. These are actually quite subtle changes.

The moral standards of the technicians are changing. There is less gossip, and instead more genuineness, openness to others, compassion and tolerance. One week during the afternoon shift I gained a lot of understandings in the area of patience and understanding. I realized that practitioners and cultivators should share Dafa not just by talking about it, but by living it via our disposition and behavior, among everyday people under varied and unusual circumstances. Then we demonstrate "Truthfulness"-by being ourselves we demonstrate what Falun Gong offers.

The technicians with whom I was working on a particularly trying project that week, said to me:

"Bozena, it's so good that you are here with us for a change. When you are here, we have a sense of peace."

"Bozena, how did you do it? You changed so much and have become so wonderful and good."

"Bozena, did you know that under your influence Halinka, who up to this point was impossible to deal with, has changed completely?"

"Bozena, you are such a blessing for us. You have so much serenity, patience, and understanding."

At the beginning I was shocked of course, and I only smiled. Later, I said that it was the exercise practice and self-improvement in Falun Dafa that effected these changes.

I hope that these words, which I quoted above, are not taken as bragging. I simply am not able to convey the specific atmosphere that was present at that time in a different way. I think that what we "do" via our disposition and behavior, above all the physical presence that we have in a given place, has the greatest meaning in validating the Fa, in accordance with the principles of Zhen-Shan-Ren.

This is just an example from my workplace. These are my observations and my understanding, which I am sharing with all of you. I try to constantly continue on the path of Falun Dafa, of righteous Fa and righteous faith. I believe that along with other cultivators and practitioners, following the same path, we are changing everyday society.

The effect of constant self-improvement through Falun Dafa is that while bettering oneself, one becomes more responsible with respect for others. This is because of a greater awareness of everything around oneself, including people. In this way, we can help save them. This way, they can understand that Falun Dafa is good.

I believe that while bettering ourselves and our characters by raising our xinxing, it is easier via our own hearts to reach the hearts of other beings. It is easier to share with them our benevolence based on the principles of Falun Dafa: Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance.

I am grateful to Master for Dafa, for his protection, and for the direction that he has given me. I give you my regards, Master, with all my heart.

Thank you to all practitioners for patiently listening to what I wanted to share with all of you. I also give you my best regards.

Heshi!

Posting date: 10/14/2007
Original article date: 10/14/2007
Category: Practitioners' Insights
Chinese version available at http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/10/4/163715.html

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