By a practitioner from Colorado, USA

(Clearwisdom.net) Greetings, Revered Master! All fellow practitioners!

I live in Colorado Springs and I go to a Denver practice site. 2008 was the first year that Denver hosted the Global Chinese Spectacular performed by members of the Divine Performing Arts Company. This good news encouraged and gladdened all Denver area practitioners. This was an opportunity for us to let more sentient people know about the beauty of Dafa and let them know the truth. Practitioners got busy with different specific tasks related to the show, including me, a physician's assistant.

Now let me tell you some stories about my boss, whom I will call Doctor Jiang. She has a PhD degree in acupuncture. After she came to the United States, she established a Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Clinic. I am her assistant. I help connect electric needles, put adhesive bandages on patients, and other tasks.

Soon after I started my job, Dr. Jiang told me a story about a woman surnamed Teng, who used to practice Falun Gong. Dr. Jiang said, "She went to Tiananmen Square to appeal for the Fa. Thus she gave up her job and everything else. CCP agents arrested her and sentenced her to two years in prison. After she was released, she betrayed Falun Gong. Wasn't this Ms. Teng a psychotic? She was an extreme leftist, but after a while became an extreme rightist. I dislike that kind of person the most."

I asked Dr. Jiang, "Do you know her?" She said, "I am very familiar with her. I once worked with her." I told Dr. Jiang that I am also a Falun Dafa practitioner and said that our Master taught us:

"The majority of people in our school will practice cultivation in ordinary human society, so you should not distance yourself from ordinary human society, and you must practice cultivation with a clear mind. The relationships among one another should remain normal. Of course, you have a very high xinxing level and an upright mind. You will upgrade your own xinxing and your own level; you do not commit wrongdoing and only do good deeds--these are only such a manifestation." (Lecture Eight, Zhuan Falun, 2000 Translation Version)

I told Dr. Jiang this passage as stated in Zhuan Falun. Hearing this, she was pleased and said, "That is right. What your Master says is great. That is like a normal cultivator!"

My boss once complained about how difficult it is nowadays to find a good worker. More common than not, people will first negotiate the salary and benefits with the boss. Whenever they do something more or extra, they will request a raise; moreover, their work performance is often poor. That made me remember distinctly Master's teaching in Zhuan Falun:

"The great Fa is boundless. Cultivating it depends entirely on your heart. As to how high your cultivation level can reach, it all depends on your endurance and your ability to bear hardships." (Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun)

Cultivating oneself among ordinary people, on the job, or in society, one will encounter all kinds of opportunities to cultivate xinxing. My boss has high expectations regarding the quality of my work. Once she chastised me so severely that, had I not by then had a more altruistic mindset, I would have been unable to bear it.

Master's teaching echoed in my ears:

"When it's difficult to endure, you can endure it. When it's impossible to do, you can do it. When it is difficult to endure, try to endure it. When it looks impossible and is said to be impossible, give it a try and see if it is possible. If you can actually do it, you will indeed find: 'After passing the shady willow trees, there will be bright flowers and another village ahead!'" (Zhuan Falun)

I kept silent in the face of my boss's severe attitude and scorching words and continued my work as usual. When it was almost quitting time for the day and all the patients had left, she walked up to me and said unexpectedly, "I am sorry! My attitude just now was bad. Did I scare you? I am sorry! I am sorry!" As she apologized she hugged me. I said calmly, "I was also partially wrong. I should correct myself and do better next time." Since then, we have worked very well together.

My boss often asks me to do trivial and time-consuming but "voluntary" assignments when I am supposed to be off work. I knew clearly that she took advantage of me, but I still did those things well. We work together very well. To quote Dr. Jiang, "We are perfect partners at work." Why do I deal like this with my work environment? Because I am a cultivator I should certainly maintain a lofty stance. More to the point--I am looking for a good result when I clarify the truth to Dr. Jiang. Fellow practitioners gave me some flyers and posters advertising the Chinese New Year Spectacular. I took a poster to the clinic and showed it to Dr. Jiang saying, "Dr. Jiang, look, what a beautiful poster! This is about the Global New Year Spectacular. January 11 and 12, 2008 will be the first time for the Divine Performing Arts to come to Denver. Can I put up the poster in our clinic?" Dr. Jiang didn't agree, thinking the poster too colorful and that it would clash with the clinic's simple and plain colors.

But I continued, "Dr. Jiang, think about it: it is so rare for us Chinese living in the US to hold our own Chinese New Year's show. Such a precious opportunity could also help American people learn about true Chinese culture and enjoy the performance. This is glory for our Chinese people. What do you think, Dr. Jiang?"

While saying this I sent righteous thoughts, believing that my righteous energy field would definitely change her opinion. Having listened to what I said, she looked at me thoughtfully. I looked at her expectantly and continued to send righteous thoughts. Then I asked, "Where do you think is the best place to hang the poster?" Dr. Jiang finally said, "You are right. It is not easy to see a Chinese New Year's show in this foreign land. It is indeed our Chinese people's glory. It is imperative to let the American people know about our culture. Great! Let me find a good place for the poster."

Eventually we put this beautiful poster on a wall to the left of the entrance to our clinic. I also put more flyers there. Many people with a predestined relationship took flyers. Some of them said they would look up specifics about the performance online, and others commented that they would call to inquire about the tickets.

Dr. Jiang, though, never mentioned buying tickets. I had planned to buy tickets for my family and asked, "Dr. Jiang, I am going to buy some tickets. Should I also buy tickets for you?" She commented that it was too far to go to see the show and that she would rather stay home to rest well on the weekend. She lives more than 60 miles from Denver. Sometime later, when I asked Dr. Jiang again about tickets, she still didn't agree to go see the show, citing again the distance it would take to travel.

One day our clinic was extremely busy. At the end of the day Dr. Jiang tallied the day's receipts, the checks, credit card charges, and cash--altogether more than five thousand dollars. She was elated and said, "Wouldn't it be great if we could take in that much money every day?" I was next to her and said, "Dr. Jiang is so happy today. All human beings like money. However, there are some things in the world truly more valuable than money. For example, safety, health, blessings from God and from Buddha, faith among people, and other such things that money cannot buy. Don't you think so?"

She considered my words for a moment and replied, "You are right. Safety and health are certainly more important than money. I understand. I know it." I sent righteous thoughts and continued to say, "You are an understanding person. I should tell you something important. Seeing the Chinese New Year performance in Denver could truly bring you safety and health, as well as good fortune, things money cannot buy. I have talked with you several times about buying tickets. But you disliked the long distance and have thus far refused to go."

Dr. Jiang looked at me intently as I spoke. My attitude was genuine and patient. I continued to say, "If you are able to see the show, you will truly obtain a great blessing. Your husband is in Mainland China, so he is unable to obtain this good fortune. You are a blessed person. But now, when the real good fortune comes to you, please don't miss such a wonderful opportunity. I really hope you will take advantage of this good fortune. That is why I have suggested again and again that you buy tickets. You and I have a predestined relationship. Look, we cooperate so well. We were probably somehow related in a previous life. Today I am telling you, Dr. Jiang, don't let this precious chance for a blessing go by! Really!"

I could see that her mind was changing; her innermost psyche accepted my words. After a while she said slowly, "I can feel that you truly want me to see the show. You just hope I won't lose this opportunity. Safety and health -- who doesn't want them? I will certainly get this good fortune. Help me buy two tickets. My son and I will attend together." Nine of us, including Dr. Jiang's family and my family and several other friends, took in the show in Denver. I am so delighted that my boss was given an opportunity for salvation.