(Clearwisdom.net)
Esteemed Teacher, respected fellow practitioners, greetings!
For the past seven years, I have joined hundreds and thousands of practitioners walking a righteous path of validating the Fa and saving all beings. Along the way, I have kept up with the pace, but at times I have fallen behind. There were times spent with many practitioners and times when I was alone.
Looking back throughout my Fa-rectification journey, I have become more mature, more steady and most of all, I have come to understand the importance of looking within to find my own shortcomings. In doing so, I have discovered a newfound freedom. My peaceful moments come when I find my own shortcomings and manage to eliminate them. I feel as if I have shed a whole layer of weight that was pressing down on me. In that instant, I feel like a particle dancing in the universe, so free, so blessed and totally merged with the Fa.
Before, I always saw the wrong in others when conflicts came. Now, I know it was due to my shallow understanding of the Fa. I did not understand how to look deep inside to find where my attachments lay. Once I shifted my viewpoint and learned to look at myself, I became more understanding, and working with other practitioners became more harmonious.
As my understanding of the Fa has improved, my clarifying the truth has also improved. I don't simply go in and clarify the truth nonstop anymore. I take time to listen. I find out what things are important to the people I am talking to. I show my interest in them, sincerely care for them, and address their questions with consideration. By respecting and considering the person I am talking to, I clarify the truth from their perspective without compromising Dafa principles.
Over the past years, clarifying the truth has been a way of life for me. So many people know the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is bad. Many of them were sympathetic, yet remained passive supporters.
Each stage of Fa rectification has different requirements for practitioners. It is moving so fast into the human world. The same is true for everyday people.
The horrific news of organ harvesting from live practitioners was so shocking. The fact that it brought dead silence from the outside world was unbearable. I felt very pained and sad. Even breathing seemed hard. The Australian government didn't speak out and the media didn't want to believe it. I wondered where this world was going. If, in the face of such evil persecution, people still remain indifferent and still wonder whether it is true, then the old forces will say, "Do such people have human-nature? Don't such kinds of people need to be eliminated?"
The only hope for these people is in our hands.
I flew without hesitation to Washington, DC. I went from office to office on Capitol Hill. I told them, "I came all the way from Australia. The whole world is waiting for the President of the United States to speak up and call for an immediate investigation. Please do not turn a blind eye and a deaf ear in the face of such evil. These are good, innocent Chinese people who are being slaughtered with such cruelty. The governments from most countries respect you and expect that you will prevent injustice. You must take on the responsibility to stop this genocide that is happening right now."
Even though I did not have an appointment, I managed to speak to most congressmen's advisers or their aids. Most of them took notes and listened very carefully to what I had to say. They were amazed that I had come all the way from Australia to see them.
Since my return, I have not stopped seeing, calling, and writing to people. I bring the awareness of the organ harvesting in China to well-known figures in the communities, asking them to speak up and to put pressure on the Australian Government to take action. At the beginning, most people responded with disbelief or said, "This is too horrible, but what can we do?"
I have never allowed people's indifference to sway my righteous thoughts. The only time it affected me was when the news of David Matas and David Kilgour's report finally came out. I got many e-mails from the people I spoke to saying to me, "The mainstream newspapers finally reported on it." Tears rolled down my cheeks. It was a great relief and I was happy for those who accepted the truth and acknowledged the CCP's actions as being morally wrong. The thought one holds, on such a bottom-line issue, determines whether one can be saved.
Clarifying the truth has become easier. From understanding the truth to finally joining the CIPFG (Coalition for Investigating the Persecution of Falun Gong) is a process for everyday people. I continue to call and ask for appointments. They tell me they already know the truth and there is no need to see me. Then I write them e-mails asking them to please do something about it, like supporting and joining the CIPFG. I explain to them what the CIPFG is. I continue to keep in touch with them, to update them with the latest news, and to cultivate a relationship with them.
For those who can't help for personal reasons, I still thank them and keep in touch with them. I let them feel the compassion of a Dafa practitioner. One prominent judge wrote to me, "I can't help you at the moment for personal reasons, but I never cease to be amazed at the wisdom and gentleness available in this world to soften the harsh edges of cruelty and hatred. Thank you so much. I look forward to meeting you soon."
I understand the people who have a certain status in society. They have so much self-interest to protect. It requires our constant righteous thoughts to help them break through their fear and bring out their nobility and dignity.
I believe that everything is in Teacher's hands. Teacher said,
"Cultivation depends on one's own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one's master." (Zhuan Falun)
The whole process is cultivating myself, letting go of the attachment of achieving a quick result and steadily, with persistence, quietly doing what I have to do as a Fa-rectification Dafa disciple. At the same time, we must maintain the power of conviction to save those people. In the beginning, there were many practitioners out there clarifying the truth to everyday people about the organ harvesting. The whole righteous field was so powerful. Somehow, a lot of them have fallen back into their previous relaxed or numb states and moved on to other activities. It is hard to get everyday people to commit because of their self-interest and the illusion of great opportunities in China. All of these things were arranged for us to clarify the truth and expose the CCP's deception for what it is, but it requires practitioners to do it. The process of clarifying the truth face-to-face to people is so powerful. I am grateful that Teacher has arranged this cultivation path for me and given me so many opportunities to see my attachments. It has further expanded my capacity for compassion to save sentient beings.
I had to drive an hour to see one of the doctors, who is now a member of CIPFG. Each time, he only had 10 minutes for me to clarify the truth, so I prepared well. Knowing he was a very busy doctor, I made sure to underline what was most important for him to read. If I had just left the information behind, he wouldn't have had time to read it. It took six trips before he understood the truth and felt confident to speak about the persecution of Falun Gong to other people.
After David Kilgour's forum, he told me that he would organize a forum next year to raise awareness in his community and to medical professionals. He told me he has too many things going on this year. The Lantern Festival is coming up, along with many other events and obligations. I told him that we could help to fold lotus flowers for the children of his community and we have practitioners who are great dancers. He invited me to meet his committee members. They were touched when they saw the beautiful lotus flowers that practitioners had folded by hand. They saw the beautiful pictures of the dancers. I took this opportunity to further clarify the truth to his committee. I asked for his help to set up the forum quickly, because innocent people are dying every day and that it is important.
He agreed. The date was set and the venue was confirmed. I was responsible for getting three speakers.
He called me four weeks before the forum and asked if I had gotten any speakers. I hadn't, so he said, "Let's cancel it." I asked him to think about the innocent Falun Gong practitioners, sitting in total isolation, waiting to be slaughtered, before he made that decision. "We are their only hope of rescue by the international community. Do you know how courageous you are for organizing this forum to expose this most evil regime?" I said, "Yes, I know a lot of people, but not many like you." He was encouraged and felt righteous again. He said, "This is not going to be the only forum I do. I will continue to organize more forums to expose this evil trade."
Two weeks before the forum, he called me again for the names of the speakers. I said there were a few on the list, but no one could confirm yet. He said if I couldn't come up with the names of the speakers by that evening, the forum was off. I looked at the clock--it was already 4:00 p.m. I was not moved. I knew that the wicked beings were interfering with him. The evil is afraid of this forum, so I sent forth righteous thoughts to clear his field and those on the list of speakers. I asked for Teacher's help. All the speakers confirmed that they would come.
The evil is so weak in front of our strong righteous thoughts.
Some members of the CIPFG said, "I felt as if God had sent you to test if I am a good person." A lawyer said, "Thank you for continuing to knock on my conscience. You are an angel." Another said, after he understood the truth, "We must save the lives of Falun Gong practitioners. They symbolize the Spirit of China.
Teacher said,
"Your cultivation's goal goes beyond self-Consummation, as you are to save sentient beings, and you are helping the lives of the future to establish that future. Your responsibility is big, but the payback that awaits you is enormous. What you will gain later on far exceeds what you put in, as much as that may be. So I hope that under no circumstance will you waver. Whether the verdict on Dafa is overturned by people or not, whether a new situation comes about or not, whatever the case, Dafa disciples should still save the sentient beings that need to be saved. Keep doing what you should do all the way until Consummation!" ("Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York")
The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG) is pushing forward on going to China. In order for the CIPFG to start this historical trip, we need the righteous thoughts of every practitioner, inside and outside of China. One strong righteous thought must open up all labor camps, detention centers and hospitals where Falun Gong practitioners are detained. We have to lead the way with our gong and the everyday peoples' physical bodies will follow. I asked myself, "Do I really believe in Teacher and believe that Teacher's law bodies are truly behind us at every moment, together with all the Buddhas, Gods and Taos? Do I believe in the strong power of our righteous thoughts, which are already paving the way for the CIPFG to take this historical step?"
Once I read an experience sharing that said, "If you want to see the higher level Fa, you cannot be attached to your understanding from yesterday or even from the last moment. Adherence to the past means stasis. Weakening of our righteousness comes from complacency and even numbness to change.
I have never liked being a person in charge of anything, especially when things go wrong--the first one to be blamed is the coordinator. Somehow, I always end up in this role. There must be a lot of things I need to cultivate in this area. I was very concerned about the late start, again, for this coming year's Spectacular. I was a part of the last three galas. So, I immediately stepped into the role of coordinator on the marketing side. Then I overheard a practitioner say, "Who is she to take charge?" I would only listen to the chairman of NTDTV. I knew it was a xinxing test, but I was having such a reaction. I said that I didn't want to be in charge. I thought of leaving for Sydney instead of staying in the old pattern.
Then I complained to another practitioner, hoping for his support. I was disappointed with what he said. I tried to calm myself down by studying the Fa. I could hardly concentrate. All I could think about was why he had said that about me? Suddenly, as if Teacher had hit me with a stick, every microcosm in my universe was so shocked and shaken. I woke up with these questions in my head, "Why can't I forbear others' criticism? Why can't I tolerate others misunderstandings? Why can't I take others' insults lightly? Do I still want to cultivate?"
I realized the reason I wanted to run away was that I didn't want to face my attachments. I didn't want responsibility. I was protecting my own fragile ego and the all important SELF. I knew I didn't do well in this test. My ego had the upper hand over my sense of rationality. Throughout the years, I have stood up to righteously safeguard the Fa in some very harsh circumstances, exposing the evil and clarifying the truth. Never did I show any sign of timidity or hesitance. Now, by hearing just a few words from a practitioner, I had lost my sense of righteousness. I had forgotten all the predestined people here that I have signed a contract to save. I felt so ashamed in front of Teacher's mighty benevolence for me.
This test helped me to enlighten to the past, when I seldom looked at things from other practitioner's perspectives, situations or during discussions. Very often, I felt there was no need to give much consideration to practitioners--just get to the point, as we are all cultivators. So often I have hurt others feelings without knowing why they were hurt. I thought I was helping. Facing my selfishness, I said to Teacher, "Please give me the wisdom to see my shortcomings and the courage to eliminate them. I must cultivate even more diligently."
Thank you, Teacher.
