(Minghui.org) At the beginning of this year, a new project came up in our area. We engraved the Chinese characters for “Falun Dafa is good” on small plastic items such as little gourds and ingots, attached them to Chinese knots or tassels, and gave them out to people for their cars. I noticed that quite a few cars had this decoration and they looked good. Later on, we made more and more decorative products such as mobile phone chains, bracelets, and key chains. They cost less than a few dollars. Some practitioners brought a lot to the market where they were going to clarify the truth. Each time they went, they brought new designs. Sometimes, before they could even clarify the truth, people would grab an item, then leave. Ordinary people would even ask for an item while practitioners were clarifying the truth to them. Some people said, “You Falun Gong people always give away free souvenirs.”
It is not wrong that ordinary people like things that have Falun Dafa characters on them. However, if they don't know the truth and don't withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) but just want to possess those decorations, that does not seem appropriate. Some people go to the market and ask for the decorative goods, claiming that they want to withdraw from the CCP. They might not necessarily be saved. This might mean that the number of people withdrawing from the CCP on the website would be not accurate. Dafa resources would also be wasted. I suggest that practitioners clarify the truth to people first, before they give out these items. Personally, I think it is not appropriate to engrave “Falun Dafa is good” on mobile phone chains or key chains. One program in the Shen Yun show had five Buddha images appear after the banner “Falun Dafa is good” was unfolded. So those items shouldn't be casually placed just anywhere.
Some practitioners didn't think this was such a good project and said so to other practitioners. I think those practitioners should talk to those who are doing this directly and not talk behind their backs, which makes the situation worse. Some practitioners also went to ask for the goods even though they didn't agree with the project. If we overemphasize the shortcomings of those practitioners, that is looking outside ourselves. There must be something we have to cultivate through. Think about it: When we see beautiful items with the Chinese characters “Falun Dafa is good” on them, what is your first thought? My first thought was, “That's wonderful. I want one.” Indeed, I asked for one. Sometimes I thought I would ask for more and give them to the practitioners I had a good relationship with or to my friends and relatives who already knew the truth. I discovered I was not the only person who had such a notion. Then think about it: Saving sentient beings is a sacred matter. If we have a human heart in this matter, will the effect of our truth clarifying be as good as we expect? Won't there be side effects?
The conflicts were not isolated. Not just one but several practitioners fell short. Practitioners doing the project need to rectify themselves on this matter. But if the conflict cannot be solved for a long time, is it caused by the fact that other practitioners are looking at the shortcomings of those several practitioners? Do we have the attachments of possessing things, a heart of preference, or the attachment to making ourselves conspicuous ? Would we also increase those attachments in sentient beings? If so, then ordinary people will only want to possess the goods and not listen to our true purpose.
Those items only serve to help practitioners begin to clarify the truth. We must use them in a good way. The truth-clarifying pamphlets, Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, Shen Yun DVDs, and truth-clarifying DVDs can really explain the facts. Only when sentient beings know the truth can they be saved.
It is not easy for practitioners to participate in Dafa projects. When practitioners want to save sentient beings, they have to sacrifice a lot. They have experienced many difficulties. It is normal that a project needs to improve. Practitioners who see this must harmonize and rectify it. For example, at the beginning of this year, some practitioners bought a large quantity of paper. Many practitioners, including myself, pointed fingers at the practitioners involved and only saw their shortcomings. But other practitioners treated this incident with righteous thoughts. Cultivation means to cultivate our hearts. We have to harmonize a project from the perspective of the Fa and harmonize what Master wants. We have to treat the conflict with the compassion of a cultivator.
Please point out anything inappropriate.
