(Minghui.org) About a year ago, practitioners from another town started a discussion with us about obtaining petition signatures. They shared their understanding from many perspectives. For example, most petitions called for the release of imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners. The powerful manifestation and effect of Fa-rectification was demonstrated by the overwhelming support of citizens who had learned the facts about Falun Gong. The practitioners shared similar experiences from other locations.
Although I knew this was the right thing to do, I still felt that it would be quite difficult to accomplish. I saw my fear after I truly looked inward – I was afraid of being persecuted. I dreaded the pressure and stress on practitioners in general. I worried that most non-practitioners wouldn't dare to speak against the Party. I was also afraid of getting into trouble. We had a relaxed environment compared to other places, and were already very busy doing many truth-clarification projects. Overall, I was unwilling to make any advancement.
A practitioner from another town raised the topic with us again recently. He asked us to help with a petition to rescue an imprisoned practitioner who'd been on a hunger strike for over a year.
Falun Dafa practitioners are one body; it's our responsibility to rescue imprisoned practitioners. I was deeply touched by this fellow practitioner. During our discussion, he calmly looked inward for his own shortcomings when faced with another practitioner's strong challenge. He even recognized and appreciated the positive side of the challenge, despite the rather extreme words used.
I could see where I fell short after observing his reactions to me. He had genuinely cultivated himself to a high realm. His comments were derived from his responsibility to Dafa, not to prove himself right. Only when one can let go of attachments to self, can one could show such a high level.
Local practitioners held another meeting to share our understanding and set up some rules for ourselves. We decided that practitioners wouldn't sign the petition nor try to force anyone to participate. We also wouldn't compare the number of signatures collected. We should offer salvation to sentient beings with pure hearts. Whether or not one participates, the righteous thoughts of our whole body shouldn't be undermined. We printed many signature collection sheets for the petition and the picture of the imprisoned practitioner. I was determined to work hard on this task.
I shared the new process for signature collection with my fellow practitioners of the same Fa study group. I wasn't too sure how well they would do, but to my surprise, they quickly obtained a significant number of signatures. One practitioner collected signatures door to door – no one refused to sign the moment she asked. Another practitioner said that many friends had unexpectedly visited her these past few days, and all signed the petition.
I was shocked by how easy it was. This “huge obstacle” that had been bothering me for a year suddenly disappeared. I used to worry that people wouldn't sign these petitions because the imprisoned practitioner wasn't a local resident. Actually, people have known for a long time, that Falun Dafa practitioners are good people, so they didn't mind signing a petition to rescue a practitioner from another town. What was I worried about? I felt ashamed.
In my mind, the three practitioners who'd successfully collected petition signatures were not that capable of truth clarification, but they did whatever was needed without any preset notions. I finally realized how much I had been limited by my own mentality. Master showed me that the reality wasn't what I'd imagined.
A practitioner from a nearby village told me that practitioners in his village were hesitant to collect signatures at first, but an elderly couple immediately started collecting signatures in the rain by hailing cars on the main road. Other practitioners were very touched and all started collecting signatures the next day. Some practitioners approached a group of people relaxing in the shade and asked them to sign the petition. One said, “Rescuing people is a good deed. We'll sign it.” The whole group signed the petition. Another practitioner asked her relatives to sign. Her aunt said, “I don't know him. I don't want to sign.” The practitioner replied, “I don't know him either. But if I was the one thrown into prison, and those who didn't know me refused to help, how would you feel?” Her aunt said immediately, “O.K. I will sign.”
We were so happy for those who chose to stand with the righteous. When practitioners asked them if they were afraid, some replied, “No. The Communist Party is too wicked. What's wrong with rescuing a good person? I'm not afraid. I will verify immediately that I signed the petition.” A man in his seventies didn't know how to read or write, but was eager to help rescue the imprisoned practitioner. Though others offered to help him write his name, he insisted on writing it himself. He carefully signed as if drawing a picture, and solemnly put his fingerprint next to it. Some people said, “I don't know him (the imprisoned practitioner), but I know you. I will sign for you.” Practitioners realized how their own behavior in everyday life laid a foundation for offering salvation to sentient beings.
A few people who sincerely wanted to help with the rescue were blessed with unexpected benefits – their illnesses were gone after they signed the petition. Many things like this happened. The signature collection project also provided a great opportunity for practitioners to break through our notions and advance our xinxing.
Master said,
“We really do have some people who have done a great job, who have gone about things in a very natural and poised manner in upscale neighborhoods. And when they’ve spoken with people, they have been quite at ease. Instantly the other party has been delighted, just as if they’d been waiting for you. That really is the case. There has been a great deal of groundwork done in advance. All that’s missing is your carrying things out with righteous thoughts. Yet you haven’t had the righteous thoughts that it takes.” (“Dafa Disciples Must Study the Fa - Fa Teaching Given at the 2011 Washington DC Metro Area Fa Conference”)
My heart nature keeps improving these days; I can see many principles after spending only a little time studying the Fa. This has never happened to me before. Sometimes, Master puts Fa directly into my mind. Some principles dawned on me suddenly. I experienced Master's statement: “Cultivation is up to you. Gong is up to the master.” (Zhuan Falun) I didn't do anything special, but Master has given me so much! Thank you, Master! Thank you fellow practitioners, who work quietly on the front lines!
