(Minghui.org) I sell goods at a busy grocery market, and one day towards the end of 2013, we noticed a banner that slandered Falun Dafa. We sent forth righteous thoughts for a period of time, hoping that the banner would be removed. It remained there for some time, however.
We shared our understanding about it a couple of times. We realized that we should send forth righteous thoughts together and that each of us should treat it as a priority for validating Falun Dafa and saving people.
We felt that once we resolved to do it, we should be able to eliminate the evil elements behind the banner. Without the evil factors, the banner would be removed.
I approached the market's manager and explained the facts about Falun Dafa and the persecution. He agreed to remove the banner.
However, the banner was still there, several days later. A practitioner suggested, “Let's get rid of the banner tomorrow, on Chinese New Year's eve. The occasion is fitting because we traditionally cleanse away bad stuff before the Chinese New Year.”
The next morning, I wanted to remove the banner, but hesitated to act, worried that since I'm a familiar face in the market, it would be easy for someone to identify me. However, I knew that it was my duty to remove the banner.
I thought about what Master said,
“Dafa disciples are the sole hope of salvation for the beings in each region and each nation.” (The Essentials of Diligent Progress VOL. III, “My Thanks to Sentient Beings Who Have Sent Greetings”)
I began to strengthen my righteous thoughts: “I'm a Falun Dafa practitioner in this area and I must be responsible to the beings here. I must take that banner off!”
I recalled an experience sharing article published on Minghui, which talked about a practitioner who removed a slanderous banner calmly, despite the fact that people were sitting beneath it. I was touched and inspired. I thought that I should just remove the banner without worrying too much about it.
I asked myself why I felt so uneasy. It wasn't right. Removing a slanderous banner is a legitimate and good thing to do, and I should just do it.
Why was I feeling stressed? It was because I acknowledged the persecution and acted accordingly. Removing the slanderous banner is a most righteous thing to do, and nothing should deter me from doing it.
Other practitioners came to the market twice, but did not get a chance to remove the banner because there were so many people around. Moreover, other practitioners who promised to come to send righteous thoughts didn't show up.
As the day went on, I became more determined. I began to communicate with people in the market in my mind: “Don't look at what you should not look at. Nobody is allowed to interfere with me.” I started walking towards the banner, and my heart remained calm.
The banner was about seven to eight meters long and hung between two windows, above some people who were lined up to buy pork. I nudged past the crowd and asked them to let me get to the front of the line. The butcher asked me, “What are you doing?” I said, “I just need to take care of something.”
A chair was just under one of the windows where the banner was tied to. I got on the chair and cut the string holding up one end of the banner.
A man who was in line to buy pork yelled, “This is vandalism! What are you doing?” I told him calmly, “What do you mean by vandalism? The Chinese New Year is coming. We are replacing this banner with a good one.” I then swiftly moved to the other end of the banner and cut the string there, too.
As people milled about in this busy supermarket, I went about my task as if I were all alone, unconcerned about what those around me might do. Despite my previous worries, when I went to do it, my fears were completely gone, replaced with a sense of sacredness.
I'm grateful for my righteous thoughts from Master and the chance to cultivate in Falun Dafa. I also would like to thank fellow practitioners in China who shared on Minghui their experience of removing slanderous banners or boards. It was very helpful and an inspiration for me.