(Minghui.org) As Fa-rectification draws to an end, I would like to share some of my experiences of clarifying the truth to sentient beings (especially Chinese people) at tourist sites, cultivating like I did when I first obtained the Fa, and keeping up with the progress of Fa-rectification.
Single Body
I started practicing Falun Dafa in 1997. Since the start of the persecution, I have taken advantage of all occasions in various settings to help people understand Falun Dafa. This included using the telephone, going on the Internet, writing letters, distributing truth-clarification materials in Chinatown, and talking to Chinese people face-to-face.
At the beginning, I did these things alone. Later on, I realized that if I and other practitioners collaborated with each other, we could achieve better results.
Master said in “Fa Teaching at the 2013 Western U.S. Fa Conference”:
“At present Dafa disciples are to go save people, and thus I have been watching how each area is doing in truth-clarification. Some truth-clarification sites have really done an excellent job. There is an increasing number of tourist groups from mainland China nowadays. This is an arrangement for people to hear the truth in a different setting. Our truth-clarification sites are, in fact, the front line—the front line for clarifying the truth. But some areas have dropped this, as they’re busy with other projects. Those too have an effect, of course, and should be done; I affirm all Dafa disciple projects, as all of them can have an effect in clarifying the truth and saving people. But, now there are so many tourist groups, and many of the tourists from mainland China, in particular, have not managed to hear the truth.”
After reading this lecture, practitioners at my practice site decided to go to a tourist site to help the Chinese people understand Falun Dafa on the weekend. Stanford University is near our town, and many Chinese tourists go there to visit. Thus, we chose to set up our truth-clarification booth there.
First Day Success
The first day we were there, about 20 to 30 practitioners joined in the effort. Another practitioner and I went to the bus parking lot to wait for the arrival of Chinese tourists, so we could clarify the truth to them. Moments later, a bus came with several Chinese passengers, who looked like government officials. I went up to them, trying to start a conversation. When they saw I was holding truth-clarification materials, they hurriedly evaded me, saying, “Don't talk to me. I am not educated, and I don't understand anything.”
I said: “How can you say such a thing in front of a famous American university?” I started telling them about the many political campaigns the CCP has had in the past that persecute their own people, such as the Cultural Revolution, the June 4th Tiananmen Square Massacre, and the persecution of Falun Dafa. I spoke loudly so that my voice could break through the interference that blocked them from hearing the truth.
Not long after, several buses with Chinese students arrived. Their teacher tried to block them from taking our materials or listening to us. I thought that I should clarify the truth to them wisely (instead of confronting them), so I started by telling them about the beautiful scenery on the campus and the special meanings of each landmark at the university.
Meanwhile, I worked at helping them quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). One student whispered to me and said his teacher is a school Party secretary, and that students do not listen to him. He said that the students have bypassed the Internet blockade set up by the Chinese regime and had already learned the truth about the persecution of Falun Dafa. He added that they already quit the CCP.
I came to understand better that all Dafa projects exist for saving sentient beings, and when we cooperate well with each other, we are immensely powerful.
Later, a small bus came with 12 Chinese tourists in it. This was not a regular coach bus, but a small tourist group who chose to drive here themselves. I approached them and tried to start a conversation. I learned they were from Beijing, so we talked about the hazy weather in the sky of Beijing. It was a couple with one child. We chatted about the great decision of attending such a prestigious school.
Then I changed the topic to quitting the CCP. I told them they could be blessed if they withdraw from the Party. They said they already know the evilness of the Party and happily accepted my invitation to quit it. The child's father asked me some questions about Falun Dafa, and after learning the truth, he then went back to his bus and convinced the rest of the passengers to quit the CCP as well. As a result, all 12 of the people in the small bus quit that day.
During our first day at Stanford University, 39 Chinese tourists quit after we clarified the truth to them.
In fact, the salvation of sentient beings was done by Master. We just had the desire to do it. We were very grateful to Master for leading predestined people to us so we could assist them to choose a bright future for themselves. Through this experience, I deepened my understanding of Master's teaching, “Cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one’s master.” (Zhuan Falun)
Clarifying the truth on the front lines directly reflects our cultivation state, our understanding of the Fa principles, one's xinxing level, and whether our righteous thoughts are strong. During this process, I discovered many attachments that I still clung to, such as a short-temper, Party culture, showing off, lack of compassion, etc. When I became aware of them, I sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate them immediately.
Speaking to people about Falun Dafa face to face is also a great opportunity to get rid of our human attachments.
Evil Interference Sets Out
In the first few months, our truth-clarification effort at Stanford University proceeded relatively smoothly, although we often encountered people who did not want to hear the truth or showed a bad attitude toward us.
Nevertheless, we always kept Master's teachings in our hearts: “Just by having your heart unaffected you will be able to handle all situations.” (“Eliminate Your Last Attachment(s)”, Essentials For Further Advancement II)
As we all came to understand the importance of clarifying the truth to Chinese people at the tourist site, more and more practitioners joined in, especially on the weekends. Some of us did an exercise demonstration; some distributed fliers; some broadcasted the truth with radios; others displayed truth-clarification exhibition panels.
One day personnel from the university management office told us they received complaints from tourists, claiming that our music was too loud or that we were too aggressive with them. For these reasons, they decided to put us in front of the bookstore in a small plaza. This is a place where not many tourists visited.
We knew that the old forces tried to create obstacles for us, but the fact that they were able to interfere with us was because we still had many human attachments such as validating ourselves (rather than the Fa), fear of falling behind the Fa-rectification, and not taking saving sentient beings more seriously. We had our truth-clarification booth at Stanford University for over 10 years, and this was the first time we were limited in what we could do regarding tourists.
Although the university did not let us distribute fliers or display our truth-clarification panels, they did not limit our speaking to the tourists. We firmly believed that as long as we kept Master and the Fa in our hearts, just by speaking to them without fliers, we could still help people awaken and understand Falun Dafa.
Although this tribulation caused some difficulty for us, we calmed down, eliminated our attachments, and became more compassionate and considerate of sentient beings.
Of course, this form of speaking to them created a higher standard for every practitioner involved, as we must verbally help them understand within a short period of time. Because of the restrictions imposed by the campus, less practitioners came to this tourist site. In the end, only seven of us have persevered to this date.
Because of our limited manpower, we had only one practitioner doing the exercise demo, while the rest of us grouped into teams. Those with more experience paired with those with less experience.
Initially, when we saw the tourists flooding in, our strategy was not to hurry to clarify the truth to the group. Instead, we let them break into smaller groups. When we saw them, we approached them and offered to help them take pictures. Normally, they appreciated our offering. We took this opportunity to tell them that we were there to clarify the truth to tourists, and asked them if they every heard about quitting the CCP.
Some said, “We've long been not a part of it.” I said, “This isn't sufficient. You must say you withdraw from it. All the gods are watching you, and they will protect you.”
At the beginning, only about 10% of the people we spoke to were willing to quit the CCP. Later, this figure rose to 80%. As long as we got a chance to speak with them and help them take pictures, they would agree to quit. It only took us a few minutes for the whole process.
I would like to give a few examples:
Willing to Quit the CCP
One day, we saw seven students come to the campus. I asked them, “Do you want me to take a picture for you, so this beautiful scene will stay in your memory?”
After helping them take a few pictures, they were very happy and thanked me. Then I asked them, “Have you joined the CCP, such as the Youth League or the Young Pioneers?” They replied that they had, so I further helped them understand the persecution and they all decided to quit.
There was a family of five people which included three generations, and I mentioned how wonderful that they could vacation together. I asked if I could take their picture. I then introduced the university to them, and I added that in the U.S. most people believe in God.
I mentioned that because the CCP is atheistic, there have been so many natural disasters in China. They agreed with me, so I asked them if they have joined the CCP. They said they hated the CCP and quit it.
There was a family that came from Sichuan. They said they had never heard of quitting the CCP. They also looked somewhat wary and confused. I explained to them the corruption of the CCP and it's officials. “In China it's hard to know the truth. Please quit the CCP, and remember that 'Falun Dafa is good' and 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good'.” They agreed and withdrew from the Party.
There are still many other examples. Through clarifying the truth without distributing fliers and collaborating well with other practitioners, we became better and better in helping tourists to quit the CCP. Within 1.5 hours, we can manage to help 20 or 30 tourists quit, and sometimes it is 40 to 50.
Not Missing An Opportunity in the Rainy Season
During the rainy season, it is still dark at 6:00 a.m. One day, when I woke up, it was raining. I had many different thoughts about the issue:“Maybe there won't be any tourists today. Will other practitioners be there? Should I go or not?”
Then a thought arose in my mind: “Not missing any one predestined person.”
Master said:
A Great Enlightened One fears no hardshipHaving forged an adamantine willFree of attachment to living or dyingHe walks the path of Fa-rectificationconfident and poised (“Righteous Thoughts and Righteous Actions,” Hong Yin Vol. II)
That day, I went by myself to the university. When two buses arrived, I helped tourists take pictures as usual, despite the rain. The tour guides joked that I worked harder than they did. I managed to help 20 people quit the CCP that day.
Befriending Tour Guides
Tour guides are also those whom we wish to help understand Falun Dafa, because if they do not know the truth, they will not only refuse to listen to us, but they also may block others from listening. However, once they know the truth, they help us clarify the truth to the tourists as well.
I always try to make friends with the tour guides. Every time I see a new tour guide, I make a point to introduce myself and talk to them about Falun Dafa. Sometimes, I have been unsuccessful in gaining their trust, and it has taken me many times for them to accept me. However, after we become friends, they even tell us when and how many buses we can expect at the site. When they see us from afar, they would say hello to us and introduce us to their tourists.
We surly sense that the cosmic change is accelerating. We must seize all opportunities to save more lives.
Onward With a Pure Heart
My father-in-law is 83 years old. He is still in very good shape, and he cooks for us every day. I am indeed very grateful for him. My mother-in-law is 81, and my mother is 78. We all live under one roof, and my husband works out of town and comes back only twice a year. I have to take care of all the chores around the house and our parents.
In addition to working my ordinary job, I also multitask in different projects such as coordinating the Fa-study site, playing in the Divine Land Marching Band, helping backstage during the Shen Yun season, and clarifying the truth at the tourist site and on the Internet. Because of this, I have very little time to eat or sleep.
At times, when my xinxing is not up to par, I run into lots of conflicts at home.
One day I came home from the tourist site, and my father-in-law was mad at me. Although I did not say anything, I felt pain and resentment inside. I even started to grieve in my mind: “Your son isn't here to take care of you. Why don't you say something to him? Why are you so harsh to me?” But I told myself to think like a cultivator. After all, this issue was in fact helping me to elevate.
When the elders at home get sick, I take them to the hospital. When they need clothing, I take them shopping. During their birthdays, I take them out to eat. I help resolve their conflicts using the principles of Falun Dafa.
In fact, everything that happens around me is directed at my attachments. The environment around me is geared for me to cultivate myself better. I have come to realize my many inadequacies such as lust, competitiveness, Party culture, arrogance, comfort, and lack of compassion.
However, when I raise my level, my home environment becomes warm and harmonious.
Oftentimes, when I come home from a truth-clarification site, the table is full of tasty food prepared by my father-in-law. I have come to understand that a warm home environment allows me to clarify the truth better and to send purer righteous thoughts. Letting go of my sentimentality and keeping a sober mind really facilitates my assisting Master.
Please point out anything incorrect.
