(Minghui.org)
Esteemed Master and fellow practitioners,
After a fellow student suggested that I read Zhuan Falun in 2008, I began to practice Falun Dafa. Even before I stepped into this cultivation practice, I held no interest in fame, wealth and emotions. These sentiments did not touch my heart. Actually, everything was just a pipe dream in my mind and could disappear like a bubble.
However, I was confused when it came to issues such as life, birth, aging, illness and death. Not just that, I also felt at loss when a relationship I thought to be perfect ran into problems.
Even before I had finished reading Zhuan Falun, all my questions were answered and my philosophy of life had made a 180-degree turn. Finally, I understood the meaning of life, something I had wanted to know for so many years.
My fellow student asked me if I had read Zhuan Falun three times a few days later. I responded that I could not remember how many times I had read the entire book, as I read it during all my spare time, including when going to the office, when I was on my way home, and during my lunch hour.
Soon, I experienced the power of Dafa. I felt the turning of the Falun and my illness symptoms disappeared without a trace.
Regarding practitioners who stepped into Falun Dafa after the onset of the persecution in 1999, Master said,
“One has to do with new students: your cultivation process is merged with your Fa-validation process, and in order for you to catch up, your personal cultivation accompanies your validating the Fa, and both of them progress simultaneously.” (“Teaching and Explaining the Fa at the Metropolitan New York Fa Conference” from Teaching the Fa at the Conference III )
I did not understand the significance of Fa-rectification. However, after I had watched the short video “Eternal Story,” a Chinese language seven-minute movie about the Fa-rectification, I burst into tears.
It was as if my locked memory had opened up and I suddenly came to understand my responsibilities in this lifetime. I knelt down and made a solemn vow, “My purpose for reincarnation is to attain the Fa and save all sentient beings.” After I dried my tears, I put Master's picture on the table and kowtowed.
“From this moment on I will give up everything,” I said. “I will let go of everything ordinary people cannot give up and I will truly cultivate. I have to honor my vow and assume my responsibilities in this life.”
This was the turning point in my life. Besides my job, I do the three things, as well as tell people about Falun Dafa over the phone and via e-mail. I am also involved in media projects. So far, I collected over 10,000 e-mail addresses from my colleagues and sent many e-mails. I not only told my colleagues the facts about Falun Dafa, but have also talked about Dafa to my relatives in China whenever I call them or wish them a happy New Year.
At the outset of my getting involved with truth clarification, I was not very conversant, and I was fearful and worried. Maybe because I held the simple wish to save sentient beings, Master helped me improve. Thus, my relatives and friends withdrew from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its associated organizations. Next, beginning in 2012, I began to talk to strangers about Dafa.
Everyone who wants to clarify the truth about Falun Dafa has to study the Fa well. Thus, I have memorized the majority of Master's poems from Hong Yin III. This strengthened my righteous thoughts. Whenever I study the Fa in a group environment I do not concentrate well. Therefore, I recite the Fa in my mind, as I have more or less memorized Zhuan Falun in its entirety.
Besides, I demand myself to be in a good cultivation state because I wish to save sentient beings. Thus, I smile when I talk on the phone. When I tell the facts person-to-person, I make sure that I am dressed well and if the situation requires, I carry a better purse or wear better shoes. The material of my clothes must be of good quality. I am not out to demonstrate that I am wealthy or am of a good family, but to validate the Fa. Most Chinese who travel abroad are of good financial wherewithal. We should not give the impression that we are different, because this could prevent some people from listening to the truth.
The basis for effectively speaking the truth and the facts is to let go of self and strengthen one’s righteous thoughts.
Master said,
“Then what does the title 'Dafa disciple' signify? Who came here to be a Dafa disciple? [You earned that title] because you have taken on the mission of saving all sentient beings. The cultivation that you have done as a foundation, and the righteous thoughts that you’ve developed through cultivation, are for the purpose of saving all lives. I’ll put it even more clearly: the cultivation that you are doing in this lifetime is to strengthen the righteous thoughts that your being at the surface has, and that is so that you can save all living beings.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2015 West Coast Fa Conference”)
While clarifying the truth I finally came to understand the meaning of righteous thoughts. At times, it takes only one sentence to clear away the bad substances behind a sentient being. They come to understand the reason behind practitioners' efforts, so their attitude changes immediately and they agree to withdraw from the CCP. The process of sharing the truth is also a process of letting go of human selfishness.
Now, I understand Master’s Fa, “... the entire cultivation process for a practitioner is one of constantly giving up human attachments." (Zhuan Falun)
The more I let go of my ego and the more of my selfishness is discarded, the more of Dafa's power is displayed through my words.
When I began to talk to people about Dafa, I found reasons and opportunities to raise my xinxing daily. I am certain that whatever tribulation I face is to help me let go of selfishness.
One meets a lot of people when clarifying the truth. In the beginning, my heart was troubled. Then, I realized that it is rather difficult to talk to people when agitated. After I let go of my attachments, I found that Dafa is extraordinary and wonderful – every bit of the bad substances within me had disappeared.
Then, I noticed that whatever anybody said no longer affected me – I do not get angry or want to contend. I can ignore a person’s bad side. Any thought to discriminate or despise anyone weakened more and more. Now, I only see the good side of people.
The Fa-rectification is moving forward rapidly. People’s attitudes towards Dafa have changed and people are willing to listen to the truth about the persecution and Dafa.
To speak the truth is a pleasure. Whomever I meet I treat as a friend. I help these people take pictures, suggest what they should see in Germany or where they can find a good restaurant. Then, I give them the software to break through the Internet blockade. I suggest that they visit the NTD television website. This clears the air and the discussion moves easily to the quitting the CCP movement.
When calling China, I start each phone call with a polite “hello, I hope you are having a nice weekend” I then ask if they are busy. Should I call at a late hour, I ask if they are still awake. Everything follows its order before I start with my truth clarification.
About 10 people will withdraw from the CCP during a 2-hour phone calling session, while it takes me just one hour when I talk to people at our booth at a tourist spot. My efforts have better result when I am at a trade fair. I go from booth to booth, and about 100 people will quit the CCP within half a day. So far, I have helped about 5,000 people withdraw from the Party. At the same time, I have talked to several thousand people about Dafa cultivation practice and the persecution. Among those I've spoken to have been officials from the legal system and hospitals, with some being involved in organ harvesting or working for the Chinese government.
It came to my attention that the reason why many of my fellow practitioners refuse to talk to people about Dafa is distrust. They evade each other.
It is also an attachment when one refuses to approach people or talk to anyone. This actually creates tremendous pressure. The substance that is the core of this attitude blocks any attempt to save sentient beings. However, if one takes action, this substance loses in importance and the pressure immediately disappears.
When I talked to Chinese people at a trade fair about Dafa for the first time, I felt great pressure, especially since there were many Chinese people in the hall. I pulled myself together, tried to smile and walked from booth to booth. There were many people who refused to listen to the facts, were impatient, or kept a distance.
I remember some men who had gathered at a booth. After I said a few words and gave them our informational materials, they bristled and one of them said to leave it and then to get lost. It was obvious that I was not welcome. I was perplexed and felt hurt. This was the first time that I was spurned.
Actually, I remember only having received praise in the past. I was of proud heart and had a big ego. I hated to lose face, was afraid of any resistance and worried about a bruised ego. After I walked away from the booth I felt that I was victimized. I briefly stopped to calm down and then thought of the other people that were waiting to be saved. Then, I pulled myself together and continued on my mission.
When I met up with unfriendly people who called me a traitor of the fatherland, I could not always contain my xinxing.
I said, “I realize that you have been lied to by the Communist Party and you are unable to differentiate between the Party and the country. You are unfriendly to your countrymen, and yet you claim to love your fatherland. The Communist Party is not your ancestor. The ancestors of the Party are Marx, Lenin and Stalin. You should not confuse your father with swindlers.”
Master said, “While working, your tone of voice, your kindheartedness, and your reasoning can change a person’s heart … (“Clearheadedness” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
This Fa standard told me that we can change others only after we have cultivated compassion.
Another time I approached a young man in a booth. After I began to tell him the facts he stopped me and asked me to move on. He complained that I kept him from working. As no one had stopped at that booth, and his co-workers did not seem to mind my presence, I turned around and talked to them. He got angry and asked me to leave.
I smiled and said, “What’s the matter with you today? Why are you so cross? Anger is not healthy. Mind your own business. We are not bothering you. I will talk with your co-workers.”
He calmed down and I continued to talk to his co-workers and one of them agreed to quit the CCP.
Then, when I and a fellow practitioner passed his booth, he asked us to stop. We spoke for a long time. He said that his attitude was bad before, and he really should not have gotten angry. In the end he understood the facts. However, he did not quit the Party, but this is a beginning. He developed a positive attitude toward Dafa, which is fundamental to him being saved at a later time.
After one has let go of the stress on the heart, wisdom forms and Dafa shows its mighty power. I want to keep the Fa standard in mind that tells me not to bring out the demon nature and to tell people the facts based on their interests and concerns.
Generally, I start the conversation with small talk, such as “How is it going at the fair? I hope you've had a lot of success. I wish you all the best. I live in Germany. If you have time you should go sightseeing because Germany is such a beautiful country. There are many restaurants along the river Rhine. Have you had time to visit there?”
Once I have established a friendly atmosphere, I can deepen my conversation and recommend the software to break through the Internet blockade.
We first distribute our informational materials before we talk about the facts face-to-face. Thus, these vendors can familiarize themselves with the subject before we approach them. Then, I come to the point without much preamble. I wish them and their families all the best and ask if they had heard about the quitting the CCP movement. Many answer that they are not a member of the CCP.
Then, I remind them, “When we were little, we were deceived and forced to wear the red scarf of the Young Pioneers. After we got older, we became a member of the Communist Youth League. Did you forget that we raised our fist and vowed to defend the Communist Party to our death? Our life is ours. Who wants to give everything to the Party? This vow brings harm. I will help you quit the Party. Then, the vow no longer counts.”
Many people agree to quit the Party and thank me. However, many were afraid and do not understand why they should withdraw from the Party. They claim, “I can't remember to have ever experienced anything you just told me. I have nothing to do with the Party,” and so on.
Again I try to break through the block in their mind and say, “It is good if you are not a member. However, any vow will come to fruition. It is not a small matter if one makes a vow before heaven. The Party persecutes people who cultivate Buddhahood. That is enough reason for punishment by the heavens. I can give you an alias.”
If they agree, I help them quit the Party and its affiliates and wish them well.
There are also people who only are interested in anything they can gain. They impatiently tell me that they are only interested in doing business and that what I am telling them has nothing to do with them. They don't want to listen. I used to worry about that and had no clue as to how to deal with them.
During my truth clarification efforts, Dafa gave me wisdom. Now, I say, “So what! You are independent, and so am I. I wish you well in your business undertakings. But, for us business people to have good fortune is even more important. If one values the Buddha Fa one’s business ventures will turn for the better.”
I explain further, “We are the pillar for our family and thus must do a good job. No matter what, we cannot give our life to the Party. Only when you undo your vow, will you succeed. Anyway, you must have worn the red scarf. Remember your alias and I will help you quit the CCP.” This helps break the ice. They change their attitude and quit the Party.
It does not matter how difficult it is to deal with people, I can tell them the facts from different perspectives, and get to the point. When the knot in their heart has been untied, they can be saved. People from other booths will also come to listen to me. There are even some who want to hear more. They ask me to sit down and talk to them.
I tell them the facts in a way that they can accept. I tell them of my own experiences, especially about the improvement of my health through cultivation. I talk about the spread of Dafa, the organ harvesting and the cruelty of the persecution by the Party. I also tell them that practitioners are not afraid to give up their life for their faith. But, most of all, I suggest that they break through the Internet blockade and read the Dafa books.
Every time I talk to anyone about Dafa, I feel that Master is beside me and encourages me. Many people tell me that I look very young and that I exude positiveness and that I am graceful. This helps validate the Fa.
These people are just as I used to be. They sit in their office and have an unhealthy complexion, back pain and insomnia. Now, I am totally different not only in my heart, but am also of good health. This is the reason why many people accept the goodness of Dafa.
When I used to tell the facts, it was just like when Master spoke about extracting teeth. Today, I understand that telling the facts is just like pulling teeth. It takes a lot of time and energy to save sentient beings. The young man from the South only needed the liquid drug and a matchstick to pull someone's bad tooth. It is just like the few words one needs to dissolve the bad substances in the person.
Master said,
If what Dafa disciples have been working toward really does take place in the near future, and yet you haven’t done well, then at that point you will regret it—truly regret it. If [at that point] you haven’t done many of the things that you originally aspired to do, or haven’t saved many of the people you aspired to save, then that’s a major issue. (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2015 New York Fa Conference”)
At this moment in time, which cannot be valued in gold, I ask that we practitioners encourage each other and give each other the strength to save sentient beings in this new year. We want to be worthy of the title Fa-rectification Dafa disciples.
In closing, I thank our esteemed Master and my fellow practitioners for their support.
(Presented at the 2016 Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference in Germany)
Translated from http://de.minghui.org/html/articles/2016/1/17/118726.html