(Minghui.org) Every time I wear a Falun Dafa t-shirt, while I feel proud, I am also cautious. I do not want any inappropriate behavior to impact the image of Dafa. Protecting the Fa is the responsibility of every Dafa disciple. Cultivating ourselves well is also a way to protect Dafa.
Rectifying Our Behavior and Actions to Protect Dafa
In public areas, appropriate behavior is a reflection of being considerate of others. It is also protecting the basic principles of humanity. It is understandable that fellow practitioners will likely talk about cultivation experiences with one another when they are together. However, when one is in a crowded place, such as on the subway, and wearing a Dafa shirt that identifies one as a practitioner, if one talks about something that other people wouldn’t understand, one is not being considerate. I don’t feel that it is appropriate to talk about high-level cultivation issues around non-practitioners, and it could lead to someone misunderstanding Dafa.
Master says,
“To fulfill the Fa, you must first of all be a good person. When you’re being a good person, that is an act of fulfilling the Fa. But since you’re cultivating among everyday people, after all, you need to go still higher than all of these things. So when you can truly understand the Fa, cultivate in the Fa, and be an upright and true cultivator, you are fulfilling the Fa. Which means, you are safeguarding the Fa as well. That’s because the conduct of each student in everyday people’s society represents Falun Dafa [in people’s minds]. Isn’t that right? If we don’t conduct ourselves well, we’ll undoubtedly tarnish Dafa’s image, and it couldn’t be said that we’re fulfilling the Fa.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Singapore”)
Home is an environment where we can easily relax. We could easily use human notions at home and not be strict with ourselves in our behavior. Yet, our family members are also sentient beings whom we are to save. Cultivating ourselves well at all times is also a way of saving sentient beings and protecting the Fa.
Master says,
“Everyday people do everything out of self-interest, whereas what we do is to safeguard Dafa. This is what a Dafa disciple should do, and it is without any selfish elements.” (“A Message,” Essentials for Further Advancement II)
I came to realize that the basis of the thinking and behavior of Dafa disciples should be to safeguard the Fa.
Master says,
“A Dafa disciple who fails to achieve the effect of safeguarding and upholding Dafa has no way of reaching Consummation, because your cultivation is different from that of the past and the future. Therein lies the magnificence of a Dafa disciple.” (“Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples,” Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Making Truth-Clarification Phone Calls, Eliminating Evil, and Protecting the Fa
Making phone calls to public security organs, procuratorial organs, and people's courts in China, to talk to these people directly about Falun Dafa, is a way to suppress and eliminate the evil and save sentient beings. It is to assist Master in Fa-rectification. It is something that Dafa disciples should be doing to safeguard Dafa. Therefore, these calls are very meaningful and even critical.
Master says,
“Dafa disciples' magnificence is connected to the Fa-rectification of the cosmos, and your greatest mission is to safeguard the Fa. Let those that don't damage Dafa just be. If someone damages Dafa, you should clarify the truth to him, restrain the evil, eliminate the evil, and save people.” (“Fa-Lecture at the Conference in Florida, U.S.A.,” Teaching the Fa at the Conference II)
In the past several years, it has been a cultivation process for me to eliminate my attachment to self while making truth-clarification phone calls. At first, when people verbally abused me or rudely argued with me on the call, my attachment to self-esteem and my competitive mentality would get in the way. I would argue with them or try to teach them a lesson, or even raise my voice louder than theirs. After a while, I realized that the ones who were truly poisoned and harmed were precisely those people I was calling. Why would I be affected by their attitude? This might be the only chance for them to hear the truth. So I gradually let go of self and focused only on saving them. The effect of my calls became much better.
Master says,
“Of course, Dafa disciples and I don't acknowledge anything that has to do with the old forces. Dafa has forged the Dafa disciples, and Dafa disciples will definitely safeguard the Fa as they cultivate. But, the ability of Dafa disciples to validate the Fa isn't for the purpose of enduring this persecution, and even less is it for clarifying the truth among the world's people. I only asked Dafa disciples to clarify the truth because persecution has taken place and has caused this situation. To put it more clearly, Dafa disciples don't exist in order to clarify the truth; we do that because the old forces caused this persecution and we were left with no choice. We are making use of this persecution while we defy it, and we are establishing even greater mighty virtue for Dafa disciples as we clarify the truth.” (“Teaching the Fa on Easter, 2004, at the New York Fa Conference,” Teaching the Fa at the Conference VI)
Category: Improving Oneself
