Urgently Helping People During the Pandemic, Letting Go of My Ego to Validate Falun Dafa

(Minghui.org) I began Falun Dafa cultivation 21 years ago. During the onset of the CCP virus (Covid-19 virus) in early 2020, I worried about the safety of sentient beings, and seized the time to go out and awaken people’s consciences. 

During that time, what I felt most strongly was, only by letting go of myself, could I validate Dafa. One instance I ran into made me realize what validating Dafa meant for a practitioner. 

One day in late April 2020, after the pandemic subsided, a young man was selling fruits on a main road near a residential area. While eating his pear, he said to me, “Such an amazing pear, it’ll fill your stomach right away. Aunty, why don’t you get some?” 

When he smiled at me, I also smiled back. But I passed by him, as I had no intention of buying, as I still had some at home. 

He then shouted at me from behind, “How about if you just get one? That way you can show your support for our business.” I laughed at what he said. 

Then I turned around, walked over to his fruit stand and got a few pears from him. I said, “You are so funny! I have to buy some.” 

He smiled, then said, “Aunty, what I said is true. This pandemic made my life so difficult.” 

He went on to say, “I used to sell snacks on the street, but my business was shut down and I had to sell fruits. Now I am often chased by the city management officers.” 

Lastly, he said, “Look, just yesterday, they confiscated my digital scale. They have made my life so difficult!” 

I tried to comfort him and said, “We regular people do lead difficult lives. However, look at Wuhan City; what happened there is dreadful!”

Furthermore, I said, “Compared to them, we are not bad at all, as we have had much fewer cases so far. By the way, are you scared of this pandemic?” 

He responded, “Yes I am. See I always wear a mask; I am scared to take it off.” 

I then said, “I practice Falun Dafa. Let me tell you something; have you heard by renouncing one’s memberships from the CCP and its affiliated organizations, one could ensure one is protected from the plague?” 

As soon as he heard that, he responded immediately, “Yes I have. I know about Falun Dafa. You are all good people.” 

I then asked him, “Have you ever dealt with our practitioners?” 

He said, “Yes I have. A few years ago, during the winter, I sold sugar-coated haw (fruit from the hawthorn) on the street.” 

“It was very late, but I still hadn't sold all of them. Right then, an aunty came over and said, “It’s very cold,” and offered to buy whatever was left from me, so I could go home.” 

Furthermore, he said, “I told her since I had more than 20 left, I was worried she couldn't finish them all.”

“Then she asked me not to worry about it and go home to get warm. When I asked her why she treated me so nicely, she said it’s because she practiced Falun Dafa, and it was Dafa which taught her to follow ‘Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance’ and be good people.” 

“After I went home, I told my family members the story, and they were also very touched. From then on, I knew you practitioners are all good people.” 

I was truly impressed by that practitioner. Then I asked him, “So, did she mention about withdrawing one’s memberships from the CCP and its affiliated organizations?” 

He replied, “She probably did. But I told her I didn’t belong to any of them.” 

Then I made it clear to him that it not only related to his present status, but also to things which happened in the past, that is, if he had joined the young pioneers or youth league before. 

Then he said he was close to 40 years old now and that he surely had many years ago. 

I then clarified the facts to him in great detail. He was glad to give me his real name and agreed to quit the CCP. 

After that, often enough, I went to buy fruits from his stand. He always treated me very warmly. 

Suddenly one day, he didn’t seem happy. He said to me, “Aunty, a practitioner bought a pineapple from me yesterday, but gave me a fake 100 yuan bill.” 

“Only because I have a good impression of you guys and you have my full trust, I didn’t even look after taking it from her. After I passed it on to my business partner, she left.” 

“When my business partner took a close look and realized it was a fake bill, he ran off trying to catch her, but couldn’t find her.” 

I asked him, “How do you know she practices Dafa?” He replied, “She also talked to me about quitting the CCP, but I told her another aunty helped me a few days ago.” 

I said, “I guarantee you she doesn’t know what a fake bill looks like. For example, I have no clue myself.” 

He shook his head and said, “I feel she did that on purpose. As when she passed on that bill to me, she deliberately said those things to me to shift my attention away from that bill.” 

I said, “When I talked to you about quitting the CCP, wasn’t I very serious as well about getting your attention?” 

He said, “You and she are not the same, at least I didn’t feel that way. Anyway, I have a disconnect with you guys now.” 

“This is awful! You know, we start our day very early in the morning to procure goods, then work all the way up until 8 or 9 p.m., making little money.” 

“The city management officer confiscated another digital scale from me yesterday, but what can I do? I can’t find a stable job.” 

“My wife and I just had our second baby four months ago, and we need money to cover our expenses for the family. After I took this fake bill, my whole day’s work became a waste!” 

I didn’t know what to say but had to tell him, “Since Dafa teaches people to follow ‘Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance’, that aunty would have never done something like that on purpose.” 

But he kept shaking his head and was extremely disappointed. After I returned home, I kept thinking of this matter. 

I was also sad and worried the young man may have a negative opinion of Dafa because of this fake 100 yuan bill. Suddenly I thought about compensating him, as it was only 100 yuan ($15.42 US) after all. 

After quick deliberation, I decided to compensate him. Besides, it also involved eliminating my attachment to self-interest and selfishness. 

When we clarify the facts to people they want to see how we behave, as we represent the image of Dafa, and Dafa teaches us to be good people. 

I began to recall what Master said, 

“Safeguarding Dafa with your own conduct is forever the responsibility of Dafa disciples, because Dafa belongs to all sentient beings of the universe, and this includes you.” (“Stability of the Fa,” Essentials for Further Advancement)

The next day, I went back to see that young man, and asked him, “Do you still have the fake bill? If you do, please bring it to me, as I want to exchange it with you for a good bill.” 

He was dumbfounded, as he couldn’t believe what he heard. He said, “Are you for real? That’s so awesome!” 

Right away, he put a big smile on his face. But after that, he said, “But how could you compensate me? That’s so embarrassing!” 

I said, “Take it easy, young man. I bet the other aunty didn’t know it was a fake bill. Otherwise, she would have done the same as me.”

“I only want to compensate you for the loss on behalf of her, as this is how it should be! Dafa teaches us to be good people and think of others.” 

He was so grateful, he also asked his wife to come over and meet me, saying that people who practiced Dafa were truly wonderful. He also said when he mentioned this matter to both his relatives and business partner, they truly admired me from deep down. 

They all said, “Who can do this? Who would give us a penny these days?”

“The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) terribly suppresses us. They chase after small business owners, and even went as far as confiscating a few electronic scales from you.”

“They don’t care whether you can survive or not. Only Falun Dafa treats us nicely; people who practice Falun Dafa are the best!”

I said to the young man and his wife, “For me to be a good person, it’s because Dafa is so wonderful and taught me to be this way. Please remember: Falun Dafa is wonderful! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is wonderful!” 

Lastly, I said, “Mind you, you also need to renounce your memberships from the CCP to ensure your safety.”

He replied, “That’s true. Last night, both my relatives and business partner said since this aunty was so nice, we should listen to her. Therefore, all of them agreed to quit the CCP.” 

Then he put down the names of his wife, cousins and business partner for me, with five people in total. He repeatedly thanked me. 

I said, “Please do not thank me. If you do want to thank someone, please thank my Master!” 

I also appreciated Master deep down, for, through this matter, He helped me understand what true cultivation is and what it means to be a Dafa practitioner validating Dafa. 

I only did something a practitioner is supposed to do, but it made ordinary people look up upon us in a good light. From this instance, we can see how every practitioner’s behavior is so important! 

I’ll treasure the precious time Master has extended for us in exchange for his tremendous efforts, and truly cultivate myself solidly. Only by cultivating myself well, can I assist Master in saving sentient beings more effectively and realize my vow.