(Clearwisdom.net) In October, the head of the evil came to the U.S., which gave Dafa practitioners a great opportunity to clarify the truth, offer salvation to people and eliminate the evil elements in other dimensions with righteous thoughts. During this process, many Dafa practitioners around the world had profound experiences. Below are some experiences of practitioners in Chicago that they wish to share with fellow practitioners.
Police in Chicago: We Will Protect Your Rights
Before Jiang visited Chicago, Dafa practitioners in Chicago organized a group to clarify the truth to the police. They went to every police department in the city of Chicago to explain the true situation. Usually, the practitioners went in groups of two. One clarified the truth while the other sent forth righteous thoughts. The outcome was very good.
Once, in a police office, a practitioner introduced Falun Dafa and explained to the officer about the persecution in China, telling him, "The Chinese leader who started this persecution is about to visit Chicago." The police officer immediately suggested, "If he really comes, you should protest." The practitioner told the officer, "Yes, we are planning a peaceful protest." He also told the officer about things that happened in Germany during Jiang's visit. Hearing this, the officer said, "This is America. There is no way a group of us police officers would go to protect a dictator. Don't worry, we will protect your rights."
Northwestern University Students: "Look, It's Falun Dafa!"
Jiang had planned to stay at a place right next to Northwestern University's Medical School. Prior to his arrival, Dafa practitioners had done lots of truth clarification work, and many Chinese students, scholars and professors learned about his persecution against Falun Gong. Northwestern University's Amnesty International branch also had invited practitioners to attend their meeting to talk about the true situation in China. After hearing the truth about Falun Gong, they expressed firm support and decided to attend a large press conference held by Falun Gong practitioners.
A coincidence: When practitioners were protesting Jiang's persecution, every half an hour to one hour, a university-owned bus passed through the park where the practitioners quietly sat. The many Chinese students and scholars were shocked by such a large-scale yet peaceful protest. Many people left their seats and shouted, "Quick, look, its Falun Dafa!" Although there was a "welcoming" group for Jiang, they did not join it. Some even walked into the practitioners' group to look for their friends, and some made telephone calls to show support.
After seeing the practitioners' peaceful protest, the physicians' human rights organization at Northwestern University contacted Falun Gong practitioners and invited them to hold an information session. After the first session, another one was requested and held, with more people attending. After the second session, some people wrote letters to their Congressmen and asked them to support Falun Gong; some immediately said they want to learn Falun Dafa and asked the practitioners to return and teach them.
Declaration by the President of Amnesty International U.S.A: Chinese Government Must Release Illegally Detained Practitioners
On the day before Jiang's arrival in Chicago, the annual USA meeting of Amnesty International took place at DePaul University. Falun Gong practitioners attended the meeting and clarified the truth. Coincidentally, we met Dr. William Schulz, executive president of Amnesty International USA, and briefly exchanged comments regarding Falun Gong. Dr. Schulz let us know that he had written to President Bush regarding Jiang's visit, in which he mentioned the Chinese government must release all illegally detained Falun Gong practitioners.
After the persecution began, Amnesty International was the first international organization to step forward and demand China to end the persecution. Over the past three years, Amnesty International consistently provided support and help to Falun Gong, and we expressed gratitude to Dr. William Schulz.
Practitioners in Chicago: We Only Did What We Were Supposed to Do
With a joint effort from all Falun Gong practitioners, the sending forth righteous thoughts activity in Chicago fully displayed the peacefulness of Falun Gong practitioners, and we cooperated very well with local police. When some practitioners from other states praised us, some practitioners became pleased, but another practitioner's answer helped us to calm down. He said, "I don't think so. I think we only did what we were supposed to do."
Master said, "If everything in history were not borne for you, it would be fundamentally impossible for you to do cultivation practice." ("Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples," Essentials For Further Advancement II) "So, as Dafa disciples, you have been bestowed with a great, historic mission. This is different, then, from strictly personal cultivation. You need to safeguard the Fa, you need to validate the Fa, and when the Fa is persecuted you expose the evil and do better embodying Dafa--this is what you should do." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2001 Canada Fa Conference," Guiding the Voyage)
Do Away with the Old Force's Arrangements
During the time when we were busy telling the truth to the members of the city council, a practitioner suddenly had a bad feeling that she would have an accident. This practitioner thought, "No matter what happens, I still have to clarify the truth. On the other hand, if my life will be at risk, then so be it. I'm not afraid." Through Fa study, this practitioner realized her thoughts were wrong. This was the old forces' arrangement. The persecution against Dafa practitioners cannot be acknowledged. Just as Master had said, "When you conduct yourselves righteously, Master can do anything for you." (Touring North America to Teach the Fa, unofficial translation) One day, when she drove her car back from truth clarification to a Congressman, she didn't see a red traffic light at an intersection. When she reached the middle of the intersection, she saw a car rushing toward her at high speed. She intuitively stopped her car. Just as the other car was about to hit her, a sharp noise of screeching brakes was heard, and the smell of burning rubber floated in the air. The other car stopped within 2 ft of her car. She realized that Master has protected her.
Right before Jiang's visit in Chicago, a practitioner's husband who doesn't cultivate suddenly became extremely angry, although he supported her before when she clarified the truth. He was upset with her and didn't understand her going to Texas. The practitioner thought, "Dafa practitioners should use benevolence instead of emotion to deal with things. We should think from the perspective of offering salvation to people. For this matter, if I don't go to Texas because of human emotions, then didn't my husband commit a crime by stopping me from going? Isn't that bad for his true being?" Therefore, she still decided to go to Texas. Since there was limited time, she decided to explain to her husband after her return. However, she was surprised that when she returned, her husband happily picked her up and took her home without any trace of anger.
November 8, 2002
Category: April 25 Events
