My Experience Doing TV Work to Clarify the Truth

(Clearwisdom.net)

Today I would like to share with everyone some experiences I had while working on the TV team. If there is anything inappropriate, please point it out to me.

During the Taiwan Fa-Conference at the end of the year 2000, I happened to attend a TV production class. During the three days of the class, other practitioners and I learned the basics of TV production. Seeing that my fellow practitioners were learning diligently with a pure heart, I was really impressed. Even though I knew that it is not easy to make TV programs, I decided to give it a try anyway. At that time, I did not realize that I should view the TV production project from the perspective of the Fa.

In 2001, we formed a TV team in Sydney, and soon started various training programs. TV work appeared to be interesting and colorful, but in fact the whole production process was very tedious, requiring a large amount of time and energy. Plus, we had to learn everything from scratch: camera work, computer editing, lighting, sound, using tripods, connecting cables, etc. Everything had to be done with professional quality, which was surely good. However, I felt it was quite difficult and boring, so I tried to avoid doing these things as much as possible. I preferred to prepare meals for everyone, rather than learning these technical tasks.

Later on I realized that it was really pitiful that I had wasted that period of time instead of learning all those useful skills. On the surface, it seemed that I was able to let go of the attachments of fame and self-interest, and that I was willing to serve others, but in actuality, I was stopped by my attachment of being unwilling to learn things that I did not like. In other words, I did not have a clear understanding of the Fa. What is the significance of utilizing the tool of television and media amidst Fa-rectification?

After studying the Fa and sharing with others, I gradually came to understand what Master said in "Using at Will" (Essentials for Further Advancement II), that "Dafa is also creating a new humankind, and will likewise bring to humankind a new culture."

Only when we completely disclose evil's lies and fabrications, eliminate the misunderstanding in people's mind, can all sentient beings be truly saved. The evil uses media and television to deceive and poison people. It is our responsibility to clear away the evil, and rectify the media of the degenerated humankind in the Dharma-ending period. The evil tries to distort people's thoughts and notions, so it is our job to rectify that.

If we see exposing the evil and saving sentient beings as a battlefield, what I had done is like staying in the rear contemplating what I liked to do and what I didn't, when there are numerous sentient beings on the front line that need to be saved. Was I really saving sentient beings? Dafa cultivation is not ordinary people's work. What is the purpose of my participating in the Fa-rectification? Doing Dafa work is a cultivation opportunity that Master has bestowed upon us. We do Dafa work out of our compassion.

Under the joint efforts of the TV team practitioners, a few short films were shown at the 2001 Brisbane Fa-Conference. Though they were short, the power of the media obviously touched everyone. Many practitioners wanted to join the TV team. However, filmmaking requires holistic efforts. Every part of the process must be up to standard. Coordination and cooperation are crucial. We do not have the management structure of everyday people. Everyone is a volunteer. If we cannot do things according to the Fa and study the Fa well, in the face of difficulties and conflicts, all kinds of human mentalities will surface. I always thought that the TV team is a great environment for cultivation. Can we let go of our attachment of fame, self-interest and sentimentality? How much effort can we devote to the TV team? Can we relinquish all kinds of attachments? Can we endure hardships? Can we maintain our xinxing when others point out our shortcomings? Do we have a sense of responsibility? Everything we encounter is a big test for us. If one person in the TV team has tribulations, the whole process will be affected.

In "Fa-Lecture at the Conference in Florida," Master said: "And in this layer of particles, everything, including the human body, is connected. When a person himself doesn't have righteous thoughts, all the bad things in the cosmos, or in the Three Realms, will flow around continually in the human body, and even when they stay there the person doesn't realize it."

We are affecting one another, and we shouldn't point fingers at others. Instead, we should conduct ourselves well. The more righteous our thoughts, the stronger the righteous field is.

At that time, I didn't realize the conflict was a test for me, and I forgot the requirements for a Fa-rectification Dafa disciple. I clung to my attachments and always looked for the shortcomings in others. Due to the lack of Fa-study, I lost a good opportunity to improve myself and help the group advance as one body.

Soon, many people left the TV team; only a few remained. This affected the progress of our Fa-rectification efforts. Two years ago, in almost all other parts of the world except Taiwan, where there are practitioners who are experts in TV production, practitioners had to learn everything from scratch. Yet, in Australia we had both Chinese and Western professionals. Two years have passed; however, we have produced far fewer TV programs than other countries. It was not a matter of technical problems, but an issue of strong attachments. Looking back, I felt very sad. It wasn't easy for practitioners to come to the TV team, and now they had left, one after another. It is not that they didn't want to do it, it was my failure as a coordinator. I didn't create a good environment for everyone to improve.

Of course, when our minds conform to the Fa, the situation is different. Before the Brisbane Fa-Conference last year, a practitioner wanted to make a film showing the spirit of Dafa disciples. She had never done any editing before, yet, with that idea in mind, and with the assistance of others, she worked non-stop for a few days, barely even sleeping, and she made it. Even professionals would admire the result. After all, we are cultivators. It might be hard, but as long as we are determined, we will be able to do it. The heart is what really matters.

In April 2001, in Switzerland, I listened to a Human Rights report made by some US practitioners and I was deeply touched. In July of that year, I attended a Fa-Conference in the U.S., and I exchanged experiences with the North American TV team. Once again I was deeply touched when I saw practitioners put enormous amount of time, energy and money into the projects. I decided to make a documentary to clarify the truth to various governments. But where should I start? I had no idea. Nonetheless, my thought was pure and strong. I got a list of names of MPs and councillors from the Government Team, and we started planning. During that time, many questions came to me, and I tried to find solutions.

I got in touch with some councillors and MPs and made appointments for interviews. However, I had never interviewed in English before. Sometimes I could hardly understand what the interviewee was saying, let alone react promptly. Once, a councillor talked so fast that I just couldn't catch up. I didn't even know what to ask, so I honestly told him that I wasn't sure what to ask. Maybe it was my honesty that moved him; he said, "There is one thing I would like to add..." It turned out that the point he added was the most important point he made in the whole interview.

I realised that when our thoughts are righteous and pure, it is not just us doing the work. Master only looks at our hearts.

TV work is very important, and it requires a large number of participants. I also understand that everyone has his own mission. Not everybody has to do TV work. We are a whole body, just like Master's Gong, performing different tasks. Before, I used to get anxious and I would wonder why nobody was doing TV work. I took it as a job. To genuinely cultivate oneself, one has to be righteous. I believe everything has its arrangement.

When I saw truth-clarification programs released one after another, when I saw video clips uploaded onto the websites, when I saw VCDs spread throughout the world, like sharp swords shredding apart the rotten demons' lies, I felt encouraged. Although we only made a few of them, and though we had taken a detour, the TV team has rejoined Fa-rectification. The road ahead will be difficult, but I believe, if we can let go of the attachment of "self", think from the Fa's perspective, study the Fa well and join into one force, nothing will be difficult for us. We shall let television, the most power media tool of this society, serve for the salvation of all sentient beings.

Thank you.

(Shared at the 2002 Australia Experience Sharing Conference)