(Clearwisdom.net) In March 2002, I made the most important decision in my life after learning the truth about Dafa. I quickly began practicing Falun Dafa, and jumped into this incomparably magnificent cultivation practice and Fa-rectification.
I set up a small information site not long after. With the encouragement and the assistance of fellow practitioners, this site has functioned successfully and has been able to play its role in the Fa-rectification. Meanwhile, I made an effort to explore several means to clarify the truth to people. For example, making phone calls, writing letters, and mailing VCDs to classmates, friends, customers and strangers, etc. Today I can feel that my surroundings have become better as more people learn the truth. Even friends that used to strongly oppose my practicing Falun Gong now help me with Fa-rectification work after learning the truth.
In the course of clarifying the truth, however, how to approach the gatekeepers at my apartment complex with the facts had always left me perplexed. I live in a townhouse community and the gatekeepers are a couple, both over forty years old. A notice was posted on the wall next to the door of their office by the Street Administrative Office, and it contained words that slandered Dafa. This really pained me, for I could tell from the notice that the couple must have been deceived by the government propaganda. I once thought of taking that notice down quietly, crossing out the paragraph that slandered Dafa and then leaving some truth clarification materials at their house. But after thinking it over several times, this method seemed somewhat lacking. At least it would not achieve a better effect than if I told them the facts face to face, since we were pretty familiar with each other already. However, human notions were always in my way. For example, I thought, "The police station is so close to our community. What if they or somebody else turn me in?" "Won't my information site be exposed? For the sake of the information site, it would be better not to clarify the facts in person."
I realized that there were loopholes in my notions after continuously studying the Fa. At the surface, not clarifying the truth in person was indeed being responsible for the safety of other fellow practitioners and our information site. But the fear of being exposed and of being persecuted was hidden beneath it and had been magnified. This became a great obstacle in my path of Fa-rectification. I asked myself again and again, "Why can't I just let them know that Dafa is good in a noble and upright manner?"
Not long ago when coming home from work around 7 o'clock, I saw the TV in the gatekeepers' office showing things that slander Dafa. When I saw the attentive look of the gatekeepers, my compassion arose. I felt that I could no longer put it off, so I immediately put away my bicycle and approached the gatekeepers. After organizing my thoughts I started talking to them, "They are telling lies about Falun Gong again. Do not believe them, for they are completely fabricated!" Then I started telling them how I got to understand Falun Gong. I pointed out the questionable scenes in the staged Tiananmen self-immolation incident, told them the facts about the peaceful appeal on April 25, as well as the worldwide acceptance and appreciation of Falun Gong. From a third person perspective, I also told them how Dafa had miraculously cured illnesses. Then I mentioned the brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China and listed cases of persecution that had happened in our neighboring provinces. I expanded on this subject and explained the reason Jiang initiated this persecution, and talked about the condemnation he has received from the international community and the lawsuits he is now meeting with overseas. I talked along their interest and we reached the topic of SARS. By exposing Jiang's news blockade and lies concerning SARS, they again became aware of the deceitfulness and maliciousness of Jiang. Without realizing it, we chatted for more than an hour. In the end I invited them to come to my house to watch truth clarification videos when they had time and promised to give them some truth clarification materials. They accepted my proposal gladly. In their eyes, I clearly felt that the side of them that is aware rejoiced for hearing the truth.
After looking inward, I realized that when we have a compassionate heart towards beings, our real nature would emerge and direct us in how things should be done. It is my understanding that every time we have a chance to clarify the truth, it involves the question of whether or not we can step forward. In order to do so, we need to break through our human notions and let our real nature guide us. In using our actions to break through the old forces' arrangements and interference, we will be fulfilling what Teacher had said, "...gradually getting rid of your human thoughts, and truly stepping forward from humanness." ("Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
Teacher said, "...in clarifying the truth, don't wait, don't rely on others, and don't just hope for changes in external factors. Every one of us is creating history for the future, that's why everyone is not only participating in group activities, but also taking the initiative to look for things to do. As long as something is good for Dafa, you should take the initiative to do it, take the initiative to work on it. Every person you come into contact with in society is someone to clarify the truth to, and what's manifest in clarifying the truth is Dafa disciples' mercy and their salvation of the world's people. I hope that every Dafa disciple will fully take initiative and fully play his role as a Dafa disciple." ("To All Students at the Nordic Fa Conference" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
The path of Fa-rectification is sacred and honorable, but exceedingly difficult and full of hardship. The days that remain are all for us Dafa disciples to break through the evil, to validate Dafa and to save sentient beings. Every single day is precious and all chances given to us will not recur, so we have no excuse but to cherish every single day and use our time wisely. Lately I often ask myself, "If the Fa begins to rectify the human world tomorrow, will I have no qualms in holding the magnificent title of Fa-rectification period Dafa disciple?" With this thought, I can only work harder and be unceasingly diligent. I understand that as long as we study the Fa well and melt into the Fa, and let Dafa harmonize our wisdom and our thoughts and actions on the path of Fa-rectification, then there is nothing we cannot achieve and we can surely break through the evil. Only by studying the Fa with a calm heart and cultivating well can we accomplish this because Teacher said, "The Fa can break all attachments, the Fa can destroy all evil, the Fa can shatter all lies, and the Fa can strengthen righteous thoughts." ("Drive Out Interference" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)
The above is my personal understanding. If it is incorrect, please kindly point it out.
June 5, 2003
