Western Practitioner: Clarifying the Truth in the New York Subway

(Clearwisdom.net) One day I decided to collect signatures in the subway for the petition to President Bush regarding the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s attempt to block truthful, uncensored satellite TV programming into China. I thought I would speak in the subway trains while holding up a poster, after which I would collect signatures. However, it took me about two hours to get ready, mostly because I didn't want to leave home and subject myself to unpredictable reactions from strangers, which is a natural part of public speaking. With the encouragement of a fellow practitioner, I eventually set off, determined to give it a try.

I was very nervous when I first entered the train, and I sat in my seat for two stops without doing anything. Eventually I got fed up with my attachment to fear, and I stood up and spoke about the Chinese government's interference with overseas satellite broadcasting. At first my voice was not very steady and my speech was not very organized. To my surprise, however, the two women who were closest to me listened with interest. After I finished talking, an elderly woman signed the petition form, pointing to my poster and saying, "This [the AIDS epidemic that the Chinese government was trying to cover up] should be made known, it's very important." I knew that Teacher was encouraging me. I then stepped onto the platform and started to explain the CCP's information blockade to people. I discovered that it was a great way to clarify the truth because many people waiting for the train had time to kill and would therefore listen to me. Almost everyone I talked to either signed the petition or said, "It's a good cause," or "Good luck," and only a few people refused to listen. In the process, I realized that the reason for my fear at the beginning was not only because of my attachment to pride, but also the fact that I had in mind the stereotype of the "cold and indifferent New Yorkers." Within a few hours' time I was able to collect five pages with about 85 signatures. What a great way to help people!