(Clearwisdom.net) I have practiced Falun Dafa for eight years. I initially chose to tell people about Falun Gong through making phone calls because I found it convenient, and also because of my experience in Hong Kong five years ago. When I went to Hong Kong to speak to Chinese tourists about Falun Gong, I saw a group of tourists surrounding a practitioner. They appeared eager to hear the facts that are censored in Mainland China. The practitioner's righteous actions and complete lack of fear deeply touched me, but at the same time I knew it was the result of his/her perseverance of making daily phone calls over a long period of time.
When I first started making phone calls, I had lots of fear. I visited a practitioner at home to learn how to do it. Eventually I started a phone-calling group at my home. We helped and encouraged each other. If one person developed fear or an attachment to comfort, the others would negate the interference and push him or her forward.
Master said,
"But Taiwanese students' helping to clarify the truth to mainland China and Hong Kong and to Chinese communities in other areas is very important. Teacher absolutely affirms the things you are doing. You have put forth a great deal of effort to clarify the truth to mainland China in particular, and the effect has been excellent! I've said this to the Taiwanese students many times--they have done this really well." ("Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles" February 25, 2006)
I have also read feedback from Mainland Chinese practitioners on the Minghui website, which repeatedly affirmed the important role overseas phone calls played in lessening the persecution. Realizing the importance of these phone calls became an integral part of my cultivation.
Once, when our group was involved in making phone calls, I asked the listener whether he had quit the Party. He replied excitedly, "Yes, all of us [have quit the Party]! We are doing it right now [asking people to quit the party]!" We realized it was a fellow practitioner. We were happy. Out of concern for his safety we simply said, "Our hearts are with you" before hanging up. We deeply felt our phone calls are a great source of support for Mainland Chinese practitioners, which is also a way we form a whole body.
When we speak with police officers in China, we are not only rescuing practitioners but also the police officers. If they stopped persecuting the practitioners, the practitioners would be free to rescue more people; what an enormous firmament would be saved then! Even a single sentence, "Please release Falun Gong practitioner [name]" would have a powerful effect on the officials, as they probably would not be able to sleep that night. A Taiwanese practitioner was arrested when visiting relatives in Mainland China. We called the police department and requested that they unconditionally release the practitioner. The officials felt the pressure of our concern. The practitioner was able to return safely, thanks to Master and practitioners who worked together as a whole body.
We encounter all types of situations when making phone calls. Although Chinese officials frequently hang up or verbally attack us, yet, the more they attack us, the sadder I feel for them. They are trapped in the delusion of this world. The old forces had arranged for them to persecute Dafa, and they are victims as well.
Master said,
"If you, as Dafa disciples, want to effect change in a person when you clarify the truth and want to save him, you must not arouse the negative elements in that person. You must hold to being shan, and only then can you resolve problems that may arise and save that person." ("Fa Teaching at the 2009 Washington DC International Fa Conference")
Once I was able to reach a main perpetrator. I told him many officials are now regretting their decision to persecute Falun Gong and are trying their best to redeem themselves. I also read an article written by a 610 Office head. My voice was coarse that day, and I paused several times. Nevertheless, I told him, "Although I am not a great speaker, I am working my hardest to tell you what I know." He answered, "You are doing a great job. I already know; you don't have to work too hard." I was happy for him, but I was even more touched because I knew this was not the result of my phone call, but the effort of all practitioners who had called him as well as Master's help.
Every phone call reflects our cultivation. If the recipient repudiates everything we say, would we treat him with compassion or become defensive? If he curses us, would we become afraid and hang up or simply forge ahead? When we make phone calls as a group and other practitioners praise us, do we become complacent? If other practitioners point out our shortcomings, do we get upset? We can examine ourselves through every phone call.
I often witness other practitioners' improvement, which is a source of inspiration for me. New practitioners who have only studied Dafa for a few months and some who have only watched the nine Dafa lectures began making phone calls. Their diligence and sense of urgency makes me feel ashamed. I deeply admire their pure thinking - to rescue people, and I also see my own gaps. It is easy to slack off or pursue comfort when has cultivated for a long time, and it is difficult to feel the joy I experienced when I first read the Fa. When I am stuck in a poor cultivation state I even see cultivation as a burden, and human thoughts such as "why must cultivation be so difficult?" would emerge. But when I witness other practitioners' diligence, and when I have an environment to compare myself to other practitioners, I feel I cannot fall behind.
Dafa practitioners are battling against the old forces to save sentient beings. We must balance our time in order to do the three things well. It is not easy, but is a crucial part of cultivation. As a result, there are ups and downs. During this process, Master prompted me. I dreamed of someone telling me "You guys are doing very well" for telling them the facts. Still in my dream I nearly burst into tears and thanked him for his encouragement, and promised to forward his words to other practitioners. After I woke up I realized it was Master's encouragement. I also saw people being eliminated in another dream. One young girl ran up to me and told me how wonderful her mother was, but her mother had died. I was speechless. When I woke up, I realized Master was telling me that we needed to speed up with rescuing lives.
As far as I am concerned, the most important thing is to keep telling people about Falun Gong; the same perseverance is needed when we use automatic tools to call Chinese people. As of now, I must arrange my time well and get rid of the pursuit of comfort.
