(Clearwisdom.net) It has been 16 years since I began practicing Dafa in 1994. Here, I'd like to share some of the experiences of my cultivation and the elevation of my xinxing while saving sentient beings.
1. Getting rid of attachments through telling people the facts about Dafa
I began to tell people the truth about Falun Gong in 2005. In the past few years I have walked many streets and alleys, met all kinds of people, and endured many hardships and difficulties. It was quite a process for me to elevate my xinxing and my realm.
At first I only clarified the truth about Falun Gong to my relatives, friends, and colleagues. Gradually I began to talk to people on the streets. But as soon as I faced people, my attachments to fear appeared. I then thought, as a Fa-rectification period practitioner, I have the responsibility to tell people the facts, and so I took my first step.
As time went on, I felt more and more comfortable, and I got better at it. With fewer attachments to fear, my righteous thoughts grew stronger. But as things improved, I became too engrossed in myself, I began to focus on the quantity of people I talked to, and I became less effective at telling people the facts. I looked inward and found that I had more attachments, including those to fame and profit, showing off, zealotry, and also of validating myself. Last year I saw an article by a female practitioner who rode her bicycle to the countryside to tell people the facts about Falun Gong. She talked to ten people each day and has managed to get 15,000 people to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its associated organizations in the past five years. I felt I was inferior when I compared myself to her. As a matter of fact, all my attachments originated from my selfishness, which is a characteristic of the old cosmos.
I kept letting go of attachments and my understanding of the Fa got better and better. In telling people the facts, I would not hesitate and had no reservations. For example, I often met people riding three-wheeled pedicabs. The encounters generally occurred in a hurry because I was afraid that I would upset them if I stopped them. So I hesitated at first and found it difficult to start, but once I did it, it turned out to be quite easy. No one was upset. Instead, most of them accepted the information I gave them and quit the CCP.
2. Cultivating a heart of benevolence through saving sentient beings
The process of saving sentient beings is also a process of cultivating one's own benevolence. In urging people to quit the CCP, if several people in a row refused to do it, I would develop a sense of resentment. To correct this and cultivate my own benevolence, I often studied relevant sections in Zhuan Falun and the articles "Buddha-nature and Demon-nature" and "A Brief Explanation of Shan" in Essentials for Further Advancement. I studied Teacher's lectures over and over about saving sentient beings so that I could get rid of the attachments and prejudices that I had developed, and eliminate my evil nature while enhancing my Buddha nature. Slowly my inborn characteristics emerged and my benevolence began to appear, too. My desire to save sentient beings became more intense. I used every opportunity I had and talked to anyone I met: street sweepers, produce sellers, bicycle repairers, farmers, beggars, garbage pickers, etc. I would not even let those walking by me on the streets pass without stopping them, since the opportunity to talk to them was so very precious.
If a person walked toward me, I would first send forth righteous thoughts to get rid of all the bad influences in him, then I would talk to him as he got close. Since the chance to talk only lasted a few minutes or a few seconds, maintaining my eagerness of saving people was critical.
I met all sorts of people while sharing the truth about Falun Gong. Some of them did not understand that I was trying to save them. Some would say, "You are encouraging me to fight against the CCP!" Some would say, "All I know is how to make a little money and earn a living." They thought that I was playing a game of politics. In these cases, I did not argue with them and only encouraged them to be good. I knew that if I argued with them, a feeling of animosity might develop and it would become even harder to save them. Every time I encountered such situation, I would think of Teachers' words:
"Wandering about is pretty hard--he goes from place to place, begging for food and running into all kinds of people who laugh at him, and insult him, or take advantage of him. He runs into all kinds of things." (Zhuan Falun)
To tell people the facts face to face about Dafa is a lot like this "wandering about." So when I was faced with different people, I felt I needed to behave even more like a practitioner. Especially since the people we are facing are no longer all ordinary people and their lives are no longer ordinary lives, we need to be even more responsible to them. With a heart of benevolence, I felt that sentient beings are all suffering. Sometimes I see people on the streets, hurrying back and forth, busy all day long, but they don't know why. They do not know what they live for. Whether they are dressed in fancy suits or in rags, I feel that they are all suffering. Especially at this critical historical moment, I truly feel sorry for those who do not think much of quitting the CCP and do not cherish their own lives.
Every year in the past few years Teacher has talked about saving sentient beings and has said that it is the responsibility and mission of Fa-rectification period disciples. How one devotes one's wisdom and capability to accomplish this is a reflection of every disciple's xinxing and realm. I often thought, "Teacher has given all He has to save us. Don't we disciples need to do what we need to do to fulfill what Teacher wants?
3. Looking inward while saving sentient beings
Telling people the facts about Dafa and saving sentient beings are things that a disciple needs to do every day, and it is closely related to one's xinxing. Sometimes things do not go smoothly when I am telling people the facts, so I then quiet down and look inward to see what is wrong in me first. One or two people rejecting me is not a big problem, but everyone rejecting me is truly a problem. Once I look inward, I can find my problems: One is that I should not take seriously unfriendly reactions of others. These are merely ordinarily people's reactions. If I take them seriously, I am just like an ordinary person. Feeling that I want to give up is due to an ordinary person's attachment. The second is not talking enough about dissolving the CCP culture. The evil factors are harder to eliminate in those who have been more deeply affected by the CCP culture, or those who still have not recognized the true nature of the CCP.
It is easy for practitioners to be affected by ordinary people's notions in society when clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings. Before the New Year I heard that some practitioners had been arrested; my relatives also told me that plainclothes police officers were hanging around, looking to apprehend practitioners. My mind was affected and I felt very uneasy when I told people the facts. My own safety was constantly on my mind. With such an impure heart, the result certainly could not be very good.
One day on the street I told four people the facts about Dafa. None of them quit the CCP, and they were not that friendly either. After going home, I studied the Fa and looked inward. I realized that one's mindset can alter the environment and it applies to the evil too. If you are weak, then he will be strong. If you are strong, he will be weak. So I tried hard to get rid of the interference, clear away all bad thoughts, notions and interference, and strengthen my righteous thoughts. Once my mind became righteous, the interference lost its effect, and I was once again able to smoothly share the facts of Falun Gong.
It is important to look inward while studying the Fa well. I study at least one to two chapters of Zhuan Falun, and two hours of Teacher's lectures and other articles. My belief in Teacher is strengthened by studying the Fa and saving sentient beings.
After several years of telling people the facts about Dafa, my realm has also improved. Now when someone refuses to quit the CCP, I feel sorry for him, but have no resentment. Still, I hope they will be saved somehow. Sometimes I feel sorry and helpless about not being able to save them. I feel that they are suffering and do not know the meaning of life. At this critical juncture of history, sentient beings are all choosing their own futures. It is a pity that some people are not being saved.
My level is limited. Please point out any deficiencies.
