Do Not Spread Speculation on Social Media

(Minghui.org) I would like to share my understanding regarding clarifying the truth on the Internet, especially social media. 

The media run by Dafa disciples have become increasingly solid and authoritative in recent years, and their content is of high quality. Their reports are truthful and verifiable, in line with the traditional principles of journalism.

I have noticed, however, that on social media some practitioners follow and share news and speculations that are of an ambiguous origin. These posts are not based on verified facts but instead appeal to people’s emotions. In fact, they are very popular in some circles of everyday people. 

My understanding is that we shouldn’t circulate this kind of information, as it undermines the image of practitioners as rational people and a reference point for those who want to understand the truth.

Moreover, sharing speculation on social media may also fuel other practitioners’ attachments, as well as our own. These news stories could distract those who are attached to politics from their own personal cultivation and clarification of the truth. At the same time, sharing this kind of speculation could alienate our common contacts who still have their own ideas about such issues, making it harder for them to believe us as we strive to clarify the truth.

I recently saw a reporter comment on online demonstrations in support of Trump by some communities, including practitioners in a country in Asia. Along with them were groups associated with conspiracy theories. I’m sure that the practitioners’ intentions were good, but I feel that if we want to avoid being associated with groups that are entangled in politics, we should first look within ourselves and understand what our goal is. Are we simply upholding the truth with strong righteous thoughts or are we acting because we are driven by our human emotions and an attachment to politics? 

In reference to this, I recall Master’s words in the lecture Teachings From a Tour of North America:

“When Dafa is persecuted, the first thing Dafa disciples should think of is saving sentient beings and how to validate Dafa. Isn’t that magnificent? We don’t acknowledge this arrangement by the evil one bit, but after all, the persecution has taken place, and after all, the evil has persecuted so many sentient beings. Shouldn’t our first thought be how to make good use of time to save them? To treat it as an ordinary human persecution against other human beings, to think with an ordinary human mind, “When will they restore our name? When will it end?”—think about it, are these the thoughts a Dafa disciple should have? [...] How could you pin your hopes on an ordinary person? You are Dafa disciples!”

I think it’s acceptable to share the media produced by Dafa disciples online, but when I do I always try to first understand if my motivation is a desire to expose the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) infiltration in Western society and clarify the truth, or my attachment to a particular topic.

For the past two years, I have been doing my best to clarify the truth online using news from practitioners’ media in regard to US-China relations, issues in Hong Kong and Taiwan, the persecution of the Uighurs, and even the infiltration of the United States by the specter of communism, as opportunities to clarify the truth regarding the CCP’s evil. All of these verifiable news events gave me the opportunity to also talk about the persecution of Falun Gong, as the wickedness of the Chinese regime is the common denominator. News that is based only on speculation cannot do that.

Finally, Master reminded us what our position is at this crucial time:

“The human world is now at the end of its latter days, and the degenerate and chaotic things that have come about in these troubled times are affecting society more than ever. Though a battle between good and evil is taking place, you have to ensure that you do not let it negatively affect you, and should do even better at getting the truth out and saving people. And as you work to raise awareness, you must be sure not to think or act too much like an ordinary person. Only by staying clear on what you are doing will you manage to not get caught up in things and do even better.” (“Greetings to the Taiwan Fa Conference”)

This is my personal understanding. 

Thank you, fellow practitioners, and thank you, Master.