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Finding and Eliminating Communist Party Culture in Myself

Aug. 28, 2024 |   By Wan Zhen, a Falun Dafa practitioner outside of China

(Minghui.org) Recently, I have had some insights in my cultivation that I’d like to share with my fellow practitioners.

We Need to Remember to Always Consider Others 

Last week, when I was clarifying the truth to a group of Westerners, someone asked me about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s infiltration and control of religion. There was a Chinese person in the crowd who refuted me in English on the spot, saying that she had been to many churches in China and they were no different from the churches she had visited outside of China. 

At that time, I had some resentment in my heart towards her for interfering with my conversation and even wondered if she was a secret agent. Today, I studied Master’s article “Wake Up” and realized that my thoughts were not kind.

Maybe the Chinese church she went to outside of China was also infiltrated by the CCP, so she really felt the same at home and abroad. Judging from her words, she was indeed brainwashed by the CCP. Just like many Chinese who came to the United States, they still check WeChat every day to get their news, and they also feel that China is as free as any Western nation.

When I clarified the facts, I didn’t take into account the fact that there might be Chinese from the mainland in the crowd. If I had considered her feelings, I would have been more careful in my wording, so that I could still clarify the facts to Westerners without arousing the resentment of Chinese mainlanders. I found that this was an area where I needed to improve.

Eliminating Party Culture

Many Chinese practitioners do not know how to get rid of CCP culture. Zhenzhen, a fellow practitioner, recently told me about how she identified and got rid of the Party culture in herself.

She helped a few Western practitioners run a Falun Dafa class at the local library. The Western practitioners were very quiet in doing their work and moving things around; they were not as loud and noisy as the Chinese practitioners.

The Western practitioners were also very polite and asked the library staffers for permission for even the smallest things, unlike the Chinese practitioners who took things for granted and went straight to work. Without seeing another way of behaving, it’s difficult to see one’s own Party culture, let alone know how to remove it. She was deeply moved by this.

I have had a similar experience. Many years ago, a fellow practitioner from Taiwan, Jieyu, hosted an exhibition of the Art of Zhen Shan Ren. I signed up to be a guide. On the day of the exhibition, there was strong wind which felled trees on the highway and caused traffic jams. Because of the traffic, I was an hour late. 

I thought she would be upset and get angry with me. I thought she would blame me for not leaving home earlier in such inclement weather. If I was the organizer, I would have been resentful and angry. But not only did she not get angry, she even consoled me for driving in such terrifying conditions.

The exhibition that day was very successful, with many people coming, and the environment was particularly peaceful. It was the first time that I clearly realized my Party culture in contrast to Jieyu’s kindness.

Jieyu was very quiet and efficient. Never once did I see her lose her temper; no matter how tight the schedule was, she was always organized and quick to finish whatever needed to be done. 

In contrast, I see that my own carelessness and impatience are manifestations of Party culture. When I’m in a hurry, I speak loudly and am completely insensitive to the feelings of others.

I also found that my Party culture comes from consuming a lot of Chinese film and literature since I was a child. I felt that by acting the way the characters did, I was expressing my individuality. I liked being different. I excused my hot temper by masking it as “being straightforward,” and telling myself that I meant well and I had an innocent mind. 

If I had not worked with people from Taiwan and Western society, it would have been difficult for me to realize the Party culture I have, let alone know what normal human society should be like.

I hope that overseas fellow practitioners will share more of their experiences in this regard.