"Dafa is being spread far and wide. Those who hear about it are looking for it. Those who have obtained it are delighted with it. The number of cultivators is increasing daily and becoming innumerable." At this moment when Dafa is experiencing tests in the human world, disseminating the truth to all kind-hearted people around the world is every Dafa practitioner's responsibility that cannot be shirked. As overseas practitioners, we should make even better use of all the advantages that we have to spread the Fa to the world. Here I would like to share our own experiences to encourage fellow practitioners to come up with more thoughts.
Borough Hall is the center of local government as well as a tourist attraction. People in all social statuses come by. It is a busy place with activities and an ideal place to spread the Fa. We several practitioners have decided to do the exercises and spread the Fa on every Wednesday at noon at Borough Hall.
A triangular lawn at the intersection seems to have been prepared for our exclusive use. We set up Falun Dafa posters on the green lawn. 4 or 5 practitioners display the five sets of movements peacefully and elegantly, while one practitioner hands out materials. All these create a unique scene on the street. As the weather is turning warmer, the effect of spreading Fa becomes more prominent. Men and women, the old and the young, are all deeply attracted by the scene of Falun Gong exercises. Once I gave out materials, many Westerners asked for brochures eagerly. They seemed to be very satisfied after receiving the materials. Whenever this occurs, it makes me feel the immense, benevolent compassion from our Teacher. Teacher said, "I don't want to leave a single practitioner behind." I have come to realize that we don't want to leave a single promising sentient being behind. Then it has become even more important to spread the Fa in more public places, and to let more people have the opportunity to get in touch with the truth of Dafa. How to introduce Dafa comprehensively during the spreading of the Fa has thus become an important subject.
Generally speaking, we always introduce the Fa positively, and rarely do we mention the brutal repression in Mainland China. Thus we haven't prepared any related materials, which has brought us some regrets. Once someone specifically asked about the situation of Falun Gong in Mainland China, I could only give him a brief summary since there was no material at hand. One Westerner just came back from China and asked in Mandarin about the current situation of Falun Gong in China. Again, I failed to provide a comprehensive answer. Another time, someone mentioned that China is cracking down on Falun Gong, and thousands of people have been thrown in prison. But when I told him that even over twenty people have died due to brutal persecution, he didn't quite believe.
Overall, Westerners fall into two groups. In the first group, they don't follow the news or read the papers, yet they are attracted by seeing us doing the exercises. This is usually the first time they have encountered Dafa. To them, we focus on introducing Dafa and give them the written materials that include a brief coverage of the current situation in China. In the other group, people have heard about the crack down on Falun Gong in China, and they just don't have all the details. They are anxious to know more. Some of them don't know Falun Dafa and Falun Gong are the same. When they see us doing the exercises, they would come forward and ask about the situation in China. For example, Lady A told us she works in a court dealing with patients with psychological problems. She asked if it is true that the Chinese government is sending Falun Gong practitioners to mental hospitals by force for persecution. She asked for written documents. Lady B asked for more details on how Ms. Chen Zixiu was tortured to death. We could make available some more detailed materials, and provide them details in time.
It is slightly different to spread the Fa to Chinese people. With the help from the Chinese government, every overseas Chinese family has heard about Falun Gong. At the same time, because of the wrongs committed by the Chinese government, many people were fooled by the lies. How to tell them the truth and change their misconceptions has become very urgent. The two-day activity over the weekend has helped us to realize that although Chinese people have been misled to quite an extent, their benevolent nature is still with them. On the first day, some people made excuses for not taking materials, and some simply refused. Still about 80% took the materials and started reading right away. One elderly gentleman even bought the book on the spot. On the second day, those elderly gentlemen who didn't take any material on the day before also took materials and helped us let other people know. About 90 percent of the people took the materials. Several people also showed an interest in watching practicing and in the posters. One middle-aged lady was nervous about receiving the material. She asked, "Isn't this being banned in the Mainland?" I told her that Falun Dafa is very popular in over 40 countries, and the Chinese government is the only one in the world who is repressing it. And even Mainland Chinese people are unhappy about the conduct of the government. She replied immediately, "Right! Isn't this just an exercise? Why does the government get so brutal?"
Teacher has told us, "The strength of compassion is huge." Practitioners in China hold onto "the great Compassion and great Forbearance" when facing brutal repression and inhumane treatment. They are composing a great epic of "Zhen-Shan-Ren" ("Truth-Compassion-Forbearance") with their own lives. It becomes extremely urgent for overseas practitioners to practice "Zhen-Shan-Ren" when we are spreading the Fa among overseas Chinese, and to break the hindrance established by the evil deeds committed by the Chinese government as soon as possible. Thus we can help kindhearted people know the truth and help people with predestined relationships practice Dafa. "When the Eight Deities cross the sea, each displays his or her own divine power." Our approaches could be diversified, for example, voluntarily giving out materials in parks, down town areas, or at subway entrances, etc. During the course of spreading the Fa, we will encounter all kinds of people, all kinds of resistance. To keep up one's xinxing, to maintain a peaceful attitude, and to keep "Zhen-Shan-Ren" in mind have all become very important. If the field of our righteous mind is strong, others will definitely feel it and be influenced. Moreover, as old forces in other dimensions are being eliminated, hardship in this dimension of everyday people isn't as intimidating as we may have imagined. My sense is that everything is ready, and our stepping forward is the only thing needed.
"Protecting Dafa with your own conduct is forever the responsibility of Dafa disciples, because Dafa belongs to all sentient beings of the universe, and this includes you." The percentage of our overseas practitioners among the population is not high yet. So our responsibility is arduous. This trial aims directly at Dafa. Being a member of Dafa, every practitioner needs to think thoroughly, with his or her devotion and capability, ask one self, "What could I contribute?"
"Dafa is harmonizing and perfecting all sentient beings, and all sentient beings are also harmonizing and fulfilling Dafa." Let us take advantage of all opportunities to explain the true situation to all Chinese and Westerners, to inform more lives of the great Buddha Fa, to bring to every corner of the universe the illumination of Buddha light, to expose the evil under the sunshine so that it has no place to escape, and to better "assist our Teacher in carrying out his mission in this world."
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Category: Clarifying the Truth
