At a Falun Dafa experience sharing conference, one practitioner asked Teacher why sometimes in the book Zhuan Falun the word "we" is used. Teacher answered: because I feel that you are also a part of Dafa, so I used "we".
From this brief answer, the Australian Falun Dafa practitioners felt that they were closely associated with Falun Dafa. Hence since "July 20, 1999", the Australian Dafa practitioners have actively gone to the public to take on the serious task of protecting and promoting the Fa, "assisting Teacher in the human world". Because the practitioners understand deeply that Falun Dafa belongs to the people of the whole world, not just the Chinese people.
The cultivation environment of overseas practitioners is different from that of practitioners in China, there seems to be no conflicts or tribulations. However, in this special environment, it is also difficult for the practitioners to make progress in cultivation. But they understand that this is cultivation.
Facing the tribulation of the Fa, every genuine practitioner is protecting Falun Dafa. However, due to the different understandings of Falun Dafa, for individual practitioners, the thoughts about the actual ways of protecting Falun Dafa are also different. Under the complicated situation, it is indeed not a trivial test for the practitioners whether they can surpass their own human mind and be responsible for Falun Dafa, the society, and themselves.
Here are some stories of Australian Falun Dafa practitioners during this test.
1. Promoting Falun Dafa in front of the City Hall
The City Hall is located at the busiest downtown district of Sydney. Residents of Sydney are accustomed to having all kinds of ceremonies, and often times, protests in this area.
Upon hearing about the July 20, 1999 incident, the practitioners in Australia were shocked. To show their concern about the situation of the practitioners in China, they applied for a petition permit in front of City Hall but were told by the authorities that the decision would be made in 2 weeks, which seemed too long. Under that situation, a practitioner proposed to apply for a permit to practice and promote Falun Dafa at the same place. Such a proposal broke the tradition of practicing in the park and became the topic among the practitioners who were concerned about Falun Dafa. Every practitioner talked about his or her thought based on what was best for Falun Dafa.
Some practitioners said that there were few people in the parks and thus the effect of promoting the Fa was not as good as in front of the City Hall where there were crowds of residents and tourists and more people would hear about Falun Dafa if we practiced and promoted Falun Dafa there. This place indeed is the favourite place for Sydney residents to speak their minds. However, our hearts are as pure as crystal and we have no political intention. We are just practicing and don't need to be afraid of being suspected of "participating in politics". On the other hand, we really want to use our hearts to enable all the people to know Falun Dafa. The practitioners in China selflessly and fearlessly went to Zhongnanhai (the Chinese central government compound) to appeal on behalf of Falun Dafa. We should practice in an open and above board manner in front of the City Hall to create more chances for people to hear about Falun Dafa. Regarding the suggestion that many inelegant people such as drunkards and beggars also gathered there, we thought that we should not distinguish between noble and humble places by practicing only at noble places such as parliaments where congressmen gather, and avoid the places such as City Hall. Because there's no pure land in this world, "We're rectifying the environment, not choosing it." (Falun Dafa Lecture in Changchun)
Thus, some practitioners have voluntarily practiced and promoted the Fa in front of the City Hall every Saturday since last August. It has been almost one year. What is it worth to think that the practitioners never saw inelegant people there again. Maybe they have really rectified the environment, or maybe it's just a test for the practitioners to surpass their human being's notions.
The City Hall is the only place in Sydney where you can display banners and practice without a special permit. Since it's located at the busiest downtown district and next to a major street, the chaotic streets with heavy traffic are in sharp contrast with the peaceful and serene view of the practice. Most of the practitioners only heard the exercise music and no noises. It is just like "It's not easy to be able to keep the beauty intact and stay alone in this chaotic world" (Teacher's poem). Such a scene attracted many pedestrians to stop and watch. Most of the pedestrians who stopped by had the chance to hear the introduction of Falun Dafa and accept the materials from the practitioners. Many people were attracted by the beautiful exercise music, some even immediately started to learn the exercises. Some tourists took pictures or video for the practitioners, and thus they got to know Falun Dafa. Since there's a Chinatown nearby, many Chinese people came to ask questions. Some Chinese tourist groups were also surprised when they passed by and saw this scene. In the past year, there were countless people who have learned about Falun Dafa and the truth at this place, which became the most visited practice site among all the regular ones in Sydney. The practitioners realized that, to enable more people to know Falun Dafa and surpass their own human being's notions, practicing in front of the City Hall is a kind of cultivation associated with the process of rectifying the Fa during this special period of time.
2. Collecting signatures
In order to let more people have the chance to know Falun Dafa and the truth about Falun Dafa in China, some practitioners proposed to collect signatures and submit them along with the appeal letter to the U.N. Human Rights Committee. This proposal received some response from practitioners. Some questioned that for Falun Dafa, it might not be serious to casually collect signatures from pedestrians. Some were afraid that this would scare the people away and keep the predestined people from obtaining the Fa. Some even worried that the display of the pictures of the tortured practitioners in China would damage the image of Falun Dafa. The (Australia) Falun Dafa Association thought that the ways to promote Falun Dafa were suggested by Teacher, like using group practice and having the books in bookstores. Collecting signatures was not a way specified in Falun Dafa and thus shouldn't be adopted in order to keep the purity of Falun Dafa, etc. Facing all these reasons and explanations, the practitioners felt that everyone had a sincere heart to protect the Fa.
By studying the Fa and exchanging thoughts, the practitioners in favor of collecting signatures realized that the overseas practitioners should cherish the chances brought up by the practitioners in China using their lives and then utilize every possible means to create more chances for people to hear about Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa is the divine Law of the Universe and it is paramount. The practitioners understand that Teacher is not asking us to keep it intact in a secret place, instead, Teacher wants us to spread it all over the world. As for meanings, it will be all right if we can meet the requirement of Falun Dafa for us: appeal to the public in an open and above board manner. The practitioners felt that the current cultivation is closely associated with rectification of the Fa. For truly "assisting Teacher in the human world," we should stand up to protect and promote Falun Dafa.
The permit for collecting signatures was issued by the City authority. We chose to collect signatures at a famous tour site---the Sydney Opera during weekends. We displayed the introduction materials and the pictures that showed the torture suffered by the practitioners in China. We also did the exercises, which drew people's attention. People who passed by stopped and watched, some voluntarily signed their name after looking through the introduction and pictures, some signed after just listening to the introduction. The practitioners found that many people still have kindness in their hearts and are willing to offer a helping hand to uphold justice and thus have the chance to hear Falun Dafa. These kind people shook hands with us after they signed, expressed their good wishes for us, and took pictures and videos. Some worried: I'm very willing to help you but I'm afraid it's difficult to change the Chinese government because they are quite stubborn. The practitioners said: "We don't want to change anybody, we just want to tell people the truth about Falun Dafa with this opportunity." One pedestrian was an army official, he told the practitioners after signing his name: "Thank you, you gave me the opportunity to reveal my heart." Indeed, this is not just an opportunity to see people's hearts, but also the practitioners' hearts.
Many people were moved by the stories of practitioners in China persevering the truth without considering their life and death. Many overseas practitioners are thinking and practicing: how should I join them in protecting and promoting Falun Dafa with my own activity? Some of the Australian Falun Dafa practitioners chose to devote their spare time to collecting signatures. Due to different understandings, there were not many practitioners joining this activity. Thus, there were not enough people to cover all shifts. Sometimes one did not have lunch until 2:00 or 3:00PM; sometimes they stood there or continuously did exercises for the whole day under the hot sunshine, which caused their skin to peel and made them red like lobsters. But yet they felt that this was nothing compared to the deeds done by the practitioners in China. Some young mothers collected signatures while they were carrying their children in their arms. A 10-year-old practitioner was usually shy and reserved, but while collecting signatures, she could proceed to pedestrians, and explain to them what was happening in China and give them the introduction materials. She collected more than two hundred signatures in one day! The practitioners thought that collecting signatures was also cultivation. First, facing different viewpoints, it was to test whether we can surpass our old way of thinking by making the right choice. Second, it was to test whether we can get rid of the attachment of saving face. The practitioners needed not only to take the initiative to explain to pedestrians, but also to calmly face their different reactions. Whenever one heard that someone refused to sign because they didn't know Falun Dafa, the practitioners would have a righteous mind of compassion. In their eyes, it's the same as if we introduce the Fa to pedestrians or to the President, because they are all ordinary human beings. Teacher doesn't want to lose a single practitioner, so we shouldn't lose a person in "assisting Teacher in the human world." Teacher has told us that the time is limited for our cultivation. If in such a limited time, the people who haven't heard about such a great Fa, where will the future positions of these lives be?
The practitioners brought more than 10,000 signatures to the International Human Rights Committee Meeting in March. This activity represented a lucky chance for the public, from signing their names to hearing the Fa, and tested the cultivation of Australian Falun Dafa practitioners associated with the process of rectifying the Fa.
(To be continued)
Falun Dafa Practitioners in Sydney, Australia
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Category: Journeys of Cultivation
