September 5, 2002
(Clearwisdom.Net) I use my free time to clarify the truth in Internet chat rooms. I remember the first one I talked to wasn't showing any interest in the topic of Falun Gong. He was indifferent when I told him the truth of the self-immolation incident and about the popularity of Falun Dafa in countries outside of China. When I felt that he was just pacifying me with empty words, I wanted to make him feel within his heart that Falun Dafa is good, so I gave him a call. During the call he listened intently and asked questions. Within 20 minutes I had changed his attitude. He said, "I didn't understand before, and I'm sorry. Now I know. Thank you so much for calling me."
That night I spent about 4 hours clarifying the truth to 5 people with very positive results. I felt so gratified that they had the chance to be saved that it became an attachment, and the next day I experienced tribulations. Some people started using profanity as soon as I brought up Falun Gong. At first I was very patient and clarified the truth bit by bit, but their attitudes only got worse. I felt helpless and angry. Seeing their dirty words I thought that these people were worthless, and I should find other people. Then I realized that this was just an excuse to avoid conflict . The previous night I had felt so good when I was chatting with those 5 nice people because their positive attitudes made me happy. The next day, as soon as problems arose, I wanted to run away. How could I not think about how our compassionate Teacher is treating the people of the world? At that moment I happened to read a poem on Minghui Net that said, "I will still clarify the truth to you." The compassion of the practitioner who wrote that poem affected me deeply, and all at once I felt great. To clarify the truth to everyone around us is the responsibility of the Fa-rectification period Dafa disciples. I am thankful that Teacher pointed this out to me at such an appropriate time. I found those people in the chat room again and started from the beginning. I also found my own mistake: forgetting to send forth righteous thoughts. Sending forth righteous thoughts while clarifying the truth will yield great results.
By correcting my mistakes in time, the attitudes of those who had previously been so disrespectful in the chat room dramatically changed. "If Falun Gong is good, one day people will know." "This makes sense. I believe that you are a trustworthy person. Can I bring someone else to talk to you tomorrow night?" I felt touched, and tears welled in my eyes. The sentient beings are waiting for us to awaken their compassionate side. Don't waste their chance of salvation just because of our own mistakes.
Teacher said in Guiding the Voyage, "Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. International Fa Conference," "During this period, Dafa disciples have indeed saved many of the world's people by clarifying the truth while validating Dafa. In this severe situation where they're being persecuted, disciples have still managed to clarify the truth and save sentient beings. Isn't this great mercy? As a Dafa disciple, you should show mercy for all sentient beings no matter what situation you're in."
At one point, many people were looking for me to chat. Those that I had already clarified the truth to had told their families and friends, so quite a few came to look for the truth. Some people started saying "Falun Dafa is good" as soon as they came online. They wanted specifics on how to be a good person and the real meaning of life. A college student even tried to convince me that I didn't have to attend college anymore. He said that Falun Dafa is the study of the universe, and the college of the human world doesn't have much use. I realized that his words were a test to see if I had learned the Fa from the Fa. I told him, "As a student you must study well. Our Teacher told us that we have to be good people on every level of society." After hearing this, he respected Falun Dafa even more. When I entered the chat room people would greet me, "Hey, Falun Gong! Did you practice today? You have to hold on to it!" A number of people complained that they couldn't find Falun Dafa books or positive news in China. That made me realize even more how lucky we really are, and how proud we should be. Because we are the disciples of the Lord Buddha, we are with Teacher and truly in the process of Fa-rectification.
Another thing worth mentioning is that when I put away my human mentalities and clarify the truth to my classmates the results are great. When I discard my fear and shyness and tendency to worry, the responsibility to bring salvation to the sentient beings takes over and they listen to me. Some people have asked me how to be a good person, some have asked how to meditate, and some even have wished that we reach consummation one day.
Finally I want to add that chatting online could also be a test in cultivation. Can we maintain our calmness when people curse? While we maintain our serenity we still have to send forth righteous thoughts to purify their minds and rectify all that is not right. Also, timely discussions among fellow practitioners about the methods of truth clarifying can really help rectify the Fa in that area.