(Clearwisdom.net) I used to think that distributing Dafa materials was an easy thing to do. However, I found that was not the case when I actually started to do it. I would like to share some of the things I experienced while distributing the truth-clarifying materials in Chinatown.
Eliminating Fear
During the first week that I went to Chinatown, all kinds of thoughts came to my mind. "What if they don't want my materials?" "What if someone curses Teacher or Dafa?" "What if someone asks difficult questions that I don't know how to answer?" And so on. My heart was filled with fear and I was very nervous while distributing the materials. When I saw the indifferent expressions of some people, I didn't have the courage to approach them and ask them to take the materials. Then one day, an elderly man chatted with me while reading a Dafa newspaper. He said, "You Falun Gong practitioners are quite remarkable. The persecution has been going on for three years and you have persisted. However, I think you look very nervous and seem to be afraid to mention Falun Gong to other people. Actually you are doing the most righteous thing in the world!" His words suddenly awakened me. Yes, we are surely doing the most righteous thing in the world. We are clarifying the truth and saving the sentient beings. What should I be afraid of? If I was afraid that I could not answer other people's questions well, then I should study the Fa more. Since then, I have been smiling and greeting every pass-by that I can: "How are you? Do you want to read the truth about Falun Gong?"
Clarifying the Truth with Wisdom
For a period of time, I found that some people would immediately shy away whenever I said the words Falun Gong. I began thinking about how I could make them willing to read the materials. If I didn't talk with them, I wouldn't know what their barriers were, and I didn't need to stand there; I could just put the materials on a rack.
One day, when I handed the material to a middle-aged man, I suddenly said, "Actually, Falun Gong is very good." Upon hearing this, the man immediately shouted, "What is good about it? [Falun Gong practitioners] do not take medication when they are ill. Also, they are involved in politics..." I did not feel angry at all, since I found out his true thoughts. I immediately approached him and said, "Would you please listen to me for 5 minutes?" He stopped to listen, even though he looked very skeptical. In the end, he accepted the material I gave to him and started to read it as he walked away.
I think it is also very important to eliminate the non-practitioners' fears. Some are not willing to even look at the materials because of the Chinese state-run media's slanderous propaganda. One day, after talking to a young man, I could feel his negative attitude towards Dafa. Yet he appeared to be willing to read the materials. I said, "I did not ask you to practice Falun Gong, nor did I ask you to say Falun Gong was good. I am only providing you with this opportunity to comprehensively understand Falun Gong. If you think the material is not right after reading it, you do not have to believe it. I believe that you will reach a right conclusion through your own analysis and judgment." He immediately felt relieved and took my material, "I will take a look. I also trust my own judgment."
Paying Attention to My Own Behavior
Teacher said, "If we don't pay attention to our own behavior in our daily lives, everyday people will see our actions and, since they can't get to know you at a deep level such as by studying the Fa, they will just look at how you act. And it's possible that one sentence or one action of yours will make them unsavable or create a bad impression of Dafa." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Boston") When we clarify the truth to people, we need to pay attention to our behavior since this directly affects people's attitudes towards Dafa.
Recently, the supermarket at which I distribute Dafa materials changed to new shopping carts that were jammed so tightly together that they were difficult to separate. The shoppers had to use a lot of force to pull out a cart. Whenever I saw people having difficulty in getting a cart, I would give them a hand. Some people thanked me sincerely. When I handed them the materials after they finished their shopping, they would be very polite and willing to talk to me. Once an elderly woman said, "You look very kind. How did you end up practicing Falun Gong?" I smiled at her, "Falun Gong is so good. Why shouldn't I practice?" I then told her the many benefits of practicing Falun Gong. Of course, we can't expect to change everyone's impressions with one conversation. After this talk, she was at least willing to learn about Falun Gong. The foundation for our next communication was established.
Sending Forth Righteous Thoughts
It is very important to eliminate the evil factors in other dimensions that control people's thoughts. Sending forth righteous thoughts can also eliminate our own problems and better achieve the effect of clarifying the truth. I took the time to send forth righteous thoughts whenever no one was coming out of the supermarket.
Finally, I would like to conclude by quoting Teacher's words that I was able to understand better through distributing Dafa materials: "Clarifying the truth isn't a simple matter--it's not only a matter of exposing the evil. When we clarify the truth we are saving sentient beings, and at the same time it involves the matter of your own improvement and your elimination of attachments during your cultivation, and the matter of Dafa disciples being responsible to the Fa in their cultivation, as well as issues like how you fill and enrich that paradise of yours in your final Consummation." (Guiding the Voyage -- "Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. International Fa Conference")
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