(Clearwisdom.net) Currently Dafa practitioners should do three things well; study the Fa and cultivate ourselves, send forth righteous thoughts, and clarify the truth. In respect to every step we have taken, striving forward since July 20, 1999, I feel I have so much to say.
It was easy at the beginning to clarify the truth. I talked to co-workers, neighbors, and relatives. Then I started to meet acquaintances. Later I clarified the truth to people I met when I was shopping in the grocery store and the mall, even in the barbershop.
After some time, however, I found fewer and fewer people to talk to. I wasn't quite efficient in clarifying the truth, either. What should I do? How shall I clarify the truth to people, especially to strangers? After thinking it over for a long time and trying several ways, I felt helpless. Some practitioners said to me: "Will you just go on like this? Is that what you call a Dafa practitioner validating the Fa?" I realized that I was constrained by my human mentality. I had to make breakthroughs. After studying the Fa again and again, I came to the understanding that clarifying the truth is actually saving beings. Hence, I should not think of it as begging for something from people. I should do it in a proactive way.
1. Actively Clarifying the Truth to Save Sentient Beings.
During the time when SARS was prevalent, I greeted strangers on the street and talked with them about the spread of SARS, the mayor of Beijing, the Minister of Health, and their removal from office, the severity of corruption, and the enormous number of corrupt officials. If they agreed with me, I would shift the topic to how Jiang Zemin was afraid of Falun Gong. Why did he persecute Falun Gong? There are 100 million people practicing Falun Gong in China, becoming people with good health and morality, following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Depending on the different people, I would seek an opportunity to talk about the truth of the "Self-Immolation Event", the April 25th Appeal, the torture of Dafa practitioners, the spread of Dafa in the world, the 1000 recognitions and proclamations given to Falun Gong around the world, and the Global Coalition to Bring Jiang to Justice. Most people were grateful after hearing what I said. An old lady told me, "Thank you for letting me know such good things."
Clarifying the truth to strangers enabled me to take the most difficult step in clarifying the truth. After that, I did better and better. Meanwhile, Dafa inspires my wisdom constantly. Hence I feel more and more at ease.
I kept on doing this every day no matter the heat, cold, or rain. When taking shelter from the rain, I took the opportunity to clarify the truth to people. While waiting for the bus at the bus stop, or on the bus, I also find opportunities to clarify the truth, sometimes even on the sidewalk. For example, two people were talking about the Taiwan election on the sidewalk. I saw the opportunity and joined them. They were not annoyed as one might expect. I took it as a predestined relationship and started to clarify the truth, and they were both quite willing to listen.
When clarifying the truth, we encounter different types of people. We do not need to use the same method, but see what the best way is for each of them to accept the information. For example, I once met a woman from a farming community in a remote area. One could tell at a glance her kind nature. We talked about using facilities to exercise and the related benefits to one's physical health. I said, "Qigong is very good. It has a good healing effect. " She nodded in agreement. I looked at her and said, "Actually Falun Gong is very good." She was taken back, "Really?" I said, "Yes. It has an amazing healing effect. Moreover, it teaches people to be good. " She was silent and thinking. I continued, "What Jiang has done is too much. Whether it is good or bad should be left for the people to judge. " She said slowly, "The healing effect of qigong is very good." Our conversation stopped there. There are countless kind-hearted people being poisoned by the Chinese media. It would take time to explain more of the situation. Yet that short conversation was good for her.
While clarifying the truth, there will be questions and discussions. It takes rationality and wisdom to handle them properly, which is based on Fa-study. At the same time, we should take into consideration the receptiveness of other people and adopt different methods accordingly. Sometimes, it's better to talk from the third party's point of view.
2. In Order to Clarify the Truth Well, We Have to Study the Fa Well
Master says,
"Anybody who talks too high when he clarifies the facts is being irrational and doing harm." (Teaching and Explaining the Fa at the Metropolitan New York Fa Conference)
I realized that when clarifying the truth, we should use surface level principles that are easy for everyday people to comprehend. We should try not to talk too high. Only then can we achieve good results. An everyday person might have all sorts of attachments. We should leave them alone, and just try to make them realize that Falun Gong is good. I feel that we should clarify the truth to this point, as well as giving others some room for their own opinions. It's not necessary to have a debate with them. The fundamental idea is to study the Fa well and do it properly.
There is another issue. Many people do not believe in Buddhas or gods. Some say that Falun Gong is all superstition. We often come across people like this. If so, we shouldn't be moved by them or argue with them. We can talk in accordance with their attachments, "You may believe it, or you may not believe it." Who has seen the evidence mentioned in Buddhism or Christianity? Yet there are so many people believing in them. Now there are 100 million people who believe in Truth-Compassion-Forbearance. Why? And it's a universal phenomenon. It's not odd if you do not believe in something. It's doesn't follow that it's evil just because you don't believe in it, though. I would tell them that the so-called "Self-immolation Event in Tiananmen Square" is a lie and a frame-up.
In the process of clarifying the truth, I found that most people respond positively. There were also those who held a different opinion. It's not strange. I think we should allow people time to think. As Dafa practitioners, however, we should have strong righteous thoughts. Where do the righteous thoughts come from? They come from the Fa. Practitioners have to study the Fa often and study the Fa well. It will give us the wisdom to save all beings through clarifying the truth.
The above is my shallow understanding. Fellow practitioners please kindly point out any mistakes in my understanding.
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