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Western Practitioner: Take a Step Back and See Things in a New Light

Jan. 11, 2007

(Clearwisdom.net) Honorable Teacher, dear practitioners!I come from Slovakia. I would like to share my experience with regard to letting go of my attachments to being right and insisting on my own views.

As I see it, the cultivation process is very simple. What is difficult, however, is giving up attachments in the process. Even if sometimes it seems to us we don't have some attachment, our Teacher will use every situation in our daily life to point it out to us. We shouldn't think since we do Fa validation work we don't have to cultivate. I think it is actually the opposite - the more Fa-validation work we do, the better we should cultivate to get good results.

As an example, here are my recent experiences from our summer tour introducing Falun Dafa.

We had planned our summer activity well ahead of time, so that we might have some time to address the media, mayors and others in the cities we planned to visit. I usually chose the cities and planned the dates of events. I had in my mind that since July 20 is the day that the persecution began, we must be in a big city that day to attract the attention of a big media outlet. I planned the activities for that date and in the week thereafter. Soon a wave of disagreement rose from other practitioners who thought, "We don't have the time in the week thereafter. It would be much better to start in the anniversary week." This would mean we wouldn't be in a big city on the actual date, but in some small city.I initially thought, "I want it the best way possible and they disagree? I have to persuade them somehow!" I even thought to have it done my way, even if not all of them could attend. However, words from our Teacher entered my mind,

"We say that when you take a step back in a conflict, you will find the seas and the skies boundless, and it will certainly be another situation." ("Lecture Nine" in Zhuan Falun)

It became clear to me that it would be wrong for me to insist on my idea. I made a new plan, visiting the big city of Bratislava in the week before the July 20 and touring the other cities during the actual anniversary week.

In order to get attention from the media, we planned to make an organ-harvesting exhibit in the big city, for which we needed some additional practitioners for the demonstration as well as for other activities.

Soon thereafter a new challenge arose. The largest festival in the country was scheduled for the same day as our planned exhibit. One of the practitioners asked if we could go there. We were approved, which was rather fortunate. So, a notion appeared among some practitioners, that it would be OK to do the organ-harvesting exhibit at some time later and merely go to the festival.

I was quite angry, "Such a good opportunity to get attention from the media and people, to have the organ-harvesting exhibit before the day of the persecution, and let it go to waste? Never!" The more I thought this way, the worse the situation looked on the surface - it seemed that at that time there would be too few of us; the festival was advertised in each and every way; everybody wanted to go there, and other thoughts arose.

I soon realized that I can't think this way. I am a practitioner. Again, the same paragraph appeared in my mind's eye,

"We say that when you take a step back in a conflict, you will find the seas and the skies boundless, and it will certainly be another situation." ("Lecture Nine" in Zhuan Falun)

I decided to take a step back. I told the practitioners that I supported other activities as well and would do my best to support both the activities at the festival and the organ-harvesting exhibit. Soon it became clear that there would be enough people for both activities.

I was happy. It proved to me again that the broader our minds become, the more things are possible. The day before the exhibit I sent forth righteous thoughts in front of the Chinese Embassy in order to clear the field for the next day. My mind was empty. I only wished the best for sentient beings, for them to choose the best future.

It seemed like a miracle. A reporter from the largest TV station in Slovakia (STV) who was acutely interested in recent news on organ harvesting attended our organ-harvesting exhibit the next day. After he had listened to our story, he was rather convinced but he told us that he must visit the Chinese ambassador and ask him his opinion to include in the news. He thought this was journalistic fairness and necessary.

We understood this was a kind of interference. The best approach we could think of was to send forth righteous thoughts. We started to do it and just kept on. One hour, two hours, three hours... One policeman stopped by to ask to see our activity permit. I clarified the facts to him and explained why we are there, and that we actually don't need permission. I was assertive and I was decided to forbid the old forces to exploit the gaps. He soon left.

We held a reading and experience sharing session following the activity. Thereafter we turned on the TV to see the result of our activity and we were pleasantly surprised. They broadcast a two-minute segment with interviews. As we toured other cities the week after, many people told us that they already knew about it. I was genuinely happy for them.

Later I learned that a smaller TV station was also present at the festival and had made a interview video. I was happy that more people could learn the facts this way.

These experiences had made me realize that we must always keep the mindset of a practitioner in everything we do. We shouldn't start using human thoughts to judge things, because we might otherwise limit our great abilities, and the result would be poor.

I also realized that even though we might focus on only one particular approach, that path becomes difficult. But if we manage to keep an open mind, are able to let go and think of others first, we get to the result more naturally.

This is only possible by diligently following the path our Teacher has arranged for us, being diligent in Fa study and doing the three things. We should maximally utilize the time our Teacher has given us by his tremendous sacrifice.The above thoughts are merely my personal understanding; please kindly point out anything improper.Thank you Teacher, thank you practitioners.