(Clearwisdom.net) Earlier this year, Sydney's young practitioners spontaneously organized a car tour to Adelaide and various urban suburbs to clarify the truth. The temperatures were as high as 47 degrees centigrade (about 117 degrees Farenheight). The youngest of the 14 youths was five years old. They clarified the truth to local people under the baking sun.
There was a lot of interference at play, even before the car tour started. During the organization of the car tour, certain young practitioners, including myself, stubbornly stuck to their own views instead of forming an agreeable plan together. We neglected to clarify the truth and organize the car tour by proper standards. As the departure date drew near, we only had three days to contact all the city councils and media representatives. Everyone was still busy organizing appointments and contacts. Eight practitioners in the media group had to leave at 6:30 a.m. to make an appointment in another city. The rest waited in front of the Chinese Consulate to give a press release. The initial schedule had our press release at 10:00 a.m., then we had to immediately dash to an appointment with the next town council. Ten o'clock came and went. We waited and waited, but no media representatives came. Our car driver for the tour also failed to turn up. Then, we realized our mistake. We were so attached to our own opinions that it kept us from focusing on what we had to do. The road was still quiet an hour later; there was no one in sight. All of us young practitioners realized the severity of this problem. Everyone started sending forth righteous thoughts. Soon, Tina from Sound of Hope Radio came to make a report. David, our driver, also came.
Teacher said,
"Cultivation is about looking inside yourself. Whether you are right or wrong, you should examine yourself. Cultivation is about getting rid of human attachments." ("Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles")
As a practitioner, our everyday standards should be in accordance with Dafa's requirements. As soon as someone's ideas differed from my ideas for organizing the car tour, I would start to feel irritated. I would think to myself, "Who do they think they are? Do they have any idea how much effort I put into organizing this?" In fact, I was merely trying to protect my self-interests. However, I believed that I was acting in Dafa's best interests; in fact, I was using that as justification to hide my own attachments. Teacher has continuously reminded Australian practitioners to let go of self. After all that our great Teacher has sacrificed in order to save us, I couldn't even fulfill His requirements. I was far from what the Fa requires me to do. I realized that I had to let go of my self.
"Accomplishing is cultivating," (Hong Yin)
We had reserved reasonably-priced accommodations in a good location. However, we needed to share experiences with the Adelaide practitioners and organize the media release activities for the next day. We had to cancel our accommodations. However, the fee for cancelling our accommodations was $190 of the original price of $230. Everyone had different opinions on this matter. Most of the young practitioners felt that it was too expensive to cancel these accommodations. Other practitioners believed that cancelling the accommodations was necessary for valid reasons. This time, I felt slightly irritated. Why should we cancel such good accommodations and attempt to squeeze into a practitioner's home? I realized that I was wrong after looking within. My mother told me, before I left, that one of my weakest points is being unable to listen to or accept other people's opinions. I was unable to let go of my self. I felt that I was not able to overcome this tribulation. In fact, Adelaide needed a lot of help that night. We stayed up until 5:00 a.m. in the morning making about 14 banners. If we hadn't rushed over, the protest outside the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, that morning might not have been successful. Teacher said,
"When you take a step back in a conflict, you will find the seas and the skies boundless." (Zhuan Falun)
That was really the case. We shared experiences with each other. A major flaw during last year's car tour was that we did not study the Fa enough. We used being tired to justify reading only Lunyu and sharing truth-clarification experiences every night; this time, everyone was extremely diligent. Every night, no matter how late it was or how tired we were, we would always read a lecture of Fa. Everyone was strict about this aspect. I was amazed that the five-year-old followed us as we read. From the first night on, everyone's extremely diligent experience sharing allowed the following morning's truth-clarification activities with the media people and the council members to go smoothly. I noticed that all the young practitioners were being so diligent. I could not help but re-examine my own behavior. Teacher Li only requires us to do the three things--could I not even meet these requirements? I have a busy study schedule and I always justify not studying the Fa because I need to finish doing my work. However, my workload continues to gradually increase. It always feels as if I have no time to study the Fa at all. My mother constantly reminds me, "It's not that you don't have the time, but that you don't have the heart." We practitioners were created by the Fa to come here for the Fa. However, it was so easy to forsake our ultimate aim for ordinary society's things.
I have realized that the most important goal while we clarify the truth is to do it without any intentions or additional thoughts in mind. If we keep our righteous thoughts on saving sentient beings, Dafa will have an effect. On the final day of the car tour, we held a protest outside MP Downer's office. The rainbow colors of the banners flashed in the sun. A police car came by not long after we raised our banners. I nervously wondered if we were violating some protest restriction. Various excuses raced through my mind as I considered which one would be appropriate to use. I went over and asked the police what was wrong. "No, it's nothing." They replied, "Every time there's a protest, we must come here. Looks like there's nothing wrong here. Take care of yourselves and keep a look out for the sun. Try not to get sunburned!" They smiled at us as they left. We proceeded by handing our petition to the minister's secretary. During the afternoon, three of us went around to about ten media companies around Adelaide. The effect wasn't very good. I sat in the car and became slightly frustrated. A practitioner reminded me that having them accept us would obviously be good; however, you shouldn't hold such attachments. As long as you do your best, that is enough. These incidents helped me realize that all additional thoughts were unnecessary when clarifying the truth. As long as you maintain a pure heart and pure mind, Dafa's brilliance will automatically manifest. Doing activities such as clarifying the truth must start from the cultivation of oneself. The cultivation of one's heart is the most important aspect.
We proceeded towards the city residence. Everyone was extremely relaxed and we were driving carelessly. A manifestation of evil interference occurred. Three of the tour cars were lined up at a traffic signal. A van carrying eight practitioners spun out and collided with a car coming out of a side street. In that split second, the road was littered with glass. We pulled to the curb and stopped immediately. We started to send forth righteous thoughts. A bystander came over to tell us the practitioners in the other car were all fine. We discovered that the car was not too damaged. The driver of the other vehicle was extremely concerned for us, inquiring whether anyone was hurt. During the previous car tour, our car was a retired taxi and we had several accidents. At that time, we blamed the condition of the car. After this incident, all the practitioners re-examined themselves. Interference was able to step in because we were in a relaxed state. We failed to properly send forth righteous thoughts. If Teacher hadn't protected us, the end result would have been inconceivable. Our driver had an extremely righteous mind at the time. After the crash, he said "Quickly. Go take the banners. You guys go ahead." The car still worked properly. Thank you, Teacher, for your protection.
Teacher's benevolence and kindness, the diligence of fellow practitioners, and the compassion of people during this enlightening six-day trip showed me where I need to improve.
"Dafa disciples, you are golden light in the mortal world, the hope of the world's people, Fa-disciples who help Master, and future Fa-Kings. Keep diligent, Awakened Ones that walk the earth: Everything of today will be the glory of the future." ("Congratulatory Message")
Teacher Li places so much hope in us. It seems that I was far from this goal of saving sentient beings. I must start with cultivating myself.
Thank you, Teacher. Thank you, fellow practitioners.
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