(Clearwisdom.net)
Good coordination and righteous thoughts are necessary
I usually team up with another practitioner when I go out to talk to others about Falun Gong. Although we originally arranged for one person to do the talking while the other would send righteous thoughts, we quickly ran into problems, and we parted ways for a while.
For example, once at a rural market, the other practitioner was talking to an elderly person while I was talking to a salesperson at a booth nearby. My partner later told me that the elderly person she had been talking to refused to listen, saying, "The Olympic Games have just started, and we have been told that the authorities are out in force to catch Falun Gong practitioners. Please, leave quickly and be careful!" From this, I learned the importance of coordinating with other practitioners when we inform the public about the real Falun Gong. I also found that I had a competitive mentality that caused me to always try to outdo others, which I needed to get rid of.
Later on, we were able to coordinate better. One of us would do the talking, while the other would send righteous thoughts. This approach worked much better.
Using different approaches for different people
We used different approaches for different people. For example, if we ran into parents with children, we would say something like, "What a lovely child--look at the beautiful eyes!" We then would give them an amulet(1) for the child's good health.
With blue-collar workers like construction workers, owners of motorcycle rental shops, or vegetable vendors, we tried to show understanding for their tough jobs. We would say something like, "You have to work very hard and making money isn't easy! We have come to give you an amulet for your safety." We then explained our understanding of Falun Gong and managed to sometimes talk to up to six people at the same time. We gave them a flier, a small booklet or CD, and told them to pass these materials on to others. They were very glad to accept them. Occasionally we encountered people who did not want to listen, but we nevertheless treated them like a family member because Teacher has said:
"Let me tell you, every person in the entire world was at one point part of my family." ("Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference)
When we encountered students on their way to school, we walked with them and gave them some fliers. Children are quite pure and are more willing to accept the truth. For example, one morning when I saw three eight- or nine-year-old girls, I said hello and gave them each an amulet for their safety. I then asked them "Do you know anything about the Sichuan earthquake?" When they said they did, I told them that many students died in that earthquake but that knowing the truth about the goodness of Dafa would keep anyone safe. I also told them that, during that earthquake, one entire class was saved although everyone else at the same school, 98 percent of the students and teachers, was killed. The reason was that the sports coach of the class that had been saved was a Falun Gong practitioner, and all the students in the class understood the truth about Falun Gong and had completed their "Three Withdrawals" (withdrawing from the Chinese Communist Party and its two youth organizations). I also told them that Falun Gong practices Truthfulness-Compassion- Forbearance and teaches people to be good. Two of the girls completed the Three Withdrawals, but they all accepted the printed materials and thanked us for them.
In order to save more people, we needed to reach more people. Now when we see a young person riding a bicycle, we say, "Young man, please stop. I want to tell you a story." To an older person, we say, "Hello, Sir If you have a time, we would like to have a few words with you." The results have been quite good. We then give them an informational package to take home to share with their friends and family members. Perhaps they will be saved as well.
Maintain no human attachments when spreading the truth
After returning home from each activity, we summarize and take stock of how we did that day. We ask ourselves why someone refused to listen or did not want to accept our fliers or why they reacted badly to us. After carefully looking within, we might realize that our hearts in trying to save sentient beings that day were impure. For example, our approach might have been too offensive or otherwise unsuitable, or we did not spend enough time sending righteous thoughts. Perhaps we were not calm enough or did not study the Fa enough. We then readjust our thinking and spend more time studying the Fa. The situation has slowly improved.
Sometimes we were afraid or maintained insufficient righteous thoughts and did not have complete trust in the Fa or in Teacher. For instance, we were afraid that someone might have followed and recognized us. In this situation, we sent righteous thoughts to eliminate our fear and our suspicion.
When we explain the true situation about Falun Gong, we have to use a Buddha's thoughts rather than thinking like humans. Before we go out, we need to send righteous thoughts and ask for Teacher's help to eliminate any kind of obstacles that might be interfering with our efforts to save sentient beings and awaken people's knowing side. When we talk to predestined people, we ask Teacher to cover us with a safety net so that we remain safe. We can feel our Teacher's gigantic hands over our heads. All the police vehicles and people look small, like particles of sand, and the whole setting appears to be a big stage set for a show. Everything is illusion, except for our saving of sentient beings. Our body's cells at the molecular level have been replaced by high-energy matter, and our Teacher has granted us supernatural powers.
It will be much easier to spread the truth if we form these god-like thoughts. Every day we do this for one to two hours, and sometimes we get ten to twenty withdrawals per day. People who do not withdraw at least accept the fliers.
Before going to sleep at night, I recite Lunyu or several poems from Hong Yin. According to what I understand, cultivation is for changing one's thoughts and human notions. If we follow Teacher's guidance, do the three things that are required of us well each day, let go of all human attachments, and save sentient beings, then our levels will be raised.
Note:
(1) Amulets - In China, practitioners sometimes clarify the truth by giving people something small to wear or cherish, bearing a few words reminding them of the goodness of Dafa.
3/19/2009
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Category: Clarifying the Truth