(Clearwisdom.net) I didn't start to talk to people about Falun Gong until I read “Touring North America to Teach the Fa.” During the past decade I have become increasingly mature in my cultivation with the help of Teacher's guidance. During the ongoing process of clarifying the facts, I have also witnessed the Chinese people's transformation in their attitude towards Falun Gong.
Stage one: Dark clouds overhead
I had just let go of the thought of self-preservation and shying away from my obligation to start talking to people about Falun Gong, but still had a lot of fear and concerns. I did a simple estimation: There are 7 billion people in the world and 100 million Falun Gong practitioners; therefore, each practitioner needs to clarify the facts to only 70 people. I gave myself a quota of 100 people. I would start with my friends and close acquaintances. It should not be difficult. If I could reach one person a day, it would only take me about three months to reach my quota. Thus, I did it for a year. I must have reached over 300 people, but I saw no difference whatsoever in people's overall attitude towards Falun Gong. It is embarrassing to say, but I was just trying to get it “done and over with.”
The most common feedback I received was “not to say these things to other people,” because they believed that it is risky and could get me into trouble with the authorities. One old man even declared, “If I should report what you have just told me, the police would arrest you.” However, the most positive responses that I have received came from two friends who are reporters. They told me that whenever their editors asked them to report on Falun Gong, they would tell them that they had other reports to run, so as to avoid having to print negative articles on Falun Gong. A close acquaintance working at the State Security Bureau once said, “I know all about Falun Gong. One of my family members practices, so I will never take any part in suppressing Falun Gong.”
At the time, most people seemed to know Falun Gong is innocent, but few had the courage to step out to defend the practice. People's consciences seemed to have either been suppressed or become numb.
Stage two: Awakening
Although I saw very little change in people's attitude, I continued to clarify the facts. My fear faded as I studied the Fa and sent forth righteous thoughts. The mentality of looking to “getting it done and over with” disappeared as well. In contrast, my sense of responsibility to save people grew stronger. I thought: “Perhaps not every practitioner in China tries to clarify the facts,” so I raised my quota to 1000 people. In my estimation, it would take me only one year if I would reach out to three people a day. Since I decided to do this, I must alter my methods. I wouldn't be able to tell a long story when clarifying the facts, and should try to be brief. As I accumulated more experience, I also learned not to say things that might exceed a person's level of understanding.
The comment I received most frequently now was: “Don't go out and tell anyone that you practice Falun Gong. Just practice at home secretly.” The atmosphere of terror began to subside in people's hearts and they gradually started to reflect on whether the suppression of Falun Gong is justifiable and on what type of people Falun Gong practitioners are.
In my experience, people of a lower social class are most receptive to information about Falun Gong, while people with a political career and higher standing in Chinese society are reluctant to express their feelings about Falun Gong.
Stage three: Peeling away the lies of the Chinese Communist Party
Another year passed, and I must have reached 1000 people by now, but I didn't think that there were any obvious signs of transformation in the people of China towards Falun Gong. Yet, I did notice a change: practitioners are now doing different things to clarify the facts. Some practitioners are producing materials containing important information about Falun Gong or about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), while others are distributing them. Some practitioners are helping people to quit the CCP and/or its affiliated organizations, and some are talking to people directly about the persecution of Falun Gong. I stopped counting the number of people I have reached now, and began to feel like a particle of the Fa in the one-body of practitioners.
I am utilizing my strengths to clarify the facts along with my fellow practitioners. I am no longer afraid or get excited when I talk to people. I am relaxed and speak in a peaceful tone. I pay attention to people's response and try to make it a two-way conversation.
The most frequent type of comment I now received was condemnation of the CCP. When I talked about Falun Gong, people would often comment, “Falun Gong is innocent.” When I talked about the CCP, the most frequent comments were, “The CCP's officials are corrupt” and “The CCP is a mafia organization,” which was then usually followed by a rant of condemnation of the CCP. I would come across people that were prepared to create excuses for the CCP's actions, insisting that they were “required in politics,” but most people were receptive to the information I told them.
I felt as though the Chinese people had awakened. When I occasionally met former colleagues, they expressed their utmost respect for me, and told me of their outrage for the persecution I had suffered. I even witnessed a remarkable transformation in the attitudes of people from an ethnic farming village in my hometown, where they still adhere to the old-fashioned thinking that the emperor or the ruling party rules all. Last year I went home for Chinese New Year, and overheard some of them discussing current affairs. “The CCP is planning to get a pretty penny from us again! Scoundrels they are!” It was impossible to hear such thoughts towards the CCP in the past.
Stage four: Signs of hope for the future
Nowadays, letting people know the facts about Falun Gong has become a way of life for me. Whether I am at work, amongst friends and relatives or surrounded by strangers, I no longer get nervous or excited when I talk about Falun Gong. I assess the situation to determine how to clarify the facts, and talk about common things we can relate to. I never pressure anyone into accepting what I tell them. Whenever we talk about the CCP, people naturally condemn and despise it.
I have witnessed two strange phenomena: First, the ravens in Beijing seem to have disappeared. Since July 20, 1999, the raven population in Beijing seemed to grow larger, eventually becoming a permanent part of the landscape, especially on Tienanmen Square, the Forbidden City and Zhongnanhai. This year, I couldn't find any ravens, and only saw magpies. I heard that the ravens had all died during the winter of 2010. Second, Udumbara flowers have been blossoming all over China. There have been reports on the internet about the flower blossoming overseas, and I have also noticed a lot of them at my workplace.
I often remind people to have hope for the future. The CCP has exhausted all its tricks. All who understand the facts about Falun Gong will have a wonderful future. Both government officials and civilians I have met agree to that. The only different view we hold is that I believe the CCP is at the brink of collapse, while some believe it will take a few more years.
During the past decade I have seen how people have changed their thinking towards the CCP because of its suppression of Falun Gong. I have also witnessed how practitioners risked their lives to help Chinese people awaken to the truth. I have had the greatest opportunity to transform myself from a practitioner enveloped in attachments, to become a Falun Gong practitioner responsible for my cultivation.
Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions or understandings. All content published on this website are copyrighted by Minghui.org. Minghui will produce compilations of its online content regularly and on special occasions.
Category: Clarifying the Truth
