(Minghui.org) Before I obtained the Fa, I was a born-again Christian. I grew up studying and reading the Bible from cover to cover. Mother and Father wanted us to have a strong Christian upbringing. As a family, we prayed together every night.
When I first hit the streets to do truth clarification, preachers would come up to our stall, open the Bible in front of me, and start quoting passages from the Bible to me. They were surprised that I knew those quotations already, and more. I kindly respected them as I too was there and I understood their position, and I did not get into a dispute with them. This has not happened in a long time.
Friends sometimes ask me if I feel that I abandoned my Christian upbringing. I tell them, “I completed my cultivation in that religion. Now I am a practitioner and disciple of Falun Gong. I am confident and secure in this practice and it is all compatible for me.”
While doing truth clarification on the street I am often asked, “You have blue eyes. What are you doing here?” They ask how I got into the Falun Gong practice. I said that I received Zhuan Falun in the mail one morning from a friend that I had never met, a business associate in Australia. I thought that there must be something very special and very important about this book for someone to send it so far. I read it carefully from cover to cover. I read it again and I have never put it down since. I often tell people that if I had to leave my house in the middle of the night and could only bring one item, I would bring that book.
Before obtaining the Fa, I knew that forced organ harvesting was taking place in China but I did not know anything about the target victims. When I came into the Fa and learned about the persecution, I have to admit I was very terrified by this unspeakable evil. And I did not want to go out onto the street (to clarify the truth). Fifteen years ago, even in Ireland, the terror of the persecution was palpable. If words could convey the evil of hell on earth, the expression 610 Office sent shivers down my spine. Even though they did not show it, I could sense this terror in the hearts the Chinese Falun Gong practitioners.
The more I learned of the persecution the more I was touched by the bravery of practitioners. It may seem like a very small thing, but I realized that handing out a flier on the street or holding up a banner in public was bravery beyond words. They were all smart, kind, intelligent people. I could not help but be amazed that they sacrificed everything to come to Ireland. I often thought to myself that Chinese practitioners have suffered so much desolation; being separated from home, family, friends and country… I was also amazed that they never complained about enduring such hardship. They could be back home in China with their families and loved ones, have a well-paid career, and have a nice, easy life. Instead they sacrificed everything and left everything behind rather than cave into the communist tyranny. They could never think of giving in or giving up their faith no matter how homesick or faint they were at the wanton desolation of their nation and people.
I was particularly astonished at the grace, beauty, and bravery of the female Dafa practitioners here in Ireland and in China. They seemed like mama bears looking out for their cubs facing mortal danger. Nothing would deter them. I was also greatly touched by articles showing the grace, resolve, and faithfulness of practitioners in China facing certain death by the vilest evil torture. In Irish culture, we learned long ago that it is better to die standing than to live on your knees. I thought that if these lovely men and women from China could get out there in public and let the world know the truth of the persecution and validate the wonders of Dafa, I can and must do the same. Bravery, I thought, is the root of all achievement.
Examples of Questions Asked by the Public, Politicians, and VIPs During Truth Clarification
Master said, “It is offered unconditionally and has no thought of reward—it is fully for the sake of sentient beings. When this compassionate goodness emerges, its strength is without equal, and it will disintegrate any bad factors. The greater the compassion, the greater the power.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2009 Washington, D.C. International Fa Conference,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume IX)
I am often asked what Falun Gong is all about, and a wide variety of questions pertaining to the persecution. There are lots of diverse questions, so what do we stand for? What does the practice do for you? I refer them first of all to our core principles: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I go on to say that we are an orthodox school of practice, that we believe in God, are pro-life, pro-family, and pro marriage of a man and a woman. There is no charge to learn the practice and we have no plush temples or buildings. We cultivate wherever we are, and whenever we have time and do the exercises whenever time permits.
Our teacher has never asked Falun Gong practitioners for money. And the books are free of charge to download from the website. Practitioners can come and go, anywhere, anytime we need. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) resorts to name-calling and denigration to distract people from its crimes against God and humanity.
The Special People We Meet While Clarifying the Truth
When meeting people on the street, I am aware that it is a very profound event. The people we meet are very special. Their meeting with us may have been arranged by Master over a million years ago. Ten thousand years may even have passed since we last met. I am aware that we are meeting long-lost friends. If they got the Fa before me they would be on the street that day waiting for me. What brought them into town that day, at that time, and how they get there is no coincidence. Before going out to do truth clarification, I send righteous thoughts to the universe to let the sentient beings know where we are today and that we will be there to meet them as arranged so long ago. I ask them, “Please come and meet us there, as we have a special message for your destiny.”
I always like to put a little love into our meeting. After all, I am honored that for some reason they stopped to say hello to us and meet us and ask about Falun Gong. They are giving me an opportunity to grow and share about Dafa. I should not give the impression that I am fed up, it’s been a long day, I’m tired, or rush them. Irish people are usually friendly, talkative, and open, so if time permits, I like to have a brief get-to-know-you conversation with them. I ask things like where they’re from, their name, what brought them into town, etc.
I like to share with them about the wonders and benefits of Dafa, the five exercises, and that the practice is free to learn. I also talk about the persecution and ask if they would like to sign a petition to call for an end to forced organ harvesting and the persecution. I answer any questions as best I can. Before people sign our petitions, I always like to explain what the petition is about. Before they leave I give them leaflets about Falun Gong and tell them that they can download Zhuan Falun from the website free of charge. I encourage them to read it from cover to cover, as it has a beautiful message from eternity and it will guide them through everything happening in today’s world.
Occasionally, time is of the essence, people are busy or running and we have just seconds to clarify the facts and give them leaflets. I always like to reference Zhuan Falun.
When people hear about forced organ harvesting they can hardly believe that such evil exists in the world. They exclaim, “Why is there not a worldwide outcry about this?”
Particularly since the pandemic, people are realizing that they have been taking simple everyday things in life for granted. People are now queuing up to learn about Dafa and sign our petitions to end organ harvesting and the persecution. They realize that there is an all-encompassing enemy of humanity at large. The enemy is nebulous and people are longing for some practical way to let God know that they do not agree with all the degenerate evil and darkness pervading the planet. Hence, they are delighted to have the opportunity to sign our petitions to end the CCP and forced organ harvesting.
The public thank us, and they think we are great for what we are doing. They tell us regularly to keep up the good work and they are glad we are doing this much needed work. They tell us how much they admire us. They leave our stall smiling. I make sure that they leave knowing where to find Zhuan Falun and how to read it. That way they have everything. We may never see them again for another thousand years. I always recommend that they download Zhuan Falun.
Sometimes people ask what good signing a petition will do. The government is not going to listen to us. I reply, “Don’t underestimate yourself. You are just as powerful as any other being on Earth. You got off the fence. And you have made a stand against this evil tyranny while it counts. Even if no one else knows about your decision, you know and God knows. The pen is mightier than the sword because it is the power of your heart. Your signature could well be the one that breaks the camel’s back.” I clarify that we aren’t protesting or demonstrating; we are raising awareness.
Truth clarification is a very solemn responsibility and duty, and because we are Dafa disciples we look at everything from a higher perspective. We make sure that when we set up our truth clarification stalls we maximally respect our location. We do not cause any traffic or public obstructions, get in the way of the police or cause danger to the public, or practitioners, or engage in any offensive behavior. And we make sure that the Dafa music is set at a courteous level for the particular location and for the time of day. While on the street, we also have a duty to look out for the safety and wellbeing of other Dafa disciples. I have identified many reasons never to leave a practitioner by themselves with all the truth-clarification materials. If the police or the city ask us not to assemble in a certain place at a particular time, such as during the COVID lockdown, we do not defy them; we cooperate and respect their advice.
Truth Clarification with Government Officials, City and County Councillors, Politicians, and Police Officers
We have courteously clarified the facts, and over the years we have built up and maintain a good relationship with the government, the city, the police, and the public. They do not interfere with us. One county council unanimously supported one of our resolutions. I wrote back to each councillor individually and thanked them for their support. I was surprised to receive a reply from one councillor thanking me for sending her a thank you. She said that no matter what they do, no one ever comes back to say thanks.
With that, I learned a great insight about politicians and VIPs: Be polite, ask nicely, and never give up on them; never get grumpy, cranky, or despair. This route has worked 100 percent of the time. I have come to realize that it is not that politicians don’t want to stop the trafficking in humanity, forced organ harvesting, or take on the might of the CCP, these are very scary subjects for them. They are scared and horror-stricken, the same as I was when I first heard of this barbarity. It’s not that they don’t care. I have to be patient and compassionate. I commend any progress on their part. This is why I write back individually and thank them for taking a stand with us. It is no small thing in today’s murky world. Being a cultivator, when working with people I remember what Master wrote in “Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong” (Hong Yin III):
““He's right, And I'm wrong,” What's to dispute?”
I also learned that when we ask everyday people to work with us, we should protect them with righteous thoughts because they may be targeted by the evil and come under attack. In one county council, on the morning of a vote for a resolution of ours, the lady that tabled the resolution had a heart attack. But she bravely insisted on getting back to the council meeting from the hospital for the vote, which was unanimous.
On another occasion I kept ringing the phone of a councillor that tabled the motion to see how the vote went. After several calls when there was no answer, I phoned the council to talk to him. Sadly, I was told that he passed away. The vote was unanimous.
Inquiries and Contact Information
When members of the public reach out to us and give us their contact information to learn how they can learn the exercises, I first send them a Falun Gong informational email or text their phone. This informational email contains background information about the practice, as well as encouragement to take up the practice. I send them the link to Zhuan Falun and a link to the exercise demonstration video. I let them know it is free of charge to learn the practice, as well as where and when they can meet up with us to learn the exercises. The contact information they give to us is never sold, rented, divulged or given to any other party or used for any other purpose. We encourage contacts to keep in touch with us and if they have any questions or need any help with the practice, we are always here to help. And if they decide that cultivation in Dafa is not for them and do not wish to keep in touch with us, we will never bother them or impose on them.
I very sparingly ask Master anything about my own personal cultivation. Whenever I do ask, I usually get the reply, “Think about it, Michael.” Or, “What do you think, Michael?” Whenever I hear this I know that Master is telling me that I already know the answer, work it out myself, or that the answer is already in the Fa. It could be I am asking elementary level questions when Master is teaching me cultivation in Dafa. While working on Dafa projects, I feel Master very close at hand. If there are any gaps or flaws in the plan or the way ahead, He will make suggestions for a clear image of the way forward. I am amazed at how quickly things have been sped up the last three years. Previously projects that might have taken over a year to accomplish can now be completed within two weeks or less.
One night I stood on my front lawn. It was very dark outside. The sky was filled with stars. I thought to myself: How impossibly wondrous. I suddenly realized that I was not looking up at the stars, I was looking down at them. Then I realized that we did not come from the stars. The stars came from us.
Thank you for allowing me to share. This is my understanding of the Great Fa at my humble level. If there is anything remiss, please kindly point it out to me.
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