(Minghui.org) A few months after I began practicing Falun Dafa in 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched the persecution. My understanding of Dafa was shallow at the time, and because I hadn’t cultivated solidly, I took a long detour. When I resumed practicing years later, I was very regretful for having stopped, and decided to genuinely practice.
I started handing out information about Falun Dafa face to face in 2013. When I asked another practitioner how to do this, she replied, “It is very simple. Just greet people and ask if he or she would like to read something. If they agree, give them some materials; otherwise, you can move on.” That sounded easy, so I decided to try it.
Overcoming Fear
I was a little fearful in the beginning. I was afraid of being refused and was afraid of being reported to the police. I hesitated every time I went out. I looked at the truth-clarification materials in my bag, and wasn’t sure if people would take them. Despite this or that thought, I was determined and I went out. As time passed, my fear lessened and it was easier to go out.
The next step was how to begin talking with others. At first, I rode my bike around for a long time before I dared talk with someone. I usually began by asking for directions. As we talked, I asked if they would like to read something. When I talked with street vendors while I bought something, I handed them a pamphlet. Talking to people soon became easier and handing out materials went smoothly.
Looking back, it seemed natural to overcome fear and talk with people. In fact, I believe it was because Master Li (Falun Dafa’s founder) saw my willingness to help him save people. He helped me by removing the bad substances that held me back.
Knowing the Facts Well
When I distribute materials face to face, I often encounter people who ask about Falun Dafa. This requires to me explain in detail. To do this I need to thoroughly understand the facts myself. I found the Minghui periodicals very good, so I read them and this helped me gain a deeper understanding. This way, when I talked to people I was able to answer their questions.
One booklet: Telling You What Falun Dafa Really Is, summarizes the positive reports about Falun Dafa published in China after the practice was first introduced. They include surveys of tens of thousands of practitioners, which were organized by the General Administration of Sport and Qigong Research Association. The effectiveness of Falun Dafa on health was found to be 97.9%. These facts are very powerful.
One Minghui periodical, Between Heaven and Earth, talks about the CCP’s brutality, its lies, and how the Party damaged traditional Chinese culture. People usually agree with this. I also found that reading experience sharing articles from other practitioners and watching truth-clarification videos helps us understand more.
While I wrote this article, I realized that learning the facts is also part of our cultivation. Doing this helped me have a deeper understanding of Dafa and I became determined to practice well. When I read a booklet in which a practitioner talks about how practicing Falun Dafa improved their mind and body, I was very excited and saw the gap between myself and that practitioner. Occasionally, there are articles about traditional Chinese culture, and I realized that CCP ideologies are degenerate. Sometimes an article about the CCP’s brutality helped me see my blind spots.
Adjusting Our Approach
I tell people the facts and help them quit the CCP organizations (including the junior organizations—the Communist Youth League and the Young Pioneers). I am not someone who is good at convincing people which may be because I’m often oblivious to social cues. Unless I pay attention, I can inadvertently upset people. I also don’t want to force my opinions on others.
It’s difficult for some people to understand the situation in China and renounce their memberships in the CCP organizations. So I came up with an approach. After I tell people the basic facts about Dafa, I mention the Hidden Character Stone, a natural stone in Guizhou Province with the words, “The Chinese Communist Party [will] perish.” When I tried out this approach, it worked well, so I used this example often.
After some time, this approach no longer worked. So I came up with a new way. After telling people the basic facts, I mention that morality is sliding down in China. I tell them that we Chinese always believed in the divine, and Heaven won’t let this situation continue. Then I talk about quitting the CCP organizations.
After some time, I found that this approach also stopped working, and I had to try something else. After this happened several times, I talked with other practitioners about it. They also experienced something similar and we realized that truth-clarification is also a process of cultivating ourselves. When we use an approach, we may be able to talk fluently. But perhaps the level of genuineness and sincerity has gone down. Sometimes after we finish talking, the other person may say, “You are good at talking, very eloquent.” But that person doesn’t quit the CCP organizations.
Helping someone quit the CCP is also related to my cultivation practice. For example, I’ve recently had a deeper understanding: “Persecuting a righteous belief is a sin that cannot be forgiven.” So I include this when I talk to people and I explain why one needs to stand on the side of the divine. This also helps people make the right choice.
Studying the Teachings Well
Master said,
“That is because the Fa is the foundation; it is what’s fundamental for Dafa disciples; it is what ensures everything; and it is the avenue by which a human being journeys toward godhood.” (“To the Australia Fa Conference”, The Essentials of Diligent Progress III)
I learned that, to tell people facts well requires us to cultivate solidly. Practitioners who often go out and clarify the truth know we have to study the Falun Dafa teachings well and maintain strong righteous thoughts. Only then can we do this successfully. This is because strong righteous thoughts are needed to fend off interference and the vicious elements behind people.
For years, I studied and memorized the Fa with other practitioners. I memorized Zhuan Falun a few times as well as other Dafa books including Hong Yin up to Hong Yin VI. After Master publishes new articles, we memorize them a few times.
Through the years, I gained deeper understandings of the teachings. This also helped with my truth-clarification. This way, no matter what kind of person we meet and no matter what challenging questions we face, we have a clear answer. This, of course, also helps us to avoid being trapped or misled by superficial situations.
Not Stopping When Our Cultivation State Is Poor
When I’m busy at work or there are many things going on in the family, I forget to look inward. But we can’t slack off, or otherwise, we may run into a vicious cycle. Because of our poor cultivation state, we may stop going out to tell people the facts and we may forget about safety and became relaxed. We may even slack off further – we may only study the teachings and not talk to people about Falun Dafa and the persecution, or we may even slack off in studying the teachings.
One time, when I went out to clarify the truth, a village official stopped me and broke my electric bike key. I ran away when he called the police. Afterwards I didn’t want to talk to people about Dafa. My excuse was my poor cultivation state. Plus my work was busy, so I did not go out and talk to people for a long time. I slacked off and became addicted to my cell phone. Sometimes I spent several hours on my cell phone, or even the entire night. This even impacted my work.
I knew I had to step out. When my cultivation state wasn’t good, I asked Master for help: “Master, I want to help save people. But my righteous thoughts are not strong enough. Master, please help me eliminate the bad thoughts and strengthen my righteous thoughts. Thank you, Master.”
I sometimes went out with another practitioner so that my righteous thoughts were stronger. Seeing people learn the facts, I was filled with happiness. I felt I was back on track of fulfilling my mission, so my righteous thoughts increased. With support from Master, I went out again and again. Over time, my righteous thoughts increased and I regained confidence in my cultivation practice.
So my recommendation is, if one is worried about their poor cultivation state and stops going out to clarify the truth, please think about it. We all need to step forward. Once you do, everything will be fine.
Quitting the CCP Organizations Is Not the Ultimate Goal
When I talked to people about Dafa face to face, I was sometimes attached to the number of people I helped quit the CCP organizations. Of course, there is nothing wrong in helping Master save people so they can have a better future. But when I met someone who hadn’t joined any CCP organizations, I was a little upset. It was as if I felt a little disappointed or sad since that conversation could not add to my list of people who withdrew from the CCP organizations. Upon realizing that this was an attachment, I decided to let go of it. After all, we tell people facts for them to learn truth and know that Dafa is good. The more people know this, the better.
I usually tell people about Falun Dafa and the persecution first and then ask them to quit any CCP organizations they’ve joined. I sometimes give them examples of the benefits people received from reciting the phrases, “Falun Dafa is good,” and, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” I also talk about the good deeds other practitioners do, or how we look within to improve relationships with others. There are also my personal experiences of how I paid attention to virtue, and the principle that, “good is rewarded, but evil is punished.” I don’t focus on whether or not people quit the CCP. I sincerely want them to have a good future as a result of our conversation.
One time I saw a group of sanitation workers resting on the grass. I greeted them and asked if they were interested in reading something. They knew it was about Falun Dafa so they did not say yes. I sat down and began chatting with them.
I told them about Feng. Her family was initially against her practicing. But now they are supportive and they’ve even begun practicing. When I asked her why they changed, Feng explained. After a car accident, her mother was hospitalized and had difficulty urinating or having bowel movements. She asked her mother to recite, “Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” Her mother was upset and refused. Feng understood and said gently, “Since you are suffering, it doesn’t hurt to try. What if it helps?” The mother followed her advice and the problem was resolved. Feng’s mother and father began to practice Dafa.
The workers were moved, and one said, “Falun Dafa is indeed good.” The others also nodded and accepted the materials. I was very happy for them.
Summary
As practitioners, we know truth-clarification is not limited to something we do in this human world. Master also helps us in other dimensions. For example, Master helps guide people to us, strengthens our righteous thoughts, resolves issues we do not know, and he protects us from danger.
Many times, right after I finish explaining the facts or I give someone a pamphlet, I notice a police van passing by. I did what I should do and I was safe. This happened many times, and I knew these were miracles: without Master’s protection, how could an ordinary person like me do this?
I am always grateful to Master. I will do better in telling people the facts and in helping Master save them.
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