Shared at San Francisco 2002 Conference
Today I want to share with everyone some understandings, realizations, and experiences in clarifying the truth to Chinese delegations. I myself have discovered shortcomings in this area, but I feel that this is an important aspect in clarifying the truth to the precious Chinese people. It is also relatively difficult. I am hopeful that others will be able to take what I have to offer and form even better ideas. With everyone comparing notes, inspiring one another, upgrading levels together, we can effectively grasp this opportunity to save people during the Fa-rectification.
The majority of Chinese delegations are made up of cadres and leaders. They have influence among ordinary people. I think that they may correspond to relatively high level beings and represent relatively large cosmic bodies. In China, under the condition that information flow has been seriously blocked and controlled, they have the opportunity to get outside the country. This is a precious opportunity! Also, there might be people who have been directly involved in persecuting Dafa disciples among them. If they came to America even once, but didn't have the opportunity to know the truth, how pitiful would this be to their eternal lives' existence? As Dafa disciples, how regretful would this be to us? Master said in Touring North America to Teach the Fa,
"If the vast majority of the people in this world today have really come from high levels to obtain the Fa, think about it--they aren't just some simple beings, then. Even a Tathagata represents a gigantic group of beings. But they aren't limited to Tathagatas--those who've come to the human world all have great abilities. Many cosmic bodies' Kings and Lords have come here, and they represent gigantic cosmic bodies. But after coming to the ordinary human society, they became deluded and have even participated in this persecution of Dafa. Then if someone like that is eliminated, think about it, not only is he eliminated--what's eliminated is also a gigantic cosmic body." (Draft Translation)
Master also said,
"You need to know that clarifying the truth is extremely important for Dafa disciples. You aren't just doing personal cultivation--your own cultivation is saving the beings in the gigantic cosmic bodies that you represent. When you clarify the truth you are saving even more and even larger additional cosmic bodies and the beings in those cosmic bodies, because this is the responsibility Dafa and history have bestowed upon you." (Draft translation)
For a very long time, I wasn't clear on how to effectively clarify the truth to these delegations. Whenever I think that this might be the only opportunity that these lives will get after waiting for thousands of years, and knowing that we disciples abroad have unique opportunities to come into contact with them, I feel a kind of unshakable responsibility. Therefore, as long as I knew that there was a Chinese delegation team coming to the Bay-area, I would go almost every time to clarify the truth to them. Every time the experience was different. Each time I can, to a lesser or greater degree, validate Dafa and clarify the truth to them.
Once, I went by myself to a Chinese delegation's business recruiting convention. Because it wasn't a weekend, there were not many people there. Upon arrival, I started to chat with a section director. I first introduced myself and gave an account of my formal education. I felt this wasn't boasting; it was one aspect of validating Dafa. People inside China, deceived by the propaganda, think that those who practice Falun Gong are all uneducated. After inquiring about the situation inside China and his experiences after coming to America, I started talking about my own experiences in America. Naturally, I spoke of the benefits I received from cultivating in Dafa. I clarified the truth to him. Everything proceeded very smoothly. At this time a woman sat down by my side. In the beginning she expressed much aversion, but gradually her attitude changed. In a little while a large middle-aged man also walked toward us. He was the woman's superior. He was the general manager at a company and was responsible for brainwashing captive Falun Gong practitioners. I thought, "Great, you arrived just in time." He began talking endlessly about his brainwashing class and wouldn't let me speak. In the beginning, I maintained a calm state of mind. Later, I thought that I shouldn't just let him talk nonsense; I felt a little anxious. I wanted to say something all along. He then said that I haven't cultivated well, that I couldn't forbear. In the end I said, "Could you listen to what I have to say?" He wanted to leave without listening to me. At that time, I didn't know about sending forth righteous thoughts. I was watching helplessly as the evil controlled this person. Clearly, I was sensing the harsh environment that disciples inside China face.
From our conversation, I discovered that the delegation team would be visiting San Francisco over the weekend. They were going to pass by City Hall. Some fellow practitioners and I arrived in front of City Hall early in the morning. We put up display boards and played videos on a TV. Sure enough, they appeared. Quite a few of them recognized me. The section director even took the initiative to greet me with a gentle smile. I told them, "On weekends, Falun Gong practitioners always come here." The majority of the delegates were afraid to accept materials, but all were secretly stealing looks at the display boards. The general manager was also there and I took the initiative to greet him. He looked at me with quite an angry look. I still waved my hand and smiled farewell to him. Even though I didn't have a wiser way of letting them know the truth, we were tracing in their hearts an image of Falun Gong abroad. We also were restraining the evil elements behind those that were like the general manager, who was directly taking part in the persecution.
I always encountered obstacles when attempting to do this work. Upon overcoming these obstacles, I found myself talking to predestined people. Some delegation members, even though it's not convenient for them to publicly declare their stance, will say, "You believe in my judgment ability?." (Meaning that they can judge right from wrong.) Some were quite touched to see so many practitioners clarifying the truth about Falun Gong to them. There were also kindhearted Americans helping us hand out materials to the delegation team members. Amidst Fa-rectification, they have laid wonderful foundations for themselves to obtain the Fa in the future. Each time, I can see where I should improve. More and more I realize that clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings are sacred and magnificent missions that Master has bestowed upon us Dafa disciples. It's evident to me that Master's compassion is boundless.
Practitioners cooperating with each other and becoming a whole body can give rise to very good effects in clarifying the truth to Chinese delegation team members. Once, a fellow practitioner and I invited a young vice section director from a Chinese delegation team to converse with us. We started chatting about the situation in China. We talked about the different environments inside and outside of China. Then we extended our conversation to cover China's control of the Internet; it makes Chinese students who go back to China feel uneasy. Another fellow practitioner joined us and directly turned the topic to Falun Gong. As we had already been conversing like friends, he didn't have any objection. The three of us, playing different roles and using different angles, directly and indirectly clarified the truth to him. When we talked about the truth of the self-immolation, he appeared very shocked. Afterwards he found an excuse by saying the final truth of the matter will be judged by history. He said, "If an academic authority can verify that Falun Gong truly benefits one's health, I will believe it." Fellow practitioners immediately gave him a research paper written by Professor Feng Lili. We then aimed at those ordinary notions that Mainland Chinese people have, such as Falun Gong being involved in politics and unquestioning obedience to the government. Later on he said, "If you go back to China, you can practice at home. If I, practiced by myself inside, wouldn't that be OK?" Apparently, he knew nothing about the persecution inside China. We then explained to him the truth about how the Jiang regime uses guilt by association to harm the innocent. He became quiet. It could be seen that his inner heart was shaken. We bid farewell to him as friends. While clarifying the truth, the three of us cooperated with each other, supplemented one another and did not interrupt while the other person was talking. When other practitioners were talking, I sent forth righteous thoughts. This was reflecting the strength of Dafa disciples as a whole body.
Another one of my experiences illustrates how maintaining one's pure mentality and keeping righteous thoughts are extremely important. Master in "Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Boston" said, "The best way to deal with this situation is for Dafa disciples to walk their paths righteously, to try their best not to let the evil or the old forces take advantage of their gaps, and to solidify their righteous thoughts. The old forces don't dare to oppose our clarifying the truth or saving sentient beings. What's key is to not let them take advantage of the gaps in your state of mind when you do things." While clarifying the truth to Chinese delegation team members, we can run into all kinds of interference. For example, at one convention there was an especially large number of Chinese people, increasing the difficulty for us to get into contact with the delegation members. I'm thinking that this may have been a so-called test for us, arranged by the old forces. Sending forth righteous thoughts is essential in clearing away the interference. I found myself waiting for a long time without speaking to any of the delegation members. People were visiting the members nonstop like horses on a carousel. After sending forth righteous thoughts, the line that I was waiting in became smaller, while the other line still had many people. The ad that was on the wall for this company mysteriously fell down and people thought that the table had closed. At last, only one other person and I were waiting at the table. She was very talkative, trying hard to ask the manager of the company to arrange an employment opportunity for her. I continuously sent forth righteous thoughts, making her leave so that I could clarify the truth to that manager without interruption and interference. Several times, she almost went away, but still remained in the end. Upon becoming impatient, my righteous thoughts were not as strong. Feeling that I had no way out, I continued chatting with them. I had trouble finding a way to talk about Falun Gong directly. The manager, having a good impression of me, searched for his last business card to give to me; previously, he said that he had run out of business cards. I think I was being provided with an opportunity to clarify the truth to him later through e-mail. Afterwards, I realized that I was still harboring attachments. I wanted to cultivate my heart more thoroughly and in a nobler way. That lady might have been a person with a predestined relationship as well.
On another occasion, I heard that the principal of a famous university in Mainland China was visiting the Bay Area. I told myself that I must go and began to think about how to clarify the truth to him. The harder I thought about it, the more difficult it seemed to be. I thought I should ask more practitioners to go, but I didn't get much response. At this moment, my attachments made me feel very bad. My husband said, "Isn't this simple, just go clarify the truth." Those words made me suddenly realize that I had the attachment of pursuit. I opened the book, Master's teaching in "Rationality" was waiting: "Amidst tribulations, it is very difficult for a student to see the cause of a matter; but it's not that it is impossible. When he calms his mind and evaluates things with Dafa, he will be able to see the nature of the matter." Yes, my acts to clarify the truth are completely out of my benevolent compassion; why should I worry much about how well I perform? Master says, "if all you do is for others, the person will be moved to tears by whatever you say." When I thought about this, I felt I was released from a great mental burden. And, my husband wanted to go with me. We briefly introduced ourselves when we met the principal and his entourage. We manifested truthfulness and benevolence in our behavior. But, there were always quite a few people waiting to meet the principal, it seemed that we wouldn't be able to spend any quality time with him.
"What shall we do"? We looked at each other. "Send forth righteous thoughts!" The dinner party seemed to be almost over, and we still didn't get a chance. Finally the principal shook everyone's hands and said goodbye. When we started to talk to the principle, his assistants urged the principal to leave. We were sending forth righteous thoughts when we walked out with them. I thought about Master's benevolence. We would have an opportunity! My husband was thinking too, "Gods in universe please come to help us complete this greatest of deeds." All of a sudden, the Chinese man who accompanied the principal decided to get in the car by himself. This left the principal and the other professors available for conversation. There were only people from Mainland China there. My husband and I went up to them with determination. I said to them sincerely, "Principal, we are extremely concerned about one important issue and we'd like to have a word with you." When I said this, my heart was full of benevolence and compassion, pure without any other thoughts. The principal kindly moved towards us and the professors all gathered curiously. We then told them that it was in regards to Falun Gong. We have practiced this cultivation system for several years. We heard there was a brutal persecution in China. The principal became interested and walked one step further and asked: "Is the practice really good for health? Be sure not to be involved in politics." I saw a being's longing for Dafa from his eyes and words. Actually everyone is waiting for Dafa. I also sensed the bewilderment and blindness of a being controlled by the evil. We described to them our experience from practicing, explained the true story of the "self-immolation" and the principle that Falun Gong will never be involved in politics. I said to him, "We truly wish for you to treat Falun Gong students in the university well... Have a right attitude towards Falun Gong." He nodded his head seriously and said, "Yes, I understand." He also took the initiative to ask whether we got his name card or not. Finally, he patted my husband's shoulder and said, "You guys take care! Please visit us when you come back to the country." The other professors shook our hands and said good-bye with smiling faces. Master in "Teaching the Fa at the Great Lakes Fa Conference in North America" says,
"Whether you're in China or outside of China, how you perform is the same; there's the same difference in whether you step forward or aren't able to step forward, and in how much you put your heart into this matter of Fa-rectification. It's only that the environments are different."
If one can truly validate Dafa and offer salvation to sentient beings then he manifests the benevolence and mighty virtue of a Dafa disciple in the Fa-rectification period.
I remember attending a dinner reception for a delegation team. When the party was over, we heard one local Chinese person shouting at an elderly practitioner who was distributing Dafa materials at the door. People started to gather, watching what was happening. The elder practitioner's xinxing was maintained very well, and he didn't argue at all. I was chatting with a delegation member who happened to sit at the same table with me that night. I didn't know what to do when this happened, as I didn't tell him I was a Falun Gong practitioner. I wanted to clarify the truth to him further. I chose to show my support toward Falun Gong in front of these people, trying to clarify the truth from a third person's perspective. Later on, I noticed that quite a few delegation members were watching the person shout at our practitioner. I realized that I didn't step forward to validate Dafa at the crucial moment and let the image of Dafa in the Bay Area be discounted. I felt very bad. I further realized that if we had more practitioners at that time, each playing a different role as a righteous Bay Area Chinese with a good heart and a Falun Gong practitioner as well, what an impression that would have made. I imagined how great it would have been if there was a western practitioner standing next to the elder practitioner clarifying the truth. Just like what a Clearwisdom editorial said, "In the course of this great, solemn Fa-rectification, the various nationalities and ethnic groups that make up Dafa disciples both in China and abroad are one body and in the bigger picture of Fa-rectification, they each have their vital and indispensable effects. At present, we need to more fully utilize the advantages of each person's personal and external conditions. Through various different kinds of avenues and various kinds of methods, we need to steadfastly, dauntlessly, rationally and wisely find ways to bring the truth to as many people as possible. We need to help people to clearly understand the truth, see through the lies, and shake off the influence and control of the evil such that the respect for Dafa and the admiration for the lofty realm of Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance rises from the depths of their hearts."
During the process of clarifying the truth to Chinese delegations, I fully realized how studying Fa, clarifying the truth, and sending forth righteous thoughts are closely related to each other, and how important it is to maintain a pure, benevolent heart.
Finally, I would like to share a paragraph from Master's teaching in Touring North America to Teach the Fa,
"... at the critical moment, to truly validate Dafa, do what Dafa disciple ought to do. So, the duty of Dafa disciples is not only to achieve personal consummation, but also to offer salvations to sentient beings during the process of validating Fa. That is the historical duty of Dafa disciples, and that is the true magnificence of Dafa disciples."