(Clearwisdom.net) Recently I read some articles on the Clearwisdom web site about the importance of cooperating and improving together among Dafa practitioners, which made me think a lot and have a new understanding about it. It also reminded me of the magnificent scene on July 22, 1999, when practitioners from all over the country safeguarded Dafa in Beijing's Fengtai Stadium, where they were gathered for a peaceful appeal for Dafa.
The Jiang regime began the frenzied persecution of Dafa on July 20, 1999. At 8:00 a.m. on July 22, some of us arrived in Beijing to appeal for Dafa after getting around the blockade. There were many police check points at the eastern portion of Tiananmen Square and the west of Zhongnanhai, police arrested practitioners who had come to Beijing to lodge appeals. So many practitioners had come to Chang'an Street and Tiananmen Square! Although we didn't know each other, our hearts were connected, just as Master said in Zhuan Falun, "When two great enlightened people meet each other, they can understand everything with a smile."
It was an extremely hot day in Beijing. I was stopped at the first police checkpoint near Zhongnanhai. About ten practitioners were already there. Before long, the police put many of us practitioners on a shuttle bus that drove toward the Chaoyang District. Many such vehicles were going in the same direction. Many practitioners on the bus spoke to the policemen about Dafa, and about their own experiences of practicing Dafa. We told them that Dafa is to teach people to be kind. Some practitioners shared experiences among themselves and encouraged each other to believe in Dafa and Master, no matter how severe the situation was. Other practitioners kept reciting Master's articles and several exchanged contact information, which set up the foundation for truth clarification work later on.
Seeing how steadfast the practitioners believed in Dafa and Master, I was deeply moved. I joined in and felt like I was attending an experience-sharing conference. Towards the evening we were taken to Beijing's Fengtai Stadium, where all the gathered practitioners were arrested. Whenever a vehicle arrived to bring more practitioners, the ones already assembled there applauded to encourage the newcomers. At around 8:00 p.m. a female practitioner stood up and said, "We came to Beijing to tell the government that Falun Dafa is the righteous Fa! Let's recite Master's 'On Buddha Fa' [preface of Zhuan Falun] together."
"The Buddha's Fa' is most profound, and it is the most mystic and supernormal science of all..."
These words shook heaven and earth! The police officers there were dumbfounded and shocked. At that time, the stadium loudspeaker was broadcasting propaganda, viciously attacking Dafa. I kept reciting and then noticed that the broadcast stopped. At that time, many Faluns, glowing in the bright light, one after another fell from the sky. Faluns moved in many different ways: some moved together horizontally, up and down like a wave; some fell down while spinning and disappeared when reaching the ground. My personal understanding was this: Master displayed the truth of the Fa right before us, to encourage us to continually and diligently advance. The practitioners kept applauding. I held my hands in front of my chest in the Heshi gesture. I had tears in my eyes. I called out, "Master! Master!" It's hard to describe in words what I felt at that moment. The spectacle of the Faluns lasted for several minutes. I will never forget that scene! At that time I began to realize how powerful practitioners as a whole really are.
Currently, if practitioners cannot cooperate well and have arguments with each other, it will affect the strength of the whole. What is the fundamental reason behind it? Master teaches us to "attain the righteous enlightenment of selflessness and altruism" ("No Omission in Buddha-Nature" Essentials for Further Advancement) Is it the "self" that we should get rid of? It seems this is the most fundamental attachment. It is what prevents the practitioners from joining together as a whole. The old forces use it to take advantage of us. We should not waste more time because of it. Master said, "The next person's things are your things, and your things are his things." (From "Teaching the Fa at the Washington, D.C. Fa Conference" in 2002) No practitioner should be on the sidelines. Everyone is involved. Let us constantly purify ourselves and eliminate the notions of self. The emphasis on self is not compassionate, but selflessness leads to genuine compassion. Treat all practitioners with mighty compassion and forgiveness. Look inside yourself and don't be attached to how others behave. Truly realizing this is the manifestation of the realm to which we have cultivated. When practitioners can merge together as a whole, the evil will not exist. Let us catch up with Master's Fa-rectification, and do well "the three things": read the book, explain the facts and send righteous thoughts. Let us personify the role of Dafa particles and be responsible for all living beings.
August 25, 2003
