(Clearwisdom.net) Greetings compassionate, great Master! Greetings fellow practitioners!
I began Dafa study in February 1999. I used to be introverted and was not good at speaking. I was also timid and always blushed when speaking with others.
When I first read Zhuan Falun and saw Master's photo in the book, it felt familiar and seemed I had seen him somewhere, but I couldn't remember where I had seen him. While reading the book, I felt I had experienced what Master spoke of in the book. The topics were familiar to me but I didn't know how. I felt the book was great. When I read Master's lectures given in different places, I felt I was reading mythical stories but didn't know it was cultivation.
Then the persecution started on July 20, 1999. Many local practitioners went to Beijing to appeal for justice for Dafa. I didn't understand them at that time and no one discussed this with me either. I eventually heard that the practitioners were arrested in Beijing and were sent back. I was still numb and didn't have any particular reaction to this. TV and newspapers kept spreading rumors as if the sky was blotted out. Like a lost child, I was in the dark and didn't know what to do. Soon I was taken away from home in the middle of the night. The arrest created a difficult to clean stain on my cultivation path. However, Master didn't give up on me. With the help of fellow practitioners, on July 20, 2002 I resumed Dafa cultivation. I hereby thank those practitioners who helped me.
When I read Zhuan Falun again after missing three years of cultivation, every word in the book was waking me up. I read and cried; read again and cried again. I finally understood what cultivation means. Practitioners later on sent me all of Master's lectures since July 20, 1999. I anxiously studied them. My husband tried very hard to stop me. He did not want me to read during the daytime, so I would read at night. He interfered with me again at night. I would get up in the middle of the night and climb under the bed to read by flashlight. Other practitioners gave me the truth of the Tiananmen Square Self-immolation incident CD. I realized I had been deceived by the evil Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The magnificent feats that practitioners had accomplished also deeply moved me and made me cry.
Whenever I met acquaintances, I would then tell them the truth of the Tiananmen Square Self-immolation and I told them Falun Dafa is good. I spoke with an air of indignation back then. Many people understood that the Tiananmen Square Self-immolation incident was staged. I didn't have truth-clarifying materials at that time, so I hand-wrote messages to paste up. Although the characters I had written didn't look that good, I knew I must expose the evil persecution and tell people, "Falun Dafa is good." I remember the first time I was out posting messages. I carried a bucket of paste and walked into a lane. Suddenly, a motorcycle light shone from the lane entry. I was so scared that I ran away and left the brush, bucket and paper behind. I felt my legs trembling and my heart beating furiously. The motorcycle drove on. I gradually calmed down and returned to paste the flyers.
During a 2002 winter evening I was going to paste a flyer near a village office gate. Just when I was going to put it on the wall after brushing on the paste, a man hurriedly walked toward me and stopped behind me. Both of my hands were unfolding the flier upward along the wall. However the paste was frozen and unable to make the flier stick. I knew that man was watching me and I felt a little panic. I slowly folded the flier and turned around to give him a calm glance. The man just looked around and didn't ask anything. I decided if he asked, I would tell him it's Falun Gong's flier and I would clarify the truth to him. "Nothing to fear! Master is with me." I carried my bucket and walked away. Seeing I had left, the man left too. After he had gone far, I returned and pasted the flier on the gate. My fear gradually became less and less.
Last year when the initial campaign to advise people to withdraw from the CCP and its related organizations had started, I felt difficulties for a while. On one occasion I spoke of withdrawing from the CCP to one of my neighbors who had already read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and The Real Story of Jiang Zemin. This neighbor had been a member of the CCP for over 30 years. I said to him, "You should withdraw from the CCP quickly. The CCP is too corrupt and will soon be eliminated." He said, "I agree with you that the CCP is corrupt. I know no one can solve the problem. However, in this society, if you do not want to compete and become corrupt, you will have no place to go. You Falun Gong are getting involved in politics. You scold the CCP, Jiang Zemin and Mao Zedong. I have lived a long time and have been a Party member for longer than you've been alive. I have experienced much more than you. Merely based on your knowledge, how can you convince me? Sooner or later society will eliminate you. Face reality!" I felt profoundly sad hearing his words. I thought I would not talk to him again and I disliked him. I had not yet been clarifying the truth for very long back then and was afraid to meet a person like him again. Later I studied the Fa at home for nearly 20 days and read the Nine Commentaries several times and had a better grasp of the evil CCP. At the same time, I felt a Dafa practitioner's urgency and responsibility. I knew I must face my attachment of fear. I am Master's disciple. What was there for me to fear?
That day I studied several of Master's articles, "Dafa Disciples' Righteous Thoughts are Powerful" (April 24, 2001), "The Disciples' Magnificence" (May 19, 2001), "Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples" (August 16, 2001). I felt immediately enriched by a formidable, indestructible strength and had firm righteous thoughts. I knew Master was strengthening me. My fear left. I immediately took truth-clarifying materials and calmly and peacefully went to a village with two other practitioners.
There were many people in the streets. We introduced ourselves as Falun Gong practitioners and told them we came to tell them the truth. A few men started to verbally attack us. Some people were affected by them and didn't want to listen to us as well. They looked at us with hostility. One person said, "I do not believe in anything except money. Nothing can be done without money. If your Falun Gong is good, will you give me money? The CCP helped to build a bridge, paved the road, gives us tax exemptions, and helps childless old people. What has your Falun Gong given us?" Several people started to say speak up for the CCP.
Right then I heard the fellow practitioners sending forth righteous thoughts. They almost spoke out the verse. I calmed down and stepped forward. I raised my voice and told them two stories, "Red Eyed Stone Lion" and "Selling Earth." Then I recited two of Master's articles, "Wealth with Virtue" and "An Upright Person" (Essentials for Further Advancement). After reciting, I started to tell them that we were good people, cultivating according to Buddha law. I described the wonders of Dafa and the wide dissemination of Dafa around the world. I gave the examples that Dafa helped people gain good health and improve their virtue. I felt noble while speaking. I forgot where I was and I felt I was speaking in another dimension, a wide-open field without any people in front of me. At that moment, I felt my body become gigantic and huge. My brain was filled with the Fa and my mind was full of compassion. The wisdom was just pouring out of my mouth.
Then I saw that most of people had started to smile. Practitioner A took over and told of some persecution incidents--practitioners who cultivate Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance had suffered from brutal persecutions. Practitioner B kept sending righteous thoughts. Then it was my turn again. I started to talk about the CCP, how corrupt it is, how many people were persecuted and have died during its many political movements, how good people suffered and bad people ran rampant. I was in peace and harmony as I spoke. They listened to me quietly. An old man kept nodding his head in agreement with me. But the two men who were against us at the beginning still made sarcastic comments. A woman told them, "I am tired of you two. Just go away!" The two men did not have an effect on most of the others and surrounding people understood Dafa was good. We started to distribute the materials and advised people to withdraw from the CCP and its associated organizations. One person who had squatted down and had listened to us all along said, "I think Falun Gong is better than the CCP, no matter from which aspect. Falun Gong is quite good." The two men who had initially accosted us had become silent by then.
Then I recited Master's article, "Enlightenment" (Essentials for Further Advancement). One person behind me asked loudly, with admiration, "Ah, you are good. What is your educational background?" I said, "Just now I recited my Master's article. I just have an elementary school education." He didn't believe me and insisted I must be a college student. He could not understand how the boundless Dafa manifested in me. People's kindness came out. Some said, "You are working so hard, it must not be easy for you." We said, "As long as you all understand the truth and will be safe when any disasters happen, we will be very happy."
The atmosphere then became harmonious. Later a fellow practitioner said to me, "You are good at clarifying the truth to a big crowd. You may stay here and continue. We'll go to visit people door to door." Local people continuously came out of their homes to join us, to see what was going on. I talked to each of them. Many people decided to quit the CCP and its related organizations, using their real names. I wrote down their names. They didn't seem to be afraid of anything and looked friendly.
One of them brought me a mat and asked me to take a break and sit down. Seeing their kind behavior after learning the truth, my heart was filled with great compassion. Because I had to speak loudly at a high pitch when clarifying the truth, my throat felt thirsty and tired. I told them many stories, which taught people that doing good deeds is met with good rewards and being evil is met with due retribution.
As I was telling stories, a little girl ran toward me carrying a watermelon. "This is from our family crop. Please have some. My dad said you spent so much effort and didn't have a chance to have lunch. Also you've been talking so much and it hurt your throat; please have some watermelon immediately."
I was deeply moved. I held her in my arms and replied, "Thank all your family. Please be sure to remember 'Falun Dafa is Good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good!' I cannot take your watermelon for free. I'll give you ten yuan." The little girl continuously shook her head and asked me to take it. She almost cried when I insisted on paying her. I finally accepted the watermelon.
The little girl left the watermelon with me and quickly ran away. My eyes followed her, to see where she was headed. I found that it was her father who had said, "Falun Dafa is Good!" He was smiling at me and looked humble and pure. My eyes became wet. I knew it was their knowing side that was expressing gratitude, and it was Master who was encouraging me.
People become warm-hearted after they learn the truth. I felt extremely sorrowful for those who are still deceived by the CCP. There are so many kindhearted people out there, waiting for Dafa practitioners to rescue them. They are still in danger; not because they are unkind, but because they are hoodwinked by the lies and slander. We Dafa practitioners must endeavor our best to sow the seeds of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" in their hearts in order to offer them salvation.
I sat down on the mat and shared several cultivation stories with them. They showed great interest in these stories and didn't even want to go back home. One of them said to me anxiously, "Falun Gong is indeed great. I also want to learn. Can we find someone to learn from? Can you show us the exercises?" I replied, "I can demonstrate one set of exercise if you wish to learn." They were exceedingly happy!
I demonstrated the fifth exercise very earnestly. Several people immediately sat down on the ground to learn to cross their legs. Their faces were radiant with joy. Being unable to cross their legs in the double lotus position, they were anxious. Others were amused and laughed.
The two fellow practitioners had by then finished talking to local people door to door, and left early. Someone told a woman who was unkind to us earlier, "Hurry up to get an amulet from them! You won't have a chance to get one after they leave. See, now that all of us have one; you are the only one without an amulet." That woman said, "I would feel embarrassed if I asked for an amulet from them. I spoke so many unkind words. I don't think she will give me one." I held her hand and said to her, "As long as you keep in mind 'Falun Dafa is Good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good!' I will give you an amulet. Please, be sure to cherish it." The whole crowd was laughing and the woman also smiled.
I wished everyone good luck and said good-bye. I then caught up with the two other fellow practitioners. As I looked back, all of them were standing there, seeing me off and waving to me. Some of them said, "Come again next time!"
Another experience last winter made a deep impression on me. One day, several practitioners and I went to the entrance of a high school to clarify the truth and persuade people to quit the CCP. An elderly person kept staring at me. I approached him and asked, "Are you a CCP member?" He replied bluntly, "What's wrong with being a CCP member?" I told him, "Please keep in mind, 'Falun Dafa is Good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good!'" Before I was able to finish talking, he grabbed my neck with one hand and hit me on the nose with his other hand. He glared at me and said, "How dare you publicize Falun Gong in broad daylight! I think you want to go to prison. Be careful. I may report you to the police!" As he was speaking, he pushed me back harshly while still choking me.
I said, "It is not wrong for me to ask you to keep in mind 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good!' I didn't ask you to commit murder or arson. Don't get so angry! Don't choke me, and I'll explain things to you."
Many people had gathered around us. Another elderly person who had learned the truth came up to me and told me, "Do not talk to him if he doesn't want to listen. Just go home." He dragged me away from that old man and said "Go home! If you continue to argue with him here, more people will gather around you. I suggest you go home quickly." Several fellow practitioners also came up. I asked them whether they had sent forth righteous thought for me. They replied that they forgot to do so. They also agreed that we should leave immediately. The old man who had grabbed my neck was cursing me harshly when I looked back. When we had an exchange of experiences afterwards, a practitioner said, "That old man is the guard for that school. He often chased practitioners who posted posters and tore down all the truth-clarification posters around the school."
Before long, I heard that the school had fired the old man. He went home to grow crops. A few days ago I ran into him again at the farmers' market. He probably has some sort of predestined relationship. He pretended that he didn't know me. I went to buy vegetables from him. When I gave him money, I asked, "Do you still remember me?" He gave me an embarrassed smile. I replied with a smile, "Do not grab my neck again." Two other nearby grocery vendors were amused, hearing our conversation. They came up and asked, "Did he ever curse you before? How come you still buy groceries from him? Don't buy from him if he has cursed you."
I told them in a happy mood, "He got angry when I told him that Falun Dafa is good and grabbed my neck." The old man lowered his head and smiled with embarrassment. I told him sincerely, "If any Falun Gong practitioners wants to give you something to read, do not treat them the way you used to treat me. We are good people who follow 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.' Be sure to keep in mind that Falun Dafa is good. What is shown on TV, such as the 'Tiananmen Square self-immolation' incident and murders [supposedly committed by Falun Gong practitioners] are all frame-ups." He listened silently.
Someone else came to buy groceries from him. I had to leave. Several days later I went to buy vegetables from him again and tried to persuade him to quit the CCP. He agreed to quit the CCP and thus made a good decision for a bright future.
In fact, the process of clarifying the truth and persuading people to quit the CCP is a process of tempering ourselves and purifying ourselves. We encounter all kinds of people, and we must interact with them in a calm and dignified manner. We must remain unperturbed and be compassionate; only then can we do well in truth clarification.
For more than one year we've been persuading people to quit the CCP and have encountered all kinds of people. Some cursed us; some wanted to report us to the police; some wanted to drag us to the local government to argue with us; some of them defamed Master; some of them drove us off. Of course, the majority of people learned the truth and said, "Falun Dafa is good," from the bottom of their hearts. Some of them asked us to stay for lunch or dinner; some shook our hands to thank us; some supported us with the thumbs-up sign. No matter what kind of person we encounter, we must have the unshakable, righteous wish to rescue sentient beings, a great wish that radiates in all directions. When our body is radiating with compassionate energy, the evil is bound to be afraid. With no evil to control people, it is very natural for them to accept the truth.
During the past several years of cultivation I also experienced complacency and the tendency to show off when I succeeded in persuading other people to quit the CCP. Sometimes when other practitioners were doing very well I was jealous. These attachments are deeply rooted. Sometimes I paid special attention to not displaying the show-off mentality or jealousy; however, these habits were developed deep in my heart. As I become more mature in cultivation, I try to suppress them whenever they surface and maintain a serene and pure mind in dealing with everything. When other practitioners are diligent in cultivation, I feel happy for them from the bottom of my heart. When I run into conflicts with practitioners, I learn to search inside myself. If I do anything wrong or have the wrong mindset, I apologize to fellow practitioners. When I expose these attachments, that is, the root of conflicts, I feel my whole world becomes brighter and greater; at the same time, my body feels light in this physical dimension. My heart also becomes much more tolerant.
Fellow practitioners, let us correct every single thought at all times. As soon as we find any strong attachment we must eliminate it; otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to get rid of any of them as time passes by. Let's purify ourselves in Dafa cultivation. We will be able to walk more steadily on our cultivation path. In Zhuan Falun, Master taught the analogy of emptying a dirty bottle. We should move forward diligently together and help Master with Fa-rectification in this human realm, to rescue sentient beings and to do well in our cultivation. We look forward to embracing the attachment-free day and omission-free day when the Fa rectifies the human world. We look forward to reaching consummation and returning home with Master with all our sentient beings.
