(Minghui.org)
Greetings, Revered Master! Greetings, Fellow Cultivators!
I would like to talk about my experiences clarifying the facts at tourist sites over the years.
I emigrated from China in 2006. The first time I went to a tourist site in Thailand to clarify the facts, I felt that the opportunity was especially precious. I felt lucky to be free to help mainland Chinese people learn the facts about Dafa.
Since we had little money, my elder sister and I could not both go out to do this work every day. But each time I went out, I could feel Master’s support. Even on extremely hot days, I felt surrounded by a great energy. I was not bothered by Thailand’s scorching heat.
When prices went up, my sister and I moved out of town. To save money, I told her that I would do truth clarification online, and she could go to the tourist sites. One night I had a vivid dream: One of my elementary school classmates told me that if she had not left China, she never would have heard the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong.
I understood that Master was telling me that Chinese people are traveling abroad to hear the truth, so I resumed going to tourist sites. For a while, free public transportation was available, and I was able to go to tourist sites every day. I realized that Master created this opportunity for us.
After I emigrated to Finland, I continued to clarify the truth at tourist sites, and I also joined the practitioners' media. Because I was so busy during the summer, I was only able to go to tourist sites a few times. Then last May, I began having problems with my computer and the Internet, and I was not able to clarify the truth through the media. I started looking inward, trying to find my oversight. I felt that I needed to clarify the truth at tourist sites, since there are a lot of predestined people there waiting to hear the truth.
Broadcasting the Truth
A Western practitioner told me about a tourist attraction that all Chinese people visit. My sister and I went there and saw that it was very nice, and because it was a park, we could also demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises. So we both began going there every day to do the exercises, distribute informational materials, and encourage Chinese people to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations.
We put up a banner about the forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners, and after reading the information, many tourists signed a petition calling for an end to the atrocity.
We were later joined by Western practitioners and Chinese practitioners. Since the Western practitioners could not speak Chinese, they did the exercises, which showed the Chinese tourists that Westerners also practice Falun Gong. Many tourists eagerly took the truth-clarification newspapers. When there are more people doing the exercises, the energy field is very strong, and both Chinese and Western visitors were amazed.
Over time, we discovered something special about this location: In the mornings several Chinese tourists would come, and every hour, four to five tour groups would show up. At peak times, there would be 20 buses, but they stayed for only a short time. Since there was not enough time for us to distribute newspapers and encourage Chinese people to quit the CCP, we started using loudspeakers to broadcast our message.
Many Chinese tourists were told by their tour guides that it was dangerous to take the newspapers, that we were all being paid, and other such lies. By broadcasting the truth, we had better results. After listening to the broadcasts, many would come and take the papers. Many forgot about taking pictures and just stood around listening. Some were still afraid, but they stood close to us, pretending to take pictures. However, we knew they were intently listening.
Truly Cultivating Myself
Playing the broadcasts and letting people know the truth went well. It was also an opportunity to cultivate myself.
Europeans like peace and quiet. When we first began playing the broadcasts, it was very difficult for people who did not speak Chinese to accept it. I suddenly began experiencing a lot of conflicts. I kept reminding myself to do the right thing. Every time a conflict arose, I asked myself: Did I do anything wrong? Where can I improve? Was the speaker too loud?
Sometimes people who did not know about the persecution yelled at me, and I got depressed. The next day, I would drag myself to the tourist site and play the broadcasts again. Things improved, and tourists listened and came to get our materials. Some of them wanted to talk and asked a lot of questions that I answered. I understood this was Master’s way of encouraging me to do better.
One day a Chinese person cursed me out when I talked to him about the persecution. The following day, I did not have strong righteous thoughts when I played the broadcasts. Suddenly, a mainland practitioner came over to me. She was very emotional, hugged me, and said, “At last, I've found you!”
She gave me paper currency bill with a message about Falun Gong printed on it, which mainland practitioners do to clarify the truth. I still have this precious bill. I felt Master saw that I was struggling to clarify the truth and arranged to have her come and encourage me to carry on the task of saving sentient beings. Through this, I was able to see my attachment of fear—my fear that people would not understand the playing of truth-clarification broadcasts.
Based on past experiences, I understood how to properly use the broadcast speakers: selecting the proper location, how to avoid Western tourists and their guides, when to turn the volume up or down, how to adjust it during windy weather, and more. Now when I arrive with a fellow practitioner in the morning, the first thing we do is test the audio.
I adjust the content of the broadcast and I cooperate with other practitioners to produce better broadcasts. Later, practitioners suggested we use Minghui Radio to produce tourist site truth-clarification recordings. I also submitted some of our recordings to Minghui, to help practitioners worldwide. Some practitioners sent very good recordings to the European truth-clarification platform for me to download. I truly feel that Dafa practitioners are one body.
Eventually the environment changed. When the tour guides understood that we were only playing the broadcasts for Chinese people, they no longer had an issue. A local resident initially had negative feelings in regards to the truth-clarification recordings. After practitioners explained the situation to him, he began saying hello to me on his daily stroll in the park.
One tour guide had lived in Finland for many years. He was not negative towards Dafa, but he disliked our using speakers. One morning when it was pouring rain, he brought a group to the park. There were a lot of Chinese tourists that day, more than 20 busloads. Since there were no tour groups from other countries, I put the speaker on very loud. As soon as he heard the broadcast, this tour guide turned around and stared at me in amazement. He said, “I thought that given the heavy rain and how early it was, you would not be here today!” As he left, he said, “Wind or rain, you persevere!” I said, “I know you do your job despite wind or rain, so I need to persevere despite wind and rain, too!”
From then on, he no longer objected to our playing the recordings, and when we have a new broadcast, he listens intently.
Improving in Every Respect
While broadcasting the truth-clarification recordings, the most profound understanding I have come to is the importance of maintaining a good cultivation state. When my state is good, the tourists come and listen carefully. I try to cultivate well every day, and try to do all 5 exercises each morning.
Because I also do media work, I had gotten into the habit of sleeping late and getting up late. I was able to start going to sleep early and waking up early. At first, I had trouble even getting up at 5 a.m.; now, I am able to start my morning exercises at 4:15 a.m. Of course, there are times when I cannot keep it up. However, after morning exercises, I feel much more confident when I go out to clarify the truth. I study the Fa after I return home.
The biggest interference I encountered after I began practicing in 1997 has been my own thought karma. It distracts me when I study the Fa or do the exercises. Every day, I have to find ways to remain focused when I study the Fa.
I try to memorize the Fa, which is slow but very rewarding. Even just reciting a short section, or just one poem from Hong Yin, quickly stops my thoughts from wandering. Studying the Fa while my mind wanders is really painful, and many attachments surface. When I am having a conflict with a fellow practitioner, it is difficult to look within.
Earlier this year, a Western practitioner and I had differing opinions. She was convinced that playing the broadcast to Chinese people was forcing things onto them, and she also felt the volume was too loud. When I played the recordings, and many Chinese tourists were listening, this practitioner forced me to stay in one place and turn the volume down so low that I was the only one able to hear it.
I could not maintain my xinxing, and I felt that, after going through so much and finally rectifying the environment, a fellow practitioner was causing interference. I was suddenly filled with complaints and sorrow. Afterward, I called another coordinator and talked about my hurt feelings.
The next time I went there, I held a thought: "If you feel that I am too loud, then I will go somewhere else; I won’t let you see me, and you will not hear me broadcasting." But my xinxing problem remained unresolved. Some other Westerners also thought it was not considerate, even thinking that we should not be using speakers to clarify the truth.
I got even angrier and did not want to look within. Without looking within, there could be no resolution, and the more I thought about it, the more I felt it was the others who were wrong. I felt very tired and depressed. Then it occurred to me: "It cannot be like this—I am supposed to cultivate myself."
During our Friday group Fa-study, I sat in the hot room, feeling suffocated. I got up and walked outside. I started studying “Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles.”
Master said:
“When Dafa disciples make mistakes, they do not like to be criticized. No one can criticize them, and when someone does, it sets them off. When they are right, they don't like others bringing up things they could improve on; when they are wrong, they don't want to be criticized. They get upset as soon as others criticize. The problem is becoming pretty bad.”
Master also said:
“Cultivation is about looking inside yourself. Whether you are right or wrong, you should examine yourself. Cultivation is about getting rid of human attachments. If you always reject reproaches and criticism, always point your fingers at others, and always refute others' disapproval and criticism, is that cultivating? How is that cultivating? You have grown used to focusing on other people's shortcomings, and never take examining your own self seriously. When others' cultivation one day meets with success, what about you? Isn't Master hoping that you are cultivating well? Why won't you accept criticism, and why do you keep focusing on other people? Why not cultivate inward and examine your own self? Why do you get agitated when you are criticized? How many of you seated here can keep at ease when someone points at you out of the blue and berates you? How many of you can stay unruffled and search for the reason on your part when faced with others' criticism and chiding?” (“Teaching the Fa in the City of Los Angeles”)
As soon as I read this, my heart became calm. It was the same old issue for me: On the surface I act pleasantly; in reality I am very concerned about other people’s opinions. My attachment to fame keeps flaring up, yet I feel that I have given all I have in truth clarification.
I am now more experienced, and the environment has become better. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm has waned, and I have become egotistical; plus, the quality of my Fa-study has recently decreased. All these problems came together, allowing the evil elements to step in. When I identified my issues, I felt embarrassed.
I continued going to the tourist site to clarify the truth. On Saturday, when everyone was clarifying the truth as a group, the energy field was different. As soon as I arrived, a mainland Chinese tourist came over and asked to learn the exercises. She asked for a copy of Zhuan Falun, and she wanted the book teaching the exercises or a CD. That day, a lot of tourists came to take the truth-clarification papers. A Swedish practitioner started to clarify the truth to Chinese tourists. Since the Chinese person did not speak English very well, the practitioner pulled me over to talk. I only said a few sentences, and he agreed to quit the CCP.
About a week later, I encountered the same test. One practitioner said I should not carry the speakers or follow the tourists, that I should leave the speaker in one place. This time I was relatively calm, but I still said that I alone could not keep up with so many tour groups, so, occasionally, I would need to follow them.
Before I could finish explaining, another tour group arrived. When I went over to use the speakers, someone screamed at me and said many disrespectful things about Dafa. I did not feel sad. I just thought about where I went wrong and kept sentient beings from being saved. After I returned home that day, I talked with another practitioner, and she said that that day she also had a bad mindset—she could not accept another practitioner's method of clarifying the truth.
I also said that, after seeing the way other practitioners were clarifying the truth, I had concerns. I understood that day that everyone kept having negative thoughts about each other, which made the energy field strained. If this continued, it would be hard to save anyone.
I decided to stop stressing my way of doing things. Instead, the other practitioner and I talked about the best place to put the speaker, to see what the results would be. Every day, the practitioner comes to the park before going to work, and we play the recording for an hour-and-a-half—it is quite effective. Some people linger nearby, and some even sit on chairs near the speaker to listen. One person even searched out a practitioner to quit the CCP.
After she heard that some tour guides did not understand why we were using speakers, a practitioner wrote something in Chinese, explaining that it was to tell Chinese tourists about the persecution. She found practitioners from different countries who translated her short explanation into seven different languages. She posted them on display boards and placed them at the site. They were very effective, and some Western tourists even took photos of the board.
This again helped me to realize the beauty of letting go of myself and harmonizing as one body. I came to understand that, when we validate the Fa, Master requires us to be mighty Gods; when we clarify the truth as a group, Master want us to form an indestructible whole. Our coordination allows our supernormal powers to be greater.
These two personal experiences allowed me to see what Master taught: No matter what problems we encounter, we must study the Fa more. The solution is to look within, to find our problems, and be able to cultivate ourselves well.
This is the only way to be more effective and save more sentient beings.
I still have many more shortcomings that I need to correct on the path to saving sentient beings. I thank Master for allowing me this opportunity to save sentient beings, and I will cherish this even more!
Please compassionately point out any mistakes.
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!
(Presented at the 2015 New York Falun Dafa Cultivation Experience Sharing Conference)
