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Raising Awareness During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Aug. 10, 2020 |   By a Falun Gong practitioner in Canada

(Minghui.org) I have been going out to clarify the truth almost every day since August 2015, even during the coronavirus pandemic. As the Wuhan coronavirus spread, many countries issued stay-at-home orders. The following is my experience of face-to-face truth clarification during the pandemic. 

At the Beginning of the Pandemic

The coronavirus outbreak was still an epidemic in China at the end of January. It had not spread to other countries much yet. The Chinese consulate and Asian supermarkets in my city remained open, but the number of people going outdoors had gradually reduced. 

Some fellow practitioners said that nearly a thousand Chinese people were entering Canada every day. I enlightened that these were the predestined people to be saved during the pandemic. 

Master taught us, 

“You are not here to change history, but rather, to save people at this most dangerous time in history,” (“Stay Rational”) 

I went to the Chinese consulate and supermarkets to clarify the truth as usual. Though there were few people, I met with some predestined people. 

I once went to a supermarket and saw there were very few people inside. I thought I would walk around. I met a person within a few steps. Within a short time, I had advised more than 10 people to renounce their memberships in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. I knew this was Master Li’s arrangement for the people to be saved. 

I once went to the Chinese consulate, and many people were lined up outside. The consulate only allowed a limited number of people to enter due to the pandemic. I thought this was a great opportunity to talk to people. 

A fellow practitioner and I worked together to clarify the truth to the people in line, one after another. The effect was good. More than 10 people renounced the CCP in a short time. 

As the spread of the virus escalated, lockdown measures increased. The Chinese consulate closed at the beginning in April, and Chinese supermarkets gradually did too. The places for truth clarification became fewer.

Master said, 

“But however hard it was, there was still a path for you to walk. It was just a question of whether you sought it out.” (“20th Anniversary Fa Teaching” in Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XI)

Increasing Stay-at-Home Orders 

With the escalation of the pandemic, government orders increased to implement the stay-at-home policy. Supermarkets started to limit the number of people allowed inside. There are more than 20 Chinese supermarkets in our city; it is one of the cities outside of Asia with many Chinese supermarkets. I enlightened that this was advantageous for our activities to raise awareness. 

Because supermarkets had to limit the number of people inside, many people were lined up outside. It was a good opportunity for truth clarification. 

I cooperated with other practitioners and we placed a cart with poster boards near the line. People waiting to enter the supermarket would see the posters. Many people took photos. Some people read the words on the boards, “The pandemic is vicious. There is a great way to avoid it. Do not worry facing the plague but remember that 'Falun Dafa is good, truthfulness-compassion-forbearance is good,' and withdraw from the CCP for a safe future.” 

Master said, 

“All things are material. When you have heard something, it has been infused into you, and it enters your body. When you have seen something, it has entered.” (“Fa Teaching on World Falun Dafa Day”)

The more people see the truth, the less misled they will be by the CCP’s lies, and the better chance they will have to be saved. 

I clarified the truth to people when they were waiting to enter the store. I thought I should speak briefly as most people did not like to talk during the pandemic. 

“Hi, I will ask you a question. Did you join the Communist Young Pioneers when you were young?” I would ask people. When they answered, I would tell them the consequences of their pledge to devote their life to the Party and the reason they should remove that pledge and ensure a safe future. If they agreed, I would ask their name or offer an alias to quit the Party and its affiliated organizations. Most people agreed to quit the Party on the spot. 

I would tell them what Falun Gong is after they had agreed to quit the Party. People could generally accept this information. Many people know about Falun Gong from our continuous truth-clarification throughout the years. 

Many people know the reality of the CCP's staged Tiananmen self-immolation incident in 2001. They would thus agree to quit the Party after speaking with us briefly. If they did not know the truth, I would talk with them about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong and its instigation of hatred toward practitioners. I would also tell them the CCP conducts state-sanctioned organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. The CCP commits enormous crimes. Heaven will disintegrate it. Withdrawal from the Party avoids implication for a safe future. Hearing this explanation, many people would quit the Party. 

If some people still did not want to quit, I would not try to persuade them any further. I would tell them directly to remember “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” I told them to stay away from the CCP to avoid the plague. 

Easing Restrictions 

The number of coronavirus cases had reduced by the beginning of May. Two sites where we raise awareness reopened. I was asked to take care of the site in Chinatown. I enlightened that this was Master’s arrangement for me. 

I recalled the first time I was at the site in 2009, when I had just come to Canada as a student. I was less than 20 years old at the time and introverted. I did not dare to talk to people at the site. I joined another project within a year. 

Eleven years have passed. I have joined the site again. I now go there two days a week to raise awareness. Many people come to me and seem to wish to be saved. 

I met with a mother and her son in Chinatown at the beginning of June. I greeted them and asked them if they had come from China and if they knew about withdrawing from the CCP. The son said they were in a hurry for business. The mother paused and then told her son to listen to me. 

I learned from our conversation that the mother already knew the truth about Falun Gong and had been outside China for many years. She had already quit the Party and its affiliated organizations. I asked her son if he had joined any Party organizations. 

The mother said he had joined the Communist Young Pioneers. I then helped him quit the Young Pioneers and told them both to remember “Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” to have a safe future. They happily accepted my suggestion. The mother commended Falun Gong practitioners for their many years of effort. 

Truth-clarification also helps me find my own attachments. Through studying the Fa and clarifying the truth, I have become more compassionate with stronger righteous thoughts and less selfishness. More and more people listen to me. 

Conclusion

During the more than four months of the pandemic, I felt many people were eager to be saved. As Dafa practitioners during the Fa-rectification, we have a big responsibility. Sentient beings lost in the maze are waiting for Dafa practitioners to awaken them. 

At the final moment, time passes quickly and will not repeat. Truth-clarification materials have been distributed for many years. Many people know about Falun Gong and the persecution, but they don’t know how to quit the Party or understand the meaning of withdrawing from it. This requires practitioners' continuous efforts to raise awareness. I wish more young practitioners could join these efforts. 

Master said, 

“Those who have spent many years outside the Chinese consulates and embassies and at our sites for raising awareness are truly amazing! Some of them are older practitioners, and so some others have remarked that these older practitioners are “well suited” to those activities. Well, then let’s ask those who are saying this: it’s great that you’re young, but what have you been doing? For all Dafa disciples it’s a matter of what you do with yourself.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2019 New York Fa Conference”)

Let’s accomplish Master’s wishes, save more sentient beings and fulfill our prehistoric vows.