(Minghui.org) When I was in the second year of my Master’s program at the University of Tokyo, I explained to several classmates and postdoctoral fellows in my office about Falun Dafa. I told them about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution and asked them to sign the petition to bring the former CCP leader, Jiang Zemin, to justice. All but one classmate signed the petition.
I felt he did not really understand the issue at hand. He said he did not want to sign anything because he did not care about politics, even though I stressed it was about human rights and it would not have a negative impact on him.
I looked inward. He was busy preparing his thesis for the Master’s program and was under a lot of pressure. Perhaps out of courtesy, he said yes when I asked him if he had time. I realized I’d been hasty and was not considerate. Although I sent forth righteous thoughts, I might have taken it as a formality and did not do it well. I decided to speak with him again later.
The classmate graduated with a master’s degree a few months later and went on to pursue his Ph.D. in that department. I didn’t have any negative thoughts about him and gave him a graduation gift.
I started to pursue my Ph.D. as well and got busy. I didn’t intentionally look for an opportunity to clarify the facts to him again. It wasn’t until about two years later, just as International Human Rights Day was approaching, that our paths crossed again.
A seminar about organ harvesting would be held in Tokyo, and another practitioner asked me to hand out fliers near the venue a few days in advance. It was a weekday and I was busy with research in my second year of doctoral studies, but I went, knowing its importance. I met another practitioner who was already handing out fliers near the venue.
Moments later, a police officer on patrol came by and asked if I had a permit. I thought the other practitioner had it, but he said no application had been filed. The officer said we were not allowed to hand out fliers at this particular place. I panicked and asked the other practitioner what to do. He said we should move to another place where a permit was not required.
We took a tram to another location. On the tram, I thought about calling the practitioner who’d asked me to help and complain that he didn’t tell me we had no permit. I was frustrated by the fact that a police officer talked to me, I had to pay for the tram, and I was wasting time instead of doing research in my office.
However, I realized I shouldn’t be resentful as my purpose that day was to hand out information, and all I needed to do was to use the day effectively. There was a lot of foot traffic at the new location, and we quickly handed out many fliers.
I thought I’d passed the xinxing test.
I headed back to the university to get my things for the large group Fa study that evening. When I entered the office, I saw my belongings were scattered on my desk although they were neatly arranged before I left. What happened?
A postdoc in the office told me that, while I was out, people needed to move something, and to make room in the aisle, someone moved the whiteboard in front of my desk and accidentally knocked my laptop and monitor on the floor. That “someone” was the classmate who did not sign my petition. The postdoc said the classmate hand-wrote a letter of apology and put it on my desk before he left.
The first thing I thought of was Master’s Fa:
“This is because when a conflict occurs, it will take place unexpectedly. But that is not a coincidence—it is for improving your xinxing. As long as you treat yourself as a practitioner, you can handle it properly.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun)
I knew that this was a greater xinxing test. The laptop had all my research data and the computer programs I’d written over the years. I took a deep breath, kept my composure, and told the postdoc not to worry.
The metal case of the laptop and monitor did not look damaged, so I asked again if they had fallen on the floor. The postdoc said they had. I steadied my heart and told myself that everything was going to be okay. I checked the laptop first because it was the school’s property. I turned it on and was relieved that everything was fine.
I pulled out the chair and found two books had fallen into it, and to my surprise, my single-lens reflex camera had fallen on the floor and landed on the viewfinder. The camera was a relatively sophisticated piece and the lens was fragile. I turned it on, and it was okay, too. I felt quite relieved and left for the Fa study in peace.
I went back to school after the group study. It was rather late at night. The classmate was in the office and apologized as soon as he saw me. The fact that he hand-wrote a letter to apologize instead of sending me an email showed his sincerity. I smiled and said repeatedly it was fine, not to worry. He breathed a sigh of relief.
It occurred to me that I should clarify the facts about Falun Dafa and the persecution to him again, but on second thought, I wondered, “Is this really a good idea? Even if he signs my petition now, would he do it because he understood the truth or out of guilt?” I decided to wait a little longer.
I felt my xinxing improved quite a bit after this incident. My computer had fallen on the floor, reminding me that I hadn’t backed up my research materials and computer programs for a long time.
The two books were signed copies, which I had intended to keep for my collection. But both books had damaged corners from the fall and their value was greatly diminished. This helped me let go of the attachment to collecting. I donated them to a public reading area at school.
If I had known in advance that we did not have the permit, I probably would not have gone to hand out the materials. I would not have taken up my research time. I would not have been talked to by the police. I would not have spent more time and money on the tram, and the valuables on my desk would not have fallen on the floor.
But I didn’t resent the practitioner who asked me to distribute information. Instead I mentally thanked him because many people understood the truth from the information I distributed. Others witnessed practitioners handling conflicts, and I improved my xinxing.
That classmate passed his doctoral dissertation and was ready to graduate, no longer under any great mental stress. I thought it was good timing, so I clarified the facts to him again. This time, he listened carefully and signed the petition. When he graduated, I gave him a gold-plated Shen Yun bookmark and recommended Shen Yun to him. He seemed appreciative.
I was really happy for him and felt that sometimes truth clarification takes patience, given how long it took to lay the groundwork in his particular case. Thank you, Master, for your intricate arrangements!
Shen Yun performed in Kyoto this year. When I bought my ticket, I found a Shen Yun flier in the envelope in addition to the ticket and map. I thought, “I already have some fliers—isn’t this a waste?” I then realized that practitioners did not know this, and even if they did, they did what they were supposed to do.
There were two Shen Yun shows that day, and I went to the noon show. I was originally planning to do some sightseeing in Kyoto before returning to Tokyo, but I changed my mind at the bus station and decided to send forth righteous thoughts outside the theater. I ended up reading the Fa and sending forth righteous thoughts for an extended period of time that afternoon and into the evening.
I left the theater, took the bus, and arrived at the Shinkansen train station. I was going to get something to eat as soon as I got my train ticket.
I noticed a Western family was buying tickets at the vending machine next to me, so I asked if they needed any help. One of them said no, so I went on to buy my ticket. Halfway through the process, that same person asked me, “Could you please help me buy tickets?” I immediately turned to help them.
It was a family of three, and the wife wanted to buy first-class reserved seats, but the machine was not showing that option, probably because it was too close to the departure time. I suggested she buy non-reserved seats. But she started over and tried to buy reserved seats. During this time, ticket sales for the second to last train were closed, and the husband was getting impatient.
I was a little anxious, but I reminded myself that I had been in tighter situations before and immediately calmed down. The wife said I should buy my own ticket first. I quickly bought my own ticket and then came back to help her.
The wife still could not buy reserved seats, so I once again suggested that she buy non-reserved seats, given that the time window for purchasing tickets for the last train was almost closed. The wife bought unreserved seats and thanked me.
I wanted to clarify the truth to them, but I had to retrieve my bag from a locker on another floor, so I ran and got it. I didn’t have time to eat and ran straight to catch the last train.
I was going to listen to Master’s lecture on the train, but it occurred to me that if I didn’t take the opportunity to clarify the truth to that family, there might not be another chance. I didn’t have any fliers in English, but I looked it up on my phone and found a picture of the English language flier online. I ate something simple and sent righteous thoughts for a few minutes.
I searched three carriages and found the family. The wife was playing with the child and the husband was asleep. I said, “Can I talk to you for a few minutes? I have something very important to share with you.” The wife recognized me and said of course.
I showed her the image of the English language flier on my phone, and she wrote down the words “Falun Dafa flier.” I told her the basic facts about Falun Dafa and the forced organ harvesting in China. The wife and child expressed their support for our efforts. I showed her the END CCP website with the web form she could sign. She wrote down the URL and said she would read it.
The wife and the child were interested in Falun Dafa, so I briefly told them about my cultivation experience and how I benefited physically and mentally and received my doctorate from the most prestigious university in Japan. The wife wanted to learn more about Dafa, so I showed her the Falundafa.org website in English, and she wrote it down.
I learned that they live in London, so I found their local practice site on the Internet. The wife said she would contact the coordinator when she returned. I said, “Please tell your husband what I told you when he wakes up.” She said, “Of course I will.”
She said her husband came to Japan for a musical performance.
I immediately thought of my extra Shen Yun flier and gave it to the wife. I introduced Shen Yun to her and showed them Shen Yun’s performance schedule in London. She and her child were delighted and wanted to see Shen Yun.
Before I left, I told them to remember the most important thing, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”
I was so happy that I’d seized the opportunity to clarify the facts to that family.
Through these experiences, I learned that I need to find the opportunity to clarify the truth and need to be patient. I also learned that I need to cultivate my xinxing, because only when I cultivate myself well can my truth-clarification be effective.