A Recent Experience in Clarifying the Truth

(Minghui.org) The Fa-rectification is progressing and with continual Fa study and diligence in cultivation, my xinxing has been steadily tempered. The manner and mindset I use when clarifying the truth have also improved significantly. As I continue to assimilate to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the effectiveness of my efforts has increased as well. I feel that the way I clarify the truth now is very different from how I did it before. In the past, it seemed like I was just completing a task.

When I spoke to people, my words felt hollow. I always sensed that selfish thoughts were mixed in, but I couldn’t quite pinpoint what was wrong. I was like a little loudspeaker, simply spouting words. If someone agreed to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its youth organizations, I wasn’t truly happy for their salvation. Instead, I would smugly congratulate myself for having helped another person. If the person didn’t agree to quit, I would feel a bit upset or turn around and leave immediately. This state lasted for a long time.

Through studying the Fa, I recalled my shortcomings and discovered the root cause: I didn’t have enough compassion in my heart for sentient beings. I failed to bring out the other person’s kind side. I was just talking boastfully. Neither my tone nor my goodwill met the standard Dafa requires. I looked inward and reflected on myself. I found that my selfishness and fear were at work. Because I was coming from a selfish starting point, the outcome was far from ideal.

When I repeatedly studied and even memorized the Fa, Master Li removed many bad things from my mind, and my righteous thoughts grew stronger. I came to understand what I needed to improve on and where to focus my efforts. While clarifying the truth, whenever my knowledge fell short, I would immediately think of Master, and he would bless me with wisdom. I kept Master’s teachings firmly in mind. With a sincere thought of truly wanting to help the other person, I maintained a steady mindset, a peaceful expression, and spoke genuine, heartfelt words. The results were much better than before.

For example, I once passed a woman selling vegetables at a street stall. She had no customers at the time, so it was a good opportunity to clarify the truth to her. We exchanged greetings, then I got straight to the point and asked, “Have you heard about quitting the CCP to stay safe?”

She responded coldly, “I haven’t joined any of those, and I have no time to listen.” I didn’t let her reaction bother me, recognizing it was coming from someone still caught in delusion.

I kept my xinxing in check and, with a kind demeanor, said: “You see, these days disasters strike one after another. I’m going to tell you a way to stay safe. I’m not asking for money or anything in return. You happened to come across a truly rare opportunity, which shows you have good character. If you miss such a life-saving chance, you’d only be doing yourself a great disservice.

“We ordinary citizens all know how bad the Communist Party is. Even many Party officials say it’s bad. Heaven is going to eliminate it. Since we once joined its organizations, we should take this opportunity to quit them and remember, ‘Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.’ The divine will then protect us from perishing along with the Party.”

She looked up and said, “Sir, now I understand you mean well. I was in the Young Pioneers. Please help me quit!” I helped her withdraw using a pseudonym, and she thanked me.

I bought a few pounds of vegetables from her and, as I left, she cheerfully exclaimed, “Take care! Take care!” I truly came to appreciate the profound meaning of Master’s words, “Cultivation depends on one’s own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one’s master.” (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)

I thought to myself, “Another life has been saved.” This time I did not become excited. Instead, I wondered just how much karma our Master had once again shouldered for the sake of saving this being.

I once clarified the truth to a middle-aged man who was selling grapes. I said, “Young man, let me bring you some good news today. Quit the CCP to stay safe!”

He replied, “I’ve heard about this, but I believe in Jesus and don’t believe in other things.”

“You’re young and have faith, that’s admirable and rare. Jesus is a great God. We both believe in God, so we have common ground. Please listen to what I say and see if it makes sense. The CCP and its affiliated organizations are atheistic and evil. We are believers in God. If you don’t withdraw from these atheist organizations, can you truly be faithful and loyal to your Lord? How can your Lord protect you if you’re still associated with them?” I felt I was being very reasonable and kind. I knew Master was also constantly strengthening my righteous thoughts.

Before I could say more, he broke into a grin and said, “You’re right. I joined the Communist Youth League and Young Pioneers. I’ll quit! Please help me withdraw.” I also told him to remember, “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” He replied, “Okay!” In this way, another precious life had learned the truth about Dafa. I bought a bunch of grapes from him and, by then, other customers had come over to buy grapes as well.

From these experiences I realized that, if our righteous thoughts are strong, our words are kind, and we carry no selfish intent—then the other person’s thoughts will follow along. My approach has become more earnest and steady, and the results have improved a lot. However, when facing people that have learned the truth, I no longer feel the excitement I once did and find myself thinking: “Dafa practitioners in China and abroad are helping people to quit the CCP every single day, which is good. However, our great Master, under the huge tribulations forced upon him by the old forces, has borne immeasurable karma for sentient beings so that they have the chance to be saved. So if we Dafa practitioners do not do well or do not walk our paths righteously, we will likewise make things more difficult for Master.”

In the course of clarifying the truth, Master protects us and continually enriches our wisdom. He benevolently dissolves grievances and settles karmic debts, ends bad predestined relationships and forges good ones, reduces our karma, and increases our mighty virtue. He painstakingly arranges every step for us. By comparison, I have only done a tiny, insignificant bit on the surface.

Master said,

“Saving beings should permeate every single aspect of your daily lives at this time.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the 2003 Atlanta Fa Conference,” Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume IV)

I understand this to mean that our every word and deed are, in fact, guiding people back onto the path of tradition. Please kindly point out any shortcomings.