By A Western practitioner

I am a Western practitioner living in Washington DC. After sending forth righteous thoughts in front of the Chinese embassy, three of us went to the University of Maryland to attend a welcoming party for new students from Mainland China. I was the only Western practitioner there.

One of the first mental barriers I had to overcome was my attire. Everybody was well dressed, but I wore my yellow Dafa sweatshirt, my jeans and jogging shoes. We paid our entrance fee, realized there were indeed no other international students and decided to separate, to meet more people at the event. I went upstairs and came to the area of the ballroom entrance. The Chinese were more than surprised to see a single westerner, in a yellow Dafa-shirt, with a bag full of Dafa materials. For a moment I felt weak. Should I enter? I am wearing jeans. Will I damage Dafa by my appearance? Is this the right environment? All kinds of excuses, all to cover my insecurity. Then I imagined myself as a great being who has developed his new existence in Dafa, doing the most sacred thing in the cosmos: I am helping Teacher to offer salvation! With this thought in mind I suddenly became very strong and calm. I entered the room and offered my brochures. The "leader" at the first table refused to take it and the others followed his example. I was still too shy. I went to the second table and was more focused than before and tried to be more direct -- two persons took the Dafa brochures. I continued my walk around to other groups and visitors. Only a few brochures were left in the bag when I left.

At the main entrance I offered Mainland Chinese students Dafa material. Nearly all brochures were taken. Not every Chinese took one, but I am sure that the right persons have obtained the truth.

Shortly before we left this university event, one Chinese student came to me and asked me several questions. I answered him with a question, to start him thinking by himself, without creating resistance in his mind by saying something defensively against the notion the Chinese propaganda had formed in his mind. He said the Chinese government claims that the American CIA supports Falun Gong. I asked him whether it wouldn't be fatal for Falun Gong itself in western countries if this would be a real fact? It would be against every value and principle Falun Dafa stands for.

We had a very interesting conversation. At the end I suggested he read Zhuan Falun by himself. He could then make up his own mind, without being controlled and influenced. Here in the United States, no police will arrest and beat him for this.

Posting date: 10/5/2001
Original article date: 10/3/2001
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide

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