(Clearwisdom.net)

Since July 20, 1999, the Jiang regime has used its power to persecute Falun Gong. Before the persecution, there were already four hundred people practicing Falun Dafa here. During the oppression, the people who tightly followed Jiang's persecution for their personal enrichment have used all the brutal methods they know to torture steadfast practitioners. This has included letting practitioners freeze outside in winter after stripping their clothes and pouring cold water over them, kicking practitioners with hard leather boots, slapping practitioners, hanging up practitioners, depriving them of sleep for long periods, publicly humiliating them on the street, ransacking their homes, extorting money, forcing them to stand for extremely long periods of time, shocking them with electric batons, clamping fingertips, and sitting in steel chairs for extended periods [to cause excruciating pain and physical damage]. The practitioners stood firm. Practitioners explained the facts to one official and made him understand the lies and defamation perpetrated by the Jiang regime. During the later persecution, this official became less and less violent. There was another vicious man named Zhang. After seeing his boss become less violent, he also became less violent.

Practitioners who have steadfastly walked their paths in this extremely harsh environment have continued their small-scale group practice site and group meetings. Keeping up with Teacher's Fa-Rectification, they have been saving sentient beings with various methods. For example, they are hanging posters, distributing truth-clarifying materials and explaining the truth. Teacher said, "The environment is created by you, yourselves, and it, too, is essential for your improvement" ("Environment", Essentials for Further Advancement). Steadfast practitioners broke through many obstacles, including those from family and local government. The local government personnel no longer proactively participate in the persecution. We must walk a righteous path of cultivation. Everything in society is the result of our own mindset. If we walk our path with strong, righteous minds, the evil will not dare to persecute us.

Having a practice site is an essential part of the path Teacher has advised us to take, and it has a very positive effect on our group's cultivation progress. We did our best to maintain this practice site according to our capabilities and conditions. I feel those who persisted in group practice have all gradually reached the state that Teacher required when he said, "Compare each other in study and cultivation, check everything (according to the Fa). This is better than cultivating alone at home. In this environment there is no disturbance from the ordinary society, it is easier to eliminate our laziness, and we can firmly safeguard and validate Dafa." ("Environment", Essentials for Further Advancement)

Practitioners in my town have been communicating with each other through Fa conferences. We exchange ideas of how to do the three things well that Teacher has asked us to do. During one Fa discussion, we all realized we should help those who have fallen behind and illiterate practitioners who have difficulties studying the Fa. We all did what we could, and some practitioners returned to cultivation. We also help some senior citizen practitioners to elevate their Fa understanding and catch up with the Fa rectification.

We should fully utilize the Spring Festival to clarify the truth when visiting friends and relatives. Currently, most people have gained a better understanding of Falun Gong, and have become more and more rational after seeing the contrast between good and evil. Some of them have shown sympathy to practitioners who have been persecuted; some join in our practice. We should hurry when clarifying truth and never miss one opportunity. This is our historic mission. Teacher said,

"It doesn't matter if what you do is expose the evil, or if you use all sorts of approaches, be they direct, indirect or from different angles--as long as you can have people recognize this persecution, you are saving them, and you are extraordinary." (Fa-Lecture at the Conference in Florida).

Please point out any omissions I might have due to limited understanding.

2004-1-23