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A Suggestion: Overseas Dafa Practitioners Should Always Be Aware of Their Mindset and Behavior
By A Dafa Practitioner in Washington, DC (Clearwidom.net) For some overseas Dafa practitioners, going to Dafa
experience-sharing conferences and other Dafa activities is like a conditioned
reflex, or like a prearranged event that they should attend. They would easily
forget to treat these activities as opportunities to rectify the Fa and clarify
the truth. Many practitioners traveled thousands of miles to the conferences
because they thought that they might be able to see Master, which is of course
understandable; however, this did not seem to be the main objective of
the trip. Sometimes during a parade or in the progress of other activities, some
practitioners chatted, laughed, or looked around. Sometimes during solemn and
serious activities such as parades and candlelight vigils, there were some
practitioners who, being unable to concentrate on the activities, read the books
while holding the banners and thus gave ordinary people an impression that they
were indifferent. There were still some practitioners who even laughed or
chatted at the site of the torture exhibit, which was ill-suited with what the
exhibition displayed about the brutality of the persecution. All these aspects
reflected the practitioners' xinxing and the degree of using their heart. As Dafa disciples living outside China, we have not experienced the brutality
that the practitioners in China have endured. However, we should know what we
are doing. Master told us in "Teaching the Fa at the 2003 Atlanta Fa
Conference Atlanta in 2003": "Dafa disciples are all still being
persecuted. You want me to be happy, but I can't be. How many Dafa disciples are
being persecuted in those evil labor camps in China at this very moment!"
We have participated in many activities in order to expose the brutality of the
persecution and to appeal to people for their help. So having a right mindset
during our involvement in these activities is, in fact, part of our righteous
thoughts. As Dafa cultivators, we, perhaps, already know what the practitioners who
were tortured to death have attained. We also know that however much a Dafa
practitioner has suffered, he will gain that much. Or we may have already taken
very lightly life, death, and suffering. However, we should conform to the
formality of ordinary society, since we want to awaken people's kind nature and
gain their sympathy through exposing the brutality of the persecution.
Therefore, we should truly exhibit what Dafa practitioners should exhibit in
this society of ordinary people. Was it due to our having taken lightly the persecution or due to our
indifference that we exhibited this careless attitude and behavior? This can be
easily examined. If we can just imagine that the persons who were tortured to
death were us, our family members, relatives, or friends, then we can see how we
would feel. We would thus know whether we have shortcomings that we need to
improve on, and know what mindsets or behavior we should have during the
parades, candlelight vigils, and other Dafa activities. In addition, through the several dozens of years of political movements and
atheist education, the Party has destroyed the traditional morality,
civilization, and civility of Chinese society. Most of us had lived in China for
a very long time and have carried with us the strong influences of that society.
So we need to be more conscientious and make more efforts in order to know how
to exhibit the magnificence of Dafa practitioners, which is above that of
ordinary people, in western society that values the surface culture. In a
civilized society, many things are believed to be minimal requirements that the
public has acknowledged for a civilized person. A person who fails to do well in
the following criteria would be looked down upon by others. Such requirements
are listed below: There are many more that could be listed. We should always be considerate of
others and consider others first, and for our behavior to be beneficial and
tolerable to others. Every Dafa practitioner should at least require him or
herself to meet this requirement. Most ordinary people will not read Dafa books to learn about Dafa. The
impression we give them will be their impression of Dafa. In 1999, Master said, "You don't mind the details, don't groom yourselves, and look sloppy.
You talk loudly, without taking the circumstances or location into
consideration. You don't pay attention to hygiene. Of course, I've said that
you have to conform to everyday people to the maximal extent for your
cultivation. As disciples who are practicing cultivation, you must be able to
achieve that. This originally was a non-issue, and was not what I wanted to
discuss. But did you know that because of your behavior, some Western students
have been afraid of joining you for Fa-spreading activities? Everyone must pay
attention to this! This is not just a behavioral issue. You really should pay
attention to things in this regard. I'm not saying that you need to be
particular about dressing stylish. You should understand human civility on the
very surface. I can tell you, Dafa actually also encompasses the substances
from the lowest level. If you can think of others in everything you do, I
think you'll do everything well." (Lecture at the US East Coast
Conference, unofficial translation) In fact, many practitioners want to do better; but they sometimes forget the
requirements. Because sometimes they did not pay attention to getting to know
western culture, customs, and traditions, they do not know what behaving well
actually means. Thus, when they failed to conform to the requirements of the
society they live in, they could not become aware of the situation in time. If
we can let go of ourselves more, truly follow what Master has required of us,
always be considerate of others, and keep in consideration the image of Dafa
practitioners as one body, we can naturally do well in many things and we can do
them very well. June 17, 2004 |