Manhattan, I Hope That We Will Meet Once Again!

By a practitioner in North America

(Clearwisdom.net) The first time I went to New York City was during the New York Falun Dafa International Experience Sharing Conference held in April 2004. After the conference ended, as I was boarding the plane to leave New York, I thought to myself, "Unless it is to attend another experience sharing conference, I don't want to set foot in New York again in my lifetime!" The impression I had of New York was thoroughly bad. However, less than one over year after that, I returned to New York six times of my own volition. During my winter, summer, and spring vacation and even on public holidays, I flew to New York. I spent my holidays in Manhattan clarifying the truth about Falun Gong to people in the streets, to offer salvation to people. Since I started cultivating in Falun Dafa, this period of time has been the most meaningful and has brought me the happiest moments in my life.

In August 2004 when my summer vacation was about to end, on the last day before I left Manhattan, I went to help out at the Falun Gong anti-torture exhibit in front of Penn Station. I handed a flyer to a young lady who walked past me. She was blonde with modern, sexy clothes and she wore make-up with red lipstick. Unexpectedly, she stopped abruptly and asked me a series of questions about various beliefs and religions. She also inquired about Jesus coming to offer salvation to sentient beings and about the extraordinary power of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I tried to answer her questions with the understanding I obtained from studying the Fa. In the end she asked me, "Do you really think Falun Dafa can change one's life and change the world?" Looking at her eyes full of hope and expectation, I said in a resolute tone with firm faith, "Yes, I believe it." She suddenly hugged me tightly for almost one whole minute and said softly in my ear, "You have changed me at this moment!"

Before I had a chance to react to her hug and her words, she had left. I suddenly understood. She was someone who had undergone much searching and refused to give up the search for the true meaning of life. Today, however, she found her answers and sense of belonging in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Not long after, to my surprise she came to our exhibit again. This time she brought two of her girlfriends with her. She gave me a big hug once again.

The second time I went to Manhattan was during the summer of 2004. Many Falun Dafa practitioners from all over the world had gathered in Manhattan. Under the scorching hot sun in the streets, you could see the practitioners in yellow T-shirts everywhere. Not the least deterred by the intense heat and thirst, they came to spread the wonderful news about Falun Dafa to sentient beings buried deep in the dust of the human world. One day, compassionate Master took the trouble and pain to come to the streets personally to bring for us fresh, cool, spring water. At that time there were three Western practitioners at one end of the street. One of them was facing the street sitting in the meditation position and sending forth righteous thoughts. She unexpectedly saw Master smiling at her benevolently. She was so shocked that she suddenly felt that she could not move at that very moment and could only let her tears blur her vision. Another practitioner clarifying the truth at a street in another district accepted three bottles of mineral water from a car. The practitioner was not expecting Master to come and greet him, "It must have been tough for you!" The practitioner was so surprised that he just stood there in a daze. Only when the car had driven quite a distance away did he come out of his daze and realized that he forgot to greet Master. Those practitioners who heard the news about this incident were so touched by Master's boundless mercy that we broke into tears. To have the predestined relationship and honor to become Master's disciple in this lifetime is such a supreme honor and boundless good fortune. Every time I read the beginning of the first chapter in Zhuan Falun where Master said,

"I think that those who can listen to my lectures in person, I would say, honestly... you will realize in the future that this period of time is extremely precious."

I understand the profound meaning behind these words. It is to treasure this predestined relationship that happens only once in a thousand years, to be diligent in cultivation and follow Master home. Isn't this the purpose of life?

The third time I went to New York was during September. We held an anti-torture exhibition at the United Nations complex. I took the initiative to volunteer to act as one of the practitioners being tortured. I did so from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., and the scalding hot sun beat down on the ground and made it very hot to the touch. In order for it to look convincing, I had to be barefooted and both my arms had to be raised as high as possible while being tied up and hung from the torture device. When I stood on the ground, my soles had a hot, burning feeling. I could not imagine how I could endure for one hour like this. I thought of the practitioners in China who were in prison and experiencing such torture at this very moment. The discomfort I was experiencing paled in comparison. To my surprise, five minutes later, the soles of my feet no longer felt burning hot. Instead I felt a warm, comfortable feeling.

After ten minutes, my wrists started to feel numb and ache. Suddenly, I distinctly felt that Faluns were spinning around the region of my wrists. Soon after, the aching feeling disappeared. I immediately thought that this was definitely merciful Master encouraging me and replenishing me with energy. While recalling this incident, I feel that Master is always protecting each and every one of his disciples. If I were to write down the numerous times I have experienced Master's careful protection and helping me solve difficulties during this year, it would be a long, long essay.

The fourth time I came to Manhattan, I could only stay a few days. Once I got off the plane, I went straight to the anti-torture exhibition in Manhattan. It was unexpectedly cold in October in New York, and I did not have any warm clothing. When I handed a truth-clarifying flyer to the owner of a car parked along the street, he told me that he was a photojournalist working for a media company in the building opposite our anti-torture exhibition. I asked him why he did not do a photo report on us. He said he needed to get the approval of his boss. Thus, I asked him to show the truth-clarifying materials to his superiors. He was very happy to receive the materials. He told me that he had some colleagues of Chinese nationality. I was very delighted to learn this. I also asked that he bring some Chinese-language truth-clarifying materials for his Chinese colleagues. I explained to him that they may have been deceived by the lies and slanderous propaganda of the Chinese Communist Party. He was very willing to take the flyers. He then asked me if I felt somewhat cold. I was embarrassed and explained that I just came from the airport and did not expect the weather to be so bad. I had used the word "chilly" to describe the furious attacks of the evil forces. He turned and gave me a spare jacket that he had in his car. I put the jacket on without hesitation. A sense of warmth immediately circulated within my body. I was very grateful for his kind concern. Before he left, I asked how I could return the jacket to him. He smiled sincerely and said, "You can keep it."

Later, I met an eighty-one-year-old lady. I chatted with her for more than one hour. I told her in detail about the wonderfulness of Falun Dafa and the cruelness of the persecution. I realized that she was actually very young because she had a heart that seemed to be hoping for more. I asked her, "Do you wish to practice Falun Gong?" She was very quick in answering, "Of course!" From her delighted expression, I could feel and share the joy in her inner soul.

The fifth time I came to New York was in late 2004 and the winter of early 2005. I spent my winter holiday in Manhattan. During these three weeks, the greatest challenge to me was the freezing cold. Being exposed to the freezing cold in temperatures below zero for three to four hours was probably a kind of discomfort that I had not experienced in my lifetime. I kept running into the subway to distribute flyers and hide from the cold. As I did not wear any insulated shoes, my toes were frozen so badly that they hurt unbearably. As it was difficult to bring any lunch boxes, I usually kept a bar of chocolate in my pocket for lunch as it was able to withstand the freezing.

During a dark snowy day, a practitioner from England came to our exhibition site. He stood in the same place for over three hours in the freezing cold and continued to distribute flyers. He was not like me. I kept on running into the subway to avoid the cold. I walked towards him and took out the chocolate in my pocket and handed it to him. I said, "You must be hungry. Please have some chocolate to replenish some heat energy." He smiled and replied, "No, thanks." He explained to me seriously, "You know something? Whenever I am doing Dafa truth-clarification work, I never feel hungry." Each of his words was etched into my heart. Looking at his ruddy face and the snow on his eyebrows, I felt the gap in our cultivation levels.

The sixth time I went to New York was during the summer of this year. This was the longest time I spent clarifying the truth in Manhattan. I spent two months there this time. From the Chicago experience sharing conference I came to the streets of Manhattan, New York. Then from New York I flew to the Washington D.C. experience sharing conference. From Washington, I went to the Philadelphia art exhibition, and then I came back to New York. I frequently think back on this period of time. I cherish each and every moment.

When I was in New York, I spent the bulk of the time clarifying the truth in the streets at the anti-torture exhibition. Angela is a young practitioner from Australia. We had the predestined relationship to meet in Manhattan. During the many days that we clarified the truth and offered salvation to sentient beings together, we felt that we cooperated with each other very harmoniously. She often had a radiant smile on her face. Regardless of the attitudes of the passersby we met, her sincere smile always stayed. During that period of time, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., I did not see her eat at all. One day I shared with her some of the fruits that I had brought with me. I could not help but ask her, "Many times I do not see you bring any lunch box and I don't see you buy any fast food. What did you eat for lunch?" She replied, "Most of the time I did not take my lunch." "Won't you be hungry?" "No, it is because our Master is replenishing us with energy, especially when we are doing Dafa truth clarifying work. Therefore I don't feel hungry." By now, I realized that when I did Dafa truth-clarifying work, I did not feel very sleepy, tired or hungry.

"Master, thank you!" I said silently in my heart. Great and compassionate Master has given us the boundless sea but we are unable to repay a single drop.

Manhattan, I hope that we will meet again!

October 31, 2005

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