Clarifying the Truth with a Pure Heart - Some Understandings from My Truth-Clarification Efforts
By a practitioner in mainland China
(Clearwisdom.net) During the several years of my truth-clarification
work, I have come to a deep understanding that the effects are often good and
things would usually go smoothly when we clarify the truth with a pure heart.
Master said "If you are able to succeed in improving yourself this way, what you
do then, with a pure heart, will be the best and most sacred"
("Further Understanding" from Essentials for Further Advancement) I stick to one principle, namely, taking Dafa as the guide when doing things.
Amid the unmerciful and special environment in China, like most Dafa
practitioners there, I have mainly used the methods of speaking face-to-face,
sending letters and distributing truth-clarification materials in my
truth-clarifying efforts. Of course, Dafa practitioners' words and actions,
their cultivation status as well as their spiritual outlook also play a role of
clarifying the truth. 1. "Speak out" During the past six years, the individuals to whom I have clarified the truth
face-to-face include people from all walks of life, such as factory workers,
farmers, government officials, students, company employees, neighborhood
residents, policemen and others. I always require myself to clarify the truth
with a pure heart. After July 20, 1999 I stepped forward to validate the Fa. While I was
detained for the first time, I wanted to see how other practitioners had been
doing, but it turned out that I was detained in solitary confinement, making me
realize that this was a test. Dafa disciples should validate the Fa wherever
they go. Since I was already illegally detained I would dwell on nothing but
clarifying the truth to the guards. The guards initially took turns
interrogating me - seven or eight of them in a group at the beginning, and later
four or five in a group. I sat at the side of a long table and clarified the
truth to them. I told them what I had personally experienced and how I had
benefited from practicing Dafa, as well as what I had seen and knew about Dafa.
I talked from the past to the present, from inside China to what is happening
with Dafa overseas, from small incidents to big events, from what is in the
lower realm to what is in the higher realm, and from one layer to another. While
listening, the guards changed from initially feeling astonished to later
listening with a great interest and joy, saying that it had appeared as if I
were teaching them great knowledge. I clarified the truth to several groups of guards for over ten hours, but
they did not give me any food to eat, so I asked them for food. A guard said,
"The others were on a hunger strike. How come you want to eat?" I
said, "I have done nothing wrong. Why are you not giving me food?"
After eating I again sat by the table, full of energy. All the guards smiled
saying, "Now that you have eaten, you are more energetic. So you are going
to start the lectures again." I said, "That's right." I was detained there for almost fifty hours. During my detention, according
to directives from their superiors, they did not allow me to sleep, not even to
close my eyes. I was permitted to sit on a chair, but not lean against the back
of the chair. Neither did they allow me to rest my hands on the table. I sat in
the chair this way and clarified the truth for many hours. The guards commented
that while I was still so full of energy, they, who had taken turns to
interrogate me, were exhausted. The next day, while sitting on the square
redwood chair, the four horizontal wood slabs of the chair suddenly broke. All
of the guards present witnessed this miraculous incident. One guard took the
time between shifts when there were no others around to ask me about Falun Gong.
He also told me that there were people practicing Falun Gong in his hometown. In
this manner the interrogation had been turned into my truth-clarification. Before I was about to be released, the detention center director said,
"All of our guards, including those who were temporarily assigned here,
more than forty of them, listened to your speeches. Do not talk anymore after
you leave here. It will be dangerous." After I returned home, when I did the sitting meditation I saw a golden Falun
sweeping through the sky with a beam of light. The Falun went even faster than a
shooting star. It hit me squarely on my chest and made my whole body shake. I
knew that Master was encouraging me. While I was arrested the last time, the evils took advantage of my loopholes
because I had not studied the Fa well and because of my attachment to reaching
Consummation. I gave in to the so-called "reform." After I was
released I read Master's articles and knew I had done wrong. I decided to do
well again and double my efforts in remedying the loss I had caused. Thereafter,
I have made even more efforts in clarifying the truth to the people. During my several detentions I just kept clarifying the truth to the people
around me. Many of those who were watching me got to know the truth. They said,
"This is not the place where you should stay." Some guards also said
so. Even so, I always had a vague feeling that Master would not have arranged
for us to clarify the truth within these high walls, where we are deprived of
personal freedoms. It should not be like this. So, under what circumstances, in what environments, and in what state of mind
does Master want us to clarify the truth? In this regard, one incident touched
me deeply. Once, my place of employment organized people to go on a sightseeing
tour. I told myself to finish two tasks during the trip - one, to clarify the
truth to my colleagues, and another - to go and talk with those practitioners
who had given up cultivation after July 20, 1999. Since being released from detention, each time I participated in workplace
related activities there was always someone who was assigned to monitor me. They
did not permit me to talk with my colleagues about Falun Gong, nor to contact
other Falun Gong practitioners in my work unit. This time I would definitely
completely negate this arrangement, since a Dafa practitioner shines and
validates the Fa wherever he or she goes. Thanks to Master's kind arrangements,
every time when I wanted to do what I should do, someone else would call away
the persons assigned to monitor me. I smoothly accomplished the two tasks. On
the last afternoon of the trip I thought that I should not leave out even one
person who has a predestined relationship with the Fa. As I had already spoken
with everyone I was supposed to, that day I just clarified the truth to the
person who was assigned to monitor me. After breakfast, while the two of us
walked around a knoll in the park and enjoyed the landscape I started to clarify
the truth. One hour had passed without us noticing. I was so focused on my truth
clarification and she was so attentive in her listening that I forgot everything
around me and did not take any notice of our surroundings. Then a colleague
walked toward us saying appraisingly, "You looked so beautiful!" The colleague assigned to monitor me said, "Being so old, how could we
be beautiful?" however, that colleague still looked at me with surprise.
Only by then did I notice that we were walking on a main road in the park, and
there were no other people on the road. On both sides of the road was green
vegetation, while in the middle of the road was a long and wide flower garden,
where the flowers of different colors were already in blossom. Several cloud
formations floated in the blue sky, and the rosy dawn clouds were shrouding the
park. It was filled with peace and harmony. I suddenly realized that this was
exactly the same as, "Broadly shines a Buddha's light, Justly setting all things
right." ("One With the Fa" from Hong Yin ) The colleague might have vaguely seen the beauty of the Fa in us. I then
thought that this should be the state in which we clarify the truth. A pure
heart will bring about a pure environment, and we Dafa practitioners should
create such an environment ourselves. This is what Master wants us to do. This
scene was engraved deeply in my mind. Later I found out that during this trip,
according to instructions from the 610 Office, my workplace had
specifically arranged for someone to talk with me, but it turned out that nobody
talked with me. Instead, I spoke with them. When clarifying the truth with a pure hart, one will use one's heart to talk,
and furthermore one will do it according to the varied conditions of different
persons and different circumstances. Once, a retired official came to stay with
me for several days. I knew that several Falun Gong practitioners had tried to
clarify the truth to her, but she had refused to accept what they had told her.
I took some time thinking of how to let her know the truth. During the following
two days I kept sending forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the evils around
her so as to awaken her. I also mentioned things that were indirectly related to
the truth-clarification. I learned that she likes singing and often sings in
senior citizens' choirs. One morning when she had nothing planned I saw my
opportunity. I carefully picked up the truth-clarification VCD "Coming for
You." Initially she was not willing to listen and sat far away. While
sending forth righteous thoughts I said, "You don't have anything planned,
so please watch it. It has many good songs." When I played it, the
beautiful and moving songs and pictures gradually caught her attention. At the
same time I made occasional comments in a soft voice. Gradually she moved her
chair forward, closer and closer. In the end she just went to sit in front of
the television with her glasses on. After she finished watching she said firmly,
with a red face, "Falun Gong will be readdressed for sure." One time I needed to see the director of a medical school, who was also the
chief editor of a journal. Before going I thought and hoped that he would have a
chance to listen to me to clarify the truth. Indeed, he had a big office by
himself and was reading newspapers. When I talked about Falun Gong he said,
"I've been thinking about this issue. Falun Gong has been persecuted for a
long time, yet there are still so many people practicing, which proves that it
is full of vitality. You haven't come to see me for treatment for so many years,
yet you look even more energetic and younger. This practice seems really
effective." As we kept talking, he expressed he would like to learn Falun
Gong. I showed him the meditation exercise. He immediately started to learn it,
and told his assistant not to bother him for the next half hour. He quickly
learned the meditation exercise. The next day I went again to give him the
exercise instruction CD and exercise music tape. He was very happy and did the
meditation exercise in my presence. He said repeatedly, "So great! How
relaxed and harmonious!" Master said, "Every person in the entire world was at one point part of my
family." ("Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the
U.S. West Fa Conference") I thought: I'm Master's disciple, so every person is also part of my family.
I must clarify the truth to them as they were part of my family. When clarifying
the truth, I didn't consider social class, rank or age. As long as there was a
chance I would talk. One time on a bus, a 17-year-old girl asked me where there
was a restaurant. She said that her classmates were having a party. After we
began to talk I then started to clarify the truth. While listening she
unconsciously leaned on me. She listened quietly, putting her head on my
shoulder, like a child listening to her mother tell stories. At that time there
was no more noise on the bus. Time also seemed to stop. In the over-20-minute
ride I talked a lot, and the girl and other passengers also heard a lot.
Suddenly, the girl noticed she had put her head on my shoulder and shyly dropped
her head. I said to her, "It's all right. It's all predestined
relationship." The girl got off the bus at the station. I showed her how to
get to the restaurant. She said with a smile, "Aunty, thank you! I heard
these things for the first time. When I meet my classmates, I will for sure tell
them what you told me." I made up my mind to find all the people whom I knew from my childhood to the
present through various channels, and compiled a list of their names and
addresses. Then in six months, I visited each one of them. When it was not
possible to visit, I wrote letters. Because of the interference and separations
by the old forces in other dimensions, calling for appointments oftentimes
didn't work. I would personally go to see them. Some I visited at their homes,
and others I visited at their work places. I did not want to disturb them at
work, so I mostly arranged to arrive at their offices half an hour before they
went off duty or before their lunch break. At noon, I often invited them to have
some fast food or a simple meal (Actually, most of the time they insisted on
paying their bill). For some persons I needed to try three or four times to see them, and one of
them I tried ten times. When I met her after the tenth try she was very moved,
saying, "You don't need to say anything any more. You've come to see me ten
times. You are really sincere. I believe that Falun Gong's Truth, Compassion,
Forbearance are very good." One classmate lived far away in a suburb. I
tried several times before I finally saw her. We talked for the whole afternoon.
At parting she held my shoulders and said with tears in her eyes, "Be
assured. I understand everything now." My eyes also became wet, and I said
to her, "It is good now that you know the truth." In the course of clarifying the truth, in addition to the hardships along the
way, I also ran into all kinds of people. Some said cold words, some sneered at
me, some even shut the door in my face, and some of my relatives even swore at
me. Sometimes I really felt wronged and upset. I would then recall Master's
teachings, "Wandering around in society is rather torturous. It must beg for food
and meet different kinds of people who will scold, insult, or take advantage
of it. It might encounter all kinds of things."(Zhuan Falun) "A Great Enlightened Being does not fear hardship ("Righteous Thoughts and Righteous Actions") We are Dafa disciples in the Fa-rectification period. We should do even
better than other cultivators. And we have missions. Whenever I think of our
missions, the hardships, insults and the feeling of tiredness all vanish. When I
clarify the truth with a pure heart, no matter to high ranking officials or to
ordinary people, they all slightly lower their heads and listen. I understand
that this is listening with respectful attention. All the origins of lives
respect and revere Dafa. People have a saying, "A sincere heart will make
rocks bloom." When we clarify the truth, the power of Dafa and the sincere
heart of Dafa practitioners will certainly move people. Their innermost pure
heart will finally be enlightened. 2. "Mailing" Clarifying the truth face-to-face requires a pure heart. Sending truth mails
is the same. Several years ago when I clarified the truth to one of my friends
she acted in a negative manner. After a long time talking, she finally spoke her
mind. She was designated as an advanced employee in her nationwide work system.
Not long after her name was published in a magazine, she received a letter sent
from Beijing. Upon opening the letter, she saw that the topic was about Falun
Gong, and in the lower part of the flyer it asked the reader to pass it to
others, and said that failing to do so or tearing it up could cause misfortune
(not the exact words). She was too scared to read it and threw it away
immediately. Her husband once practiced a certain qigong when suffering from a
tumor, and there was a similar request in the pamphlet. Her husband thus kept
passing the message to others, but he still died in the end. When she knew the truth and had eliminated her doubts, she said that she
wanted to practice Falun Gong. This incident greatly touched me. I thought that
the mail was sent to her from distant Beijing. How much effort the fellow
practitioner had put into it! How many hands it had passed through before it
finally reached this lucky person. Yet, with the bit of carelessness in one
sentence our truth efforts would end up in vain or accomplish even the opposite
of what we wished. Master said, "From now on, whatever you do, you should consider others first."
("Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature" from Essentials for Further
Advancement) If we do something without considering others in all aspects and at all
times, our hearts/minds are already impure. "Do I have this problem? Have I
reached the standard Master required?" I often asked myself. Later, in all
my truth-clarification approaches, I often put myself in the other person's
place, "If I were the recipient or an audience, what would I think? What
feelings would I have?" Thinking about this from the standpoint of the
other party, I would immediately discover the problems we should pay attention
to. By doing this, the effect of clarifying the truth would often be
unexpectedly positive. In the selection of truth materials we were also very careful. We chose
different truth materials for different people in different professions. In
previous years in particular, when the truth materials were not so
comprehensive, we would discuss and study again and again to decide which
materials were most appropriate. We would pore over each word or letter we wrote
until we were all satisfied and then send them out. If the contents of the
materials were not clear or if there was anything doubtful, or if the printing
was not good, we wouldn't send them out. We did not regret it and would rather
do it again. One time we thought that certain information about how many police
officers "packed up and were sacked" was not suitable and the
schedules of one official's trip were not consistent in the information.
Practitioners were distributing this in large quantities at that time. We also
made many of those. Should we distribute them or not? It was really disturbing.
We knew that every word, and every copy of truth materials has a bearing on
whether a being can be saved, that it is something of vital importance, and that
we should be responsible to the sentient beings. After we clearly understood
this, we calmly disposed of these materials. Soon after, the Minghui Weekly also
published a practitioner's sharing that he thought that this material was not
suitable for circulation. These few years, I had kept the list of names and addresses that I had
collected. After a period of time, I would send these people new truth
clarifying materials. I would try to do it a few more times so that people with
predestined relationships could understand more about Falun Gong. I was very
careful with each procedure involving the making and sending of every letter.
The situation in China is very complex and there are many checkpoints to clear.
We need to take more care with our tasks. I would never carelessly deposit
letters containing truth clarification materials into the mail box. We have sent
out countless letters. Many of the letters have successfully reached the
addressees. The feedback was also comparatively good. Quantity mass distribution
is fast. "Targeted" mailing is relatively slower but it should not be
underestimated. A few times at a bigger post office I saw a person who is in
charge of distributing and examining letters. He carefully examined all the
letters and put aside those that looked suspicious. He rejected many. I thought
that this was the first major checkpoint and hurdle at the post office before
the letters were sent out. If the letters he picked out and rejected were those
that contained truth clarifying materials from Falun Gong practitioners, he
would have committed a very big sin as he would have stopped many sentient
beings from being rescued. I found out his name and then took pains to select a
greeting card that was suitable for him. I also selected truth clarifying
materials that were targeted at people in his profession. I even carefully
considered and made preparations for the design of the envelope and the way the
address was written. I then went to a far away post office to send the letter to
him. Making this letter and eventually mailing it took two whole days. My
efforts were not wasted. Two weeks later when I saw this postman distributing
and examining letters again, he was very quick and to the point. He only picked
out and rejected those letters that were obviously overweight. Then he put the
rest of the letters in a bag and sent them out. Despite the weather, rain or shine, I went to the numerous post offices and
mail boxes of the entire city several times. Sometimes when I felt tired and
felt it was difficult, and when time was tight I would have the thought,
"There is no need to be too serious about this. Falun Dafa is super
extraordinary. Everything is possible." When this thought came into my
mind, I would keep reminding myself "This is the most sacred thing. I must
be responsible toward Dafa. Using the Fa to cover up my unwillingness to bear
difficulties, tiredness and troublesome tasks is not the state of mind a Falun
Dafa practitioner should have. Having such thoughts would also make it easy for
the evil beings to take advantage of our loopholes. During the process of sending letters I also encountered many dangerous
situations and unexpected events. One time when I sent out a few letters
separately in a certain district I noticed that a tall and well-built man kept
following me. When I got on a bus and sat down by the window he also took the
same bus and sat behind me. I thus asked for Master's protection and help,
thinking I must send all the letters I had brought with me that day. I calmed my
mind and sent forth righteous thoughts. When the bus drove through a very long
tunnel, I turned my head and saw that an old lady was sitting behind me instead
of the tall guy who had followed me earlier. The whole bus was quite empty. That
guy could not be seen anywhere in the bus. Miracle! This is indeed "Just a
play." 3. "Distribution" Before distributing truth clarifying materials, we would always pack them
very carefully. A fellow practitioner said, "People like intricate things.
These truth clarifying materials are the most precious gift that we are giving
to people, so we must also make them into intricate things. We feel that the
truth materials deserve such care and attention. I frequently go to the market
to select the materials that we think suitable for the packing. Sometimes I had
to spend a few days. We required that the truth clarifying materials had to be
the best, all the way from their contents to their packing. In circumstances
where we could financially afford it, we also tried to make the colors match and
look harmonious. When your heart is very pure, you will find that you will be
able to discover and buy materials that are both beautiful and inexpensive.
After a truth clarifying package was made, only when we were satisfied with it
from the inside to the outside did we feel that it was a quality product. The things that Falun Dafa practitioners have touched are shiny and bright,
not to mention things there are made with our hearts. When we distributed this
type of information to people they were pleased. A few times when they accepted
the truth clarifying materials they would say, "Somehow, this gift of yours
seems to be shinning somewhat." Non-practitioners have an aware side that
is clear-minded and understands. They are waiting to know about Falun Dafa, so
how can we not do well? Sometimes when I saw the expectant look in the eyes of
the people and the joy they expressed on receiving the truth clarifying
materials, I felt that I had done too little. Master does not wish to leave behind a single person with a predestined
relationship. We should also not leave any person with a predestined
relationship behind. Once I gave truth-clarifying material to a middle aged man.
He said to me sternly, "You take it away! I know what you are giving
me." I said calmly, "This is something good! Please take it and take a
look. There may not be a chance in the future." He still refused to accept
it. When I left him I thought to myself that this person was so negative towards
Dafa. I wonder if he would have another chance in the future. Regardless, I
still sent forth righteous thoughts and cleared the evil interference around
him. Two weeks later I went to a bookshop to distribute truth clarifying
materials. I gave them to a man. He did not accept them. He looked at me up and
down and kept staring hard at me. I was not afraid. I only hoped that he would
accept the precious truth clarifying materials. I used both my hands and held
the truth clarifying materials out to him and just stood there. After some time,
the look in his eyes suddenly changed. He gladly said, "I will accept
these." When I left I recalled that this was the same man who had refused
the truth clarifying materials the last time. Why did I stand there silently in front of him and not go away? I suddenly
thought of Master's words, "I have already delivered it to your doorstep." (Zhuan Falun) Master does not wish to leave behind a single person with a predestined
relationship, thus he let my enlightened side do the job. As a disciple, I am
unable to fully illustrate in words Master's boundless compassion. Each time
after distributing materials, on the way home, I would find a place and stand
there quietly watching the sky. In my mind I would thank Master on behalf of
Falun Dafa practitioners and sentient beings! I would ask for protection and
help from Master. I would wish that the people with predestined relationships
who had received the truth clarifying materials on that day would be able to
find the best time and be in the best state of mind to soberly read the
materials or watch the VCDs. I hoped that they would understand the truth about
Falun Gong and be saved by Master. At the same time I hoped that they would
spread and distribute these materials to even more people, so that more people
could understand and be rescued. At those moments I would frequently be in
tears. When distributing the truth materials, there were frequently "dangers
within dangers," but when our states of mind are pure and calm, and the
righteous thoughts are strong, Master will vanquish all the dangers. One time,
just as I had finished distributing materials in a residential area and was
about to leave to go to another place, I noticed that a security person riding a
motorbike had rushed out from another road toward me. He stared at me fiercely
and with ill intentions. I sensed he was coming to stop me from leaving and
intended to grab me. We were then about one hundred meters from the district's
main entrance. He rode down a steep road and rushed toward me. I sent a thought,
"Make him unable to catch up with me." Thus, although we could hear
the loud sound of the motorbike and the wheels of the bike were spinning very
fast, the bike seemed to not move at all. I quickened my steps as I walked out
of the main entrance. The a security person rode the motorbike to the entrance
and shouted to the doorman, "Just now, there was someone..." As the quantity of truth materials I distributed increased, from time to time
I would have feelings of self-fulfillment. Showing off, accomplishments,
irritation and many other attachments would also appear. When I felt excited
fellow practitioners would remind me, and I would stop and calm down to study
the Fa. I required myself as if I were a new practitioner and was starting to do the
three things from the starting point. I required myself to start afresh, with a
heart/mind that is even purer and calmer. I know that Master is leading me up,
level by level. In this way we clarified the truth in a righteous and dignified manner. We
went everywhere in an above board and open manner. Year after year and day after
day, we walked one journey after another, went to one district after another.
Sometimes we walked until our feet were full of blisters. We don't know how many
materials we distributed, how many letters we sent, or how many people to whom
we clarified the truth. All in all, we just tried our best. Whether the
environment was relaxed or mass arrests were occurring all over the city, we
basically never stopped. We just steadily persisted and carried on clarifying
the truth. I believe the saying, "continuous dripping water can one day
penetrate a rock." We have not done feats that shocked the heavens and
earth. All that we had done and the numerous truth clarifying materials we
handed out were like the water of small streams, quietly flowing everywhere and
toward thousands of households. There is no shortcut in cultivation. Similarly,
there is no shortcut to clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings. We need
to do it one by one and with a pure heart/mind. A pure and calm mindset
originates from steadfast faith in Dafa and in Master and also arises from
righteous thoughts and righteous actions. The more human attachments we let go
of, the purer and calmer our hearts will become, and the better will the effects
of clarifying the truth be. This is what I feel deeply. "He comes with the Truth, which gives him full control On the way to clarifying the truth, I often recite this poem Master wrote,
which makes me especially comfortable and at ease. November 15, 2005
Having forged an adamantine will
And with no attachment to living or dying
He walks his path of Fa-rectification openly and nobly."
And travels the four seas with a free and easy spirit
Spreading the Fa's principles throughout the secular world
Loaded full with sentient beings, his Fa Boat sets sail." ("Tathagata)
Chinese version available at
http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2005/11/17/114618.html
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