Offering Sentient Beings Salvation with Compassion
By Lanlan in Hebei Province
(Clearwisdom.net) Greetings compassionate, great Master! Greetings fellow
practitioners! I began Dafa study in February 1999. I used to be introverted and was not
good at speaking. I was also timid and always blushed when speaking with others. When I first read Zhuan Falun and saw Master's
photo in the book, it felt familiar and seemed I had seen him somewhere, but I
couldn't remember where I had seen him. While reading the book, I felt I had
experienced what Master spoke of in the book. The topics were familiar to me but
I didn't know how. I felt the book was great. When I read Master's lectures
given in different places, I felt I was reading mythical stories but didn't know
it was cultivation. Then the persecution started on July 20, 1999. Many local practitioners went
to Beijing to appeal for justice for Dafa. I didn't understand them at that time
and no one discussed this with me either. I eventually heard that the
practitioners were arrested in Beijing and were sent back. I was still numb and
didn't have any particular reaction to this. TV and newspapers kept spreading
rumors as if the sky was blotted out. Like a lost child, I was in the dark and
didn't know what to do. Soon I was taken away from home in the middle of the
night. The arrest created a difficult to clean stain on my cultivation path.
However, Master didn't give up on me. With the help of fellow practitioners, on
July 20, 2002 I resumed Dafa cultivation. I hereby thank those practitioners who
helped me. When I read Zhuan Falun again after missing three years of
cultivation, every word in the book was waking me up. I read and cried; read
again and cried again. I finally understood what cultivation means.
Practitioners later on sent me all of Master's lectures since July 20, 1999. I
anxiously studied them. My husband tried very hard to stop me. He did not want
me to read during the daytime, so I would read at night. He interfered with me
again at night. I would get up in the middle of the night and climb under the
bed to read by flashlight. Other practitioners gave me the truth of the
Tiananmen Square Self-immolation incident CD. I realized I had been deceived by
the evil Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The magnificent feats that practitioners
had accomplished also deeply moved me and made me cry. Whenever I met acquaintances, I would then tell them the truth of the
Tiananmen Square Self-immolation and I told them Falun Dafa is good. I spoke
with an air of indignation back then. Many people understood that the Tiananmen
Square Self-immolation incident was staged. I didn't have
truth-clarifying materials at that time, so I hand-wrote messages to
paste up. Although the characters I had written didn't look that good, I knew I
must expose the evil persecution and tell people, "Falun Dafa is
good." I remember the first time I was out posting messages. I carried a
bucket of paste and walked into a lane. Suddenly, a motorcycle light shone from
the lane entry. I was so scared that I ran away and left the brush, bucket and
paper behind. I felt my legs trembling and my heart beating furiously. The
motorcycle drove on. I gradually calmed down and returned to paste the flyers. During a 2002 winter evening I was going to paste a flyer near a village
office gate. Just when I was going to put it on the wall after brushing on the
paste, a man hurriedly walked toward me and stopped behind me. Both of my hands
were unfolding the flier upward along the wall. However the paste was frozen and
unable to make the flier stick. I knew that man was watching me and I felt a
little panic. I slowly folded the flier and turned around to give him a calm
glance. The man just looked around and didn't ask anything. I decided if he
asked, I would tell him it's Falun Gong's flier and I would clarify the truth to
him. "Nothing to fear! Master is with me." I carried my bucket and
walked away. Seeing I had left, the man left too. After he had gone far, I
returned and pasted the flier on the gate. My fear gradually became less and
less. Last year when the initial campaign to advise people to withdraw from the CCP
and its related organizations had started, I felt difficulties for a while. On
one occasion I spoke of withdrawing from the CCP to one of my neighbors who had
already read the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and
The Real Story of Jiang Zemin. This neighbor had been a member of the CCP
for over 30 years. I said to him, "You should withdraw from the CCP
quickly. The CCP is too corrupt and will soon be eliminated." He said,
"I agree with you that the CCP is corrupt. I know no one can solve the
problem. However, in this society, if you do not want to compete and become
corrupt, you will have no place to go. You Falun Gong are getting involved in
politics. You scold the CCP, Jiang Zemin and Mao Zedong. I have lived a long
time and have been a Party member for longer than you've been alive. I have
experienced much more than you. Merely based on your knowledge, how can you
convince me? Sooner or later society will eliminate you. Face reality!" I
felt profoundly sad hearing his words. I thought I would not talk to him again
and I disliked him. I had not yet been clarifying the truth for very long back
then and was afraid to meet a person like him again. Later I studied the Fa
at home for nearly 20 days and read the Nine Commentaries several times
and had a better grasp of the evil CCP. At the same time, I felt a Dafa
practitioner's urgency and responsibility. I knew I must face my attachment of
fear. I am Master's disciple. What was there for me to fear? That day I studied several of Master's articles, "Dafa Disciples'
Righteous Thoughts are Powerful" (April 24, 2001), "The Disciples'
Magnificence" (May 19, 2001), "Fa-Rectification Period Dafa
Disciples" (August 16, 2001). I felt immediately enriched by a formidable,
indestructible strength and had firm righteous thoughts. I knew Master was
strengthening me. My fear left. I immediately took truth-clarifying materials
and calmly and peacefully went to a village with two other practitioners. There were many people in the streets. We introduced ourselves as Falun Gong
practitioners and told them we came to tell them the truth. A few men started to
verbally attack us. Some people were affected by them and didn't want to listen
to us as well. They looked at us with hostility. One person said, "I do not
believe in anything except money. Nothing can be done without money. If your
Falun Gong is good, will you give me money? The CCP helped to build a bridge,
paved the road, gives us tax exemptions, and helps childless old people. What
has your Falun Gong given us?" Several people started to say speak up for
the CCP. Right then I heard the fellow practitioners sending forth righteous thoughts.
They almost spoke out the verse. I calmed down and stepped forward. I raised my
voice and told them two stories, "Red Eyed Stone Lion" and
"Selling Earth." Then I recited two of Master's articles, "Wealth
with Virtue" and "An Upright Person" (Essentials for Further
Advancement). After reciting, I started to tell them that we were good
people, cultivating according to Buddha law. I described the wonders of Dafa and
the wide dissemination of Dafa around the world. I gave the examples that Dafa
helped people gain good health and improve their virtue. I felt noble while
speaking. I forgot where I was and I felt I was speaking in another dimension, a
wide-open field without any people in front of me. At that moment, I felt my
body become gigantic and huge. My brain was filled with the Fa and my mind was
full of compassion. The wisdom was just pouring out of my mouth. Then I saw that most of people had started to smile. Practitioner A took over
and told of some persecution incidents--practitioners who cultivate
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance had suffered from brutal persecutions.
Practitioner B kept sending righteous thoughts. Then it was my turn again. I
started to talk about the CCP, how corrupt it is, how many people were
persecuted and have died during its many political movements, how good people
suffered and bad people ran rampant. I was in peace and harmony as I spoke. They
listened to me quietly. An old man kept nodding his head in agreement with me.
But the two men who were against us at the beginning still made sarcastic
comments. A woman told them, "I am tired of you two. Just go away!"
The two men did not have an effect on most of the others and surrounding people
understood Dafa was good. We started to distribute the materials and advised
people to withdraw from the CCP and its associated organizations. One person who
had squatted down and had listened to us all along said, "I think Falun
Gong is better than the CCP, no matter from which aspect. Falun Gong is quite
good." The two men who had initially accosted us had become silent by then. Then I recited Master's article, "Enlightenment" (Essentials for
Further Advancement). One person behind me asked loudly, with admiration,
"Ah, you are good. What is your educational background?" I said,
"Just now I recited my Master's article. I just have an elementary school
education." He didn't believe me and insisted I must be a college student.
He could not understand how the boundless Dafa manifested in me. People's
kindness came out. Some said, "You are working so hard, it must not be easy
for you." We said, "As long as you all understand the truth and will
be safe when any disasters happen, we will be very happy." The atmosphere then became harmonious. Later a fellow practitioner said to
me, "You are good at clarifying the truth to a big crowd. You may stay here
and continue. We'll go to visit people door to door." Local people
continuously came out of their homes to join us, to see what was going on. I
talked to each of them. Many people decided to quit the CCP and its related
organizations, using their real names. I wrote down their names. They didn't
seem to be afraid of anything and looked friendly. One of them brought me a mat and asked me to take a break and sit down.
Seeing their kind behavior after learning the truth, my heart was filled with
great compassion. Because I had to speak loudly at a high pitch when clarifying
the truth, my throat felt thirsty and tired. I told them many stories, which
taught people that doing good deeds is met with good rewards and being evil is
met with due retribution. As I was telling stories, a little girl ran toward me carrying a watermelon.
"This is from our family crop. Please have some. My dad said you spent so
much effort and didn't have a chance to have lunch. Also you've been talking so
much and it hurt your throat; please have some watermelon immediately." I was deeply moved. I held her in my arms and replied, "Thank all your
family. Please be sure to remember 'Falun Dafa is Good!
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good!' I cannot take your watermelon for
free. I'll give you ten yuan." The little girl continuously
shook her head and asked me to take it. She almost cried when I insisted on
paying her. I finally accepted the watermelon. The little girl left the watermelon with me and quickly ran away. My eyes
followed her, to see where she was headed. I found that it was her father who
had said, "Falun Dafa is Good!" He was smiling at me and looked humble
and pure. My eyes became wet. I knew it was their knowing side that was
expressing gratitude, and it was Master who was encouraging me. People become warm-hearted after they learn the truth. I felt extremely
sorrowful for those who are still deceived by the CCP. There are so many
kindhearted people out there, waiting for Dafa practitioners to rescue them.
They are still in danger; not because they are unkind, but because they are
hoodwinked by the lies and slander. We Dafa practitioners must endeavor our best
to sow the seeds of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" in their
hearts in order to offer them salvation. I sat down on the mat and shared several cultivation stories with them. They
showed great interest in these stories and didn't even want to go back home. One
of them said to me anxiously, "Falun Gong is indeed great. I also want to
learn. Can we find someone to learn from? Can you show us the exercises?" I
replied, "I can demonstrate one set of exercise if you wish to learn."
They were exceedingly happy! I demonstrated the fifth exercise very earnestly. Several people immediately
sat down on the ground to learn to cross their legs. Their faces were radiant
with joy. Being unable to cross their legs in the double lotus position, they
were anxious. Others were amused and laughed. The two fellow practitioners had by then finished talking to local people
door to door, and left early. Someone told a woman who was unkind to us earlier,
"Hurry up to get an amulet from them! You won't have a chance to get one
after they leave. See, now that all of us have one; you are the only one without
an amulet." That woman said, "I would feel embarrassed if I asked for
an amulet from them. I spoke so many unkind words. I don't think she will give
me one." I held her hand and said to her, "As long as you keep in mind
'Falun Dafa is Good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good!' I will give
you an amulet. Please, be sure to cherish it." The whole crowd was laughing
and the woman also smiled. I wished everyone good luck and said good-bye. I then caught up with the two
other fellow practitioners. As I looked back, all of them were standing there,
seeing me off and waving to me. Some of them said, "Come again next
time!" Another experience last winter made a deep impression on me. One day, several
practitioners and I went to the entrance of a high school to clarify the truth
and persuade people to quit the CCP. An elderly person kept staring at me. I
approached him and asked, "Are you a CCP member?" He replied bluntly,
"What's wrong with being a CCP member?" I told him, "Please keep
in mind, 'Falun Dafa is Good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is
Good!'" Before I was able to finish talking, he grabbed my neck with one
hand and hit me on the nose with his other hand. He glared at me and said,
"How dare you publicize Falun Gong in broad daylight! I think you want to
go to prison. Be careful. I may report you to the police!" As he was
speaking, he pushed me back harshly while still choking me. I said, "It is not wrong for me to ask you to keep in mind
'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good!' I didn't ask you to commit murder
or arson. Don't get so angry! Don't choke me, and I'll explain things to
you." Many people had gathered around us. Another elderly person who had learned
the truth came up to me and told me, "Do not talk to him if he doesn't want
to listen. Just go home." He dragged me away from that old man and said
"Go home! If you continue to argue with him here, more people will gather
around you. I suggest you go home quickly." Several fellow practitioners
also came up. I asked them whether they had sent forth righteous thought for me.
They replied that they forgot to do so. They also agreed that we should leave
immediately. The old man who had grabbed my neck was cursing me harshly when I
looked back. When we had an exchange of experiences afterwards, a practitioner
said, "That old man is the guard for that school. He often chased
practitioners who posted posters and tore down all the truth-clarification
posters around the school." Before long, I heard that the school had fired the old man. He went home to
grow crops. A few days ago I ran into him again at the farmers' market. He
probably has some sort of predestined relationship. He pretended that he didn't
know me. I went to buy vegetables from him. When I gave him money, I asked,
"Do you still remember me?" He gave me an embarrassed smile. I replied
with a smile, "Do not grab my neck again." Two other nearby grocery
vendors were amused, hearing our conversation. They came up and asked, "Did
he ever curse you before? How come you still buy groceries from him? Don't buy
from him if he has cursed you." I told them in a happy mood, "He got angry when I told him that Falun
Dafa is good and grabbed my neck." The old man lowered his head and smiled
with embarrassment. I told him sincerely, "If any Falun Gong practitioners
wants to give you something to read, do not treat them the way you used to treat
me. We are good people who follow 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.' Be sure
to keep in mind that Falun Dafa is good. What is shown on TV, such as the
'Tiananmen Square self-immolation' incident and murders [supposedly committed by
Falun Gong practitioners] are all frame-ups." He listened silently. Someone else came to buy groceries from him. I had to leave. Several days
later I went to buy vegetables from him again and tried to persuade him to quit
the CCP. He agreed to quit the CCP and thus made a good decision for a bright
future. In fact, the process of clarifying the truth and persuading people to quit
the CCP is a process of tempering ourselves and purifying ourselves. We
encounter all kinds of people, and we must interact with them in a calm and
dignified manner. We must remain unperturbed and be compassionate; only then can
we do well in truth clarification. For more than one year we've been persuading people to quit the CCP and have
encountered all kinds of people. Some cursed us; some wanted to report us to the
police; some wanted to drag us to the local government to argue with us; some of
them defamed Master; some of them drove us off. Of course, the majority of
people learned the truth and said, "Falun Dafa is good," from the
bottom of their hearts. Some of them asked us to stay for lunch or dinner; some
shook our hands to thank us; some supported us with the thumbs-up sign. No
matter what kind of person we encounter, we must have the unshakable, righteous
wish to rescue sentient beings, a great wish that radiates in all directions.
When our body is radiating with compassionate energy, the evil is bound to be
afraid. With no evil to control people, it is very natural for them to accept
the truth. During the past several years of cultivation I also experienced complacency
and the tendency to show off when I succeeded in persuading other people to quit
the CCP. Sometimes when other practitioners were doing very well I was jealous.
These attachments are deeply rooted. Sometimes I paid special attention to not
displaying the show-off mentality or jealousy; however, these habits were
developed deep in my heart. As I become more mature in cultivation, I try to
suppress them whenever they surface and maintain a serene and pure mind in
dealing with everything. When other practitioners are diligent in cultivation, I
feel happy for them from the bottom of my heart. When I run into conflicts with
practitioners, I learn to search inside myself. If I do anything wrong or have
the wrong mindset, I apologize to fellow practitioners. When I expose these
attachments, that is, the root of conflicts, I feel my whole world becomes
brighter and greater; at the same time, my body feels light in this physical
dimension. My heart also becomes much more tolerant. Fellow practitioners, let us correct every single thought at all times. As
soon as we find any strong attachment we must eliminate it; otherwise, it will
be extremely difficult to get rid of any of them as time passes by. Let's purify
ourselves in Dafa cultivation. We will be able to walk more steadily on our
cultivation path. In Zhuan Falun, Master taught the analogy of emptying a
dirty bottle. We should move forward diligently together and help Master with Fa-rectification
in this human realm, to rescue sentient beings and to do well in our
cultivation. We look forward to embracing the attachment-free day and
omission-free day when the Fa rectifies the human world. We look forward to
reaching consummation and returning home with Master with all our sentient
beings.
Chinese version available at
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2006/11/6/141697.html
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