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Abandoning My Ego -- Going to Hong Kong to Clarify the Facts and Validate the Fa
By a Falun Dafa practitioner from Taiwan
(Clearwisdom.net) It's been nearly a year since I last went to Hong Kong
to clarify the facts. I gained much insight from this Hong Kong trip
and would like to share my experience with everyone. I was one of the practitioners the Hong Kong government unreasonably
repatriated last year on July 1, the anniversary of the founding of the Chinese
Communist Party. After I returned to Taiwan, I re-applied for a Hong Kong visa
many times but was refused. I submitted about nine applications, including those
for a short-term visa, long-term visa and Taiwanese travel documents through
different travel agencies in three different counties or cities. Hong Kong
immigration officials heaped additional paperwork on me for various reasons and
then rejected my applications. I thought that if my job prevented me from traveling to Hong Kong, it would
not be my fault. I could remain in Taiwan to clarify the facts. The timing at
work turned out to be favorable, but my lack of visa prevented me from going.
From a practitioner's point of view, since the old forces dared not to block our
clarifying the facts, my attachments must be what was blocking my going forward.
The only thing I could do was to look inward. Each time my application was rejected, I found an attachment, just like
peeling an onion, layer by layer, as Master mentioned. Nevertheless, my visa
application was still rejected. I was worried. I thought that I had strong
righteous thoughts, indeed wanted to go to Hong Kong to clarify the facts and
didn't have any fear. I knew it would be quite laborious to go to Hong Kong, but
I didn't mind. Where was my problem? I became worried. I realized that worrying is incorrect and asked myself why I would worry--was
it about being unable to offer people salvation, or for some other reason?
Recalling the Fa, as if Master was giving me a hint, a paragraph I frequently
read through was, "... whether you are validating the Fa or validating
yourself." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference
in New York") One day I suddenly realized my deeply hidden attachment--trying to validate
myself. I looked for the root cause of "validating myself." I had
coordinated several projects and needed to speak frequently. I also frequently
heard words of praise from practitioners. I understood that to a practitioner,
words of praise were a test and so I reminded myself not to be affected by them.
But that righteous thought was not always there. I became unconsciously
arrogant, felt my understanding should be relatively better than that of other
practitioners, and unconsciously put on airs while speaking. While hosting the
Fa-study, I talked more. I would express my opinions without waiting for others
to finish during discussions with practitioners. Fellow practitioners kindly
pointed this out a couple of times by commenting, "The coordinator has
taken up all the time with her talking; there is not enough time for our
sharing." Or, "At the beginning your sharing is good, but later we
felt you said too much." Or, "When working with you, you seem to be
like someone in upper management." For a long time I thought it sounded like someone else's problem and did not
want to face my inflated ego. I couldn't bear for someone to say I did not have
righteous thoughts, because that would make me lose face. If my visa were
approved, wouldn't that prove the strength of my righteous thoughts? Having
found these faults I suddenly awakened! Validating the Fa and offering salvation
to all sentient beings is such a serious thing. And I validated myself. After finding this attachment, I felt suddenly enlightened. I eliminated that
bad thought repeatedly for several days, facing my wrong mindset, and sent
righteous thoughts to eliminate it. I still did not give up on the visa
application, but my state of mind was different. I no longer pursued it and let
Master arrange it. Not long after, my visa was approved and I decided to immediately go to Hong
Kong. The day before my departure, several project coordinators discussed a
matter that needed to be resolved as soon as possible, and it would be best to
have a meeting to make a decision in two days. They asked whether I could cancel
my Hong Kong trip. I had some hesitation. Both matters seemed equally important.
I decided not to change my Hong Kong trip. I was convinced the practitioners
would be able to deal with that matter very well without me. I could not
intentionally or unintentionally prove my importance. The project meeting time changed several times, and later on, everyone
decided to postpone the meeting to the night of my return to Taiwan. I went to
Hong Kong and joined the Taiwan meeting the night I returned. Neither matter was
impacted. I understood that when one lets go of an attachment, Master will make
the best arrangements for us. While passing through Hong Kong Customs, it suddenly seemed like a voice
talking to me, "Any behavior of trying to prove oneself in Dafa is very
silly, very disrespectful. A being should be humble in Dafa, gaining naturally
without pursuit." I wanted to cry and recalled what Master said, "If
they are not cleaned out, how can you, with such an impure, dark body and a
filthy mind, practice cultivation toward a higher level?" (Lecture One,
Zhuan Falun) I realized a practitioner must let go of attachments and be free of pursuit,
to assimilate into Dafa without pursuit; only then will the supernatural power
of Dafa unfold in us. I held Heshi in my heart and said sincerely, "Your
disciple understood, Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!" My time in Hong Kong was brief, but I was touched. There were fewer
practitioners in Hong Kong, but there were a lot of precious Chinese from the
Mainland visiting. Master arranged those predestined people to be at our spots.
No matter whether we were sending righteous thoughts, holding a banner,
distributing truth-clarification materials or telling the facts face to face,
those people who got off the buses were looking at us silently. They seemed to
not be coming for sightseeing, rather to hear the truth. Hong Kong practitioners
had been in that kind of environment for a long time, and had cleaned out that
field quite considerably. However, relatively fewer practitioners are in various Hong Kong spots. Many
places lack manpower to pull the cart back and forth, and set up banners and
posters every day. Hundreds of Mainland Chinese coming to us for the truth
requires manpower to clarify the facts, distribute the materials and hold the
posters. Time is short. We will miss certain opportunities to offer salvation to
people if we don't have enough manpower. We had nine practitioners to clarify
the facts together at a scenic spot. We did well. When the Chinese tourists got
back on their buses, most of them had heard the facts from practitioners or
received truth-clarification materials. They would smile at us and we read in
their eyes: Falun Gong is really remarkable. Some, however, would refuse to
accept what we had to offer. As long as we did not let these people influence us
and sent righteous thoughts together, those people would become silent. As soon
as we started to clarify the facts, people would slow their footsteps to listen
to us. As soon as we held the posters up, people would turn around, watching. We
need Dafa practitioners to do all these things. When done for the day, I helped to put the posters on the cart and tied them
up. Even for a tall girl like me it was hard work. I asked a Hong Kong
practitioner who would pull the cart if no one was on hand to help. She smiled
and pointed at another practitioner, which meant it would be that practitioner
and herself. I looked at them; the two of them together would just about equate
my body size. It made me understand they would be unable to accomplish
this--year in and year out, in all weather--had they not genuinely understood
the Fa from the Fa, having a practitioner's firm will, comprehending the
importance of offering sentient beings salvation. Whenever I recall that, I am
reminded I must diligent. On each previous departure from Hong Kong, the practitioners there would
always urge us to convey to other Taiwanese practitioners: "Please, more of
you come; come to Hong Kong again." Regarding the term "supporting
Hong Kong to clarify the facts," I have a different feeling this time. I
believe that clarifying the facts in Hong Kong is also our Taiwanese
practitioners' responsibility. We are conveniently located, a short distance
away. This is a historical arrangement. I also believe that our Taiwanese
practitioners have made the vow to support clarifying the facts in Hong Kong and
other places around the world. We have to fulfill our vow. The above sharing is limited by my understanding. Please, kindly point out
any mistakes. June 6, 2008
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