[Minghui Net ]
Since the self-immolation incident that took place in Tiananmen Square this Chinese Spring Festival [January 23], it seems that evil has run rampant again. Many people feel that the darkness and vicious forces of "July 20" in 1999 seem to have recurred. In the first couple of days, I myself also had some new feelings, among which was obviously the disgust and contempt for the wicked forces. After calming myself down, my sense of rationality dominated me again. I realized that our benevolent Teacher cherishes every living being, as many practitioners who have done wrong deeds need relevant opportunities and tribulations to make compensations; many veteran practitioners who stepped forward at a later time need more time and relevant tribulations so that they can establish their mighty virtue; many practitioners who have stepped forward still have many things left unenlightened and attached to, which allowed much room for their improvement; many people in society who can be saved still consider all this to have nothing to do with them, or do not have the chance to discern the truth from this suppressive campaign against Falun Gong. It is certain that there might be some deeper reasons in the Fa-rectification of the universe. However, this seemingly repetitive scene of darkness and vicious forces, in a great sense of many aspects, is a very precious opportunity. In essence, the material elements those wicked forces were dependent on have been completely eliminated in the 9 months [from July 20, 1999 to March 2000] after the "July 20" incident. For what is left, no matter how forceful and strong they appear, they can hardly carry the same strength as 19 months [from July 20, 1999 until now] ago. Therefore, this opportunity is extremely precious for all beings.
During the first 9 months, in order for us to pass the test, Teacher did not say a single word. This time, however, Teacher published, "Rectifying the Colossal Firmament": "How could the evil run rampant any longer? Every single being's volition is fully revealed. How could any being be outside this calamity? I behold with a smile all of the Gods being unwise." As for the little tiny beings in the immense colossal firmament like myself, this has already been a great inspiration that is hard to express with words.
I am among those who stepped forward to protect Dafa [the great law of the universe] at the earlier time. With regard to how to perceive the current big environment, and how to strive for a better result for both individuals and group in the face of this new test, we recently had a discussion and experience sharing. In the following, I'd like to share my understanding with more fellow practitioners concerning the question mentioned in our discussion, i.e., the basis of our way of thinking and the effect it produces in our actual work.1. "Having your heart unaffected you will be able to handle all situations" ["Eliminate Your Last Attachment(s)"], Dafa is our Fundamental Basis.
Dafa practitioners make-up an absolutely minor portion either in the world, or in the Chinese population. During the brutal persecution of Falun Gong in the last 19 months in China, more than 150 practitioners have been persecuted to death, hundreds of practitioners have been sentenced to jail, and tens of thousands of practitioners have been arrested or detained without due legal process. However, Falun Dafa has not been overwhelmed. Instead, it has become stronger and stronger, and has become widely accepted and supported by people around the world. The core reason does not lie in tangible methods, instead, it depends on the fact that every practitioner keeps Dafa in his/her heart, and when needed, every practitioner naturally safeguards Dafa and uses Dafa to guide his/her conduct. This is why there occurred ten thousand practitioners appealing outside Zhongnanhai [the Chinese leaders' compound] in 1999, and this is also the reason why thousands of Dafa practitioners who appealed in Tiananmen Square on Chinese New Year's Day did not carry their ID cards with them and refused to tell their names when arrested and questioned, and this is also the fundamental reason why many Dafa practitioners stepped forward to clarify the truth to the public simultaneously and wholeheartedly.
No matter how many more incidents trumped up by Jiang Zemin's group against us and how many more lies they make to deceive the public, we will definitely base ourselves in Dafa, "validate the Fa with reason, clarify the truth with wisdom, spread the Fa and offer people salvation with benevolence." ("Rationality") and "Having your heart unaffected you will be able to handle all situations" ["Eliminate Your Last Attachment(s)"]. Only if we are clear-minded and determined with Dafa, can we have enough confidence to adopt various flexible ways to deal with specific problems, and do well what we should do. Meanwhile, at the bottom of our hearts, we do not attach to any forms, and we will also not be influenced and manipulated by any stormy waves stirred up by the evil forces, much less be fooled into the specific way of thinking they contrive.
Take the recent self-immolation incident as an example. We are all clear that it was a frame-up concocted by the oppressors. It is however extremely effective for a country to frame some ordinary people, and the victims cannot have their innocence restored until the day of redress. Therefore, rather than using energy and time to testify our innocence, it would be better "when you take a step back in a conflict, you will find the seas and the skies boundless..." [Lecture Nine, in Zhuan Falun] Observe the fundamental nature through the phenomena, point out the fundamental nature and raise doubts, and then make the other party cleanse themselves, and further invite a third party to make an independent investigation. Bearing the truth in heart and viewing things in a macroscopic perspective are the everlasting superiority of Dafa cultivators. However, being able to mobilize a lot of state resources is only a temporary preponderance of the one who usurps state power.
2. Pay Attention to the Effects While Clarifying the Truth and Exposing Evil
Either clarifying the truth to the public or exposing the evil, we do them for the sake of Dafa and for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is therefore very important to let the public understand our intentions and our essential points. Otherwise, it will not assume any function in validating Dafa, suffocating the evil and offering people salvation.
The principles of Dafa rely directly upon us to spread it to the general public. But when people are exposed to Dafa, whether they can understand or are willing to accept it is solely determined by their own thoughts rather than by our wishes. We can only lead others to Dafa, it is up to their heart to accept it. In the meantime, we should also fully conform to the state of everyday people, and be considerate to them, so that we can find out the most comprehensible and acceptable ways to express what we expect people to know. While saying what we want to say, it is obviously inappropriate to consider those who cannot understand what we mean, as lacking enlightenment or having little predestined relationship. Looking back at our own experiences in obtaining Dafa and our cultivation practice, we all know how necessary it is to be kind, tolerant and benevolent. Otherwise, who knows where we would be drifting around today.
If people can accept Dafa and become practitioners, it would be the best result. If not, they can still be regarded as people who are savable, and who can remain as human beings in the future. Therefore, for the future of people, we might as well take a step back, and kindly help them to choose morality, laws and systems and rationality, and then uphold morality and kind thoughts. Further, we can figure out a way that is suitable for their aptitude to help them support human rights and laws and systems, and oppose the persecutions. This way of thinking is adoptable to individuals, groups and even a country.
3. Inspire People from All Circles of Society to Use Their Knowledge and Experience to Understand and Support Dafa
"No Dharma is definitive." [Lecture One, Zhuan Falun] In our views, all the truly beautiful things people pursue are the manifestation of "Zhen- Shan- Ren [Truthfulness- Compassion-Tolerance]" at a certain level within the Triple World [heaven, Earth and the underworld]; while Jiang Zemin's persecution of Dafa is equal to the destruction of the most essential morality and the assault of all truly beautiful things in the ordinary human world. Therefore, if people can pursue and support those beautiful things, they can take a stand on Dafa's side; when they defend those beauties, they are safeguarding Dafa; when they oppose the persecution against beautiful things, they are, to some extent, opposing Jiang Zemin, and his persecution of Dafa.
With regard to those who are temporarily unable to directly understand Dafa but are still savable, they often have their specialized fields of knowledge, social experiences and key questions that genuinely appeal to them. If we can be considerate and flexible in choosing the methods, we can achieve maximum effect. What is worth emphasizing is that it is essentially different from accommodating others in order to gain personal profits in the ordinary human world, because we are based in Dafa and it is solid like diamond and unmovable. Our specific goals are of altruism.
I just stopped here due to the length of the article. I hope it can offer a few common remarks to inspire your thoughts. And I also hope to see more fellow practitioners' experiences apply this way of thinking. Please kindly correct and point out what is insufficient and incorrect in the article.
Falun Dafa Practitioner from North America
February 23, 2001
