(Minghui.org) Having read the “Fa Teaching Given at the 2016 New York Fa Conference” where Master once again mentioned the issue of explaining the facts clearly, I understand that if we are not solid in clarifying the truth, it will not really achieve the purpose of saving people. This has become a common phenomenon when clarifying the truth.
I saw that many practitioners were not solid nor attentive enough when they explained the facts. After people agreed to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its related organizations, some practitioners ended the conversation by telling them that they will be safe when they remember Falun Dafa is good. However, they did not explain further why Dafa is good, nor did they tell people the reason not to hate Dafa, etc.
As a result, although many people have renounced their membership in the Party and its affiliated organizations, they are not truly saved because they did not completely understand Dafa.
Requirements from Master
How are we to clarify the facts to people?
Master has mentioned in various conferences on what we need to cover when we explain the facts, so that sentient beings can be saved: What is Falun Gong, why the CCP wants to persecute Falun Gong, and what is the CCP, how one should conduct oneself, and the fundamental effect of practicing. We must also negate the slander such as the "self-immolation hoax" and the “siege” of Zhongnanhai.
These few areas can be seen in the following Fa teachings:
“We don't recognize this persecution. In the process of clarifying the truth, we will tell the world's people why Falun Gong is being persecuted, what Falun Gong is, and what that political party is. Whoever it is that has persecuted Dafa disciples should be exposed and the malignant influence that has spread among the minds of the world's people should be cleared away.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York”)
“Falun Gong's profound teachings are impossible for ordinary people to understand, and they cannot be told at high levels. If you want to introduce Dafa in a direct manner, your informational materials should explain the most simple and plain points, such as what Falun Gong is. Talk about Falun Gong at a simple and basic level, such as how to conduct yourself and how effective the exercises are. No matter how many years you spend clarifying the facts, that is the most fundamental content that you always need to explain.” (“Fa Teaching Given at the Fa Conference Marking the Tenth Anniversary of the Minghui Website’s Founding”)
“...And this is the reason Dafa disciples are to clarify the truth. The goal is to get rid of the evil’s lies, to enable people to see the CCP’s true face, to clear away the sins committed by people against Gods and Buddhas, and to thereby save the world’s people.” (“The Ultimate Goal of Clarifying the Truth” from The Essentials of Diligent Progress VOL. III)
In the past year, I followed Master's requirements and realized that when I covered these areas, people's attitudes changed completely, from opposition and hostility to approval and gratitude.
Clarifying the Basic Facts
Clarifying the basic facts to sentient beings requires more time, but once they grasp it, they will be saved.
Here is how I clarify the truth to sentient beings when I make phone calls. This can also be used to explain the facts face-to-face.
I first start with “Have you heard of Falun Gong? Falun Gong is good. Do you know that the Tiananmen self-immolation is a hoax?”
If they are willing to listen, I continue. “I tell you this not for you to learn Falun Gong, but because it is a Buddha Fa. If we hate it, disasters will happen.”
I discovered that these words are important because many people in China are wary of each other, and afraid that we are trying to trick them somehow. This helps to dispel their suspicion.
Next, I say, “Falun Gong has two basic effects: one’s conduct and good health. So, why did Jiang Zemin ban the practice? He talks about deceit, evil, and strife, and he is the most corrupt official in China.”
“He is also very jealous. When he saw that a hundred of million people had obtained a healthy body through the practice, he became envious and banned it. He also made up many lies.”
“Take the Tiananmen self-immolation as an example. It was a hoax. Jiang's regime hired people to stage it. Those few people said that they practice Falun Gong, and poured gasoline on themselves and lit themselves on fire.”
“At that moment, police put out the fire with extinguishers that they had with them. Think about it, why were policemen carrying around fire extinguishers while patrolling the area? If the police needed to retrieve fire extinguishers, they would need at least ten minutes. By then, these few people would have burned to death. So, isn't this a hoax?”
At this point, many would reply, “Yes, you're right.”
Next I discuss April 25. If they are willing to listen, I talk about rumors reported on television such as people not allowed to take medicine and doomsday prophecies. Many people are shocked to learn that they had been deceived.
Effects of Clarifying and Not Clarifying the Basic Truths
When I cover these issues, many people separate themselves from the evil. I have observed that some practitioners do not place an importance on clarifying the basic truth, and others do not even mention it. Their priority was to bless the sentient beings so that their illnesses could be cured.
Because of this, some people misunderstood Dafa. I once heard a practitioner go on and on about blessings, which caused the person to mumble “weird and incomprehensible” as he left.
I have seen that many people are fine if we talk for a long time, as we are following the Fa's requirement to save them. They listen attentively and some even express an interest to read the Falun Gong books.
After these people understand the truth, they can then tell their relatives and friends. By doing so, they are also accumulating blessings. If they do not really understand what Falun Gong is, how could they fulfill their vows to spread Dafa to others? We directly impact how sentient beings fulfill their vows if we do not do well.
Two days ago, I went out with a practitioner to spread the Fa. The practitioner ran into two acquaintances, and one was seriously ill.
The practitioner persuaded both of them to quit the CCP. The practitioner started to give them amulets and was about to tell them to remember Dafa is good before ending the conversation.
When I saw this, I quickly went up and asked the acquaintances what they knew about Falun Gong and the self-immolation hoax. They were surprised to find out that the self-immolation was a hoax as I talked to them about it.
The practitioner told me that she had never spoken to them in detail about the basic facts. Three days later I met the practitioner again. She said that she has started to clarify the basic facts to people.
She told me that she met a woman who had some illnesses. The woman has quit the CCP, but does not understand Dafa. She spent quite some time to clear up the woman's doubts. Finally the woman said, “Now I understand what Falun Gong is.”
The practitioner also said she explained the facts to a taxi driver, who gladly accepted the truth-clarification materials after listening.
There was another passenger in the taxi, who also listened attentively. The practitioner did not pay attention to the passenger, since she was focused on the driver. The passenger seemed anxious when he was about to reach his destination. He started to ask questions and requested for truth clarification materials.
The practitioner was astonished by how much people are longing for the truth.
My Personal Understanding
I have found that when I study the Fa well in the morning, I receive very good results when I clarify the truth in the afternoon. If I do not study the Fa or send forth righteous thoughts, no one I call on the phone listens to me and many hang up. Some even swear at me.
We need to be flexible when we clarify the truth. Some sentient beings may not have the patience to listen, may refuse to listen, or do not have the time. In these cases, it is nearly impossible to clarify the facts well to them.
If not for practitioners who have laid the foundation by distributing the materials again and again to sentient beings, it would be extremely hard to tell them the facts clearly in one attempt, as many will not listen.
I also understand that when clarifying the truth, it is actually Master who is doing everything. We need to have sufficient righteous thoughts. I have often not done well myself, as I have been lazy and not persistent.
I also enlightened that we must be serious when saving people and put in our best effort. I made 50 phone calls today and no one quit the CCP, even though every one of my calls was made with strong righteous thoughts. It may be that these sentient beings are poisoned too deeply. If there are subsequent opportunities, we can continue to try to save them.
However, if I carry very strong human notions when I make calls, I might be lucky to have a person who wishes to quit the CCP. This is not my mighty virtue as this call was not made by me, a cultivator, but by an everyday person with human notions. I would be going against my vows.
The above is my personal experience. If there is anything inappropriate, please kindly point it out.
