Sunday, September 23, 2001
Today seemed like a party rather than a serious walk. Three walked all day, two from D.C. in the morning, an N.C. substitute before lunch, then back to the two D.C. practitioners. Made our way through Danville. Gave out many flyers to receptive Southerners. A southern Baptist minister was so thrilled with what we were doing, he wanted to buy me lunch.
Wrestling slightly with the balancing act of striving forward diligently versus pushing too hard. Crossed into North Carolina today. Will hit Reidsville tomorrow and follow along a route laid out by the North Carolina practitioners. Showered last night for the first time in four days. I was starting to get used to washcloth bathing in gas station bathrooms. Clean socks are definitely nice. I've got a blister on top of a blister on a little toe. Still breaking through the initial phase of the physical body adjusting, or shall say, karma dissolving.
I'm sleeping in a bed for the first time in quite a while. Actually, the floor is really quite comfortable these days, not so mushy and soft.
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Tuesday, September 25, 2001
"Validate the Fa."
"Actions reveal what is true."
"If every one of you can understand the Fa from the bottom of your heart, that will truly be the manifestation of the Fa whose power knows no boundary - the reappearance of the mighty Buddha Fa in the Human world!"
Resolute
Not acknowledging arrangements. When walking, pain and hardship appear in various places in the body, from the blistered toes, burning feet and aching knees, to throbbing hips. When acknowledging, and especially if my thoughts are dwelling or having grievances about them, it seems like torture. With a switch of the mind I calmly and peacefully dissolve them out of my thoughts. Then the tribulation ends. Later, sometimes very soon, another pain arises. Dwelling, again, keeps me in tribulation; calmly and peacefully letting go, I enter into another state. Sometimes the tribulation is so intense that I am unable to elevate my mind, and I wallow in the tribulation, my head in dark clouds. Arrangements...no, acknowledgements, step out from within.
Yesterday could only be described as glorious. Began walking alone two miles into North Carolina. Had to get a ride forward for an interview with a small town newspaper, the Reidsville Review. Afterwards, we met with two practitioners who came to join the walk. After lunch and experience sharing we got back to walking. Then another came to meet us. Thai, Augusto, and I then made our way towards Reidsville. Three, we've found, is a perfect number. The energy field is strong, and coverage down house-lined streets and business areas can be thorough and effective.
Our minds were clear, our hearts and steps light, as we shared stories along the rural road. We put flyers in every paper box, and on the outside of every mailbox (behind the flags) along the way, waved at passing cars, and talked briefly with each person we saw. Sometimes people came out of their houses, sometimes circumstances had them working outside or just pulling into the driveway. Anyway, never before had I experienced such a strong sense that each person you meet is some one to clarify the truth to. People with scowls on their faces could not maintain their negativity as our smiles were overwhelming. This day, it truly felt like a Dafa wave was rolling down the road; light and harmony sailing through. Xiao Jin stepped in for Augusto for the last couple of miles until we ended in Reidsville's downtown. That night we went to Greensboro for a study session. It was the first time I had heard Zhuan Falun read in Spanish. We met with the lone practitioner from Greensboro, one from Chapel Hill, and a couple from Durham.
Connecting practitioners. Back in Virginia, our group was privileged to stay with several practitioners, Jim in Mannassis, Shirley in Ruckersville, Shocktey in Charlottesville, and Amy and Duwan back in the DC area. Joshua was our guide and host in Charlottesville. So far, this journey has been a great opportunity for practitioners to "link up," share understandings, and solidify relationships.
Today, Augusto accompanied me out of Reidsville, and then I did the highway stretch alone to Greensboro. 23 miles today. Walking alone is a very different experience. With no one to share with, thoughts float in and out. Negativity and dark clouds try to settle in around my mind. Early this morning, I felt the dark substance of a "cloud" stuck on my head. The gap, which allowed this in was impatience; a re-occurring cultivation theme. No reason, just impatient. Wanting the course of nature to occur at my pace.
Was invigorated by practitioners from Raleigh who brought a freshly prepared home-cooked Chinese lunch. We ate next to their car in the driveway of a mechanic's shop along the highway and read Teacher's newest article, "Path," which was quite affirming for me. We must find our own way. Many tribulations, from practitioners, family, and friends tested me regarding starting this walk. But, it was the "Path" I knew I must take. Ultimately, all reasons aside, I knew that if I didn't begin this undertaking, I would have eternal regrets. My personal circumstances were right, as were physical state, cultivation level, and life preparatory experiences. Over and over, my cultivation tests have involved being true to myself, being true to my "Path." Troubles and difficult tribulations have invariably ensued when my guidance came from external sources, rather than being true to my path.
With each day, the level of support for this journey seems to grow. I'm finding, though, that often, the support is focused on me, to lessen my hardship, rather than support in the Fa-rectification process of clarifying the truth and spreading the Fa. With time, this will also be rectified, as this journey continues to blossom into an ever more effective Fa- rectification opportunity. As it was from the outset, this journey continues to be a leap of faith.
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Friday, September 28, 2001
This morning I walked the final couple of miles into downtown Winston-Salem. Yesterday was a long one, from just north of Greensbor to Winston. Was joined for a handful of hours with practitioners; a sixth grader, eighth grader, and a ninth grader. Each walking companion creates a different set of group dynamics. Wednesday the 26th was the first press conference in North Carolina on the University of North Carolina in Greensboro campus. Drew hosted us. It was held in front of the main library outside on the grass. About ten practitioners were there, demonstrating the exercises and handing out flyers. Three TV stations were there, and all have since run stories on the local 6:00 pm or 11:00 pm news. Today, we had another press conference in Winston-Salem, with one of the stations coming again for a follow-up. Looks like they will continue the story until we are out of the state.
This evening I ended the day in Clemmons, NC with a short nap on a bench in front of city hall. A policeman came up and began to tell me that a complaint call had been placed and I would need to leave. Then a smile came over his face as he recognized that I was the one from the TV story. His tone lightened completely, no problem anymore. Dafa found him, that's for sure.
Three women walked with me for five miles today after the press conference. Still find three to be the perfect number. And, still hope that practitioners move their attention away from the walk itself towards fully utilizing the opportunities it presents to clarify the truth and offer salvation. Americans understand a walk, they understand the conviction it takes, and it adds weight to the message.
Wednesday night I stayed at the house of a friend of Falun Gong; a couple who had learned the exercises but who are not cultivating. This was opportunity to spend time with non-practitioners, to touch base with those caught up in normal life, despite having the opportunity to cultivate right in front of them. Sad.
Willpower, determination, and overcoming the karmic load coming out of the body remains a primary theme. As is being resilient to the attacks of interference which press negativism into my mind. "Staying on top of things" is being tested more intensely than ever for me. Falling off from a 'right mind' has painful consequences.
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Saturday, September 29, 2001
Saturday. Bit of a parade today, leaving Clemmons, seven of us. I have mentioned to several practitioners now to write about their experiences whenever they walk along. Hope this can happen. I experience this walk through my eyes, my attachments, and my body. These are limited...Fatigue remains the main difficulty, physical and mental, or, actually, it's all just mental, no differentiation. Believe for the first day yet, I didn't notice specific pain emanating from my multi-blistered little toes.
The youngest practitioner yet joined us today, Karen, seven years old. Children are such a delight...
The leaves are beginning to change. Fall is in the air. A breakthrough waits to bring me out of the strong influence of fatigue.
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Sunday, September 30, 2001
Breakthrough today. Decided to use the opportunity to study with NC practitioners today, so took a pause from walking and went to Durham. Proved fruitful. The extra reading time within the group environment, as well as the opportunity to share moved me through the heavy mental fatigue I was experiencing. Recognized three states of mind, the fatigued and unclear mind, the peaceful mind, and the righteous mind. Of course there are varying levels of each, but this is what I recognized. Only the righteous mind has the Fa's power to cut through the old-force arrangements with the true dignity of Dafa. Realized I was being overcome with the effects of the powerful factor (here in the USA that is) of apathy. My thoughts were of concern whether or not we would get press coverage at this time rather than facing the attachments in this less than righteous thinking and cutting through the arrangements with pure and simple thoughts. Of course we should receive coverage! This is Dafa! This is the most important story to cover! No waiting on external factors. Realized how muddled my mind had become. So easily and subtly it comes in, gradually pervading all thoughts. Recognized also that with a group walking I had been leaving out my normal routine for sending out righteous thoughts, which I would normally do three times during the course of walking each day. The "party" atmosphere had led me into a state of complacency. Circumstances in the USA are quite different than China, comfort and complacency layer themselves upon us. Continue to notice the layers of intolerance that appear towards other practitioners. My higher expectations for practitioners create a critical mindset that must be rectified. I have experienced other states, where I found anything, no matter how small, that was done for the Fa to be glorious. On this walk, though, my criticalness is being worn out. We each have our own path and circumstances.
Category: Rallies & Protests
