I have practiced Falun Dafa for over 3 years and now live in New Jersey. I'd like to share some of my experiences in spreading the Fa. My family moved to the US from Ukraine under the former Soviet Union. How to spread Dafa among Russian-speaking communities has remained a concern in my mind. Before I moved to this country, I had worked as a journalist, editor, and had done ads and radio work. I had experience communicating with others and was good at writing. To some extent, all these are a great help to me.
To spread the Fa among the Russian circle is not easy. The population is sparsely distributed and small in number. There was only one Russian store and a small restaurant in the local area. I used to put translated Dafa materials (with my contact information) in the store. People took them but no one called. In the 7-story building where we lived, my husband and I visited every Russian household (of course, we also visited American families), and introduced Dafa to them and left them materials. Obviously, that was not enough. No one showed interest. To my understanding, there were several reasons:
Firstly, Russian immigrants did not have access to various spiritual trends and religions. For more than 80 years, the former Soviet communism promoted atheism in education, which became a state policy. In addition, most Russian immigrants are Jewish, because only Jewish people were entitled to "asylum status" and could enter the United States legally. They could also bring in their direct relatives, who in turn could bring in their direct relatives, etc. The Russians and other nationalities in the former Soviet Union did not have this privilege. They could enter the US in name of religion or something else, but never on a large scale. Therefore, the major target of spreading the Fa among Russian communities is the Jewish people. But they believe in Judaism. Only in the US did the Jewish of the former Soviet Union have access to orthodox Jewish religion and religious rituals. Therefore, religion attracted a large number of Jewish people. They tried to observe the tradition and worship in Jewish synagogues. In this way, they believed that they had their own belief and their own God.
This is a practical difficulty in spreading the Fa among the Russian-speaking population. Another more important and more hidden reason is: in what mood and with what intent should I introduce Dafa to others. The energy field of the person spreading Dafa should cover everyone in the audience and the well-cultivated part should fully manifest itself and speak out. I used to not understand this point. Instead, I had always been pondering why I could not do well. In my work place, I made great efforts to spread Dafa. Though people showed interest occasionally, it would disappear shortly after. Apparently, I was too eager to convince others and I was too attached to it. It's almost as if I was persuading others to believe me. I had constantly reminded myself of this point, but no progress was made. Dafa exists regardless of whether people know it or not or believe it or not. Dafa is magnificent and incorporates everything. My task is to show benevolence and let people know Dafa, not to prove myself as correct or show how much I know (the truth of Dafa is subjective existence). I should be very sincere, and give full attention to the other party I'm talking with and the questions he or she has. I should become a channel through which the voice of Dafa can be heard, and the glorious radiance and warmth of Dafa and its mighty righteousness can be fully displayed, so that the other party is experiencing exquisite beauty. Whoever has the predestined relationship will echo to the message. For those who do not have it, I have no way to change their destiny..
With that in mind, I believed the opportunity would arrive sooner or later. Since I was busy handling another Dafa-related issue, it was constantly delayed.
One day, a practitioner from New Jersey called me and said there was a way to get in contact with an editor of a Russian radio station. Several days later, another practitioner called me and also talked about a radio station. The one she supplied covers 3 large states and has a much larger audience than the previous one. I understood instantly: time had arrived. After a phone reservation, the radio station gave me 45 minutes of live broadcasting time.
I made meticulous preparations and consulted veteran practitioners who had a lot of experience in spreading the Fa. We watched the videotape for spreading Dafa and prepared an outline of my talk. I was full aware that if I had not enough confidence and did not feel backed up by the mighty Falun Dafa, no paperwork could help me out. Dafa can answer all questions. I was only a particle of Dafa, a drop of water in an ocean.
I took me two hours to arrive at the radio station. I rehearsed in the bus, asking and answering questions to myself. I tried to contain my excitement and eliminate attachment. But I still felt nervous. Stepping out of the subway, I had to walk for another 20 minutes. It was chilly in the street, raining and windy. The little umbrella I took with me did not work and I was fully soaked by the rain. Inside, however, I felt very warm. I walked up to the fifth floor and waited in the room. The broadcasting had lasted for 3 hours. My program was inserted in the 4th hour and I was the last one to speak. People in the room joked and hustled with all kinds of work. I could not help thinking: Gosh, they had no idea what I'm going to do here. At a second thought, I told myself not to think that way.
Pretty soon my turn came. I sat before the microphone very confidently. The director, told me to put my paperwork aside. He said that talking on the radio show should be casual and impromptu.
At first, they gave me 5 minutes to introduce Falun Dafa. Then the host took over the topic. I had the feeling that although I was sitting in that room, I was also in another separate dimension where he could not affect me. The director was enthusiastic in creating debate and refutation, and put me in a dilemma. It's not because they did not respect our Teacher or myself, but because of their professional habit of wanting to make the program entertaining. They asked questions like, "What does your Teacher live on?" "Isn't self-examination and looking into oneself a process of self destruction?" "How do Falun Dafa practitioners spend their daily life?" "Isn't that kind of life boring?" "Do Falun Dafa practitioners have sense of humor, which I believe is the most beautiful feeling of human beings?" The questions poured one by one. But I did not feel nervousness or lack of confidence at all because my voice in the other dimension was so firm, serene, and full of confidence. At that moment, I felt I was fully displaying the nice things I had cultivated over the years. The director said, "For example, there's only one copy of Zhuan Falun left in this world. The book happened to be in your daughter's hand. You love your daughter, right?" "Yes," I replied sincerely in a gentle voice. "Your daughter's life is in danger. Now you have two choices: to rescue your daughter or the book? If you rescue your daughter, then no one in this world will have a chance to read Zhuan Falun, and the world will not turn better. If you rescue the book, then you will lose your daughter. How will you make the choice?"
The question made me uneasy. Then I immediately realized that I did not necessarily have to follow his train of thought. I said: "We don't have to make assumptions. Falun Dafa is not a game, but a very serious matter. Falun Dafa is very precious to me, it's probably the most precious to me. I hope my daughter will make the same choice as I do." To my surprise, the director was very satisfied with my answer, and did not insist in getting an answer to his question. As the program went on, my answers to the audiences' questions became more and more concise. Dafa was illuminating my thought. All kinds of my thoughts were arranged in good order and my talking became very easy.
The director suddenly said: "Please look at the screen. The red stripes indicate the audiences' call-ins. They hope to ask questions. Do you want to connect with them?" "Of course," I replied. The first question was from a man. He asked, "Please tell me, if I became a Falun Dafa practitioner, could I still buy luxurious suits? Or would I have to buy shabby ones? If I became a Falun Dafa practitioner, then must I live a simple life?" I thought I had probably made a mistake by misleading him on the question of "looking into oneself." Then I answered, "If you can afford, why don't you buy good-quality suits that you like. The problem is not what kind of suits you buy, but how you consider the issue, or, how buying a suit matters to you. For example, are you strongly looking to wear something better and more expensive than others do, and to show that off? This is where it matters." At that moment, a question flashed through my mind: "Why did the person pick up such a trivial issue? Why not ask something more important?" Then I immediately got the answer: people start with questions of their daily concern and from the surface. If they can get to know Dafa from here, they will become mature pretty soon. Through these kinds of questions, they could also get enlightened to very important principles. He was the one who made the phone call and asked questions. This is very significant by itself. But he was also very touched by the answer to his question. This is even better and more significant!!
The director said, "According to what you said, you have some thoughts to make the world better. Is that possible?" I answered, "As far as I know, we should start with ourselves. By changing ourselves, we can also change the world. The external laws and regulations cannot match the power of benevolent hearts. If everyone knows what is good and what is bad, and none of them conduct bad deeds against their conscience, then the world will change." The host then rebuked, "Change ourselves, looking into ourselves -- this is self destruction!" Then an idea flashed into my mind, "No argument. Don't argue. Don't let sentimentality get the upper hand." I replied, "I believe looking inside ourselves is creation, real self-transformation, and a very difficult and most beautiful thing. To eliminate our own bad habits in our thinking and to examine ourselves isn't that human behavior?" In fact, that was not accurate. That was not what I exactly wanted to say but at that time, I had no better choice.
Then I decided to take the initiative, especially when the party sitting across me said: "What we are discussing here is not of any appeal to Russians. As we know, China shares a lot in common with Russia. Russia also mistreats whoever who disobeys. And there arise dissidents. The communist system brought tremendous disasters to the republics of the former Soviet Union. As you know, that system is what China is currently implementing." Then he touched on the "self-immolation" event, and it seemed Falun Gong practitioners were involved and they protested. Then he talked about "blind superstition." I almost interrupted his talking and said, "We are definitely sure that those people who set themselves on fire were not Falun Gong practitioners. No evidence showed that they were. On the contrary, our Falun Dafa book clearly points out that "Killing is prohibited, and suicide is also categorized as killing." I said, "The media has published a lot of articles about this incident and many articles pointed out several types of strange phenomenon accompanying the incident. They made people realize just how suspicious and pitiful it was to create such an incident. With regard to "blind superstition", I said, "It's not blind superstition, but sincere faith and righteous belief."
Then, an ill-willed voice said, "I often see a group of practitioners in sitting meditation when I take the walk in the morning. I want to tell you that it will sooner or later turn into commercial advertisement. It will involve money and form into sects and secret societies and it will lead people astray" He then went on with his talking. But I did not feel irritated, excited, or bitter. I simply felt painful and pitiful, because another being had missed the Great Law of the Universe. He did not even want to learn about it. I said very peacefully, "Falun Dafa is not a sect or secret society. We do not have any worshipping, rituals, membership, or required ceremony. What's most important is that Falun Dafa has nothing to do with money. In our practice, all activities are free of charge and voluntary. There are no commercial activities. Our teacher asks us to concentrate on cultivation; not to follow bureaucratic practices or get involved in commercial activities."
"As for the argument of misleading the people, it is absolutely not the case. The practitioners all have their jobs, and are deserved members of the society and honest citizens of various countries. They do cultivation in their leisure time. Doesn't a follower of the orthodox Jewish religion dedicate the majority of their lifetime to his or her belief? The same can also be said with Christians and Catholics. Can you call them sects and secret societies?" At that time, I wanted to add that: through cultivation, Falun Dafa practitioners have become better and healthier citizens, which is beneficial to the entire society. After I had this thought, questions kept welling up like tides.
The director asked, "If a high-ranking official decides to cultivate, what should he do? Resign?" I replied, "He doesn't have to do that. Anybody from any social stratum may cultivate Falun Dafa, so long as he is sincere in doing his work, regardless of whether he is a millionaire or a prominent politician. Please remember, we are cultivating 'Truthfulness, Benevolence, Tolerance'." The director responded, "Sure. But I do not believe a high-ranking official will be able to always remain sincere in doing his job. This goes against the requirement of his duty." I said, "It depends on his heart. I do not think this is absolutely impossible. For instance, a high-ranking official must often compromise, which means that he cannot always follow his own conscience. Before, he would think this kind of behavior is acceptable, because he had no other choice. After he becomes a Falun Dafa practitioner, he probably will not handle things as he used to, as this kind of compromise is no longer acceptable to him. If he is unable to comply with his belief in his position, getting another job is also a possible option for him. It is a matter of making a 'choice'. Throughout history, people have sacrificed things more precious than their careers, even their lives, for their beliefs. There are a lot of examples of these people, such as Martin Luther King, Mohandas Gandhi and many others."
I then asked the director if we could talk about some very important things for several minutes. I recounted Jiang Zemin's persecution of Falun Gong in China, talked about instances of the evil persecution, and told about how those Chinese officials and policemen had conducted the disgusting, illegal behaviors in their own country in violation of human rights. Afterwards someone asked, "Are you telling all these to urge Russians to formally express their protest?" I replied, "I am telling all these for Russian people to understand the truth of Falun Gong as well as what is going on in China, so that when you read those materials from China slandering Falun Dafa, you will not be fooled. Although most of the publications in the United States can objectively report on the development of the situation in China, and the progressive people in the world protect Dafa with an increasingly stronger voice, people, including our Russians, could still occasionally came across those slanderous articles."
"Let me ask one question, where can I get the book of 'Falun Dafa'?" I heard a female voice say, "I am extremely interested in the theory you introduced." I said, "Sure. My home telephone number is..." The director interrupted, "We still have so many telephone inquiries, could you answer several more telephone calls, and then we can conclude this program?" It is certainly good to answer more questions.
"Can seniors learn Falun Dafa?" "Where can we obtain the books?" "What is the difference between this and Taichi?" --- Questions continuously poured in.
As the broadcast came towards the end, the director frequently urged me to conclude. For the concluding words, I said, "Our Teacher has been nominated as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000." The director thanked me, and concluded the live broadcast. I asked the director, "How do you feel?" He replied with thumbs-up, "We received so many telephone calls, which is implying that the program was extremely good!" I expressed my gratitude to the director, thanking him for providing the opportunity for so many audiences to get to know about Falun Dafa. He laughed and shook hands with me. He might not have realized how big a favor he had done to so many people. Our benevolent Teacher will surely take notice of this person and what he did.
After leaving the broadcasting station I still felt like I was in another space. I had left behind a copy of Falun Gong and other Dafa materials for the reporters of the radio station. On the streets, heavy rain was still pouring down, but now it was washing a different me. At that time, I felt some sentimentality, and I wanted to repel it. I made a phone call to my daughter. My daughter said over the phone loudly, "Mom, people are making the phone calls ceaselessly. Hardly before the broadcast concluded, they have started to make the phone calls. There are already 18 individuals that have called!" My 19-year-old daughter earnestly wrote down all the telephone numbers and addresses. Not long ago she had already started to treat Falun Dafa more sincerely. I could feel the excitement and surprise in her voice.
All of these people with pre-destined relationships had woken up! I could not help crying and the tears were all over my face. I knew I had made one small step forward today. My mind was crystal clear and harmonious.
Three weeks have passed since the broadcast. Approximately 47 people have called me since then. At their request, I mailed most of them the books Falun Gong and other Dafa materials. These people talked with me for a long time over the phone, as if we were old friends. One female said, "Upon hearing your voice, I already believed you. Your cultivation way is certainly good! Please send me a book." Another said, "We sense that this is an extremely pure and profound cultivation way." One housewife said, "The meat patties I was cooking all got burnt. Listening to the radio, I completely forgot about it. Looking at the radio, I was thinking, 'let the broadcast last longer.' I have never listened to the radio before. I don't know what attracted me to listen to it today." Another said, "What you are saying is extremely close to my heart. I have been seeking the way of truth all my life. Please, mail me a book!"
A couple from northern New Jersey feared that the book might get lost during delivery. Thus they came to my house in person to take the book. Many people invited me for a visit, and hoped to do something helpful. This was a very good experience. Probably not all of them can become serious Falun Dafa practitioners, but the important thing is that they have responded and their hearts were touched. Teacher said, "Some people had the luck to come across the Fa and thought the Fa is good, but have not yet earnestly started cultivation, then these people possibly belong to those who will attain the Fa in the future." I also remember Teacher saying, "Even if someone only reads the book once, it will also make the person better, because he then knows what it means for him to do wrong deeds, tell lies, etc. Those people with pre-destined relationship will successively come to join cultivation (this is not Teacher's exact wording)." We are assisting the teacher in the human world. Only by melting into the Fa and becoming a particle of the Fa, can we truly assist the Teacher in saving the common people.
April 11th, 2001