(Clearwisdom.net) I am glad to have the opportunity to share my humble insights about clarifying the truth in Hong Kong. While I am delighted to share my limited experiences with fellow practitioners, I am aware that there are many areas in my cultivation that need improvement.
1. Clarifying the Truth to My Family and Friends
In order to travel to Hong Kong to clarify the truth about Falun Gong, I needed to have my family and friends understand and support my efforts. Now they all understand and accept why I need to go to Hong Kong for 2-4 weeks every once in a while to clarify the truth about Falun Gong. It has become clear to me that their attitude has to do with my daily cultivation state, performance at work, as well as my efforts to clarify the truth to them and sending forth righteous thoughts.
Because I typically stay in Hong Kong for two to four weeks each time, it becomes all the more important for me to explain the reason for my trips to them. It can be very difficult for some people to relate to the reason why I must go all the way to Hong Kong. I explain this to different people with different approaches. For instance, I explain to my younger relatives and friends that people from China have no way of learning the facts about Falun Gong because of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) firewall. To older friends and relatives, I tell them that I am doing a kind deed to expose the facts about the persecution of Falun Gong and those fellow practitioners have become younger and healthier when they clarify the truth about Falun Gong in Hong Kong. This may be from a heavenly reward for their good deeds. I find that elderly people tend to relate well to doing good deeds and heavenly rewards from doing good deeds. For those who find it difficult to accept my efforts or those who I haven't had enough opportunity to explain the facts to, I tell them that it has been my lifelong dream to help others.
No matter how my relatives and friends respond or comment on my efforts, I should not allow their words to interfere with what I am doing. Teacher said,
"There's talk of how ordinary people have certain opinions on this, but what about that? Ordinary people have all kinds of opinions. You are the ones saving them, so you need to be clear on what you are doing and working toward." ("Fa Teaching at the 2008 New York Conference")
2. Doing What I Am Supposed to Do
Teacher said,
"That is why doing the three things well is cultivation, while doing only one of the three isn't--that's how it is, and you won't be able to improve that way. So Dafa disciples must do them well." ("Teaching the Fa in San Francisco, 2005")
Since I realized the importance of clarifying the truth, I have been looking for ways to do better. I have tried clarifying the truth by chatting with people in China in Internet chat rooms, calling people in China and traveling to Hong Kong's tourist sites. With Teacher's help, I always meet practitioners to teach me or help me get started, or opportunities to clarify the truth present themselves to me.
In my many trips to Hong Kong, I have learned the importance of keeping a pure and clean mind. Every time I ran into obstacles, I would always identify hidden attachments that were the root cause. In February 2008, my electronic application for visa was rejected. It woke me up, like a blow to the head. I realized the root cause was that I had become complacent in my cultivation and less motivated to clarify the truth. Once I had identified the root cause, I sent forth righteous thoughts more frequently, negated these wrong notions and reapplied for the visa. Soon I was granted a visa to go to Hong Kong.
Before I had worked for my company for one full year, I took a week off to clarify the truth to Mainland Chinese tourists at Alishan National Scenic Area in Taiwan and took another two weeks off to clarify the truth to Chinese tourists at Hong Kong's tourist spots. My boss granted both requests. Two months ago I planned to change jobs. I also decided to go to Hong Kong for a few months before my job search. I was surprised when my boss told one of my colleagues, "If she needs to go to Hong Kong often, it'd be better for her to keep this job! After all, it is easy for her to take time off here. She might not be able to do so at a different company." I smiled when my colleague relayed these words to me. It was like a hint from Teacher. As long as I am determined to clarify the truth, Teacher will make necessary arrangements for me. After my performance review in May 2008, I told my boss I planned to go to Hong Kong for two to three months. My boss said, "Two to three months is a long time. How about one month?" I thought that would do, too. I thanked Teacher for the arrangement. Once I arrived in Hong Kong, I felt one month was too short. I searched inward and realized it was because I wasn't motivated or determined enough to save people.
In July when I returned to work, I had no idea when I could take time off again to go to Hong Kong. Although I hoped to make another trip in the near future, I felt embarrassed to make the request. I thought I'd wait for a while. Little did I expect that one day when I was chatting about Hong Kong with my boss and colleagues, my boss suddenly said, "She might fly to Hong Kong again in about two months." I was shocked to hear these words. I realized that my present condition allows me to clarify the truth, but it is my human notion that obstructs me from taking actions. Teacher said,
"[...] carrying the Fa in your mind, doing whatever needs to be done, and doing whatever you wish to do, as long as Dafa needs it. Don't go to extremes with anything; do things rationally and with a clear head. That is the mighty virtue of a Dafa disciple." ("Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference at the U.S. Capital")
3. Let Go of Baggage and Save Sentient Beings
When I clarify the truth or distribute truth-clarification materials in Hong Kong, I sometimes will run into Chinese people who are hostile to me. Afterwards, fear would arise when I distribute the materials to stores and businesses on the streets. I feared rejection, but I felt I had to persevere and overcome this fear. In terms of vanity, Teacher said,
"You like it when other people say that you're good. You like it when other people praise and flatter you. You like it when other people respect you. And you are afraid of anything that damages your image. All of which is developing the mentality that is vanity. It's an attachment. The human desire to save face is very strong. In fact, when you set your mind at ease and don't carry so much baggage, you will cultivate faster." ("Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference in Australia")
I reminded myself that distributing truth-clarification materials is saving people and will not damage my image. If I fail to believe in the Fa, I will not be doing it in a righteous manner and I will feel embarrassed. How can I clarify the truth well with this type of mentality? Since then, I always remind myself to wear a smile and think of saving people. As I let go of fear, I feel my mind becoming increasingly righteous and relaxed. I even feel less personally injured when people are not receptive.
It may be time efficient to make phone calls to China or chat with Chinese people on the Internet, but clarifying the truth to Mainland Chinese tourists face-to-face in Hong Kong has a lot of impact as well. Displaying truth-clarification posters, distributing truth-clarification materials and sending forth righteous thoughts at Hong Kong's tourist spots have powerful and tremendous effects. I hope that fellow practitioners will help join in these efforts as well.