(Minghui.org) Many Falun Dafa practitioners in China have resorted to hiring lawyers in an attempt to help rescue illegally sentenced fellow practitioners. However, in most cases, the results have not been very good.
Some lawyers did nothing more than enter a plea of innocence for their client, during the last day of the trial. After that, the presiding judge would begin sentencing proceedings.
Practitioners who had failed to look within were unable to see that the actions of everyday people around them is a direct result of these practitioners' attachments and pursuits. Instead of playing the leading role, these practitioners relied too heavily on lawyers.
Master taught us, “All the beings are counting on you!” (Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Philadelphia, U.S.A.)
Thus, we cannot expect these lawyers—who are waiting for us to save them—to have the same thinking and sense of justice that a practitioner has. As one lawyer pointed out, “Lawyers provide legal services and safeguard clients' rights. There is no such thing as a righteous lawyer. So, don't think too highly of one who chooses to represent you!”
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been persecuting Falun Gong since July 1999. It knows that its actions violate China's constitution, so it bans lawyers from representing Dafa practitioners. But some brave lawyers—who have a strong sense of human rights—still choose to defend practitioners after learning the facts. As a result, these lawyers invariably become a target of the CCP's suppression.
Some practitioners erroneously believe that Chinese lawyers should help rescue incarcerated practitioners for free. However, aren't these lawyers everyday people, too? Don't they also pursue fame, profit, and sentimentality?
There are even practitioners who count on lawyers to comprehensively clarify the truth during the trial. These practitioners' intentions are good: they want to save everyone present, including the police officers, prosecutors, and the judge. However, their approach completely deviates from what Dafa practitioners should do.
As one lawyer pointed out, “It is not a lawyer's job to explain the facts of the persecution in court; rather, we only provide legal services!” As practitioners, we should keep these words in mind.
Master Li taught us,
“And some think, 'There are so many democratic countries in the world. Why don't they raise their voices? What's the United Nations doing now?' And that's how things look on the surface. But actually, I can tell you what that reflects: We're too dependent on human beings. If human beings were to end the persecution, what a disgrace that would be to Dafa disciples! We wouldn't have validated the Fa, we wouldn't have established mighty virtue in the persecution, and our Dafa disciples wouldn't have blazed their own path.” (Teaching the Fa at the 2003 Midwest-U. S. Fa Conference)
Before hiring a lawyer, it may be a good idea to write out a contract outlining what you expect from him or her, including a detailed fee schedule.
The key for Dafa practitioners is to play a leading role in the lawyer/client relationship; have sufficient righteous thoughts, and sincerely encourage the lawyers so that they'll be able to choose a bright future for themselves.
We should never count on lawyers to explain the facts of the persecution, nor should we let the old forces take advantage of our loopholes!
