(Minghui.org) Last October, during a sharing by the Global Quit the CCP service center, I heard practitioners say that if a Westerner recognizes that the CCP is bad and signs the petition to end its tyranny, the person will have made a choice for his future. My first thought was, Master is so compassionate! The End the CCP petition is for Westerners and I live in a Western country. Thus, I began to collect signatures for the petition. I’d like to share my experiences you.
Collecting Signatures in My Neighborhood
Master said,
“My Dafa disciples... you are distributed over a large expanse (gesturing), and you are each now responsible for your respective area of this world. Changes in your thinking can lead to changes in your surrounding environment. How the people in your region are is a result of the extent to which you have clarified the truth to them. The environment is shaped by your human attachments. When the environment is bad, it is because you made it that way.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2009 Greater New York International Fa Conference”)
I realized that our mission is to assist Master in Fa rectification and awaken people's consciences. If those around me do not hear the truth and get to choose their future, I would have failed in my responsibility as a Dafa disciple during the Fa rectification period. Starting with the area that I live in, I began to ask people to sign the petition. Then, I moved to the surrounding districts and suburbs where there are no practitioners.
The residents in these areas are mostly retirees and students. Several people also worked from home due to the pandemic, but went out to buy things for their evening meals. As a result of the CCP virus, people seldom went into the city and mainly stayed in the residential suburbs. If we don’t go to them, it would be difficult to meet them and clarify the truth. So, from Monday to Friday, fellow practitioners and I went to shopping centers, walkways or busy areas in the neighborhood we lived in, and asked people to sign the petition.
Collecting signatures is a cultivation opportunity. Initially I was reluctant to approach people. I stood at a fixed spot, fliers in hand, a smile on my face and waited for people to come up and take the flier before I opened my mouth. After 3 hours I collected 20 signatures. I was rather happy with myself. But when I learned that other practitioners obtained 2 pages of signatures, I felt a little envious. I saw the gap between myself and them. Looking within, I found my fear. I was afraid people would say we are involved in politics, or I wouldn’t be able to answer their questions, which might stop them from being saved and so on. I was also frightened of losing face.
Then I thought, “None of this matters.” The words “Let your life shine in Fa rectification” came to mind suddenly. I realized that although I looked inward and found my human notions, I lacked righteous thoughts. I did not have a sense of urgency in saving people.
Naturally after I found the problem and made progress in cultivation, I had better results in collecting signatures. I went up to strangers and talked to them, giving them information. I told them that this is a petition to end the CCP globally, and that this is very important. I also explained about the regime’s persecution of Falun Gong, and the disaster caused by the CCP around the world because of its cover up of the virus in China. Many signed the petition after listening to me and I collected many more signatures. I truly felt Master’s compassion and the power of Dafa.
We practitioners have been relentlessly clarifying the truth, so the ground work has been done. I met many people who already knew the truth and were waiting to sign the petition. When one man signed the petition, he said, “It’s the first time I saw a Chinese person who wants to end the CCP. Remarkable!” I said, “We love China. The Chinese people are good; it’s the CCP that is bad.” Many people agree. Through the words of everyday people, Master also gave us hints that we should come out more often. Only then will people learn the truth and get to choose their future.
Going to the Beach to Collect Signatures
On weekends, many people head to the beach. This is a good opportunity to clarify the truth and collect signatures, so we began going to the beaches on weekends. People go to the beach with friends or family for a BBQ or picnic. We talk to them in groups and the results are good. Another good thing is, if one of them in the group understands the truth, he will tell his companions and encourage them to sign the petition. People are willing to believe it if the information comes from their friends or family.
Later, taking a cue from past experiences, when we notice a large crowd that seem to be from the same family, we approach the elderly man among them and clarify the truth. If he is willing to sign, we ask him to tell his family about it. If it looks like a gathering among friends, we jokingly ask who is in charge. Regardless of who they point to, we talked to that person first. Usually if one person accepts the truth and signs the petition, the others would ask what it is about. We then seize the opportunity to clarify the truth to the rest of the party and collect more signatures. Most times, 80% of the group will sign the petition. On Australia’s national day, the beaches were packed. Another practitioner and I collected 25 pages of signatures in 6 hours. We only left after it got dark and people could no longer read the words.
I'm full of energy while collecting signatures, but as soon as we call it a day and I relax, I begin to feel hungry, thirsty and exhausted. My feet start to hurt from walking on the sand. Sitting in the car and tidying the signature pages, I was gratified to see the signatures we collected. All our efforts were worth it. We only spent several hours, yet so many people will be saved. Master is so compassionate to sentient beings. A simple signature is recorded in the universe and people are spared from being eliminated in future disasters. Master has given us Dafa disciples an easy way to save people and establish our mighty virtue. He is so compassionate.
Master said,
“Actually, I'm thinking that with everything you, the Dafa disciples, are doing today, you aren't doing them for Dafa, and you aren't doing them for me, your master, either. You are doing them for yourselves. You are harmonizing your own worlds and establishing your own mighty virtue. You are collecting and saving beings that you need. You are all doing things for you, yourselves. From my perspective, as your master, I certainly have to tell you to do these things, because I want to harmonize everything of yours and I want to lead you to success. Only when you need things in certain regards do I tell you to go and do them.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2003 Atlanta Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings,Vol. IV)
Going to Rural Areas
I joined the Sydney car tour, going to rural areas to clarify the truth and collect signatures for the petition. The journey is long and we have to get up early in the morning. I didn’t mind the hardships and felt that I benefited tremendously from the experience.
I was arranged to collect signatures outside a shopping center. I cherished the opportunity because it was over two hours drive and perhaps this was the only time I could clarify the truth to these people. I didn’t want to leave anyone out, but my anxiety resulted in negative effects.
I went up to a western woman as she entered the shopping center and offered her a flier. She said she wasn’t interested. I thought to myself, “You rejected the flier before you even saw what was on it, what a pity.” Then I said, “Good morning, this is a global petition to end the CCP.” She replied with great displeasure, “I am not interested, you asked me twice already.” I felt a little uncomfortable. I’ve always had a strong ego and disliked being criticized, and this was in public. I really wanted to leave, but then I thought that’s not right. Perhaps she had a predestined relationship with me. I calmed down and realized I was too pushy
I met the woman again. Holding out the flier, I smiled at her. She looked at me with hostility. This time, she noticed the words, “End the CCP.” She stepped closer and asked what the CCP was. I told her it refers to the Chinese Communist Party. She took the information, read it, and then asked, “How can I trust what you say?” I said, “I am from China. I practice Falun Gong and the regime has been persecuting practitioners for over two decades, killing many people. The persecution is still going on.” I wanted to tell her more but she interrupted me, “I know about this. I have a friend who practices Falun Gong and told me about the brutalities of the CCP. I didn’t realize this is still happening after so many years.” She kept shaking her head and said, “This is so terrible.” After writing down her name on the petition, she said she will ask her friends to go online and sign the petition. I was so glad that I didn’t leave or I would have missed the chance to explain to this woman.
This incident taught me that we shouldn’t take it to heart if people treat us badly or misunderstand us when we clarify the truth. We should have compassion. Those who don’t understand may not be bad people. If their attitude is bad, it must be something for us to improve in cultivation.
While collecting signatures, I found a close affinity to many people, as if they were my kin whom I hadn’t seen for a long time.
The present situation is changing rapidly. I think it is a reflection of Master rectifying the Fa in the human world. In this final, crucial moment, if we have time, we should go out more often to hand out fliers, talk to people face to face, and save more people.
Please kindly point it out if there is anything inappropriate in my sharing.
Thank you Master! Thank you fellow practitioners!
(2021 International Online Fa Conference)
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