PureInsight | November 5, 2001
The Starting Point
A Russian Dafa disciple mentioned in her experience sharing paper that when she regarded herself as a Dafa particle as opposed to an everyday person, a fundamental change took place. In the past, she spent her days taking care of her children while promoting the Fa on the side. Now she spends her days promoting the Fa while taking care of her children on the side.
The 'things' she does on a daily basis seem to be the same as before, except that the starting point is different. The fundamental change of this thought completely brings out different realms and results.
The fundamental result of our cultivation is to finish our change from being human beings to becoming gods, give up all of human notions, change human notions and thoughts, and then elevate to a higher level. Master Li said: 'Good or evil comes from a person's spontaneous thought, and the thought at that moment can bring about different consequences.'(Chapter Four, "Upgrading Xinxing," Zhuan Falun) Why? Because this thought determines what you want as well as your realm. This thought also determines if you are directing your four limbs or supernormal capabilities.
In regards to our rectifying the Fa and telling the truth at the current moment, I often ask myself if my thought on this matter is righteous. Does it reach the level of 'selflessness' (going beyond myself, my own family, my own group, an even larger group, and so on) and is it "without the sense of self'. When we contacted society, media, and public or government officials, were we standing from the point of saving them? Although we talk about Falun Gong and the persecution by the Chinese government at the surface level, whom are our "SOS" activities truly trying to save (Of course the people get to know the truth by listening to us)? Are we in essence starting from the standpoint of saving all lives? With this thought I feel the flow of Fa-rectification breaking through one barrier after another with the momentum of an avalanche. After the righteous thought is sent out, nothing could stop us from accomplishing the things that we want to do.
Righteous thoughts/Supernormal capabilities
This was the second trip to the Congressional offices two months after the first one. This time we considered our many kinds of experiences during the previous trip (please see 'The Buddha-Light Illuminates Everywhere') and, therefore, our minds were very clear about what to do: return to tell the truth about Falun Dafa once more in the hopes that they would value it. We worked together in making a comparatively sufficient preparation at home, and then the six of us were divided into two groups. In our group, visits to two congressional offices particularly stood out. In the first office, Dafa disciples had previously contacted its chief of staff several times over the course of the past two years. Every time we had contacted this particular chief of staff he treated us with a sneering attitude and was never willing to listen to any of our truth clarification. Instead, he would always give us a long speech of complaint about how we sent him too much material, made too many appointments, and so on... I've known him for more than two years. After repeatedly thinking about the past, I think there was omission in my mind ('having pursuit' and 'afraid of offending others'). I didn't firmly defend Dafa from its foundation and connived with his unrighteous thoughts. Accordingly, just before I went to see him I sent righteous thoughts. At that moment, I deeply felt my mission in rectifying all unrighteous things as well as the necessity of telling the truth and being benevolent to him. The other office is also special. Shortly after the persecution started in China we had met the person in charge of the other office. When she heard our introduction the first time, she sympathized with the experiences of Falun Gong very much. She was genuinely willing to help us and gave feasible suggestions. However, two months ago when we had met with her for the second time (a year after our first meeting), her attitude was completely different. She was very rude and said the congressman wouldn't care about this topic! At the time, I was very sad and felt sorry for her. I always wanted to find opportunities to ask other disciples to talk to her and find out what her obstruction was.
All three of us went to the first office for our appointment. Previously, the chief of staff of this office had never passed our messages to the congressman. Several days earlier, I had prepared a short speech. I rehearsed it one more time before I went to see him. Using a few words we wanted to convey to him that as taxpayers we have the right to make the situation known to the congressman and that its his professional as well as ethical responsibility to pass the message on. Falun Gong has not been overwhelmed by two years of brutal persecution, because we firmly believe justice will prevail. Falun Gong disciples defend 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance' with their lives. They didn't do this for themselves; on the contrary they're upholding the noblest dignity and morality of human beings. Based on this point you should let your congressman make a choice for humanity. Falun Gong is worthy of respect, not sneering. When poisonous snakes attack good people, do you stop the poisonous snakes or sneer at the good people?
We sent righteous thoughts the whole time on our way to the office and continued sending righteous thoughts while entering and waiting in the office. Upon seeing us he didn't wait for us to say anything, his first sentence was: 'This time I'll do what you ask. You can wait here for a while. I'm doing it right now.' Before we even sat down, from an open door to our left, a person smiling kindly came to shake hands with us. He actively introduced himself: 'I am Congressman XX.' Immediately we introduced him to what Falun Gong is. We talked about the two years' persecution, the necessity of releasing Dr. Teng Chunyan, and how we had visited his district many times conducting workshops that gained enthusiastic responses from the local people. We especially mentioned that many members of congress have given us a lot of support throughout these two years. The congressman listened very carefully. I noticed that he looked at his assistant with a questioning eye at least three times: 'Why did I not know this?' Finally, the congressman took the materials in person. He shook hands with us twice and one by one said goodbye to us. During that day, Congress was very busy. However, even though we had no appointment with the congressman himself (our appointment was with the chief of staff), the congressman had walked toward us himself, introduced himself and heard our statement. We had indeed felt the utility of sending righteous thoughts. Fa will rectify the human world and the clear side of people will never be willing to give up this opportunity.
What had happened in the second office also counts as a miracle. Currently, the Congress was busy handling the 'War Affair'. This congressman's office has always said that the congressman has no position on Falun Gong because he is only on the trade committee. What's more is that when we visited two months ago, the assistant had an abnormal attitude with us. However, a disciple obtained an opportunity for us to meet the congressman face to face just by phoning.
With an appointment we met the congressman. It could be seen that this congressman is serious and subjective. One by one he carefully questioned us, which showed he did not want to evade any more and hoped to know us. After his questioning, he told us he needed to read our material again, and then he discussed with his assistants. There were two assistants present at the meeting. It was a very serious scene. After the meeting, I walked towards the assistant who once sympathized with Falun Gong and had an opposite attitude later. I told her: 'I'm doing a special visit to see you today in order to give you a Dafa music cassette, because Falun Gong can bring boundless goodness and harmony to people. The persecution is not all of Falun Gong. I wish that you can know Falun Gong from a fresh start from the aspect of music.' She was very touched similar to when I saw her the first time. The other assistant asked for our telephone number after the appointment, showing that he wanted to learn Falun Gong.
We made breakthroughs this time in many offices that never heard our situation carefully, especially those offices that never made clear their positions on Falun Gong before. We sent righteous thoughts wherever we walked. It didn't matter if we were in a hallway, an elevator or an office; oftentimes one person would talk while the other sent righteous thoughts. We really felt the robustness and skillful use of righteous thoughts. At the same time, we experienced in person the unstoppable momentum of the Fa-rectifying current (not only our group but the other group also had a similar experience). In the past, some offices were indifferent to our request. Some offices politely promised to consider our request and get back to us, but then never responded to any of our follow-up request. When we presented our case this time, none of that happened. At this time when facing Dafa, every one must make his own choice! To tell the truth and try our best in saving every savable life is our mission. Our focus is the process, but the people who hear the truth decide the result.
Again we understood that as soon as we change our thoughts the environment would change along with it. There are no 'needing help' and no 'needing sympathy' any more, instead we provide help and give opportunities.
Since there are different karmic relationships among people, we should never treat things having to do with rectifying the Fa as the affairs of ordinary society. For example, we should not "assign" certain people to certain tasks. In the past, I visited the office of a powerful congressman numerous times, and never got anywhere. This time, when another disciple went to visit that office, they talked for more than 40 minutes. That office even gave us good suggestions on how we could do a better job in the future.
Master Li said: 'Notions changing, the decayed extinguished' (Hongyin "New life"). As long as we strive forward vigorously in studying the Fa and in continuously breaking through our human notions, those evil and degenerated powers will extinguish themselves. As long as we break through 'selfishness' and 'ourselves', our realms will be elevated and our capacities will increase. Then we can really rectify the Fa and save beings with a pure and righteous state.
Translated from:
http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2001/10/20/12099.html
