PureInsight | August 13, 2006
[PureInsight.Org] I'd
like to share my experience delivering the English Epoch Times
newspapers to all New York State Assemblymen's offices.
Master told us in his article "Path," "A cultivator has no role
models. The path each person is to take is different, because each
person's foundation is different, the sizes of their various
attachments are different, the characteristics of their beings are
different, their jobs among everyday people are different, their family
environments are different, and so on. These factors determine that
each person's path of cultivation is different, that how they get rid
of their attachments is different, and that the sizes of their tests
are different." While I try my best to do the Three Things well,
I have also been exploring a cultivation path that validates the Fa and
maximize the utilization of my skills. Once I had the thought to do
certain things, Master would help me.
I live in the capital of New York State, Albany. The city isn't
large. However, there are 148 State Assemblymen and 54 State
Senators. They work at the capital for 6 months each year.
In the past, when we dealt with these statesmen, we usually called,
faxed or visited in person when there were urgent issues. As the
progress of Fa-rectification deepened, some practitioners brought up
the idea of delivering the English Epoch Times to increase
communications with the staff members.
As soon as I heard this suggestion, I realized that I should do
this. Other practitioners in Albany had to work and also deal
with their non-cultivating spouses. My husband is also a
cultivator. He supports me. I could drive and speak a little bit
of English. Therefore, starting from April 2005, I have been
delivering the English Epoch Times newspaper to all Assemblymen and
Senators' offices every Wednesday.
At the beginning, I also thought about quitting. Why? At
that time, when I held out the newspaper with a smile, usually I got no
response or a cold "thanks." They pointed the end table at the
door to me. An assistant came from Mainland China, he asked me
quite rudely, "What is your relationship to the Epoch Times?" I
answered his question kindly. When I arrived home, I thought,
"Why did he ask such a rude question? Shouldn't one smile at me,
an old woman, when he saw her carrying a large box up and down the
stairs delivering newspaper on every floor? Not to mention that I
was giving them such a precious newspaper."
When I read "Explaining the Fa during the 2003 Lantern Festival at the
U.S. West Fa Conference," I came across Master's teaching: "I
think that you absolutely shouldn't be discouraged or apathetic. Do
this compassionately no matter who it is, and with a compassion that
can melt steel you'll be able to do it well." Isn't it
true? In order to save us, Master endured huge karma for us,
"Handling human affairs of every sort, burdened with all of heaven's
troubles." ("Cold and Alone Up High" in Hongyin)
He wanted nothing in return. How should I become discouraged
simply because of not receiving an ordinary person's smile?
Wasn't I afraid of losing face?
Master taught us to be considerate of others all the time. Those
assistants had to deal with a lot of people every day. When their
bosses were not in a good mood, things could certainly be tough for
them. In order to help their bosses and them to know the truth
and have a good future, why cannot I be a newspaper delivery person?
Every week, before delivering the newspaper, I sent righteous thoughts
to eliminate the evil that interfered with statesmen and staff members
knowing the truth. I often remembered Master's teachings:
"Even when in your daily life you pass by people so quickly that you
don't have a chance to talk to them, you should still leave them with
your compassion and kindness. Don't lose those who should be saved,
especially those with predestined connections." ("Teaching the Fa
at the 2003 Atlanta Fa Conference")
During the newspaper delivery, no matter how the other party treated
me, I always smiled and said hello politely. I said "take care"
when leaving the offices. Even for people I came across in
elevators, I wished them a good day. In addition, I usually read
the front page articles before delivery. When I arrive in the
offices, sometimes I would ask them, "Hi everyone. It is
Wednesday again. Do you know what major events occurred
recently?" They were quite interested and asked for an
answer. I then told them the headlines and told them, "The
details are published in the Epoch Times newspaper. You should
definitely read it." Once they received the newspaper, almost everyone
started reading it immediately. I then asked them to pass the
newspaper to their bosses. They nodded to me.
Master told us that every person had sentimentalities. I realized
that the three realms were created for Dafa. Human
sentimentalities could be used for saving them. Therefore, I
would compliment others' clothes. When I saw a pregnant woman, I asked
her whether it was a boy or a girl and when the baby was due.
When I saw others were busy at work, I would quietly place the
newspaper and farewell with a nice "take care."
After a period of time, the assistants started to smile at me.
They would greet me and have small talks with me. If they were
not busy, we would chat about planting flowers, how to stop deer from
eating tomatoes in the garden, how to do BBQ, and how to take care of
legs with bad blood circulation. I became friends with some
assistants. They would invite me to have a piece of the cake when
it happened to be their birthday. When I spent time with them, I
chatted with them about different topics such as the New Tang Dynasty
Television satellite contract renewal, the incident of the New York
practitioners being beaten on the street, SARS, quitting the Chinese
Communist Party, and the organ harvesting from live Falun Gong
practitioners.
Master said in "Teaching the Fa at the 2003 Atlanta Fa Conference,"
"When people understand the facts and find out how wicked the
persecution is, people will naturally know what to do. And if
afterwards you ask him to lend support and do something about it,
that's him choosing a future." I would like to share a few stories.
During the period of time when New Tang Dynasty Television was trying
to renew the satellite broadcast contract with Eutelsat, a practitioner
from New York City went to visit State Assemblymen for support.
When we arrived at one office, the assistant who knew me told us that
his boss was at a meeting. At this point, the Assemblyman
happened to come back to the office. The assistant immediately
explained our purpose to his boss. The Assemblyman said that he
was very busy. He had to go back to the meeting. I said to
him, "Before I moved to Albany, I was a constituent who voted for you
every time because I believed that you were a good assemblyman truly
working for the people. Today's issue is urgent. I didn't
have time to make an appointment."
The Assemblyman said OK. But he could only give us two
minutes. So we introduced New Tang Dynasty Television and
importance of renewing the satellite broadcast contract. The
meeting lasted 20 minutes. In the end, the Assemblyman said, "I
will support you." He immediately asked his assistant to write to
the Governor to express his support of New Tang Dynasty
Television. Because of his support, his several Assemblyman
friends also wrote to New York Governor to help New Tang Dynasty
Television.
One time when I stepped into an office, an assistant was cutting out
important stories from newspapers for the assemblyman to read. I
gave the Epoch Times to him and said, "This newspaper is very
good. You can totally digest it. No need to cut anything
out." People at the scene laughed. I broke the ice with a
small joke. Two months ago, we hosted the
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance painting exhibition at the New York
State Government. The assistant came to our exhibition and signed
his name on our petition. He told me that he read every issue of
the Epoch Times. He also told his boss current events such as
quitting the Chinese Communist Party and organ harvesting from live
Falun Gong practitioners.
Many friends I made among state congressional staff members came to see
the exhibition. One assistant told me, "Please inform me when you
host this exhibition the next time. I will ask my boss to sponsor
it." I said I would take a note of it and thanked her.
At the beginning of my newspaper delivery, an assistant said, in an
unfriendly way, "We have too many publications here. Don't give
it to us. We will throw it out anyway." However, every time
I still gave him a smile and greeting when I passed by his
office. Several weeks ago, when I passed by his office again, he
said to me that he had mentioned supporting Falun Gong to his boss and
his boss had signed our petition.
Now if I deliver the newspaper on Thursday instead of Wednesday, almost
everyone will ask me, "Why didn't you come yesterday? What
happened?" They are all waiting for the Epoch Times. Many
people said that they would read it first, and then give it to their
bosses. Some said that they cut out important news for their
bosses to read. Some asked for two copies and said would give one
copy to their family members. Even the assistant from Mainland
China who had asked me my relationship with the Epoch Times passed my
message to his boss when his boss was sick. My message was that
the Chinese American Assemblyman should practice Falun Gong.
I have done little. My enlightenment quality isn't good. I
am not good at writing. The reason that I wrote this sharing is
because I realize the impact of a consistent small effort.
Newspaper delivery is not a big issue. However, during the
interaction day by day, Assemblymen and their staff members can learn
the truth. This means the people the Assemblymen represent will
also benefit from it. It is related to many sentient beings'
future. My purpose of writing this article is to hope to
encourage those practitioners who live in capitals of different
countries and states to do the same thing.
In the end, please allow me to share with everyone a poem by Master:
Tathagata
He comes with the Truth, which gives him full control
And travels the four seas with a free and easy spirit
Spreading the Fa's principles throughout the secular world
Loaded full with sentient beings, his Fa Boat sets sail
Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2006/7/26/38672.html
