PureInsight | April 5, 2008
[PureInsight.org] (Los Angeles Fahui, 2008)
Many Falun Gong practitioners in the U.S. and around the world have
been clarifying the truth to government officials. I would like to
share some of my own experiences how I have gradually overcome my
resistance and fear of contacting members of our government. Some of my
reluctance had to do with having to mature in my cultivation, some had
to do with becoming more familiar with how the different levels of
government operate. My contribution in this area is not much, but maybe
sharing the process I went through can help other practitioners lose
their fear.
When I obtained the Fa in the spring of 2005, it seemed to me that all
my previous life experiences had prepared me for this - becoming a Dafa
practitioner and safeguarding Dafa during this time of tribulation. I
joined in the different activities and projects practitioners in San
Diego use to clarify the truth: handing out flyers, participating in
parades, writing for the Epoch Times and giving speeches at Tuidang
events.
Giving these speeches out in the public, I think, were a stepping stone
in helping me later to contact VIP. Actually, the entire process of
group Fa study and all the different ways we clarify the truth, has
gradually helped me upgrade many skills and increase my confidence in a
number of areas. As a child, and through most of my early adulthood, I
was afraid to read out loud in front of a group. I somewhat overcame
that later in life, but not completely. But after several months of
group Fa study where we read together loud, I found that this fear has
disappeared.
I feel that this fear is linked to a strong attachment to self. It
includes fear of making mistakes and losing face, worrying that others
might think we're incompetent, that someone might laugh at us or scold
us. On the other side this attachment is about always wanting to look
good and be liked. This attachment can make us avoid new and unfamiliar
situations and prevent us from stepping out to clarify the truth face
to face.
For everyday people, giving public speeches is very stressful, and most
everyone is afraid of it. For practitioners it is a matter of
cultivation and letting go of attachments to self. For me, after a
while, giving public speeches at Tuidang events seemed much like Fa
study. I was just reading my speeches with my fellow practitioners all
standing around me. And the few non-practitioners who listened didn't
affect my emotions at all. In addition, writing the speeches was good
practice for internalizing the issues and for contacting VIPs later on.
The majority of practitioners in San Diego are Chinese. They had been
contacting local government officials in the past, but felt there was a
continued need to do better and more, and they were looking to Western
practitioners to take more of a lead, since we know the language,
customs and the political system better than they do.
For a long time I resisted getting involved in VIP work. I didn't feel
in any way qualified. I had the excuse that I too am an immigrant from
another country, and I didn't know much about politics or who my
government representatives were. But it was actually my fear of the new
and unknown situations and also my laziness--not wanting to study and
learn more about government. Finally I decided to write letters to my
Congress person and U.S. Senators informing them about the mistreatment
of Dafa practitioners and asking for support. This was a lot like the
speeches I was writing, so I felt I could do that. It was not like
having to talk to a "Very Important Person" (VIP) on the phone or in
person.
I was actually surprised when I received answers to each of my letters.
I felt this was a good start, and so I kept writing from time to time,
and they kept sending me reply letters, generally 6-8 weeks later.
However, pretty soon I found that these letters all sounded about the
same, a bit like form letters, and I was not so pleased with the
results anymore. Especially after the organ harvesting from living
Falun Gong practitioners had been revealed in March of 2006 we all felt
a great urgency to make this crime widely public and get more tangible
support from our elected government representatives.
Practitioners decided we should speak at city council meetings
throughout San Diego county where any citizen can sign up to give a 3-5
minute presentation on a topic they are concerned about. So we went in
small groups, and many San Diego practitioners got involved. Those who
had done this previously gave the speeches while other practitioners
went along to learn how to do it, send forth righteous thoughts, pass
out flyers and packages, take pictures and write reports for
Clearwisdom.
On the whole these presentations were well received and they raised my
level of understanding of how the American political system works. It
also gave me more confidence that I could communicate with "Very
Important Persons".
At the same time I began to research the internet for an easy way for
all practitioners in San Diego county to find their own government
representatives. Then we could contact our representatives in a more
organized and effectively manner at a moment's notice. I found that our
city government website has a link to the voter registration site, and
from there it is easy to locate all of one's local, state and federal
officials by simply putting in one's home address or zip code. I found
that doing this kind of research was actually interesting and a good
learning experience. With every little bit of knowledge came a little
more confidence and a lessening of fear.
In July 2007 I went to the Fa conference in Washington DC. Several
members of Congress and representatives from NGOs gave speeches in
support of Falun Gong at a rally infront of the Congress. It was
extremely moving to hear their heartfelt support. Many people had tears
in their eyes.
For several days practitioners went in groups to visit members of
Congress and the Senate to clarify the truth to them. I too went along,
and the experience was very positive. In every case we were very well
received and listened to with respect. This was a turning point in my
commitment to do VIP work. One Chinese practitioner commented
afterwards that this would never be possible in China where all
government offices are closely guarded and one cannot just make an
appointment to discuss one's concerns with a high level official or
their staff.
After returning from Washington DC I made a decision to visit five of
my VIPs on a weekly basis. Nearly every week since last July I have
delivered the Epoch Times and other information to my Congresswoman, my
State Assembly Member, State Senator and the two U.S. Senators. On my
first visit I took a big package of truth clarification materials and
clarified the truth to the office staff. I told them that I was a
Falun Dafa practitioner and that I also wrote for the Epoch Times, and
that I thought it was important for them to read the Epoch Times
because it brings news and information about China that we don't get
anywhere else, but that is important for the world to know about.
I feel that coming every week with the paper is a really good thing as
it builds a long-term relationship that is low pressure for both sides.
Now I was giving them something instead of only asking them for
something. My impression is that in the past when we were contacting
VIPs it was always to ask for support, such as a proclamation or a
letter, and usually it would be in a rush; we needed it right away. We
have been getting some feedback that VIPs don't appreciate being rushed
as they have many projects and some of the lower level officials, such
as mayors and council members are serving on a voluntary basis and have
businesses to run in addition to their public work.
From the responses I am getting it seems that my VIPs look forward to
reading the Epoch Times each week. At the same time they have a chance
to get to know a Falun Gong practitioner living in their district. I
hope that I display to them the qualities of a Dafa practitioner:
friendliness, dependability, kindness, patience, understanding,
competence, etc.
I am also hoping that more and more I will be losing my attachments of
fear of taking up important people's time, and being worried that they
might get impatient or irritated with me. I often have to remind
myself, ‘How can I be afraid of everyday people? I am a cultivator of
Dafa. I am here to help save them.'
I don't feel I have actually done much VIP work. Quite a few other
practitioners have also been delivering the Epoch Times to VIPs in
their districts and have made some very good contacts. I think it is a
good thing to get away from our computers and go out among the people
and clarify the truth face to face. It has much more power than sending
out letters or e-mails. If we are willing to let go of our attachments
of fear, Master will certainly help make things happen.
During December, while practitioners all over the world were promoting
NTDTV's Holiday Wonders and Chinese New Year Spectacular, the Chinese
consulates in the U.S. again tried to interfere by sending slanderous
letters to government officials. Several such interferences happened in
New York, Florida and California. Meanwhile we are hearing of such
reports from countries in Europe as well. Practitioners are exposing
these inappropriate acts by the CCP to the public, and more and more it
is the VIPs themselves who are letting practitioners know when they
receive nasty letters from the Chinese consulates.
In San Diego I found out from two VIPs that they had been getting such
letters from the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles. I think getting this
information had directly to do with my little bit of personal VIP
contacts. I also feel that Master's guidance was involved.
One night in early January several practitioners were handing out
flyers at a down town theater to promote the Spectacular in San Diego.
The theater had only allowed us to hand out flyers in a certain
location which meant we were not able to reach very many theater goers.
But we wanted to obey their rules. That evening I suddenly felt I had
to go to the parking structure elevator and hand out flyers there. I
had never done this before, but I just felt I had to go there. So I
went, and handed out many flyers to people coming out of the elevators.
A short time later a San Diego council woman walked by me. I quickly
said a few words to her to remind her of our Spectacular show. She
stopped, took the flyer and told me she had gotten a consulate letter
telling her not to attend the show. She asked if I wanted a copy of the
letter.
The next day her office emailed the letter which I then made copies of
and took to my VIPs' offices for comments and to ask if they too had
gotten letters like this. Needless to say they all found it highly
offensive but not surprising. The staff of my Congresswoman shared that
they too had gotten such a letter, and also a letter last summer
"advising" her not to attend Falun Dafa Day in San Diego. At another
office I was told they would like to do something for Falun Dafa next
time, but we should let them know longer in advance.
At the same time while I visit my VIPs, I use the opportunity to also
deliver the Epoch Times to businesses and corporations in the same
buildings. Through this I also made contact with a business man in the
Vietnamese community who supported us during the New Year Spectacular.
I feel that the simple act of showing up every week and delivering the
Epoch Times has had some good results. It's safer to stay behind the
computer and not deal with unknown, unpredictable circumstances that
can unexpectedly challenge our xinxing. But many good things only
happen when we clarify the truth face to face.
When writing this article I was worried about validating myself. Please point out anything inappropriate.
Thank you, Master! Thank you, fellow practitioners!
