PureInsight | January 27, 2020
[PureInsight.org]
Greetings, Master.
Greetings, fellow practitioners.
I obtained the Fa in 2005 when I moved from Canada to Boston. Since then, I have experienced tests and elevated in my cultivation while saving people in Boston. Now, I will share with you how I went through these tests and improved my xinxing over the past two years in carrying out Dafa projects. I hope it will be helpful to you.
After the 2015 New York Fa Conference, maybe it was Master’s reminder or maybe I was ready, I suddenly felt that continuing my daily routine of going to work during the day, studying the Fa and doing the exercises in the evening, and making calls on the RTC platform at night was far from enough. In the past, I was anxious when I saw local projects put on hold for a long time. I complained about the local coordinators for the delays. However, the coordinator was just an ordinary Dafa student with limited ability and energy. How could he change all these on his own? As a result, I had negative thoughts and put my time towards RTC calls and Shen Yun ticket sales. I said to myself, “At least I was doing the three things that Master asked us to do.”
However, one day after the Fa conference, a thought struck me: if many sentient beings in the Boston area could not be saved due to practitioners slacking off in cultivation, it would not be the coordinator’s problem — every Dafa disciple in the Boston area would be held accountable. Moreover, the coordinator is also a cultivator, and his energy is limited, so he cannot cover everything. When the Final Judgement arrives, I cannot shirk my responsibility with the excuse that the coordinator did not ask us to do it. Gods will ask me, “The coordinator did not do it. What did you do?” I am responsible for my own cultivation, and the beings meant for me to save are also my responsibility.
I decided to take on a project on my own. In the following months, I went through a painful process of letting go of my attachments. I knew clearly that once I started, it would be a path full of hardships and challenges, and that the easy and comfortable days will never return. And I was right. Thanks to Master's blessing, over the past two years, I have carried out several projects clarifying the truth to mainstream society and the state government. At the same time, with the help of local practitioners, I spearheaded an effort to clarify the truth at Harvard Square which continues to this day. Now, I am going to report to you about the Harvard Square effort.
Before July 20, 2016, I had a wish to organize truth-clarification activities around July 20 at Harvard Square. As a world-renowned institution of higher education, Harvard University’s influence has spread throughout the United States, and it has long been the focus of the Chinese Communist Party's overseas infiltration. We must reach out to the faculty and students there, but for several years not much was done. Now we had the opportunity to make up for it, so one day at the end of July 2016, I arranged for local practitioners to clarify the truth at the three entrance gates at Harvard simultaneously. During the activities, I met a lot of people who were meant to learn the truth. Afterwards, fellow practitioners shared with me that the Harvard site should continue because it was so important. At the time, there was some serious interference at the truth-clarification site at another university. I could sense fellow practitioners’ concerns about whether the Harvard site could continue. Regardless, I had saving people as the top priority in my heart. I would not acknowledge the old forces, and Master would not sit back and let the old forces interfere. Even if I am the only one standing at the site to clarify the truth today, I will persevere because this is what is needed and what Master wants us to do.
Master arranges everything, after all. Soon after, fellow practitioners from mainland China wanted to clarify the truth and asked to participate in the Harvard project. So those of us who have full time jobs are there over the weekend. Later, more practitioners joined in. The main Harvard entrance became a long-term truth-clarification site all year round. During the peak summer tourism season, practitioners met and talked to so many people about the truth of Falun Gong.
With the progress of the Fa-rectification, the requirements for us to save people are also getting higher and higher. I have realized that we should not only distribute materials on the streets, but we should also hold activities to reach out on a deeper level. So, on July 20, 2017, I organized a rally at Harvard Square calling for an end to the persecution. It coincided with the promotion of the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra. I did not want to affect the resources of the Shen Yun project. I handled almost every detail including obtaining a permit for the event, planning, drafting the host's presentation, setting up audio equipment, preparing truth clarification materials, coordinating staff, and arranging for transportation. During this process, only one Western practitioner and my family members worked with me side by side. I felt under pressure because it was the first time that I organized a rally. I was concerned that I may have missed something along the way and feared that only a handful of practitioners would show up at our rally. In short, I felt intense pressure and was physically exhausted during the two weeks leading up to the rally, but I kept reminding myself that Master has sacrificed enormously for this remaining period. Every minute should be used to save as many people as possible. A true disciple must have the courage to step up. Gods are watching us.
Over 30 practitioners came to support the rally. Those who normally did not come out were there and played a leading role in reaching out to people around us. During this event, we talked to television program producers, corporate executives, Harvard professors and students, visitors from mainland China, and tourists from other countries. Many of them made the right choice for their future after reading our truth-clarification information. From this, I realized once again the importance of faith in Master and Dafa in the face of challenges, and righteous thoughts can change everything, and miracles can occur. At the same time, supporting others, not complaining, and putting in every effort is a process in which one improves and elevates. It is also necessary for the salvation of all beings. On that day, from the morning with dark clouds to the end of the event with a blue sky and bright sunshine, we all felt that we had cleaned up other dimensions.
This event at Harvard Square once again made me feel the urgency to save local people. During the 2017 New York Fa conference, I was fortunate to have participated in a meeting for English media. Australian practitioners shared their successful experiences reaching out to the cultural elite through truth-clarification films. At that moment, I thought about organizing film viewings in the Boston area where more mainstream media will learn the truth. I had been thinking about it for a few months. With the successful Harvard Square campaign behind me, I decided to put it into action.
I contacted a reputable independent cinema in Harvard Square with the help of a Western practitioner who had previously worked with me. The application process was slow, and the cinema staff was unresponsive. We even suspected that the CCP had paid the cinema not to work with us. Just when it seemed hopeless, the cinema gave us a very good time slot. It appeared that we were lucky. It was actually Master's arrangement. The test was to see if we had strong righteous thoughts. The next step was promotion and marketing. Some practitioners and I all agreed that we should promote the film and sell tickets rather than make it a free event. Because the audience would be mainstream society, and the film has a serious human rights theme, free admission might not bring us the audience we desired. Selling tickets was not an issue; the key was promoting it at the right places.
From a technical perspective, we were fortunate that Australian practitioners helped and guided us on how to use social media to promote the screening. However, it was not easy to get rid of fear and anxiety. I concerned that there might be only a handful of audience members in the cinema, which can hold over a hundred people. With only several Dafa disciples attending, the guest speakers on stage would face an almost empty auditorium. When I thought of this embarrassing scenario, I was chilled to my bones. I thought about delaying the event and even regretted having invited guest speakers. I knew that it was serious interference. How can I eliminate my negative emotions and overcome my fears? At this time, I thought of Master's Fa. Looking inwards is a magic tool, so I calmed down and searched for the root cause of my fear. Was it because I could not save people? Or was it because I did not want to lose money and, in particular, lose face in front of the guest speakers and fellow practitioners? When looking inwards using the standard of the Fa, I saw my own fundamental attachment — I cannot let go of the desire to validate myself, my ego, self-esteem, fame, and money. With this impure heart, how could I be open and upright and save people without fear? I told myself that I must let go of all attachments to personal loss and gain. It would not matter whatsoever if I lose face or money. Having a pure heart and going all out is what it takes so the old forces have nothing to exploit. Master will bless me, and Dafa will produce miracles.
The last ten days before the screening, I felt that my heart was calm and clear; I was no longer worried and apprehensive. If a doubt came into my mind, I would wipe it out with righteous thoughts. Actually, there was interference from the beginning. Within one week of the screening, we sold a total of three tickets (including one ticket I bought for my family). Our promotional materials had been removed from YouTube. We advertised on public TV for only two days before the ads stopped abruptly. There was little response to our invitations from mainstream media in the first week because the format was not professionally prepared. No one bought a ticket. I told myself that this was an illusion and a test. I knew that our promotional strategy was right. Saving people is not something money can buy. Complimentary tickets will not be cherished by others. I will stay the course step by step, do what we plan to do, and the rest will be up to Master’s arrangement.
In the final week, several local practitioners also joined in and helped us dash to the finish line. We continued to send invitations, visit mainstream organizations, and post advertisements in places where people in mainstream society gather. During those days I had only one thought: I will validate Master's Fa through my own actions – “When disciples have ample righteous thoughts, Master has the power to turn back the tide” (“The Master-Disciple Bond” from Hong Yin, Volume II). At this time, there were issues with my kitchen remodeling, and I was asked to pay more to have the work redone. I knew that this was interference, but I was unmoved. Everything can wait until the screening is over. I felt that Master gave me a huge blessing in other dimensions during that time. Although I did not have time to do the exercises regularly and I could only study the Fa when there was a break here and there, I was able to keep strong righteous thoughts and a good physical condition. For two weeks, the systems I managed at work ran smoothly without any problems, and nobody asked me for technical support. This gave me time to do event promotion. This was Master's arrangement in other dimensions. I was blessed to complete this task.
The last weekend before the screening, practitioners called and told me that 13 people bought tickets online. I thought to myself that this was the power of the Fa, and I should continue to work hard! On the morning of the event, I went to the theater to check the posting of our event announcements. The theater’s marketing department manager was there. He told me that he was shocked to read the film’s introduction. He could not sit and watch the film that night due to a back problem he had. He said he would fully support us and would send a streaming link to the theater’s mailing list. He also said that his back injury does not compare to the suffering of Falun Gong practitioners. After I listened to what he said, I felt that no matter how many people came to see the film, this activity was worth our effort. Furthermore, I had a hunch that the event would exceed our expectations that night.
Half an hour before the start of the screening, 80 to 90 people came. Some could not find a seat on the first floor and went to the second floor. Apart from a small number of fellow practitioners, the vast majority were ordinary people: doctors, academic elites, members of human rights organizations, film producers, ordinary citizens, college students, etc. There were also students from mainland China. Except for some students who took free student tickets, the rest (about two-thirds) bought tickets online or on the spot at the cinema. Many viewers participated in the round-table discussion after the film and expressed their desire to help us stop live organ harvesting through state legislature resolutions. Our promotional efforts paid off. At the crucial moment, great Master helped us.
Mr. David Kilgour, one of the guest speakers at the event, told me, “Diana, you told me that there may not be many people at this event. It is not true. With so many people buying tickets to watch the film, you should have more confidence in yourself and your activities.” I thought this was Master encouraging me through Mr. Kilgour’s remarks. We held firm our faith in Master and Dafa throughout the process. This was the key to our success. Many practitioners saw the power of Dafa in saving people through this event. Non-practitioner attendees ran over to shake hands with me and thanked us for organizing this event. They told me that without Dafa disciples, no one in society would organize this event, and I have to continue doing it. At that moment, I felt all my efforts and suffering were worth it.
Afterwards, fellow practitioners sent text messages to congratulate me that through this event, many people understood the truth. For me, all beings who are saved should be the happiest because their future is safe. What I am most pleased with is not that I received a lot of virtue by saving people, but that through this process I validated the greatness of Master's Fa. From being uncertain, fearful, and lonely to being determined, upright, and fearless, I truly experienced my elevation in the process. The greatness of the Fa is real as long as you have enough courage to believe in Master and cultivate in Dafa. The process of practice and elevation is the wealth that truly belongs to each cultivator. Time is limited. It is my hope that more practitioners can step up, let go of all concerns, take the initiative to undertake projects to save people, practice and validate the Fa, and experience the greatness of Dafa. It is as Master taught us in Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York, “What you will gain later on far exceeds what you put in, as much as that may be.”
A final note. On the morning after our event, the construction company working on my kitchen told me that the problem in my kitchen was their mistake and that they would fix it at their own expense. This was such a relief to me. All the interference was nothing but an illusion. It was used to test me at crucial moments. If we can be firm in our faith all the way to the end, Master will resolve all the problems for us. Let me end with a quote from Zhuan Falun, “‘When it’s difficult to endure, you can endure it. When it’s impossible to do, you can do it.’ In fact, that is how it is. Why don’t you give it a try when you return home? When you are overcoming a real hardship or tribulation, you try it. When it is difficult to endure, try to endure it. When it looks impossible and is said to be impossible, give it a try and see if it is possible. If you can actually do it, you will indeed find, ‘After passing the shady willow trees, there will be bright flowers and another village ahead!’”
Thank you, Master.
Thank you, fellow practitioners.
Chinese version: http://www.zhengjian.org/node/245194
