Clarifying The Facts At Customs

On March the 15th 2003, I took a flight to Geneva with a special passport and I.D. with no nationality that had been urgently issued by the Spanish government. However, I was denied entry by the Geneva customs. The customs officials could not recognise this sort of passport and did not allow me to pass through the customs. Two Western practitioners explained in English and French to the customs officials that this kind of passport was in common use internationally. (We realised afterwards that Switzerland was not in the international organisation in which this kind of passport could be used.) We explained that the activity we were about to attend was very important. The official said, “We can process another visa.”However, he received the order: “A visa will not be issued” and I was told “Take the next flight and return to your country of origin” when he reported to the visa department. Two Western practitioners spent a lot of time talking with the officials in the customs office. When they walked out of the customs office, I knew from their faces, a bit of excitement and frustration, that the customs officials had not changed their minds. The customs staff started to process the procedure of my return.

When everybody sat down and discussed what to do, I was calm in my heart. I realised that it was not important whether I could pass through Customs; what was more important was to clarify the facts about the persecution of Dafa to more people through this event. It might be a good chance to clarify the truth to the people involved in this event. I conveyed my understanding to my fellow practitioners: “No matter whether I can enter Switzerland or not, we should explain the facts to them; we should not be interfered by any factor. Master would not care about the result, only the process.”

Through experience sharing, we reevaluated this event according to the Fa, and saw the whole thing in a clear light. The old forces set piles and piles of obstructions in front of us and tried to turn our attention to something else; however, we should firmly believe in Dafa, hold a diamond-like heart when facing any kind of interference; we should do what Dafa disciples should do. As Master mentioned that the old forces tried to interfere with and damage Dafa, we could also use this situation to our advantage. Usually we did not have a chance to clarify the truth to customs staff, it was a good chance to do it now. The side of them that could understand the truth would be eager to hear the great Fa of the universe - Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. And that was what we had to do.
Our understanding improved according to the Fa and we had righteous thoughts. Practitioners promptly clarified the truth individually to the customs staff. We happened to have brought the truth-clarifying booklets in English as well as other languages with us. We had enough time to explain to the customs staff in detail. The two Western practitioners had obtained the Fa recently; however, they actively clarified the truth to everyone they met in each of the offices and information windows.

The result was very good. The people in customs were deeply moved by practitioners’ great compassion and forbearance. Afterwards, the customs staff got together to discuss how to help us pass through. They tried everything they could, but it was finally in vain because the return procedure and mechanism had already been set into motion and completed. Their sense of apology showed in their eyes. A lady indicated that she would walk me through the customs in person if I came to Geneva next time.

It was time to return. The two policemen who knew the truth walked me through the departure area with an apology. Because I could not speak French and they did not speak Spanish, I said in English, “Falun Dafa is good” to them on the way. In the departure area, the policemen handed out my certificates to an official. The official could speak a little bit of Spanish. Therefore, I clarified the truth to him in my poor Spanish, also the truth of Falun Gong, the huge changes that have happened to me and the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. I was full of compassion at that time. It sounded strange that all the words and phrases that I had forgotten came to my mind then. The words and phrases I knew were not much; therefore, I showed him the pictures while clarifying the truth. Though my Spanish was poor, I did it with my heart and he listened to me with his heart. I knew he realised because tears sparkled in his eyes. He finally said, “Falun Dafa is very, very good.” I gave him the photo booklet. He accepted it and thanked me. When I walked out of the Customs, I saw he and his colleagues were looking at the booklet.

Though I was not able to attend the Fa-conference, I realised the urgency and importance of clarifying the truth via the truth-clarifying experience in the customs. As a Dafa disciple, we cannot forget our mission in this lifetime wherever we are, whatever and whoever we face.