Some Thoughts about Our Appearance

When I began to go out in public to clarify the truth about Falun Gong and the persecution, I did not pay attention to what I wore. Time was tight, so for the sake of convenience, I just randomly picked clothes to wear. Actually, I have several nice and appropriate outfits. However, I would not wear them if there was little time. Therefore, sometimes my appearance was neat and proper, but sometimes it was too "casual."

While clarifying the truth, I noticed different reactions from people due to my appearance. For example, I went to residential areas to deliver truth-clarifying materials. If my appearance was too simple and casual, security guards at the entrance gates had the tendency to stop me and ask some questions. If I didn't have good reasons to enter, they generally would reject my entrance. Once, after I entered the gate of a residential area, the security guard stopped me from behind. He looked at my appearance and asked me, "Why do you come here? Are you looking for someone?" I answered immediately, " No, I would like to find a restroom." After listening to my words, he calmed down and said, "Oh, I see. There is no public restroom here. Please go somewhere else." While escorting me out of the gate, he said, "You look very familiar. Have you come here before? We have a monitoring system here." I understood that he was trying to scare me, since that was my first time there. In addition, I had already gained detailed information about their monitoring system and how it operated from a friend. However, I still felt upset about the losing the chance to deliver truth-clarifying materials to save sentient beings.

One day, my daughter (a middle school student) and I went out together. When I saw a fellow practitioner standing together with several other people, I asked my daughter, "Do you know which one is a Falun Gong practitioner?" After watching them for a while, she said, "The one standing at the middle." She was right and I asked her, "How do you know?" She said, "You see, her clothing is appropriate and clean. Her manner is graceful. She looks very energetic and vigourous. She looks like a Dafa disciple."

"She looks like a Dafa disciple," is just a quick answer from my daughter. However, it made me think. I remembered that when Master teaches the Fa, his appearance is graceful and appropriate. His words are righteous and lofty. Doesn't his behaviour teach us what we should do? The boundless inner meaning of Dafa penetrates to ordinary people's level. Although having different attachments and concepts, people understand that first impressions are important. Therefore, while clarifying the truth, our appearance should be graceful and elegant, so that we can demonstrate the beauty, mercifulness, and compassion of Dafa disciples. Think about this, "Which one is more effective for face-to-face truth-clarification? A person with casual clothing and untidy appearance or a personal with appropriate dress and a well-groomed appearance?" When meeting friends or attending social events, we all know to dress up appropriately to show our politeness and respect. Clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings is sacred and lofty, so anything related to it should not be ignored or neglected. Of course, I do not mean to exaggerate the effect of our appearance compared to the effect of our righteous thoughts. My intention is to explain that some small factors could affect the most important things, such as saving sentient beings. Small factors are still important.

Due to the persecution directive to "bankrupt them financially," the financial conditions of many practitioners are very difficult. They may not have money to purchase a dress or suit. Nonetheless, in such difficulties, they still strive to save money in order to validate Dafa and save sentient beings. When I thought about this, my feeling of respect and sympathy for them often prevented me from sharing my thoughts about appearances. However, our manners, behaviour, and appearance sometimes directly affect the results of our work. With the thought to improve the effectiveness of our work, I have put down some words to share my feeling and thoughts with fellow practitioners. I am not saying that we should pursue high-class and luxury brand names. Since the working, living, and financial conditions are different for all practitioners, we should do what we can instead of going to the extreme, because our fundamental purpose is to save the sentient beings with all our hearts.

Other practitioners have also shared their ideas about this issue. However, I found that some practitioners (including me) still haven't paid enough attention to it. Therefore, I would like to remind all the practitioners again. My only wish is that we save sentient beings together, effectively, with our whole hearts.

Please point out anything improper.