Abandoning My Ego -- Going to Hong Kong to Clarify the Facts and Validate the Fa

It's been nearly a year since I last went to Hong Kong to clarify the facts. I gained much insight from this Hong Kong trip and would like to share my experience with everyone.

I was one of the practitioners the Hong Kong government unreasonably repatriated last year on July 1, the anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. After I returned to Taiwan, I re-applied for a Hong Kong visa many times but was refused. I submitted about nine applications, including those for a short-term visa, long-term visa and Taiwanese travel documents through different travel agencies in three different counties or cities. Hong Kong immigration officials heaped additional paperwork on me for various reasons and then rejected my applications.

I thought that if my job prevented me from traveling to Hong Kong, it would not be my fault. I could remain in Taiwan to clarify the facts. The timing at work turned out to be favorable, but my lack of visa prevented me from going. From a practitioner's point of view, since the old forces dared not to block our clarifying the facts, my attachments must be what was blocking my going forward. The only thing I could do was to look inward.

Each time my application was rejected, I found an attachment, just like peeling an onion, layer by layer, as Master mentioned. Nevertheless, my visa application was still rejected. I was worried. I thought that I had strong righteous thoughts, indeed wanted to go to Hong Kong to clarify the facts and didn't have any fear. I knew it would be quite laborious to go to Hong Kong, but I didn't mind. Where was my problem? I became worried.

I realized that worrying is incorrect and asked myself why I would worry--was it about being unable to offer people salvation, or for some other reason? Recalling the Fa, as if Master was giving me a hint, a paragraph I frequently read through was, "... whether you are validating the Fa or validating yourself." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York")

One day I suddenly realized my deeply hidden attachment--trying to validate myself.

I looked for the root cause of "validating myself." I had coordinated several projects and needed to speak frequently. I also frequently heard words of praise from practitioners. I understood that to a practitioner, words of praise were a test and so I reminded myself not to be affected by them. But that righteous thought was not always there. I became unconsciously arrogant, felt my understanding should be relatively better than that of other practitioners, and unconsciously put on airs while speaking. While hosting the Fa-study, I talked more. I would express my opinions without waiting for others to finish during discussions with practitioners. Fellow practitioners kindly pointed this out a couple of times by commenting, "The coordinator has taken up all the time with her talking; there is not enough time for our sharing." Or, "At the beginning your sharing is good, but later we felt you said too much." Or, "When working with you, you seem to be like someone in upper management."

For a long time I thought it sounded like someone else's problem and did not want to face my inflated ego. I couldn't bear for someone to say I did not have righteous thoughts, because that would make me lose face. If my visa were approved, wouldn't that prove the strength of my righteous thoughts? Having found these faults I suddenly awakened! Validating the Fa and offering salvation to all sentient beings is such a serious thing. And I validated myself.

After finding this attachment, I felt suddenly enlightened. I eliminated that bad thought repeatedly for several days, facing my wrong mindset, and sent righteous thoughts to eliminate it. I still did not give up on the visa application, but my state of mind was different. I no longer pursued it and let Master arrange it.

Not long after, my visa was approved and I decided to immediately go to Hong Kong. The day before my departure, several project coordinators discussed a matter that needed to be resolved as soon as possible, and it would be best to have a meeting to make a decision in two days. They asked whether I could cancel my Hong Kong trip. I had some hesitation. Both matters seemed equally important. I decided not to change my Hong Kong trip. I was convinced the practitioners would be able to deal with that matter very well without me. I could not intentionally or unintentionally prove my importance.

The project meeting time changed several times, and later on, everyone decided to postpone the meeting to the night of my return to Taiwan. I went to Hong Kong and joined the Taiwan meeting the night I returned. Neither matter was impacted. I understood that when one lets go of an attachment, Master will make the best arrangements for us.

While passing through Hong Kong Customs, it suddenly seemed like a voice talking to me, "Any behavior of trying to prove oneself in Dafa is very silly, very disrespectful. A being should be humble in Dafa, gaining naturally without pursuit." I wanted to cry and recalled what Master said, "If they are not cleaned out, how can you, with such an impure, dark body and a filthy mind, practice cultivation toward a higher level?" (Lecture One, Zhuan Falun)

I realized a practitioner must let go of attachments and be free of pursuit, to assimilate into Dafa without pursuit; only then will the supernatural power of Dafa unfold in us. I held Heshi in my heart and said sincerely, "Your disciple understood, Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

My time in Hong Kong was brief, but I was touched. There were fewer practitioners in Hong Kong, but there were a lot of precious Chinese from the Mainland visiting. Master arranged those predestined people to be at our spots. No matter whether we were sending righteous thoughts, holding a banner, distributing truth-clarification materials or telling the facts face to face, those people who got off the buses were looking at us silently. They seemed to not be coming for sightseeing, rather to hear the truth. Hong Kong practitioners had been in that kind of environment for a long time, and had cleaned out that field quite considerably.

However, relatively fewer practitioners are in various Hong Kong spots. Many places lack manpower to pull the cart back and forth, and set up banners and posters every day. Hundreds of Mainland Chinese coming to us for the truth requires manpower to clarify the facts, distribute the materials and hold the posters. Time is short. We will miss certain opportunities to offer salvation to people if we don't have enough manpower. We had nine practitioners to clarify the facts together at a scenic spot. We did well. When the Chinese tourists got back on their buses, most of them had heard the facts from practitioners or received truth-clarification materials. They would smile at us and we read in their eyes: Falun Gong is really remarkable. Some, however, would refuse to accept what we had to offer. As long as we did not let these people influence us and sent righteous thoughts together, those people would become silent. As soon as we started to clarify the facts, people would slow their footsteps to listen to us. As soon as we held the posters up, people would turn around, watching. We need Dafa practitioners to do all these things.

When done for the day, I helped to put the posters on the cart and tied them up. Even for a tall girl like me it was hard work. I asked a Hong Kong practitioner who would pull the cart if no one was on hand to help. She smiled and pointed at another practitioner, which meant it would be that practitioner and herself. I looked at them; the two of them together would just about equate my body size. It made me understand they would be unable to accomplish this--year in and year out, in all weather--had they not genuinely understood the Fa from the Fa, having a practitioner's firm will, comprehending the importance of offering sentient beings salvation. Whenever I recall that, I am reminded I must diligent.

On each previous departure from Hong Kong, the practitioners there would always urge us to convey to other Taiwanese practitioners: "Please, more of you come; come to Hong Kong again." Regarding the term "supporting Hong Kong to clarify the facts," I have a different feeling this time. I believe that clarifying the facts in Hong Kong is also our Taiwanese practitioners' responsibility. We are conveniently located, a short distance away. This is a historical arrangement. I also believe that our Taiwanese practitioners have made the vow to support clarifying the facts in Hong Kong and other places around the world. We have to fulfill our vow.

The above sharing is limited by my understanding. Please, kindly point out any mistakes.