(Minghui.org) On February 6, 2012, Wang Lijun, vice-mayor of Chongqing, fled to the U.S. consulate in Chengdu and revealed details of the murder and cover-up of British businessman Neil Heywood, who was associated with Bo Xilai. The incident brought himself down and his superior, Bo Xilai, the former Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary for Chongqing and previous member of the Chinese Politburo, who arrested several of Wang’s close allies and associates before the incident.

Wang Lijun was previously head of the Chongqing Police Department. He allegedly had evidence against Bo, who led an especially severe persecution against Falun Gong and was accused of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners as prisoners of conscience.

After the Wang Lijun Incident, Falun Gong practitioners in New York and Washington DC quickly organized a petition to urge the U.S. Government to make public all evidence that Wang Lijun revealed about Bo Xilai, as well as all evidence pertaining to the Chinese regime's organ harvesting of innocent Falun Gong practitioners.

The practitioners in New York City are very busy by comparison, so we didn't have enough manpower to man a table on the streets for people to sign the petition. Each practitioner would find his/her own time to collect signatures. Manhattan is the heart of New York City, so I decided to go to Manhattan.

I was completely clueless at first. There were a lot of people on the streets, but they all looked busy and walked briskly past me. How would I approach them? I thought about how other Falun Gong practitioners held street exhibits several years ago on the streets of Manhattan to re-enact the torture that Falun Gong practitioners were subject to in Chinese prisons since 1999. While many people stopped and expressed sympathy, more were cold and indifferent. I felt depressed just thinking about it. The experience had left me with an impression that people in New York were cold and selfish. But I immediately reminded myself that I was not asking people for help as in an ordinary charity cause. I am saving people and giving them a chance of redemption. I told myself that I must assist Teacher with Fa-rectification and save the world's people.

There were four smartly dressed people chatting nearby. I approached them by saying, “Excuse me, would you like to sign the petition to help stop China from harvesting organs from Falun Gong practitioners?”

They just stared at me.

I added, “By just signing the petition, you will save many lives. You are welcome to read the petition.”

I looked at them while sending righteous thoughts in my heart. One of them took the petition. He read the summary and exclaimed, “Oh my! I can't believe it!” He signed the petition and filled out his name and address. He then passed the petition to his friends, who all signed as well.

“It is not difficult,” I told myself. “I can do it and I must do it.”

Next I saw three other people chatting together. I approached them with the same opening line. One lady told me she was not interested. A sudden pang of rejection hit me, but I remembered Teacher's words. I must be impervious. I turned to her friends. “Would you like to sign the petition?” One man looked at me and said, “I will be glad to.” They both signed the petition.

I have learned that as long as I remain impervious, one person's rejection is not going to affect the decision of others.

Before I knew it, I had collected signatures from dozens of people. Some people signed and others did not. I bore in mind that I would have everyone I met know about our cause because I sincerely wanted to save everyone. Whether or not a person decides to sign the petition is entirely up to the individual.

The next day I collected signatures at a subway station while people were waiting for their trains to arrive. I approached people from one end of the platform to the other, but the train just wouldn't come. The train delay allowed for everyone the chance to know about our cause.

I approached a couple at the subway station. The wife waved impatiently. “We are not interested,” she said. Normally you would expect her husband to reject as well. But I didn't let her discourage me. I knew she did not represent her husband's opinion on the subject. I approached her husband and offered him the petition form. “I really want to save you,” I thought to myself. It turned out that he signed the petition after he read the form. While he was filling out his name and address, I told him more about the Chinese regime's crimes. His wife also listened. When he finished signing, his wife said, “I think I should sign as well.” I smiled at her.

It was good I didn't think badly about her when she refused to sign at first.

On the third day, I was talking to an African American man near Union Square when another African American shouted from across the street. “Are you collecting signatures for Falun Gong?” “Yes.” He walked briskly towards me. He looked like he had been jogging. “I love signing for Falun Gong. What is it for this time?” It appears that he had been approached by Falun Gong practitioners before. After I explained our cause, he immediately said, “Yes! I will definitely sign!” He took the petition from me and signed. But the man that I had talked to hesitated. The jogger told me, “Don't worry. He is my buddy. I will have him sign.” He put one arm around his friend and said, “Buddy, this is important. You have to sign.” The man smiled at the jogger, but he did not sign. The jogger then raised his voice, “Hey! Will you sign or not? If you don't sign, you are no longer my friend.” The man laughed. He said, “I will sign. I was just thinking which address I should use.” I suggested that he use his work address. He immediately signed the petition and filled out his name and work address.

I also met a lady from New Jersey at Union Square. After I told her about our cause, she exclaimed, “Oh my! How can this be happening? I will sign the petition.” After I left her, she caught up with me and stopped me. “Would you please wait just one second? My son and his girlfriend are over there. I will take you to them. They should sign the petition as well.” She told her son, “This is a very important matter. I think you should both sign.” When her son and his girlfriend read the petition, they both exclaimed. “Oh my! This is horrible! This can't be happening!” They both signed the petition.

I was very moved by the kind people I had met. There were two college students sitting at Union Square. One of them told me, “I have to think about it.” But the other took the petition and signed it right away. He then asked his friend, “Why do you need to think about it? It is the right thing to do.” His friend said, “It is my name. Of course I will have to think about it before I sign.” He looked annoyed. “So? Do you have any problem with using your name for the right cause?” I hurried to play peacemaker. “It's all right. I will wait.” I kept sending forth righteous thoughts while he considered. After about a minute, he said, “I will sign the petition.” His friend was so happy that he actually applauded!

I was very touched by the young man who not only signed the petition, but applauded for his friend for making the right decision. I had worked tirelessly and endured harsh weather when we held torture exhibits in Manhattan several years ago. I once resented those people who were indifferent to our cause, but I now feel very encouraged by this young man's kindness and righteous spirit.

I have also discovered that the old forces do not have the same level of power of manipulation over people any longer. It appears that people's good, knowing side has awakened. In fact, I feel I have very few negative notions about people. I used to think people in Manhattan were indifferent to our cause because they were selfish. People were not very receptive because I had already passed judgment. Now that I have little negative opinions toward people, I can feel a difference in the way people respond to me. My body no longer feels laden and my energy field feels clean.

There were eight African American teenagers sitting at Union Square. The way they were dressed made them look intimidating and unapproachable, but I decided not to pass judgment. I approached them and explained our cause. One teenager mocked, “I am black.” His friends laughed. He meant he didn't care because he is not Chinese. I remained impervious. I smiled and looked into his eyes. “Do you know something? I am just like you.”

They stopped laughing.

“I am just like you. I cannot choose the color of my skin, but that's not important. The important thing is our heart. Don't you think? Don't underestimate the power of your signatures on this petition. It might save many lives.” I was really speaking from my heart.

It were as though the world had become still. None of them spoke. He took the petition and gave me a quick glance. I noticed that his eyes were red and he was at the brink of tears. Some of his friends reacted the same way. They all signed the petition. One of them asked if he could sign on behalf of his girlfriend. I suggested that she learn about the petition first. “She is here too. I will bring her over.” He quickly returned with his girlfriend and two other young ladies. They all signed the petition.

An African American boy about 12 years of age approached me and asked what I was doing. He asked to sign the petition. I was not sure if it would be okay for him to sign without his parents, but he pulled the petition board towards himself. “You have to lower it so that I can sign.” I decided I should respect his decision to support our cause despite his young age.

Next he asked, “Can you stay here for a while? I will get my brother to sign.” He returned quickly with a boy about seven. I asked his younger brother, “Do you know what the petition is for?” He said, “Yes. My brother has told me about it.” “Are you sure you want to sign?” He nodded. “I am sure.” He worked very hard to “draw” his name, but it still looked like scribbles. His brother saw his signature and crossed it out. The boy protested. He grabbed his brother's arm and shouted, “It is my signature! Don't cross it out.” His brother said, “Your handwriting is terrible. No one will understand it. I will make it look better.” The little boy looked up at me, not knowing what to do. I patted him and said, “Don't worry. We know it was you that chose to sign. You have made a very good choice.” He smiled happily. I was very touched that these boys would ask to sign the petition without any parental guidance.

On the fourth day, I collected signatures near a New York Public Library on 42nd Street. There were outdoor tables and chairs in the park behind the library. There were a lot of people enjoying their lunch break there. Most of them dressed smart. I could tell they were leaders in either the public or private sector. Lunchtime was a perfect opportunity for me to approach them, but my heart started racing when I was about to approach them. I felt small before these important-looking people. But I told myself to overcome the feeling of fear because it was a form of interference.

At that precise moment an African American man in handsome attire walked up to me and greeted me enthusiastically.

“I wanted to say hi. I am very glad to see you.” I explained to him what the petition was for and he signed right away. “It won't be long. Hang in there,” he said before he parted.

I approached every table in the park. Many people have heard about Falun Gong and the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, but they don't know enough about the Chinese regime's depravity.

I approached two men at a table. One of them was a business entrepreneur and the other was his friend. The entrepreneur was skeptical. “Did they (the Chinese Communist Party) really do this (organ harvesting)? Isn't China improving as a nation?” His friend explained, “He is planning to do business with China.” I immediately felt compelled to tell him more about China.

“How much money do you think you will make from a regime that harvests organs from living people?”

He looked shocked.

“After you give your money to the Chinese Communist Party, do you think it will still listen to you?” He exchanged a look with his friend.

I continued, “Do you think the Chinese Communist Party will tell you how it uses your money? In order to protect your investment, you just have to follow whatever the Communist Party demands of you? Law has no power in China. Do you think the Chinese Communist Party will tell you the truth?”

“Do not have your money cry for you. I believe it would rather stay home with you than with the Chinese Communist Party.” They both laughed.

The business entrepreneur accepted the petition form, but he hesitated to sign.

I said, “Signing a petition may seem very easy, but you will feel lucky one day to have made the right decision.” They laughed again. The entrepreneur said while he was signing, “I feel lucky already.” His friend signed too. “How can I miss out on something that makes me lucky?”

When I was about to leave, the entrepreneur said, “Thank you! Thank you for everything you have told me!”

It requires a lot of techniques to clarify the truth to society's elite. Don't make them feel ignorant, and don't make them feel you are “teaching,” “telling,” or “preaching” to them either. Try leading them to think. Find ways to interest and engage them. Think of a unique perspective for each audience. More importantly, think quickly.

I often have to think of a talking point within seconds. It's a really exhausting brain workout. I found myself able to think and respond very quickly when I collected signatures. I could think of several different talking points instantly and chose the best one for the audience although I often found myself drenched with sweat after having talked to just one person.

An attorney at the park said he knew about the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong. But he questioned, “Do you really think it (the petition) makes any difference?” I answered, “It is like a lawsuit. It takes time, but it will definitely end with the right outcome. You just have to work hard at it, right?” He looked as though he could relate. He nodded, “So true.”

After he signed the petition, he asked for a web link for the petition and said he would have his friends sign the petition as well.

There were two men in expensive business suits at the park. I knew instantly they were important people judging by the way they carried themselves. They looked at the documents on the table while I spoke.

“Do you really think we will sign? We are busy right now.”

“I do think you will sign,” I replied.

“Why do you think that?”

“Two reasons. First of all, you live in the United States. The Chinese Communist Party won't be able to put you in any forced labor camp if you sign. Secondly, you must remember the movie 'Schindler's List'. At the end of the movie, Schindler regretted not having sold his gold pin to save more Jewish people from death. You don't need to sell anything. You need only to sign this petition to save many lives.”

They both looked surprised. They both signed the petition without any rebuttal.

There were six people chatting at another table. One of them asked, “What will we get if we sign the petition?” I replied, “You will save many lives. Your names will be remembered for posterity. It is a reward that no money can buy.” They all signed the petition gladly.

There were two ladies speaking on the phone when I approached their table. “We don't have time,” they said. I approached a nearby table so that they could hear me. When they finished their calls, they asked me to return and signed the petition. They also asked for the petition website so that their employees could sign too.

Even though I was pouring my heart out, not everybody would sign.

A businessman told me he would not sign the petition because he was afraid that the Chinese Communist Party would give him trouble. People who had just signed the petition looked disgusted at him. He noticed their stares and looked uncomfortable. I looked at him wistfully. In the past, I would have just walked away and thought negatively, “There is nothing I can do if you don't want to be saved.” But I think differently now. He still has a chance as long as the persecution is not over. I should not think of him as a forgone conclusion.

I said to him with all sincerity, “You won't lose anything by signing the petition. You might even be rewarded. Maybe you need time to think about it. Next time, perhaps. I hope you will sign next time.”

He looked slightly touched by my kindness. “Next time I will,” he said.

There was a Jewish physician at the park. He said, “I know all about this. I will definitely sign!” I also gave him the petition website and asked him to pass it to his physician friends. He promised he would.

1,200 people signed the petition in four days. I spent only about two hours each day. There are a lot more stories about the most unlikely people who ended up signing the petition.

I am deeply moved by my encounters with all those people with such righteous spirits. I feel shameful for previously expecting a negative outcome from people in Manhattan. The experience has inspired me to be more diligent in my cultivation because we are their hope of salvation. I have finally learned how important it is for us to let go of all negative expectations and judgment. We will only be able to save people when we think selflessly and entirely for their salvation.

This concludes my humble understanding on the subject. Please kindly point out anything erroneous.