(Minghui.org) When I began to practice Falun Dafa in 2004, I did not have a regular job. This gave me ample time to take on additional coordination assignments for Dafa projects. Among others, I visited fellow practitioners, transported the Minghui Weekly, and searched for a group Fa study venue.
I saw myself as a new practitioner in the beginning of my cultivation and thus assisted veteran practitioners and coordinators in their jobs.
However, when two local coordinators were arrested and taken to a brainwashing center, I was asked to coordinate the projects they had handled. I agreed, but I was clueless about what the particular coordination involved and how to go about it.
My inexperience clearly came to the forefront shortly after I said that I would take on the coordination.
Many practitioners sent forth righteous thoughts near a brainwashing center when a new practitioner showed up. She said that she was followed and her house was surrounded by police officers.
This created a dilemma. Some practitioners voiced that it was not appropriate for her to come because police might track her down and arrest everyone.
One practitioner left with her, but another practitioner said there was still a risk involved and proposed to end the gathering. Some practitioners began to leave the venue.
My mind was blank and I was waiting for someone to tell me what to do. Finally, I realized that I had to end the meeting and ask that everyone leave immediately. After all practitioners left safely, I felt relieved.
However, a practitioner criticized me in public. She said that I had not used the opportunity to eliminate the evil, wasted a lot of time and increased fear among practitioners.
Upon hearing this, I felt frustrated, pressured, and thought to give up being a coordinator. But, I quickly calmed down and saw the merit in the practitioner's comment. I could have handled the situation differently. I should have faced the challenge with a righteous mind and denied the illusion of being followed or arrested.
I decided to learn from this incident and do better next time.
A practitioner called another practitioner who had provided a place for group Fa-study and suggested that they stop meeting for awhile because the environment was tense.
I thought of the matter this time based on the Fa. The group Fa-study had to be held, because it unites local practitioners. If we stopped, only the evil forces would be happy.
I shared with another coordinator the following day who came to the same conclusion. We met and shared our understandings with the practitioner who proposed that we stop the Fa study. We encouraged each other to eliminate any fear.
Local practitioners soon united into one body to rescue the arrested practitioners. A few practitioners who had hid out of fear also joined the effort.
The brainwashing center was closed down and the environment in our area stabilized.
I learned a lot from reading Master's teachings on assisting and coordinating Dafa projects.
“...only by being modest can you do things well. Your reputation is established based on a good understanding of the Fa.” (“How to Provide Assistance”from Essentials for Further Advancement)
“There is no fame, self-interest, or official titles in Dafa, but only cultivation practice.” (“A Heavy Blow” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
From reading the Fa, I had a better understanding about how to coordinate. I no longer took fellow practitioners’ accusations personally.
I communicated with practitioners coordinating specific Dafa projects, such as material processing sites and technical support, and asked for their help. The existing projects continued smoothly.
The Dafa truth-clarification calendar was a major seasonal project. I didn't know the whole process but I relied on practitioners who had participated in it before and who had overcome many difficulties.
A group of practitioners started first, but could only make a small quantity at the beginning. Learning that the demand was very high, I organized more material production sites and added teams to assemble and transport.
I also invited some experienced practitioners who shared their stories of distributing the calendars to a group of team leaders. Then the team leaders shared the experiences with team members. More practitioners participated in the distribution and thousands of calendars brought blessings of Falun Dafa to families.
While coordinating, I found many human notions.
Practitioner A coordinated the calendar assembly task. Because of a xinxing test she slacked off and then stopped showing up.
Given my experience, I could understand her. But, after some time, I became irritated by her not contributing to the task. Then, I realized that I should be more considerate. I should encourage and help her pass this test.
Practitioner B worked also on the same project. She was skillful and she produced a high quality product. However, she always arrived on foot instead of riding a bike and never explained herself.
When the project needed more manpower, she had accepted an everyday job and contributed even less time. I began to complain, without knowing the reason behind practitioner B's actions.
I only saw her family condition on the surface. Three of her children held a job and her husband had a business. I thought that she did not need a job.
However, I learned later that she had a fear of riding a bike and her husband's business was not profitable because he was not paid when he finished a project. To keep his business afloat, he had to borrow money.
I realized that I had succumbed to the indoctrination by the Party, which demanded that I impose my thoughts on her instead of being considerate.
Master said,
“While working, your tone of voice, your kindheartedness, and your reasoning can change a person’s heart, whereas commands never could!”(“Clearheadedness” from Essentials for Further Advancement)
Master's Fa guided me to mature as a coordinator. Although, I am just a tiny particle, I want to work with fellow practitioners as a unified body.