(Minghui.org) Practitioners in our area have cultivated in Falun Dafa for over 25 years. We were middle-aged when they started practicing Dafa and are now in our 60s or 70s. Even though we are getting old, our wish to save people is not diminished. We still steadfastly walk the path of assisting Master rectify the Fa and save sentient beings. I’d like to share the experiences of local practitioners working with one another to hand out Dafa informational materials to remote areas, as a report to Master.
There is a mountainous area in the westernmost part of our county, where transportation is difficult and the villages are scattered among narrow valleys. There were no practitioners there, so in order to have more people obtain Dafa materials, the coordinator in our area led practitioners there once a year.
When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began persecuting Falun Dafa, practitioners either rode bicycles or went on foot to deliver materials to people along the mountain roads and over hills. The roads there are really just dirt tracks, and very hard to walk. But with faith in Master and Dafa, practitioners managed to go there to help people learn the truth about Dafa, taking great risks.
Practitioners who had been to these areas served as guides for other practitioners. The journey was long, and by the time we got back home, it was already past midnight. We were only separated from that remote place by a mountain, but to get there we had to climb over it. Later, we rode motorcycles at night in groups of two. One person rode with a passenger, with the farthest place being over 60 miles round trip.
The roads were steep and winding, and we had to avoid gravel and rocks rolling down the mountain. Practitioners sitting on the back of the motorcycle had to keep still, with their feet firmly on the foot rest, holding the rear rack of the motorcycle tightly, trying to avoid affecting the driver. It was pitch black, with only the light of the motorcycle in front of us.
Once, on our way back after we finished handing out materials, about halfway up the mountain, we saw a light in the distance. We knew it was a group of practitioners returning as well. When I saw other practitioners returning safe and sound, I was very happy. Every time we crossed the mountain, we divided up and headed for the villages that we were responsible for. Occasionally, we would look back to see if there was still light at the foot of the mountain, and if another group of practitioners was heading home.
We overcame every difficulty, spreading Falun Dafa to the people in this area. I marveled at how Dafa has created tens of thousands of selfless disciples, especially several female practitioners who, like the men, rode bicycles with others, crossing mountains and rivers on the path of validating the Fa and saving sentient beings.
One summer, we decided to go to the mountain to hand out materials. On the night we were to set out, six groups of us met. We talked about the fact that it was going to rain, and whether we should go or not. Practitioners’ overall righteous thoughts were very strong. Saving people is what Master wants. A dozen of us set out at the planned time. It was very dark, with the sound of thunder. We sent righteous thoughts, as six motorcycles rode slowly over the mountain. Protected by Master as we rode, the rain held off.
In some villages water flowed down from the mountains, filling the paths, but we walked through the puddles to distribute materials from house to house without interruption. In order to keep our materials dry, we hung every one of them on the household doorknobs. We also held the materials close to our chests to protect them from the rain. We were tasked by Master to let people have the opportunity to be saved by Dafa.
After Master published “How Humankind Came To Be” and “Why Save Sentient Beings”, we became more aware of the urgency of saving people.
Sentient beings came for the Fa. In some areas, it was fairly easy for them to hear and learn the truth, but for areas where there were no practitioners, it was much harder. One time, a coordinator mentioned that there were no practitioners in a certain township, and no practitioners had been there to hand out materials for a few years. After discussion, the coordinator decided to have practitioners go there to deliver materials.
The place was quite far, so we had much to consider. After discussing with the coordinator, he arranged several practitioners to go there first and familiarize themselves with the area. After they came back, the coordinator decided how many of us were needed to deliver materials, and determined the time according to the general situation there. Practitioners sent forth righteous thoughts a lot every day. Sixteen practitioners from five towns participated in the trip. The farthest round trip from one destination was over 100 miles, and the closest round trip was about 20 miles.
The process of handing out materials is also a process of cultivating ourselves. As practitioners were not familiar with these places, they had some concerns. Especially those who had only distributed materials in their local villages. To travel further afield was rather difficult, and required one to improve based on the Fa and have strong righteous thoughts.
One practitioner had some reservations. Considering her family situation and her foot pain, she was worried that she could not walk such a long distance. The village she was responsible for was six miles across, and the farmers were scattered sparsely on the hills and slopes. She was also a little afraid that many farmers kept dogs, and she was scared of the dogs barking. In addition, by the time she returned from such a long journey, it would be the morning of the following day. Because of that, she was worried about her family. These attachments stood in her way.
A practitioner shared with her, saying, “Can I ask if these thoughts are yours? Isn’t the mission of practitioners to have sentient beings, be saved and assist Master in rectifying the Fa? We only act on it by delivering the truth to people. You don’t have to worry about anything, as everything is in Master’s hands.”
Then she thought: “Master has given me such a great opportunity for saving sentient beings, how can I not do well?” She studied the Fa intensively, tried to improve her understanding from the standpoint of the Fa and changed her notions. Gradually, her state of mind became stable and she decided to be part of the project.
When it came time to hand out materials, we advised practitioners to collectively send forth righteous thoughts at home to strengthen those who were going to hand them out. Sixteen practitioners were divided into three groups, and each motorcycle formed a team with two people. Every one of us had 100 copies of materials. One fairly big village had three practitioners assigned to cover it. One group of practitioners had 300 copies of materials and many truth-clarification sticky notes. Since they had to carry them by hand, it was very difficult.
We needed to give people in each household an opportunity to be saved, without leaving any of them behind. Practitioners all tried to bring extra copies, even though they knew they might end up with some leftovers. It was still better than running short and not giving people a chance to learn the truth.
The powerful field created by distributing materials collectively, dismantled and subdued any interference. Under such a powerful righteous field, every attachment vanished. Only our pure minds for saving people were left. Even practitioners whose feet hurt before, stopped feeling pain. The practitioner who was afraid of dogs barking also let go of her fear. The dogs stopped barking when they saw her, since they were completely subdued by her pure righteous thoughts.
Practitioners who drove had to endure a lot of hardship too. They had to pick up every one of the practitioners on the team, and take them to the villages assigned. Each village has several lanes and forks in the road. In order to minimize walking, the driver took one group to one place and drove on to take the second group to another. After delivering them, he returned to pick up the first group then take them to another place. He went back and forth several times in one night.
The distance between places is dozens of miles. We didn’t stop walking, with the drivers closely following behind. We worked together really well. Everything gives way to Fa-rectification and saving sentient beings.
As for practitioners who participated in this project for the very first time, they went from being worried and concerned, to treasuring the opportunity of working well with one another and saving sentient beings. This came down to the process of cultivating and elevating ourselves.
Fellow practitioners, let’s all take action to save sentient beings. In the final leg of our cultivation journey, let’s follow Master closely in the Fa-rectification process and do the three things well.
In order to have people learn the truth and be saved, everything we do is worthwhile. We are the happiest and most gratified beings. When Fa-rectification is over, sentient beings will be saved and we will reach consummation. We board Master’s golden Fa boat, are bathed in Master’s compassionate Buddha light, and enjoy his divine grace forever!