Fa Teaching Given at the Fa Conference Marking the
Tenth Anniversary of Minghui’s Founding
Li Hongzhi ~ 2009
in the United States
(Dafa disciples all stand, warmly applaud. Master smiles and signals for everyone to be seated.)
It is a rare opportunity for the Minghui[1] staff to come together for a meeting; there aren’t many chances for you to share and exchange ideas together in person. So I thought I would join you today. And what I just said is especially true since some Dafa disciples have put all of their effort into the Minghui website, working tremendously hard. I am aware of that.
It can be said that among the websites that Dafa disciples run, this is a crucial one. From the day it was set up it was firmly established as a vehicle for Dafa disciples’ cultivation and their sharing of experiences, and meant to report on the persecution of Dafa disciples in a timely manner. So the role that Minghui has assumed has been particularly decisive, becoming a thorn in the evil’s side. This has meant that the site has had to emphasize security more than other websites, not letting the evil capitalize on any gaps, since the site is able to, in a timely manner, directly report on the persecution that Dafa disciples are suffering; [Minghui’s reports] are not based on third-hand information, but rather, on firsthand material that is acquired directly. Minghui has its own means of connecting with Dafa disciples in mainland China, and has managed to be quite steady in its operations over the years. This is directly related to the cultivation states of those involved with Minghui, particularly the Dafa disciples at the forefront, and their sense of responsibility. This has thwarted the evil. The unique nature of Mingh ui has meant that some of its participating Dafa disciples are relatively isolated, and have somewhat fewer opportunities to share with other students. That makes things all the harder for them.
Whatever the case, it is simply extraordinary that Minghui has made it through to today. In terms of the role it has played, it has powerfully exposed the evil’s persecution, especially in recent years. Since the time when the persecution began, it has furthermore provided a true picture of the cultivation state of Dafa disciples in a timely manner, and served as a point of connection among students. Students everywhere—be it in the mainland, outside China, or wherever it may be—can share experiences via Minghui. By giving Dafa disciples a channel such as this in their cultivation, each is able to promptly learn the overall situation of Dafa disciples’ cultivation; and the site serves as an indirect means of communication as well. This is excellent.
With the exception of Minghui and a few other sites that speak from a different angle, all of the websites [you have set up] report on Dafa disciples’ situation and persecution as normal media entities in society. But Minghui, however, is more direct by assuming the standpoint of Dafa disciples, and depicting how Dafa disciples’ cultivation is going as well as the persecution. Especially notable is the fact that it’s able to acquire firsthand information. That’s not something other websites can do, and so this suggests still furthermore what a decisive role Minghui plays. So no matter what, you need to do an even better job of running the site, and pay special attention to security—to keeping things secret from the evil.
As a cultivation form, Falun Gong has nothing to hide. But, with the wicked CCP persecuting us the way that it is, we have to be on guard. It is constantly deceiving the Chinese people, as well as the rest of the world, keeping the world’s people from knowing its past crimes and the realities of its persecution of Dafa disciples; it is hiding the true sight of its sinister face while using evil means in the persecution. So, we want to be on guard against it and disclose its evil crimes. You need to build up this vehicle [that is Minghui] further, and do even better with it. At the same time, you mustn’t slack off in your personal cultivation, for Minghui will do better and be more remarkable only if you can manage to do better as individuals and in cultivation.
Through exposing the evil, saving sentient beings, and helping Master to rectify the Fa, Minghui has established its mighty virtue, and it is truly remarkable. Perhaps in the future when sentient beings talk about it, they will refer to it as something remarkable, too. That is because Minghui reports from a different vantage point and is different from the other media [run by Dafa disciples], which operate as normal media in society. Another thing is, the website has managed to, despite tough circumstances, consistently maintain contact with the Dafa disciples in the mainland, and thus obtain firsthand information. That’s something other media haven’t managed to do, including the large, international media agencies. Pay no regard to what scope of influence the website has right now: in the future people will know its significance. And actually, even right now many major media, the intelligence agencies of most every country, and the organizations and individuals in each country that care about human rights in China are all visiting Minghui.org, and following it with interest. They know that [what it reports] is true. It’s just that, owing to economic interests, national interests, or because of certain international circumstances, they feign ignorance, and do not intend to, dare to, or wish to provoke the wicked CCP. In the near future people will all have to face up to this whole affair, however. More and more the truth is getting out, so whoever doesn’t face up to it, whoever can’t manage to face up to this reality, will have no future.
Don’t be fooled by how society is just going along as normal right now, busy as ever, with everything operating seemingly as normal. That is the way of human affairs, of course, but that is not what man is here for. The historical period during which the process of creating civilization for mankind took place is behind us now, as is the process of fully establishing a storehouse of culture that would allow man to understand Dafa at the final hour. So the present is meant for people to now use all of what they learned in the course of history so as to rationally face this final episode. How a person chooses, and what he chooses—it all begins now. But man constantly committed sins in the course of history, so as people make their choices, there are gods who use evil to interfere, and this has become an ordeal for people and sentient beings. A way out was offered, however, in order to allow those who still have good thoughts to be saved: Dafa disciples started to clarify the truth. Dafa disciples are now the hope of salvation for the people of each region. Having reached this point today, mankind’s history has entered its culminating stage.
In the final course of events, there are also factors involved that are meant to test Dafa disciples, for each Dafa disciple aspires to cultivate to Consummation. At the same time, Dafa disciples have a tremendous responsibility: more than just one’s own Consummation, each must shoulder the mission of saving the world’s people, the sentient beings. Never in history has that been the case. In the past, when someone was imparting the Fa or speaking about saving sentient beings, it was merely a case of strengthening and rounding out the culture that is mankind’s history. Christianity and Buddhism may have spread within their respective spheres over the course of history, but that was in fact to establish the cultural component whereby man understands the divine. Dafa’s spreading throughout the world is different, however. In this case it is all of mankind facing the question of whether each will, in the end, gain salvation. This huge stage before us today—the stage of mankind—was prepared for Dafa and its disciples. Whatever project or initiative it may be that you are involved in, or whatever it may be that you’re doing to save sentient beings, you should all be steadfast about doing it, and finishing it, well. That’s particularly true for Minghui, which in its brief years of operation has already established mighty virtue. Dafa disciples realize this, and Master is very much aware; even the world’s people admire it, and even the evil ones do. In this final phase you should do even better with it, and make it more powerful. You cannot let up. The more circumstances ease up, the less you can let up. The more comfortable things get, the easier it is for you to ease up in your thinking and relax. That won’t do. It is imperative that you do well with it. And that is in fact the point of the meeting you are having here today—to share together from the Fa, and improve on the basis of the Fa. It’s akin to each time we held a Fa conference in the past, where you could all discover where you fell short, make a leap forward in your cultivation, and thereafter better fulfill your role with the projects or teams you are on. The same holds true for today’s meeting. Through sharing today you can, going forward, do a better job of what you are supposed to do.
Master isn’t just saying these things because they are pleasing to hear. Minghui really has played an enormous role. Cultivators do, of course, sometimes do things or consider matters with human thinking. That does happen sometimes. Were everyone to consider things with righteous thoughts, then I would say they’d have no need to cultivate. (Laughing) And when there is human thinking, there are problems and things that fall short; there are problems with cooperation; and interference to things as a result of fear. All of this does come about. But whatever the case, on the whole things are progressing in a healthy manner, and the main body is doing extremely well.
You talked about a lot of things in your morning session, so perhaps you have some questions you wish to ask me. It wasn’t easy for us to gather together. We can explore together any questions you may want to bring up with me, and I will answer the ones that I can. (Brief pause, enthusiastic applause)
Disciple: Is what Minghui publishes only needed during the Fa-rectification period, or is it something that will be passed on to later generations?
Master: I think Minghui’s content is precious material collected in the course of Dafa disciples’ cultivation. There won’t be any persecution in the future, so Minghui won’t need to be concerned with keeping things confidential or exposing the evil’s persecution then (laughing), since the situation will have changed. But Minghui is a media outlet, so although it reports openly on how Dafa disciples’ cultivation is going, I think it will, being a media outlet, probably be passed on to future generations. Even if you do not pass it on to them, posterity will dearly cherish the term “Minghui.” But, it could even be a major media entity that operates in regular society. I think that may well be the case. (Master laughs) (Everyone applauds)
Disciple: During its first ten years, Minghui focused on ensuring that cultivation-related content met a certain standard and focused on exposing the persecution in the mainland. Going forward, should it increase its efforts to explain the truth to well-educated people and mainstream Western society?
Master: To date Minghui has been giving a direct snapshot of Dafa disciples’ cultivation. As for ensuring standards, a media outlet should certainly do a good job of it, and that’s especially true for Minghui. You are all cultivators and know what should and shouldn’t be reported on. If incorrect views, or understandings that are lacking, were posted online—especially on Minghui—it would affect newer students.
You can discuss among yourselves and decide whether to strengthen your efforts to explain the truth to certain groups in the time ahead. But as a website, Minghui’s path has already been set. It is your path, it is your approach, and it is your website’s direction. The way you are handling things now is a reflection of your own best judgment, so you should carry on as you have. Unless the persecution ends and there is no need to expose the evil, with the truth being known to all—at which time things will have changed—[your approach] should not change much.
Disciple: The flawless performances by Shen Yun can really have the effect of saving sentient beings and can have quite an impact on people. Meanwhile, the work that Dafa disciples do is often quite rough, they don’t try to have class, and they hardly pay any attention to the actual results of what they do.
Master: (Laughing) Are you referring to some of the approaches and methods people are using for their promotions and ticket sales? Shen Yun’s performances are, naturally, of a high caliber. That’s been established. At the very least we can say that at present no other production is on par with Shen Yun’s. How we first brought Shen Yun to the public was somewhat unrefined, however. With anything there is always a process, whereby one goes from not being able to do something to being able to; and as one gradually gains experience and skills, one learns to do things well. There is indeed a process.
At present Master is personally overseeing the Shen Yun things, and that’s because the bar is high in terms of technical sophistication as well as the coordination of all the various elements involved, each of which entails a specific expertise. Many Dafa disciples wanted to do this, but the results weren’t all that ideal back when they tried. I wanted to guide to maturity the Dafa disciples who wished to validate the Fa and save sentient beings with this art form, and of course, once I got involved, it became something entirely different. If I do something, I will make it the best, the best in the world. (Master laughs) (Applause) Promoting the show and selling tickets, however, rests upon the Dafa disciples in each area. And since there are discrepancies in the cultivation states of the students in each place, there are big differences in how well they collaborate, and there have even been differences in how the idea of selling tickets and the idea of presenting the show itself has resonated with the students. So, there are bound to be differences in approach and quality. Also, you had never done these things before, and the students in some areas knew nothing about such things. So, you have to go through that process we discussed of learning how to do something from scratch. You will gradually learn how to do these things and gain that knowledge, and the quality will gradually improve.