(Minghui.org) The Emerge Festival, which is organised by the Willoughby City Council in Sydney, was held on September 2, 2023. Falun Gong practitioners had a booth at the festival, and the Tian Guo Marching Band was invited to participate in the Street Fair parade, one of the festival’s highlights.
The Street Fair is held annually in Chatswood, Willoughby’s main commercial district. It is the showcase event of the Emerge Festival.
This year, with more than 120 stalls, the festival attracted an estimated 100,000 people from across Sydney. Many people learned about Falun Gong at the Falun Gong booth, and from information handed out by practitioners. Many people expressed keen interest in learning Falun Gong.
All of Us Will Benefit From Following Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance
Vee, a young person, said she sees practitioners doing the exercises every morning outside the Chatswood Library. She saw the information booth at the Street Fair and became interested in finding out more about the practice. She took a flier and said she wanted to introduce the practice to her father.
Vee became interested in Falun Gong when she learned that the practice is based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. She said, “I think the teachings of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are something I hope to incorporate into our lives. It could help me face challenges better, and get along better with friends. All of us will benefit from following these principles.”
Vee also said, “Falun Gong appears to be a spiritual practice that helps one be more focused. It is also easy for elderly people to learn it. I will recommend my father give it a try. He will love it for sure and benefit from the practice.”
Before leaving, she also said she would learn Falun Gong if there was an opportunity. She had already taken information and planned to find out more online. She also said she intends to introduce it to her friends and family and get them to attend free classes online.
Young People Express Interest in Learning Falun Gong
Li Ting, who is from Thailand, studied literature in China and can speak Chinese. She said, “I am learning how to meditate. This is the first time I have seen Falun Gong. I think the exercises are beautiful and serene.”
When she learned that Falun Gong was from China and has spread to more than 100 countries and regions, she took a flier at once to find out more about the practice.
This was the first time that brothers John and Joe had encountered Falun Gong. After Joe saw practitioners demonstrating the exercises, he said, “This is beautiful! Their exercise movements are slow and peaceful.”
John took out his mobile phone to take photos of the exercise demonstration. He said, “It is beautiful!”
Joe picked up a flier. When the brothers learned that Falun Gong was based on the universal principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and people can download the main book Zhuan Falun for free on the Internet and learn the exercises at no cost, they exclaimed, “That is great!” They said they would consider learning Falun Gong if given the opportunity.
Chinese version available
(Clearwisdom)
Sydney: Falun Gong Practitioners Welcomed in Street Fair Parade
