(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners were invited to participate in the annual World of Nations celebration held at Jacksonville, Florida, on February 24 and 25, 2024.
The World of Nations showcases the diverse international communities in the Jacksonville area. Annually, 75,000 visitors, including 12,000 children on school field trips, experience the cuisine, arts, and customs of lands near and far. Representatives of different countries serve their native foods, play traditional music, demonstrate their style of dance, relate stories, and display artwork and costumes reflective of their culture.
The Falun Dafa booth was in the area for non-profit organisations. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, it was an oasis of peace and tranquility, attracting numerous visitors who stopped to watch the practitioners demonstrate the Falun Dafa exercises. Many of them wanted to learn the exercises right away. They were given flyers about the spiritual practice and learned about the ongoing persecution and organ harvesting in China.
“I Finally Found You”
Ukrainia, who lives in St. Augustine, stopped by the Falun Dafa booth and told a practitioner, “I finally found you. I did the exercises once. They are great, and I’ve been looking for you ever since.” She and a practitioner who also lives in St. Augustine exchanged phone numbers to meet and do the exercises together. Ukrainia watched the exercise demonstration for a long time before she left.
Two girls came to the booth and asked where they could learn the exercises. They were excited to hear that they could learn them that day.
Chinese Women Gain a New Understanding of Falun Dafa
Two Chinese women came to the booth and one of them said, “I know about Falun Gong [also called Falun Dafa]. It’s forbidden in China.” A practitioner explained that Falun Dafa can be practiced in countries all over the world, except China. She also said that practicing brings enormous benefits to people and society.
One of the women mentioned she’d already read the book Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa, but she still believed in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Realising that the woman had been indoctrinated by the CCP, the practitioner clarified the facts to her about Falun Dafa and the persecution and also about how the CCP has killed thousands of people in its many campaigns. The two women took information about Falun Dafa and left with a different mindset.
“Can You Tell Me More About Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance?”
A Chinese man read the banner with the three words “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” and asked, “Can you tell me more about these words?” A practitioner explained those are the principles of the universe, and that Falun Dafa is a wonderful spiritual practice that benefits people enormously.
She told him that the CCP was bad because it persecutes this great cultivation way and the people who practice it. She asked if he was a member of the CCP and explained how important it was to quit it, because when it collapses, all its members will face the same consequences. She handed him a Falun Dafa flyer and a brochure about quitting the CCP and its affiliated organisations. He agreed with what she said and took the information.
Another visitor said, “I know about the persecution, but I don’t know what Falun Gong is.” He listened as a practitioner explained and then watched the introductory video. He took a flyer and expressed his gratitude by shaking the practitioner’s hand before he left.
“I Really Want to Read Zhuan Falun”
A smiling young woman said, “I saw Shen Yun and I am very interested in Falun Dafa. I really want to read this book.” She was excited to learn that she could download the book from the website or order it online.
Visitors Learn the Exercises
A mother with twin boys and her daughter in a wheelchair stopped and watched as practitioners did the exercises. When a practitioner invited them to join, the little girl jumped out of the wheelchair and imitated the hand gestures for the sitting meditation. She was very attentive and sat still until the meditation was over. Before they left, a practitioner gave her a little origami lotus flower, which she gladly accepted.
A family with four children stopped by to learn the exercises. More and more people joined the group until there were no more mats.
A couple from another non-profit booth expressed their interest in the practice. A practitioner explained a bit about Falun Dafa, and the woman repeatedly said, “I want this!” They learned the meditation exercise.
Many people said that the world needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and were very thankful to learn about Falun Dafa. They shook practitioners’ hands, before they left the booth.
Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Its teachings are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings and exercises have experienced improved health and well-being.
Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology. On July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.
Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organisation that has the power to override the police and judicial systems. Its sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.
Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 24 years. However, the actual number is believed to be much higher, due to the difficulty in getting information out of China. Countless practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.
There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply China’s organ transplant industry.
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