Sweden: Falun Gong Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day in Gothenburg
May 13th was the fourteenth anniversary of Falun Gong’s introduction to the public. Practitioners came from Gothenburg and peripheral cities and held a celebration event in the beautiful castle park Slottskogen to share the happiness that Falun Gong has given to their lives.
In the spring of 1995, Master Li Hongzhi arrived in Gothenburg and taught the principles of Falun Gong in person to the Swedish people. Some practitioners who had personally participated in the class taught by Master Li in 1995 recollected some of their memories.
A western practitioner Si-Uan recalled and said, ‘At that time there were nearly one hundred Swedish people attending the class. Now, Falun Gong practise sites have been increased from the initial one to more than forty sites, expanding from one city to cities nationwide. Among Falun Gong practitioners in Sweden, the western Swedish people are the overwhelming majority. Falun Gong has taken root in the Swedish people’s minds.’ He also added, ‘I like the Chinese traditional culture very much because of Falun Gong. After practising Falun Gong, I gradually understood the profoundness of the Chinese culture. In my mind, China has a very important position.’
In order to let more people understand Falun Gong, he has participated in the experience sharing conferences held in various countries. Whenever going to a new city, he did not forget to spread the Fa to the local people.
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Beryl, a nurse, recalled the first day of the study class and joyfully said, ‘I remembered when Master Li entered the room at the beginning of the study class. I was very happy seeing him and he also looked like he was very happy. It was the energy that he carried made me happy. He spoke about many good things and the importance of being a good person as well as the reasons for being a good person. I remembered he was very warm and peaceful. He himself scattered the things he taught – truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Regardless how many questions we asked, he answered questions extremely patiently for us. Although many questions had been repeatedly asked many times, he could also elaborate on them very patiently.’ She added, ‘I was not quite healthy before practising Falun Gong and often took sick leave. However, since practising Falun Gong, I have never taken any sick leave. I have always been healthy no matter how heavy my workload has been.
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When talking about her first impression of the Falun Gong founder Master Li Hongzhi, Anika, an artistic teacher, recalled and said, ‘Master Li is a very merciful and friendly person and always considered others before himself. Listening to Master Li’s lectures, I did not understand many things at first. I thought he was a very serious person. One day, when I was on the way to the study class, I met Master Li and others in a corner in front of a house. I had not noticed people walking by but only kept walking. When we walked close to each other, I finally identified Master Li. He was smiling to me at that time. His smile was warm and merciful. I am unable to describe it with language. His merciful smiling face has still deeply imprinted on my mind until now.’
At first, Anika practised Falun Gong in order to heal illness. After finishing the study class, she did not actively practise because she could not understand the book
Zhuan Falun, the main text of Falun Dafa. But, in the bottom of her heart, she knew that Dafa is good. Perhaps one year later, her nature urged her to practise Falun Gong. When she read
Zhuan Falun again, she suddenly understood more and realised the purpose and the meaning of cultivation practise. From this time on, she has studied the Fa and practised the exercises. Along with cultivation practise, her health has been getting better and better, her mindset has been more and more peaceful and her family has been more and more harmonious. Seeing her changes, her family members are happy and all support her in cultivating Falun Gong.
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When talking about the Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted in China, the first practitioner in Sweden Wang Lei said, ‘The persecution has already continued for nearly seven years. The Chinese Communist Party is a crazy political regime. Since the persecution seven years ago, the number of Falun Gong practitioners has continued to increase over the world. Almost all Swedish people know the persecution that the Falun Gong practitioners have been suffering in China. The Swedish government, parliament, human rights organisations and individuals with a sense of justice have many times protested and condemned the Chinese Communist Party for the persecution it initiated. In the seven years of the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners have created a road of peace.’
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Chinese version available at http://www.yuanming.net/articles/200605/52225.html
