On November 8th, invited by the Kimmel Student Leadership Center, Falun Gong practitioners from St. Louis traveled to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville to introduce Falun Gong to students and faculty members. A representative of the student centre said that school violence is a severe problem and she hoped that Falun Gong could bring the university more peace.
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| Practitioners invited to Southern Illinois University to introduce Falun Gong |
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| Kyle of the Kimmel Student Leadership Center learned the Falun Gong exercises attentively |
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| A practitioner explained the features of Falun Gong to a visitor |
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| Painting entitled "Lotus Hearts" |
In the lobby of the student centre, the practitioners displayed banners and truth-clarifying materials, and demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises. The peaceful exercises attracted many passing-by students, and some of them learned the exercises at the site. Kyle, the centre's contact person who arranged this event, also learned the exercises with great interest.
The practitioners also displayed three paintings, to let students and faculty members know that the "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" Art Exhibit will be held on campus next month.
A student stood in front of the painting "Lotus Hearts" for a long time and appeared to be deeply moved. A practitioner told him that the artist of this painting was inspired by the large-scale candlelight vigils held annually at the Washington Monument in the nation's capital. He explained that in order to commemorate Chinese Falun Gong practitioners who have died during the persecution and to raise awareness of the brutal persecution taking place in China, practitioners from all over the world gather in July annually in Washington DC. In the painting, a young woman calmly holds a lotus candle in her hands. Her face is calm and solemn. The countless lotus candles behind her symbolise countless Falun Gong practitioners. At the bottom of the painting, the artist depicted scenes of torture, to let viewers know that the young woman is commemorating practitioners who have died due to torture during the persecution. The candles also symbolise the pure hearts of Falun Gong practitioners, who light up the dark world by following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.
The student said that this painting was very touching. When he learned that the art exhibit would be on campus next month, he was very excited and said that he would come to see it. He was very upset about the persecution and the atrocities of harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners, and said that such crimes should never have happened.
A student took many photos of the practitioners who were demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises. He said that he wanted to become a photographer and use his camera to help promote justice.
Falun Gong practitioners have held activities at the university several times, and as a result, more and more students and faculty members have learned about Falun Gong and about the persecution in China.
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