Norway: The Seed of Compassion Takes Root in Norwegian Pupils’ Hearts

May the 26th 2004 was a special date for the teachers and pupils of a primary school in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. Four year old Dafa practitioner Fadu and her mother Dai Zhizhen, also a Dafa practitioner, had been invited. They came to tell the teachers and students of this school, which has a history of over a hundred years, the story of Fadu and also teach everyone how to make lotus flowers with coloured paper.

About one hundred and twenty students from year seven to year nine and their teachers gathered together in the school hall. One affable and kind schoolmistress introduced Fadu and her Mum to the students.

The Norwegian practitioners briefly introduced Falun Dafa and demonstrated the first exercise. After that, Fadu and her mother told their story to the children there. Little Fadu used to have a big, happy family in China. Because of practising Falun Dafa, her grandfather became healthier and healthier. As the whole family lived in the light of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance, they lived in perfect harmony. But the dictator of China could not stand the fact that so many people practised Falun Dafa, so a persecution against good people then began in the Mainland. Fadu’s father was beaten to death by evil people because he tried to tell the truth to the government. Her grandfather was devasted by his son's death and passed away shortly afterwards. Her aunt was also taken away. All of a sudden, a happy family was torn to pieces. Fadu and her mother also told the children that they had been to many countries in order to tell people what had happened in China. They hoped that when people know the truth, they can help to stop the persecution. Those children listened very carefully and quietly.

Afterwards, those pupils got together in groups and started to learn how to fold paper lotus flowers. Under the instruction of Dafa practitioners and teachers, every child learned how to make them very quickly. Some children even folded two or three lotuses. After a short while, many big and small lotuses with different colours were on the desks. All the children were very excited. One of the teacher said to us, "It was so good for you to come. It was also very meaningful to fold these lotuses. I have folded three already, I think I have learnt this, these lotuses are so beautiful."

The schoolmaster said to the pupils, "Fadu’s story reminded us that only when people bear with each other and treat each other compassionately, can we live together peacefully." The schoolmaster also gave a toy and a CD of Norwegian music to Fadu."

When practitioners were leaving this school, some children came over to embrace them and say goodbye, they thanked our practitioners for the time spent together.

The story was not finished yet. After a few days, some good news came from the school. A class of pupils started to make a big tapestry of “children rescuing children”. They also plan to arrange two lessons for Norwegian practitioners to go there to teach the exercises.

The seeds of compassion have already taken root in these children’s hearts. We have reason to believe that these children will tend the seeds carefully so that they can grow into pure and fine flowers!