A French Practitioner’s Experiences in Tiananmen Square Last Year

It was 2pm, Beijing Time, on May 13, 2002 when I displayed a banner in Tian An Men Square and shouted loudly and wholeheartedly, “Falun Dafa is good.” I kept on shouting this sentence until two policemen knocked me down and took my banner away.

It was May 9 when I arrived in Beijing. I partially paid for the trip using my grant while the rest was paid for by my friend in return for the long-term maintenance of his computer that I had done. He was pleasantly surprised when he later knew how I spent his money.

I met quite a few people with whom I have a predestined relationship in my Beijing trip. I think the majority of Chinese are people with deep predestined relationships with one another. The most unforgettable part for me was the peaceful, harmonious atmosphere in which I was bathed at all times and it lasted till my return back to North America. Each moment I felt guided, and I had been soaked in Dafa. As long as I asked for it, I received it.

I was alone, barely spoke English and knew nothing in Chinese. I was lost in the crowds of people. It was not until I said to myself, “I can’t find my way any more. I need help!” when two Chinese girls provided help to me. They walked toward me from somewhere not far away from the Square. It was a blind alley and the taxi driver dropped me in a place quite far away from where I had planned to go.
The two girls led my way and provided support to me for anything I needed: a place to eat and an inexpensive hotel to stay. Even though they knew that I was a Falun Gong practitioner, they kept helping me and did everything they could to find a hotel the night before I wanted to peacefully appeal. Because the previous hotel owner knew that I was a Falun Gong practitioner, he suggested that I leave the hotel or the police would have the hotel closed. I left as I didn’t want to bring trouble to them.

I was given direction when I made the banner. I received the Chinese characters of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance via email and I needed to write them down. When chatting with one Chinese guy, I showed him these characters and he said that he knew those characters. He made a very beautiful banner with Chinese characters of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance” for me. Later I noticed that the length and the width were both smaller than those of my Beijing map, which enabled me to hide it inside the map.

I also met one AFP reporter, who sent someone to report the event on Monday afternoon.

On Monday, 13 May, 2002, I woke up early to wrap up my stuff. I still remember this moment for I was both afraid and excited.

I seem to remember the whole scene in a crystal clear way when I came to Tian An Men Square. I sent forth righteous thoughts, walking here and there, looking for other practitioners and reporters. I also remember the moment when I first came to take a rest, at which time I was having a conversation with an Australia practitioner. Then I saw the reporter from AFP. Two policemen came right away and had my ID and bag checked. I could still hear the voice, “Whoops!” when one of the policemen came to have my Beijing map checked. As the map hid the banner inside it, I grasped the map with one hand and opened the other side for him.

I vividly remember again what happened half an hour later and the eternal moment is indelibly etched on my mind: I stood up and walked to the centre of Tian An Men Square. I could hear nothing. At that very moment, there was only Dafa, the banner and myself. I took the banner out of the map, waved it above my head, and shouted loudly and wholeheartedly, “Falun Dafa is good.” I shall always remember these few seconds. A couple of policemen came afterward and tried to knock me down. They however did not touch me and one of them fell down to the ground after he touched my hands.

Such magic moments often appear in front of my eyes. Each time I have similar strong feelings. Whenever I think of this, my eyes are filled with tears. I want to thank our Master for granting me such an incomparable honour to validate Dafa in Tian An Men Square.

As I’m French, the policemen had no idea what to do. French culture in the past was respected. To them, a French Falun Gong practitioner was something new and surprising to them, which attracted a lot of people.
I felt that I delivered a message with a peaceful and reasonable attitude. Even the policeman who looked after me trusted me. On the way to the airport the next day, he said to me that he knew I wouldn’t bring him trouble. Via this opportunity, I told him that I came here to prove that Falun Dafa is good, not to bring him any trouble.
It is no doubt that this changed my life forever. Whether I am in China or Japan, I truly feel that I am at home, especially at Tian An Men Square. Besides, this also awakens my wish to go “home”, back to the origin from whence I came. I know that our Master does not want us to be attached to this. I gave up the attachment to life and death and have gained the feeling of rebirth.

I have upgraded from this experience and have deepened my understanding of Dafa. During the whole trip, I firmly believed what our Master said to us because from beginning to end all of it is very real. From my absolute belief in Dafa, everything makes progress smoothly. The road is paved and all I have to do is to follow the way ahead.
Returning home, everyone around me, my friends and colleges and my family abroad, were all supportive of everything I did.

It is the same today. When having conversations with people, especially with Chinese, I tell them without the least hesitation that I am proud of being a Falun Dafa practitioner. I also say to them that people just need to look around at what is happening in the world and they will realise that the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance can truly make the society stable and bring peace to the world.

This is only my personal realisation. Please point out any mistakes.

Chinese version available at http://www.yuanming.net/articles/200305/20585.html