During the rehearsal for the concert that was jointly organised by human rights organisations in Geneva, I met Renate again. Sixty-year-old Renate started her Falun Gong practice in 1996 and is always kind to other people.
Renate is a very well known vocal expert in Germany and has more than thirty-years experience in vocal training. She advises many singers. When the European “Coming For You” choir was established, as a Dafa practitioner, she willingly undertook the task of vocal instruction for the choir.
Everyone who meets Renate is attracted by her unique and admiring voice. Her voice is pure, distinct and firm. She thinks that everyone can fluently sing according to his or her own character, singing as a whole person with thought and spirit, rather than just by the vocal organ.
Before becoming a Dafa practitioner, she once wrote a poem entitled: “I am a child of the universe”. The poem goes: “I am a child of the universe, who forgot her own home; I am a guest on the Earth, and a guest of the world. What is the best gift for the guest…” As soon as she encountered Falun Dafa, she immediately realised that Dafa was the best gift for her. She undoubtedly believes that “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” is the best and most righteous way and is also the best principle by which to guide a person’s life. She once had a sore throat that was very uncomfortable. Western medicine did not help. She also tried Chinese medicines such as acupuncture without success. When a friend introduced Falun Gong to her, she was attracted to it as soon as she learnt the exercise practice. Her throat problem was soon cured.
Renate was also involved in the preparatory work for suing Jiang Zemin in Germany on 21st November 2003. During the four months hard work of preparation, she frequently read the files of those who had been persecuted. She said that the brutality of the persecution she read about was unspeakable. She encountered much interference during that time, and was extremely bothered by tiredness. Through experience sharing with fellow practitioners, she realised that it was interference by the evil beings that are afraid of their crimes being exposed. The suing of Jiang is very significant in ending the persecution, exposing the evil and saving sentient beings. Through studying the Fa [Law or Principle] diligently, she and fellow practitioners overcame various kinds of interference and successfully filed the case in court.
Renate is very busy at her work, which requires frequent business trips. But she still willingly undertakes many Dafa tasks. I was very curious to know how she could find so much time. She smiled: “Dafa gives me many strengths and much wisdom”.
When mentioning the European choir, Renate was very pleased and said: “The choir members are from over ten countries in Europe, and come from various social backgrounds and professions; the age difference is also very big – some are young teenagers, while others are older, some over sixty-years old. They are all Dafa practitioners. Because of their Dafa practice and cultivation, they are very harmonious and relaxed, and can perform with ease. It would be impossible for non-practitioners to achieve this state in such a short time. The choir members are spirited, pay great attention to their training and have a clear objective. It’s far from enough to sing just using the vocal chords, they are singing with their hearts.”
She also said touchingly: “It’s my experience that by believing in Dafa, Dafa provides us with unlimited strength and wisdom. I have also learnt to trust the practitioners in the choir who all restrain themselves with “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance”. They help each other and bring the good and compassionate message of the facts about Dafa to people. The applause from the audience is the best appreciation of the practitioners. A good friend of mine always requests to repeat the choir’s recording twice every time I let her listen to it. A westerner said to me movingly after the choir’s performance in the Paris concert that it was the first time for him to experience the true meaning of compassion.
The usefulness of this choir can never be underestimated. In the busy streets of Paris, the choirs singing in public attracted many visitors who all wanted to know more about Falun Gong. They were moved by the singing and by Dafa practitioners’ compassion.”
Finally she told me that they have recently selected a new song by a Dafa practitioner for the choir’s new programme.
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