Fadu in Sweden (3): Using Paper Lotus Flowers to Express Concern About the Children of Falun Gong Practitioners in China

In China, the lotus flower is highly regarded because of the way it grows from mud but remains pure. In this impure environment, the lotus flower is symbolic of purity and grace. During their visit to Sweden, Fadu, her mother and an elderly practitioner folded beautiful lotus flowers with coloured paper, which teachers and students in every class were very exited by. At the students’ request, many teachers made appointments with Fadu’s mother to arrange classes where they can learn how to make the lotus flowers.

Teaching people how to fold paper lotus flowers is a very good opportunity to explain the facts about Falun Gong. Through hearing the suffering that Fadu has experienced and how her father was killed because he practised Falun Gong, the teachers and students were able to understand the true situation of the Jiang regime’s persecution. Because of this persecution, many Falun Gong practitioners’ children have become orphans in China. Some were intimidated and humiliated in school; others were forced to give up practising Falun Gong; some were even persecuted to death.

Children’s pure and innocent nature move adults’ hearts. Folding paper lotus flowers helped people further understand and be concerned about the brutal persecution in China. Children learned to fold the flowers with great interest. They all took it very seriously; even those who used to fool around would also fold paper lotus flowers attentively. They knew that paper-folded lotus flowers are symbolic of bringing an end to the persecution. Some students took the paper lotus flowers home and showed their work to their parents. Many parents also learned Fadu's story as well as the meaning of spreading compassion and ending the persecution through the lotus flowers. They were also concerned about the situation of Falun Gong practitioners’ children in China.