Switzerland: Why did Falun Gong participate in the Health-and-Esoteric Fair?

I
Out of compassion we used this Fair to expose the persecution and slander of Falun Gong in China. The primary purpose for Falun Gong is to live each day more positively with Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. Compassion is the reason why the teaching of Falun Gong is always offered free of charge. Because of love for their fellow man and from a conviction of responsibility, the practitioners in China risk everything to go public with this message and to bear witness to the message of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. Once one has lived with these values, one is not willing to ever abandon those again. We treasure this opportunity to portray the principles of this way of life to people.

The interest was huge. Many people knew nothing of Falun Gong and the persecution in China. We were able to tell them about it. Other participants in this Fair approached our booth and commented on the positive energy field and expressed an interest to learn more about Falun Gong.

Toward more peace in the world! United against terrorism and with Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance in our hearts!

II
Compassion is not exclusive

A young woman stood at our information booth. I spoke with her about the prevailing cruelties in China. She found that terrible. I told her that I formerly suffered from polymyalgia rheumatica. Falun Gong freed me from it through my daily sincere attempts to live by Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.

I explained to her that those virtues are the basis to become a nobler person; these virtues apply universally and many wise persons have lived by them long ago. She countered that there is only one way. I responded by saying that nature is manifold – there are not merely sunflowers. It all depends on the heart. The most important thing is to live these [principles] of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance from your sincere heart. The deciding factor with Falun Gong is to try and live each day a little better by following Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.

Merely believing in these principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance is not sufficient; one has to apply them in one’s daily life. Otherwise they remain empty words.

I told her about one of my male friends who always said that he was not like all the others, but lives according to the teachings of Jesus. He reads the bible frequently. When I participated in a sympathy march to create awareness about the Falun Gong persecution in China, he told me that he could not participate in it because it had to do with Falun Gong. I was surprised and sad. I told the woman an example: If someone is about to drown and cries for help, before you come to the aid of that person, do first ask whether the victim is Christian or Buddhist or any other religion before you save that person?
I explained to her further that the compassion Falun Gong teaches does not target certain people or only those who think as you do, but involves the whole cosmos, something noble and beautiful. She began to have tears in her eyes.

Practitioners from Switzerland

November 18th, 2001

(Original Text in German)