Switzerland: Falun Gong Warmly Welcomed at Fribourg Health Expo

From the 11th until the 13th of November 2005, Falun Gong practitioners in Switzerland participated for the fourth time in the annual Health Expo held in Fribourg. Ever since 2002 when Falun Gong practitioners were first invited to attend the Expo, Falun Gong has been very popular each year. This year was no exception.

Falun Gong’s stand was visible from the Expo’s entrance. Falun Gong books in various languages were laid out on the table along with truth material about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. The TV played an exercise demonstration video in cycles. A practitioner skilled at calligraphy produced scrolls with “The World Needs Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance,” “Life Needs Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance,” free of charge for those who were interested.

People came in an endless stream to ask what Falun Gong is, the meaning of the three Chinese characters “Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance,” and why the practitioners are persecuted. Practitioners patiently addressed one question after another. Falun Gong is a traditional Chinese cultivation method, a kind of Qigong. As well as practising the five sets of exercises, practitioners follow principles of “Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance” in their daily lives to become better persons and improve mind and body. There are one hundred million practitioners spread across China and some sixty countries in the world. The CCP and its former leader Jiang, however, could not stand to allow people become better persons. They could not tolerate that people have their own standards for telling right from the wrong, nor could they let go of the ideological control. Therefore, they started the bloody persecution against Falun Gong practitioners. After learning the truth, many people fought to have the calligrapher write the scrolls to take home.

"We also want to learn Falun Gong"

A westerner commented, “I heard that Falun Gong is very good, full of profound wisdom.” Another westerner mused, “I am most moved by Falun Gong’s character cultivation. I am very interested.” A senior citizen in her sixties showed a willingness to learn the exercises on the spot and asked for details of the practise sites. According to a middle-aged woman from Lausanne, she had heard about Falun Gong but wasn't exactly sure what it is about. She finally understood today after a practitioners’ introduction. She took down the details of the practise site in Lausanne and promised to learn as soon as she got back.

Among the Expo participants, there were a number who practised other methods. Not understanding Falun Gong initially, they gossipped about Falun Gong and practitioners. Overhearing this, practitioners kindly introduced Falun Gong to them. After learning that Falun Gong focuses on character cultivation and is easy to learn with no restriction on location or time or much else, they admitted that they had misunderstood. Since the exercises were taught free of charge, they hoped to learn it right away. They all commented after the learning session that the exercises were very powerful with strong energy flow. The next day, one of them told a practitioner happily that he felt too energetic after the exercises to get a good night’s sleep. But he did not feel tired at all. Later during the exercise demonstrations that day, two of them learned the five exercises again.

The Expo organisers gave practitioners peak time in the afternoon each day to demonstrate the five exercises. Crowds gathered around whenever the broadcast announced the upcoming Falun Gong exercise demonstrations. Peaceful music and practitioners’ beautiful movements proved to be very popular. For a better understanding, a practitioner explained the principles behind each movement through a microphone. Some followed the movements on the spot. The audience commented after the demonstration that they felt very strong, comforting energy when the practitioners exercised. A disabled person in a wheelchair did not want to leave the site for a long time. When his relative tried to take him away, he insisted, “No, I feel very good here.” Many came to the stand for material, CDs, addresses of practise sites, saying they wanted to learn the exercises. Some asked with interest what one should think about while practising. Practitioners answered, just to be quiet, not to think about anything. Two people who had learned the exercises commented happily that they felt very relaxed and satisfied. The exercises were very easy to learn.

Practitioners also held a seminar about Falun Gong, where an introduction video was shown on how Falun Gong became popular worldwide since its start in 1992. Many people benefited mentally and physically. Since July 1999 Falun Gong practitioners have been brutally persecuted by the CCP. At least 2,700 people have been persecuted to death. Finally there was a teaching session of the five exercises, in which many people showed a great deal of interest.

A moving scene

A mother walked towards the Falun Gong stand holding the hand of a four or five-year-old boy. Seeing the image of Master Li teaching the exercises, the little boy kneeled down immediately with his hands stretched out as if he was to embrace the Master. Not sure what he was doing, his mother wanted to drag him up. He held out for a long time before finally getting up. When his mother dragged him away, he kept looking back at Master Li’s picture. A short while later, the boy run back to kneel down in front of Master Li’s picture again, repeating what he did earlier. Practitioners and onlookers were all deeply moved.