Sweden: A Thousand Lotus Flowers

The Thousand Lotus Flowers exhibition was inspired by a Swedish girl, Evelina’s dream. The exhibition introduced the persecution of Falun Gong in China. It included five children’s stories of the persecution. The children were little Yuanyuan, Rongrong, Fadu, Kaixin and thirteen year-old Li Ying. The children’s experiences reflected a crucial aspect of the persecution.

There were also pictures of seventeen little practitioners from Sweden, Finland and Switzerland doing the Falun Gong exercises and folding paper lotus flowers. Also displayed were texts of the children's stories:

Five year-old Simon

Mum asked, ‘What do you think about Forbearance?’

Simon, ‘ I do not hit back when my younger brother or other children hit me. It is so hard and I couldn’t do it…’

Mum, ‘You’ve done well. It is true cultivating when you know your own insufficiency and diligently do your best.’

Eight year-old Tara

This summer, I was dancing in the music festival in Falun city [Falun is the name of a city in Sweden] with other kids. Among seven of us, the oldest was ten and the youngest was four. The dance was called ‘Lotus Flower Garden’ and we danced again and again. We also gave the audiences the paper lotus flowers. I was interviewed by Dalana radio station. I was nervous and also excited. They asked me what the lotus flowers in front of me stood for.

I told them, ‘I think the lotus flowers are beautiful and they shine from inside to outside. When the people learn Falun Gong, they will become better and better. Finally, they will be delighted and feel they are shining from inside to outside. Falun Gong is really comfortable and pretty. You will feel great after doing the exercises. To practise the 1st, 2nd and 3rd exercise is like a mountain spring gushing out… ’

I also said, "The persecution has to be stopped in China. It is not good and cruel. I would like to send greetings to all the children who are being persecuted: do not give up or stopping doing exercises."
Tara and her Four year-old sister Mira.

My sister Mira and I are always playing and laughing together. When I am exercising, she always plays around me and sometime she does exercises as well. She will be better when she grow up. I have a dream that one day I could run on a big meadow and listen to the birds singing. I might also see a deer. How wonderful!

Four year-old Mira

A lotus flower is a shining star. I’d like to play and laugh when I’m exercising. It’s really good. The gods are watching when I’m afraid. It’s not right to hit others.

Eight year-old Jacqueline

The lotus flowers are so meaningful to me. I feel really happy when I think about her (the flower). I think Falun Gong is wonderful and interesting. I should be more patient. Sometimes I couldn’t stand or sit long when I’m doing the exercises.

It’s horrible the persecution that is happening in China. I feel so sad when I think about it. I don’t like China to be like that.