Belgium: Falun Gong Warmly Welcomed by High School Students and Teachers

After a similar successful day last year, practitioners were once again invited to a college in Belgium to give a presentation to four classes of high school students. The event was based on a school health initiative so the practitioners explained the difference between Western and Eastern medicines and how practising Falun Gong has a great effect on people’s health.

Practitioners introduce Falun Gong and explain the exercises

The students watched a demonstration of the five sets of Falun Gong exercises. Some students were curious and asked questions about the exercises: “Why do you close your eyes? “Why is Falun Gong called Falun Gong?” “Why isn’t it possible to practise these exercises in China?” Some of the students also joined in practising the second meditative exercise.

Pupils trying the second exercise

A practitioner made use of some prints of paintings of the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibition as well as some photos to make the explanation livelier. The students were enthusiastic when they saw the beautiful pictures about China, but were displeased when they heard about the cruel persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. This indignation grew when they heard that in China people of their age who practise Falun Gong are excluded from school and even little children and babies have been tortured.

Afterwards, the youngsters learned to make lotus flowers out of paper. There was a pleasant atmosphere and the students also enjoyed this activity. Some students made use of the more personal contact with practitioners to ask them questions and expressed their happiness over the flowers they made. Most of the teachers hadn’t heard about Falun Gong before and were glad to find out about it.

Learning to make paper lotus flowers

At the end of the day, the practitioners were invited to the staff room to talk with some teachers and the school principal about the day’s successful activities. An invitation was offered to come back next year. The principal said that he has contacts in other schools and promised to promote Falun Gong to them.