Northern Georgia: Introducing Falun Gong to Native Americans at the Enota Mountain Retreat (Photos)

In the mountains over 12,000 feet above sea level in northern Georgia, there is a special area: Enota Mountain Retreat, where tribes of Native Americans once lived. There are a limited number of residents living there now, many of whom are staff members that welcome tourists and maintain their traditional customs and way of life. They are kind-hearted, live a simple life, worship gods and have their own unique understanding of universal energy.

At the end of September, on the invitation of the head of Enota, Dr. Susan Freed, we went to the beautiful woods in the mountains to introduce Falun Dafa after driving over two hours on a rugged, winding mountain road. Dr. Freed told us that they have a strong interest in and yearning for cultivation [cultivation is a term that refers to the self-improvement of a persons nature]. They have had many trials and experiences and have searched hard for the best cultivation practice in the human world. Some of them had already heard about the special effects of Falun Gong. When they saw Falun Dafa practitioners demonstrate the five-sets of exercises at a recent health expo, they were attracted immediately by the wonderful music and tremendous energy field. Thus, they invited the practitioners to Enota, their residential area, to teach the exercise.

Early on the morning of September 29, 2002, they sat on rocking chairs outside waiting for us. In this area, far from the modern, noisy world, the mountains and forests, waterfalls, streams with running water and mirror-like ponds--all were like natural watercolour paintings, peaceful, serene and full of wonders.

At 12:00 noon, we sat double cross-legged in the bright sunshine and did Fa Zheng Nian [rough translation - send righteous thoughts. It can be understood as a type of meditation]. After we were done, I turned my head and noticed six people sitting behind us. When we introduced and demonstrated the five-sets of exercises, all of them listened attentively and reverently, and were eager to learn the exercises with smiles on their faces from beginning to end. They gazed at the hand gestures of the practitioners until the end of the instruction of the five-sets of exercises. They were happy to accept the precious book Zhuan Falun, exercise instruction video, truth-clarification VCD [Video Cdrom’s] and literature that the practitioners brought. The practitioners also gave them a colourful banner on which the words, "Falun Dafa, Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" were written.

When they learned that such a peaceful and wonderful practice is being ruthlessly persecuted in China, they were moved with tears in their eyes. Having heard of the arrival of the PRC leader to the US, they said that they would write to President Bush and declare that America, the land of freedom, does not welcome those persecuting "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance." They said that they would not only learn Falun Dafa but also spread Dafa to other residents in the mountains and the tourists. They expressed their best wishes to the practitioners. We were also moved as there were still many people waiting for Dafa, to return to their true selves.

Our hosts prepared delicious food and invited us for lunch. We were pleased to visit their unique dining hall and agreed to meet again later in the Autumn when the woods are in full colour.