Introducing People to Falun Dafa on my Travels

By a Falun Dafa practitioner from Australia

During my recent trip to the US, I had the chance to clarify the truth in depth to several travellers. As I was travelling alone, I had a greater opportunity to speak to strangers about Falun Dafa and clarify the truth to them. Whenever appropriate, I would talk to the passengers seated next to me and explain to them the inhumane persecution of Falun Dafa in China and my reason for travelling to Houston.

Many had not heard about Falun Dafa and were glad to accept the Falun Dafa flyers. Others knew only what was in the news and had an incorrect understanding of what we are about. A few asked curiously who is paying for my trip and whether this is my full time work. I quickly satisfied their curiosity and dispelled their doubts by telling them that I am a professional like them, that I have a responsible job in society and that I have to apply for leave like anyone else who has a job. They nodded in agreement as they could relate to this.

The following are two truth-clarifying experiences:

Clarifying the truth to a Baptist Christian

When I travelled from Melbourne to Los Angeles, I sat on the same row with an elderly Australian from a staunch Baptist Christian background. He knew about Falun Dafa and he had seen "these people" appealing but could not understand their actions. Noting his religious background and his reticence, I put him at ease by sharing with him my 39 years in the Catholic faith, my Catholic priest nephew, Methodist evangelist grandmother, Methodist pastor aunt and a Lutheran pastor uncle. When he said that he had no intention to change his belief, I assured him that I had no such goal, that all I wanted was to let him know that Falun Dafa is good and to share with him the truth about the persecution of innocent people in China. I made sure that I practised active listening, acknowledged his views and use my counselling skills to build a rapport with him.

In our discussion on various topics, I consistently talked about "Why do I practise Falun Dafa?" and how Falun Dafa has changed my life, and my sister's and brother's lives tremendously. During our interaction, I showed by example that Falun Dafa practitioners practise Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. By the time we reached Los Angeles Airport we were like friends travelling together, helping each other with luggage as we made our way through the US immigration, customs and security check points. While waiting for our different connecting flights, I showed him the first 3 exercises. Before we parted I knew that I had helped him to change his perception of Falun Dafa.

"Oh no, the report is not important. I can do that any time. What you are telling me is far more important.”

During the 3-hour flight from LA to Dallas/Fort Worth, I found myself seated next to another church-going Christian who wanted to know more about Falun Dafa when I told him the reason for my trip to Houston. We talked for more than 2 hours and I did my best to answer all his questions. When I apologised for taking up so much of his time and that he had no time left to write his sales report, he said, "Oh no, the report is not important. I can do that any time. What you are telling me is far more important. And it is no coincidence that I met you today because for a long time I have been searching for something like this." He realised that this is something different and the more we talked the more interested he became. In the end, he said that he's was interested in learning more and wanted to get a copy of Zhuan Falun [The main text of Falun Gong. For an online copy, click here] as soon as he could. Before we parted at Dallas International Airport, we exchanged email addresses and he promised to keep in touch with me.

Through email, he told me that he went out almost immediately to buy the book. It was as if he could not wait any longer. Now he's reading Zhuan Falun, and taking it with him on his business trips. He also let me know that he will take up my suggestion to find the location of the nearest US practice site. Another person has come to realise the magnificence of Falun Dafa!