Siegburg, Germany: Children Learn About Falun Gong at Local Festival

Falun Gong practitioners had a booth at the 19th International Festival of Children, Youth, Culture, and Sports in Siegburg, Germany, on September 24, 2023. 

During the festival, the city center was filled with various booths promoting music, food, leisure, tourism, and other themes. Passersby were drawn by the Falun Gong booth's joyful atmosphere and approached practitioners to learn about Falun Gong, which is also called Falun Dafa.

Practitioners introduced the principles of Falun Gong – Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance – to the visitors. Children learned to say, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,” in Chinese, to their delight and the delight of their parents and Falun Gong practitioners.

Practitioners offered various interactive activities at the festival where children could learn to write one of three words with a calligraphy brush, listen to practitioner Guo play music with a traditional Chinese musical instrument, the xun, make small origami lotus flowers, and learn the Falun Gong exercises. After completing these activities, the children could receive a certificate from Falun Gong practitioners. After seeing the certificates, the children were eager to try the activities, and through them, they learned about Falun Gong.

Many people learned about Falun Gong’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance and the benefits of practicing Falun Dafa. From time to time, parents said to practitioners, “Thank you for being here. These activities have benefited me and the children.” Many people also expressed their interest in learning the exercises at the local group practice site and learning more about Falun Dafa.

Exercise Demonstration

Practitioners demonstrated the five sets of exercises on the central stage of the festival in the afternoon and briefly discussed the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Many people imitated the practitioners' hand gestures during the exercise demonstration. When the practitioners walked off the stage, a middle-aged man went to the steps and said to them: “You did a great job! So many people heard. This is really great; thank you all!” 

Saying “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” in Chinese

From time to time, children and their parents were eager to try to learn to write calligraphy at the booth. The children first read “Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance” in German under the guidance of practitioners, and then learned the Chinese pronunciation of these three words. Afterward, the practitioners asked them to say in Chinese: “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” Finding that they could remember the pronunciation of these words, the children happily said loudly, “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is good.” Their parents applauded and encouraged them. The joyful atmosphere drew more visitors to stop and participate.

After the children memorized the pronunciation of the three words “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance,” practitioners asked them to choose one of the characters and they would teach them how to write it one stroke at a time. Practitioners also explained the meaning of the words. The calligraphy writing caught the attention of many visitors. After a middle-aged man heard the meaning of these three words, he asked a practitioner if he could learn the exercises in Siegburg.

“I’ll Treasure the Predestined Relationship”

After the children finished writing with their brushes, it was time to receive their certificates. The practitioners asked the children to choose one of four seals with the words “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance,” “Cultivation,” “Predestined Relationship,” or “Return to True Origin” and stamp it onto their certificates.

To explain the meaning of the seals, a practitioner told them, “The principles of Falun Gong are Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Falun Gong practitioners cultivate themselves according to these principles every day and practice the five sets of exercises to return to their true origin. We met by chance and got together at the Falun Gong booth, which is fate and good fortune. So we prepared these four seals.”

Many children and parents were very moved after hearing this explanation. A boy said, “I chose ‘return to my origin’ and I will put this certificate by my bedside.”

A mother in her forties said, “I chose ‘fate.’ I didn’t expect to see you at this festival today and gain so much. The gentleman just said it was good fortune. I will cherish this good fortune.”

Visitors Moved to Listen to the Music Played with a Traditional Chinese Music Instrument

Mr. Guo, a Falun Gong practitioner, played the melody from the Dafa music Pudu using a xun, a traditional Chinese musical instrument. When Mr. Guo played, both adults and children listened attentively. At the end of his performance, he often received bursts of applause.

A woman in her fifties said to a practitioner before leaving, “I don’t know why, this music seems to be able to enter my heart.” She gestured with her hand from her heart to her fingertips, and said with some excitement, “Now my heart to my fingertips are all electrified. Where are you teaching the exercises? I will definitely go and check them out.”

“These Values Must Be Passed On”

A mother from Cologne brought her two daughters and a friend’s daughter to the booth. The three little girls all wanted to learn to make small lotus flowers. During the crafting process, the children learned that the words “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” on the little lotus flower are the principles of Falun Dafa. The practitioner told them that they should be honest, kind, and humble children in their daily lives. The mother said, “This is so important. These values must be passed on. It is so important that you are here.”

The practitioner also showed the children the book Journey of Little Lotus, and the children looked at the beautiful pictures in the book with their eyes wide open. Before leaving, the mother said, “I saved the QR code of this book, and I will buy one for my children when I get back. Thank you for being here, your activities are so meaningful!”