Sweden: Folding a Thousand Paper Lotus Flowers

Earlier this year, twelve year-old Elvelina joined the Northern European Falun Gong practitioners’ Easter holiday activities together with her mum. She had a dream in 2005, in which the persecution of Falun Gong could be stopped if a thousand lotus flowers were folded. After waking up, she told another girl of the same age about her dream and they started folding lotus flowers immediately. Over several months, many Swedish children helped to fold the lotus flowers, spreading "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance” and simultaneously telling people about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Below are some of the children’s hopes:

A six year-old girl exercising in the rain. She says, "My mum and I are doing exercises in front of the Chinese Embassy. The persecution has been going on for six years and it is not good. My best friend, Fadu’s father was killed by those wicked police in China. I would be heartbroken if I couldn’t see my father."

Here are my mum and I exercising in front of the parliament in the city centre. There is an information board in front of me, which tells a story of a baby and his mum. They were both persecuted to death. How horrible! I really like China. But I am very sad when I thought about the Falun Gong practitioners and their children were beaten there by unprincipled people. They shouldn’t do it any more.

I really like lotus flowers. You should fold them with compassion and also think about ‘Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance’. My classmates learned how to fold lotus flowers and they really enjoyed it. They are going to teach their friends as well. When people learned Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, they could do things more patiently. Truthfulness’ means that no lies are allowed; Compassion is to treat others nicely; Forbearance means, for example, while I am playing on the swing, my brother wants it as well. Although I really want it, think about Forbearance, I would let my brother do it.

Nine year old Antong said, “When my dad asked me what is Tolerance I told him it is to think about others. I am very patient, but I would be angry if my sister is mad at me.”

Nine year old Mumu said, “I really like lotus flowers. It’s hard to fold them at the beginning. However, I can do very well now. The people are happy when I gave them to others. Dad told me to have compassion.”

I like to practise with other children at the exercise spot. I feel very comfortable after finishing the fifth exercise. After that, we sit together to have fruit and biscuits, listen to stories, discuss and recite Hongyin. Also I play with other kids. I’d like to stay with children who are cultivating.

This picture is of me doing the fifth exercise in front of a lotus flower.

When I think about Falun Gong, what am I thinking about? I hope the persecution ends immediately.