(Clearwisdom.net) Since the persecution of Falun Gong began in July 1999, people have heard about the practice in almost every part of the world. This is also true in Bulgaria, a former communist country in Eastern Europe.

To commemorate the eleventh anniversary of opposing the persecution of Falun Gong, Bulgarian practitioners held an information day on July 20, 2010, to introduce the practice of Falun Gong and expose the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution in the capital city of Sofia and two other cities, Plovdiv and Varna. That day we met a young man who said that he had met practitioners in Ireland, and that he knew the truth about what was going on. Also, two Greeks who received flyers said that they remembered having met Falun Gong practitioners who held similar activities here before. After several

local young ladies discovered that this was an activity related to Falun Gong, they immediately signed their names. They said that they had heard before about the CCP's brutal harvesting of vital organs from practitioners for lucrative profits.

On July 20, practitioners set up banners reading "Falun Dafa - Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," "Falun Dafa - A practice system for mind and body improvement originating in ancient China," and "Stop the Massacre: Stop the CCP's harvesting of organs from Falun Gong practitioners" near the Serdika metro station.

A woman said that this exercise suited her child and that she would give him a flyer. After signing her name on the petition opposing the persecution, she wrote, "To end the persecution earlier, we must take action."

On July 20, 2010, Falun Gong practitioners hand out flyers near the Serdika metro station in Sofia

Passersby pause to look at posters

An older woman paused her footsteps at the request of her grandson. After learning the facts about Falun Gong, she signed the petition. She said that she would very much like to learn Falun Gong's principles and exercises.

In Plovdi, practitioners handed out flyers in the downtown area to let people know about Falun Gong. The brutal persecution shocked many. Most people said that it was difficult to imagine that such crimes were still happening in this "modern society." It was even more difficult for them to understand that such crimes were targeted

at people who adhered to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Over and over people said that they were willing to help stop this persecution.

In the city of Varna, practitioners practiced the exercises in a seaside park, hung up banners, handed out flyers, and collected signatures opposing the persecution. People did not understand why the CCP persecutes Falun Gong. Most who passed by stopped to watch the group exercises and read the banners. Many were interested in the practice and asked where they could learn it.

Practitioners doing the exercises in a park in the seaside city of Varna

A large banner caught the attention of passersby

The Bulgarian Radio Broadcast Station also invited Falun Gong practitioners to introduce the practice to its listeners. On July 24, the anchor of the program "Horizon" on the state-run broadcasting station interviewed a practitioner, and listened to him tell about

Falun Gong being persecuted in China, and efforts by practitioners around the world to end the persecution.

Bulgarian practitioners and the broadcast station anchor (on the right) during a live broadcast on July 26, 2010

On July 26, the evening broadcast program "Horizon" once again invited three Bulgarian Falun Gong practitioners for a further interview and to answer questions from listeners.

Background

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline for mind and body. The practice involves slow, gentle movements and meditation. It is easy to learn, enjoyable to practice, and free of charge. Its principles are based on Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The practice began in China in 1992 and quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China and then beyond. Its beneficial effects in uplifting an individual's physical health, spiritual well-being and moral character, not to mention its positive influence in the community and society as a whole, have been undeniable. In fact, Falun Gong is practiced by over 100 million people in more than 100 countries. The main works of Falun Gong are available in over 30 languages.

On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party launched a brutal persecution of Falun Gong. Since the start of the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners throughout the world have been constantly speaking out about the truth of Falun Gong and exposing the CCP's crimes in a tireless effort to end the persecution.

Falun Dafa was first introduced in Bulgaria in 2001. Falun Dafa books have been translated into Bulgarian and have been published. Practitioners have introduced Falun Gong to the public and exposed the persecution of the practice taking place in China.