(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Salt Lake City took part in the annual Utah Foster Care Chalk Art Festival on June 13–14, 2013. One of the largest festivals in the state, this event combines community art with a great humanitarian cause every year on Father’s Day weekend.

More than 20,000 families, including artists of all ages and visitors from within the state, out of state, and even overseas, came to participate in the event.

A chalk board painting by Falun Gong practitioners for the Chalk Art Festival

Visitors proceed in a line as they view the sidewalk art

Many people, including Chinese people, stopped and took pictures of the “Zhen-Shan-Ren” chalk painting, which was created by Falun Gong practitioners. One little Chinese girl asked her mother what the characters meant. Her mother explained that they stood for “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”

As practitioners distributed Falun Gong informational flyers, some people were delighted to recognize the three Chinese characters of “Zhen-Shan-Ren” to be the same as those in the painting.

Practitioners encouraged people to share the universal principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance with their families and friends, explaining that if everyone applied these principles in their daily lives, the world would again return to peace and harmony. Many agreed with the message and sincerely thanked practitioners.

Most people had not heard of Falun Gong before the festival. However, after practitioners explained the benefits of the practice, and how it teaches people to improve their character and look within instead of blaming others, many became interested in learning more.

One gentleman said, “I have been looking for a meditation system. I will learn more about this.”