(Minghui.org) More than 500 Falun Dafa practitioners from Germany and Switzerland gathered in Berlin, Germany on December 29, 2019, to exchange experiences. Seventeen practitioners talked about the benefits they experienced through the mind and body practice and expressed their gratitude to the founder Mr. Li Hongzhi.
Some began to practice Falun Dafa when they were young. Others have practiced for over two decades. Still others began practicing only a few months ago. Some shared their journey of letting go of their egos and learning to cooperate with others in various projects to raise awareness of the persecution of Falun Dafa in China. Practitioners spoke about following the teaching's guiding principles at their workplace and telling people about the persecution.
Practitioners gather for a group photo during the conference in Berlin on December 29, 2019.
Falun Dafa practitioners from Germany and Switzerland attended the annual experience sharing conference held in Berlin.
A young practitioner talked about how he overcame his fear of new things and joined the Tian Guo Marching Band. Another practitioner talked about picking herself up after her husband passed away. Instead of being overcome with grief she focused on telling people about the persecution. One practitioner said that after he began practicing he eliminated his addiction to drugs.
Many attendees said that listening to the other practitioners inspired them to examine their own cultivation and to be more diligent in their practice.
Ms. Kathrin Sumpf helped translate the Epoch Times editorial series “How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling OurWorld”. The experience helped her see her own notions that came from communist ideology as well as her attachments that interfered with her working with other practitioners on the project.
She saw the significant effect the editorial series had on German society after it was translated into German and published on the German Epoch Times website. Readers left positive comments. Federal Members of Parliament and different political parties learned about the book. Kathrin said it was an honor to participate in the project.
Jing Jing, a young practitioner from Germany, began practicing with her mother when she was young. Her father believed the communist regime's propaganda against Falun Dafa and opposed her. She gradually slacked off for fear of upsetting her father. She became rebellious and got caught in having fun with friends. She eventually realized that she shouldn't waste her time and resolved to be more diligent in cultivation.
When she joined the Tian Guo Marching Band and other projects she spent more time with other practitioners. She learned how to apply the teachings of Falun Dafa and do her best in the projects she's involved in. After graduating from the university she overcame many attachments and started working for the Epoch Times. She now realizes time is precious and strives to walk every step well on the path of cultivation.
Ms. Monika Frensche from Germany talked about her amazing experience when she was promoting Shen Yun Performing Arts. One day when she handed out brochures she fell down a flight of stairs. The fall pushed her right toe to her heel. She shouted out loudly: “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance!” She twisted her foot back into its normal position and put on her shoes. She brushed off the snow and walked up the stairs to her home on the third floor. With each step she kept reciting, Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
The next day she stood on her feet the entire day selling tickets to the show. By the end of the day, her feet were twisted. She went to a hospital and an examination revealed that she had fractured her leg. Doctors and nurses could not believe she walked to the hospital. They wanted to put her foot in a cast but she refused. Two weeks later, the doctor did an X-ray and said in astonishment, “This is truly a miracle. Your leg is fine.” The incident strengthened Monika's faith in Falun Dafa and Master.
Ms. Hang from Vietnam is an electronics engineer and began practicing Falun Dafa eight months ago. She talked about her amazing experience. In 2015 she was diagnosed with cancer and was often in great pain. After several surgeries, she was admitted into hospice. This last April her mentor in Vietnam suggested that she try Falun Dafa.
She began to read the main book Zhuan Falun. She found the three words she had been searching for all her life – Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. She asked Master to let her practice cultivation. Soon after she felt a warm current flow through her body. Her pain disappeared and she became stronger. Her life went back to normal.
Her family likes how calm Ms. Hang became after she began practicing Falun Dafa and they encourage her to practice. She said, “I'm a living testament to how wonderful Dafa is. I tell my friends about the horrific things that are being done to practitioners in China.”