(Minghui.org) Ahead of their 10th national cultivation experience sharing conference, Bulgarian Falun Dafa practitioners gathered in Plovdiv, the second-largest city in Bulgaria, on October 25 and 26, 2024, to introduce the Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) spiritual practice to the public and raise awareness of the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Friday, October 25, was a “day of reflection” before the parliamentary elections in Bulgaria. Falun Dafa practioners from Plovdiv, Chepelare, and Peshtera, distributed brochures along a busy pedestrian street across from the Stairs of Kamenitsa. They wanted to inform people about the criminal activities committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against their fellow practitioners in China that has been going on for 25 years. Passersby noticed the practitioners in crisp white pants and yellow shirts and asked them about the practice.

Bulgarians from All Walks of Life Express Their Support

Influencer and YouTuber Daniel and his friend Apostolos from Greece were the first to sign the petition that condemns the CCP for its human rights abuses. “A signature is the least we can do to help,” said Daniel. In a web post, they encouraged more people to sign.

Daniel signs the petition after learning about Faluan Dafa.

Alexandra was out for a walk with her niece. After learning about the CCP’s 25-year persecution of Falun Gong, she signed the petition condemning the CCP without hesitation. A practitioner gave her niece a copy of the book The Tale of the Lotus, which is a children’s book written by practitioners to teach children the benefits of a life lived according to Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

Alexandra’s niece was given a copy of The Tale of the Lotus.

After learning of the CCP’s brutal persecution of practitioners, Maria, who is a doctor, said, “It is very important that our medics know about the forced organ harvesting in China.” She also signed the petition.

Yura and Maria recognized one of the practitioners, who had moved her car to make room for the two of them to park. She’d also handed them a brochure about Falun Dafa and the persecution. The two women read the brochure and wanted to support the practitioners’ cause. They both signed the petition and wished practitioners success.

Yura and Maria said, “Bravo to you for taking on this mission! We wish you success!”

Volunteers from one of the political parties were also handing out brochures in Plovdiv. They were interested in Falun Dafa and asked to hear a practitioner’s account of the persecution. They listened attentively and were surprised to learn about the crimes committed by the CCP. One said, “[The CCP’s persecution of practitioners] Sounds like the script of a scary movie.”

Political party volunteers take a rest to learn about the persecution. They signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution.

People Purchase Falun Dafa Books

Curious, two young men approached the booth. One was ecstatic to find out that he could finally buy the Falun Gong book. He explained that he’d wanted this particular book because it contained the exercises of the practice. The young man was from Dobrich and bought the book for his father, who had long wanted to take up the practice to improve physically and mentally after a long bout of leprosy.

Two young men were delighted to find Falun Dafa.

Ivan, a Christian, used to practice medicine in a private clinic in Norway. He said that he knew the “specter of communism” historically in depth. He was interested in the values of Falun Dafa and decided to buy and read the book Zhuan Falun, the main text of Falun Dafa’s teachings.

Many passersby stopped at the booth. Some talked to practitioners and wanted to learn more about Falun Dafa. People signed the petition after learning the facts.

Group Exercises Touches People

When practitioners did the Falun Dafa exercises together near the Roman Pavilion in the center of the city garden on Saturday, October 26, many people stopped to watch their fluid movements in time to the peaceful and calming music. People were amazed by the practitioners’ endurance and sense of calm and the beauty of the practice.

Practitioners did the Dafa exercises together.

Kerka was handing out brochures and talking to passersby while the other practitioners were doing the exercises. “The field of calm energy created by practitioners doing the exercises in the park inspired many people to share their feelings. Others asked about the possibility of practicing Falun Dafa, and some supported us by signing the two petitions,” she said. “[There] were teachers, athletes, community members, students, foreigners and people of all ages and social backgrounds. Almost everyone said that the energy was strong but calm at the same time.

Many passersby asked practitioners about the practice, and some asked about the possibility of learning Dafa.

That aftenoon, practitioners studied Lecture Four in Zhuan Falun and shared cultivation experiences. Many commented on how much they had benefited by participating in the activity and hoped to find the time to cultivate well after going home.

Practitioners reading Zhuan Falun