(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners set up a booth in the center of the historic mountain city of Brașov on November 23 and 30. The festive atmosphere of the approaching holiday season drew a steady stream of tourists and locals. Practitioners handed out informational leaflets and told people about Falun Dafa and the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. They also exposed the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) persecution in China, which harvests organs from practitioners while they are still alive for profit. They collected signatures on petitions that called for an end to the persecution.
Practitioners hand out leaflets, answer questions, and collect signatures on a petition to end the persecution.
Many people expressed their support and empathy for practitioners who are persecuted in China, and some said they previously heard about Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) and its principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. They hope society becomes aware of the importance of respecting these principles and that the relevant institutions can help stop the CCP’s policy of exterminating practitioners.
Economist: “Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance Must be at the Core of Any Society.”
Bianca Popa has supported Falun Dafa for over 10 years.
Bianca Popa, an economist from Brașov, heard about Falun Dafa over 10 years ago and said she signs the practitioners’ petition every year. She talked with practitioners during the event on November 23, and encouraged them, “I first heard about Falun Dafa many years ago, I think it’s more than ten years now, and it was perhaps one of the moments that made me become suddenly aware of the cruel reality of the world we live in. The abuses, the harassment, and the politics of hatred directed towards the practitioners of this peaceful movement, even to the point of killing them, outraged me deeply, and so I began to seek more information.”
Although Bianca signs the petition every year, she said she believes that there is much more that can be done for practitioners in China. “It’s difficult to fight against a system that does not value the individual and his or her life. I was glad to learn that the issue of the harvesting of human organs for transplantation from China is being discussed officially in Europe, and it’s being made clear that there may be a connection between this and the arrests and deaths of Falun Dafa prisoners of conscience. I think it’s important that as many people as possible are aware of the reality and I appreciate the effort made by those who are doing this in Romania,” she said.
Over the last ten years, Bianca has spoken with multiple practitioners and developed a deep understanding of how they practice and the values they live by. She said that the practice benefits the entire society through its encouragement of moral improvement.
“The moral values of practitioners - Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance - are values that must underpin any society that desires growth and well-being for its members,” she said. “I believe that any spiritual or even just physical practice that unites people in good, in non-violence, that makes them healthier, calmer and more tolerant is beneficial. People need faith, they need hope and they get this in different ways depending on the cultural tradition in which they have their roots.”
She’s beginning to see an improvement in practitioners’ situation, and a greater awareness in society for the values that the practitioners live by. “This last year I feel a wave of awareness is rising with a force that I hadn’t thought was possible. The truth can no longer be hidden, and compassion and tolerance for our fellow human beings, whatever their level of understanding, are essential to get through the coming period,” she said.
She hopes practitioners continue to persevere in their efforts to stand up for their beliefs. ”I don’t believe that Falun Dafa practitioners will succumb to outside pressures, and I hope that the day will come when they will be able to do this freely, without fear,” she said. “Good luck!”
“Let’s Spread the Word to As Many People as Possible”
Sandra Zodie and her friends sign the petition to end the persecution.
Sandra Zodie, from Bucharest, is part of the Solisis School of Inner Knowledge and works for Solisis Publishing House. She and her friends stopped at the Falun Dafa booth on November 30. They all signed the petition to end the persecution and condemn the CCP’s crimes.
Sandra said, “I’ve known about Falun Dafa for many years since we started attending the Body, Mind, and Spirit fair in Bucharest with the school. I learned more information there, so now I’ve come to sign the petition.
“I believe that [the values of Falun Dafa] are deeply buried in every human being and it would be good if these values were the ones to start from in everyday life in society,” said Sandra. “I believe that there is much oppression and persecution in the world, including against Falun Dafa practitioners, and I believe that if every human being could be a living testimony of not accepting the abusive violation of the rights to life of all persecuted people, surely these abuses would stop.”
Sandra said she had a heartfelt message to Falun Dafa practitioners, and said she was glad that Falun Dafa is part of the forces of good that are giving humanity a chance to regain its original, true nature.
“To Falun Dafa practitioners, I am glad they are making it possible to reach more people in this way. As for those being persecuted, my heart goes out to them. They have the strength to resist and stand up for their truth despite all the opposition and persecution—this courage is extremely rare in this world today. I wish with all my heart that they will be free as soon as possible. It hurts my heart and soul to hear about these persecutions as well as all that is happening in this world,” she said.
Sandra drew attention to the importance of genuine, unconditional, and unwavering faith in a deeply fulfilling life. “Genuine faith is the only faith that can change people and therefore the society we live in. If faith is the ground they sink their feet into, then life has a totally different flow, meaning, and value and it’s more than important. If a person follows the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, it could bring him or her to live in tune with his or her inner source, with God, with life.
“Meditative exercises are very helpful in getting in touch with our spiritual essence and balancing our subtle and physical bodies. Falun Dafa’s values can help people remember who they are at their core, thereby creating a different society. It’s like when you return home after wandering hundreds of thousands of years in various places. You’re home. You know who you are and what you do. And everything that flows from here can only be beneficial because it’s aligned with God, with life,” Sandra said.
Regarding the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong, Sandra believes that “the interest of a government that initiates such persecution against its people has nothing to do with the interest of those people.
“The persecution shows how far things have gone, and that we would be well advised to do all we can to stop these executions in China,” she said. She hopes that more people speak up for practitioners around the world. “Let’s pass on the information to as many people as possible so that there can be an awareness of what is happening in this world. Let’s support the organizations that are already fighting for human rights. A lot of pressure needs to be put on organizations like the UN to put an end to this situation,” she said.
“It’s Important for People to Know the Values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.”
Giulia Miia and Kim Atias empathize with Falun Dafa practitioners.
Kim Atias, from Taiwan, and her friend Giulia, a student from Brașov, came to the Falun Dafa booth on November 23 to sign the petition to stop the persecution and condemn the crimes against humanity committed by the CCP.
“I hope everything will be alright and that it will be resolved, I really hope so!” said Giulia.
“It’s important that people know the value of the principles of Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance,” said Kim, and explained why she wanted to sign the petition. “When I heard that people were being killed in China for doing this practice, I felt very bad because my mom lives in China, and if she practiced this she could be killed. That’s why I am signing this petition to help the people in China. It’s not right that people die for following this practice, so I prefer to help the people of China so they can live better lives,” said Kim.
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