(Minghui.org) When Chinese citizens travel abroad on vacation, they anticipate taking in the sights and experiences of other cultures. For many, traveling overseas also gives them a rare opportunity to gain some valuable insights into their own culture. Falun Gong practitioners have maintained a presence near the Eiffel Tower, providing visitors from China with uncensored information about Falun Gong and the persecution, information that the Chinese regime's propaganda has denied them. Contrary to the party line in China, Chinese tourists visiting Paris learn that Falun Gong is a traditional Chinese mind-body cultivation practice that is based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
The volume of Chinese tourists has remained steady this winter, despite the cold weather. Many visitors from China express appreciation for the information provided by Falun Gong practitioners, as it clears up their misconceptions about the practice. Some tourists have told the practitioners how nice they are, and some have expressed an interest in learning Falun Gong.
Falun Gong practitioners have maintained a presence near the Eiffel Tower, providing Chinese tourists with uncensored information about Falun Gong and the persecution in China.
Practitioner Ms. Jun is at the Eiffel Tower every day. She noticed one day that a young man lingered as his group was leaving. He said to Ms. Jun, “Auntie [a respectful title for an elder], I've been waiting. I don't want to miss this opportunity. I have followed what you just said. I am a member of the Chinese communist organizations. Please help me renounce my membership!”
He told Ms. Jun that he was a junior college student. Before he left China for this trip, a friend advised him, “You will meet Falun Gong practitioners at tourist sites. Listen to them and see how you feel.” His friend shared with him that he might feel warm energy after he quits the Chinese communist organizations.
“I want to be a clean Chinese person,” he told Ms. Jun.
Another young man was happy to see Falun Gong practitioners upon getting off his bus. “Isn't this Falun Gong? Falun Dafa (another name for Falun Gong) is great!” he exclaimed, as he read the Chinese characters on a banner.
“I'm already in my early twenties,” he said, “and I have finally seen Falun Gong today. I had only heard of them until now.” The young man refused to leave when his girlfriend tried to drag him away. “I have to take a look. Why is it out in the open in France?”
Ms. Jun told him that Falun Gong is a Buddhist school cultivation method and that the practice has spread to over 100 countries. “People all over the world know that Falun Dafa is great. It is only persecuted in China. Because of the statewide persecution, it's hard to find accurate information there.”
“Ah... it is so! Can I ask a few questions?”
His girlfriend urged him to leave, as their group was boarding the bus.
“No. I cannot miss this opportunity. I have been asking 'why is Falun Gong bad' since I was little. We cannot get real information about Falun Gong. I once asked my teacher the same question. She told me to immediately wipe away the thought and told me that I would be in danger if I held the question in my mind. I have finally got a chance to learn what Falun Gong really is.”
Ms. Jun told him about the self-immolation hoax on Tiananmen Square, in which the Chinese Communist Party had people set themselves on fire and blamed Falun Gong practitioners for it to justify the persecution. He said, “The communist party stops at no evil. I believe you. I understand now what's going on.”
Ms. Jun told him that Falun Gong has five exercises and its principles are Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. He repeated the words quite a few times. He took a picture of the website address to circumvent the Internet firewall in China. He also quit the Chinese communist organizations.
He said to Ms. Jun, “I'm a sophomore in college. I like Falun Gong. I will share this information with my friends so that they can all get to know about it! Falun Dafa is awesome.”
