(Minghui.org) When Silke met a young couple at the Falun Dafa book stand during the Shen Yun show in Vienna, Austria in January 2026 she said, “They came straight to the stand. When she picked up a book I noticed the young woman had some unique tattoos.”

Silke said she was usually prejudiced towards people with tattoos. When she set aside her preconceived notions, she saw the woman’s positive side. The young woman was interested in the book Zhuan Falun and wished to read it. Silke was happy for her.

People who attended Shen Yun at the German Opera Berlin on February 9, 2026, look at Falun Dafa books. (The Epoch Times)

People who saw Shen Yun at the Vienna City Hall on January 22, 2026, look at Falun Dafa books. (The Epoch Times)

Silke wishes Master Li a happy Chinese New Year.

In advance of the 2026 Chinese New Year, Silke expressed her gratitude to Master. She started practicing Dafa in 2011 and said, “My gratitude is beyond words. I don’t know how to describe it. I am extremely honored to practice Dafa.

“Dafa is so immense, generous, and compassionate in spreading to all. And it is so easily to learn because everything is free and open. All we need to do is open our minds to receive it.”

A Practitioner in a Small Village

Silke studied wood carving before she worked as a puppeteer in theaters. A few years ago, she switched to media work. One of her best friends suggested she practice Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) years ago and taught her the exercises. She said she followed her in doing the exercises but did not comprehend what Falun Dafa is, possibly because she was not ready.

After trying other cultivation ways, Silke started looking for a way to guide her. She felt she needed to “follow a true master, someone who can guide and lead me.

“I then thought of Falun Dafa,” she said. It was 2011 and she was living in France. She planned to visit her mother in Germany to celebrate her 80th birthday. Silke browsed the Internet because she wanted to find the contact information of Falun Dafa practitioners in a city near her mother’s village. She was delighted when she noticed there was a practitioner in her mother’s village. “I took it as a sign and felt it was incredible that I found a practitioner there. She taught me the exercises. It was amazing.”

Finding Destination in Practicing Dafa

Silke was fascinated when she read Zhuan Falun for the first time. Although she didn’t fully understand it at the time, something deep inside her whispered, “This is it.” It felt as though she finally discovered the answer she had been searching for.

As her cultivation deepened, she felt her understanding of the Fa grow clearer. “Dafa gives meaning to everything,” she said. “Without it, I would feel as if I were simply wasting my time. That’s why it felt like I had finally come home—it made everything in my life feel purposeful.”

From the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, she realized a lot, “I sincerely hope to open my mind and learn from everything that comes my way. At a fundamental level, I believe it is all for the best.

“Even in difficult situations, I strive to accept them. I no longer react blindly or dwell on feelings of injustice. Instead, I try to understand that every circumstance carries an opportunity for growth. In the end, I will cultivate true dignity and reveal the greatness that lies within us from the very beginning.”

Her daughters witnessed how she changed by practicing Dafa, “My daughters often told me how deeply moved they were and that they had always seen me as their reliable source of support.

“And yet, I still feel I haven’t done enough,” she said. “There are many areas where I need to grow and refine myself. At times, I may go too far or be overly persistent. But that’s alright—I’m learning, adjusting, and shaping myself through each of these experiences.”

My Greatest Wish Is to Share the Joy of Cultivation with Others

Silke often participates in Falun Gong activities and she is a member of European Tian Guo Marching Band. She said she wished to share the beautiful things she had experienced and it was also the driving force behind her genuine wish to communicate with others.

The European Tian Guo Marching Band performed at Marienplatz, Munich, Germany on October 29, 2021.

Silke (back row, second from right) and others who participated in an experience-sharing conference held by the European Tian Guo Marching Band in September 2025. The conference followed an event held in Gothenburg, Sweden, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Master Li Hongzhi teaching Falun Dafa in Sweden.

Silke also said that practitioners in China were outstanding because they talked to people about the benefits of practicing Falun Dafa and raised awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution while facing brutal human rights abuses. This encouraged her to participate in activities to tell people about Falun Dafa.

She said she often met predestined people, “I often experience this: certain people came and I felt deeply moved, as though we knew each other before. In some indescribable way, it feels like a connection that was meant to be.”

Many people still don’t know about Falun Dafa or they are misled by the CCP’s propaganda. Silke said, “The world today feels increasingly distorted and complex. I believe that many people who accept the CCP’s slander are, at heart, genuinely kind individuals who truly care about the well-being of others—especially in Germany.

“I can only encourage people to listen to different voices.” She hopes those people who are misled by the CCP’s lies listen to practitioners and learn about their experiences. She gave some examples that were truly remarkable, featuring musicians, prominent people, and others who spoke about their experiences of mutual respect and how their kindness was awakened after they began practicing Falun Dafa. “And this is exactly what I have felt throughout my involvement in projects to introduce Falun Dafa.”