(ClearWisdom.Net) We received an invitation from the Castle Horticulture Park to participate in the first Asian Festival held between June 29 and July 7.
The Castle Horticulture Park is located in a small town, Arsen, near the border between Holland and Germany. Its size is about forty times as big as a soccer field. Due to its remote location, none of us knew anything about this beautiful park. One day in early June, a Dafa practitioner received a phone call from a stranger, saying that the Castle Horticulture Park was going to hold an Asian Cultural Festival. Being the organiser of the festival, he wanted to invite us to participate and to demonstrate the five exercises of Falun Gong and to introduce Dafa. He also said he was very interested in oriental ways of cultivation. He found the information about Falun Gong from the Internet, and was deeply attracted by the profound teachings. The original plan of inviting other Qi Gong practices for a demonstration had been changed to an exclusive invitation for Falun Gong. At the same time, he also suggested that we use the location of the entrance of the "Chinese Garden" as our practice site. He helped us set up two stands beside the road to display informational materials. In case of rain, our activities was to be changed to inside the spacious indoor botanical garden. He hoped that we could guarantee to show up on the two Sundays. It was estimated that more than 4,000 visitors would be there on Sunday. For all the other days from Monday to Friday, we gave us the freedom to arrange our activities as he thought it might be difficult for us to go there every day.
As soon as we received the notice from this remote town, four practitioners took weekly leave from work. As it has been their long-time wish to Hongfa in the remote areas, they insisted on being there for all 9 days throughout the Asian Festival. Belgian practitioners also came to support this event, while German practitioners brought a large quantity of informational materials with them because 50% of the visitors were from Germany.
Although the Castle Horticulture Park is not as well known, its beautiful scenery makes it look just like a man-made paradise. Several thousand visitors were attracted there over the weekend by the rose garden full of variegated colors, a small forest of a unique style, a special collection of horticulture from many countries, and wild animals. On June 29 and 30 as well as on July 6 and 7, practitioners from Germany, Belgium and Holland gathered in this beautiful place to demonstrate the five Falun Gong exercises. The moving exercises and the wheel-holding posture attracted every visitor that passed by. Especially, when the sitting meditation was demonstrated, all the pedestrians stopped to watch. The road was full of people. They all held their breath as though they had accompanied us to enter the state of tranquility. The extraordinary meditation exercise merged with the serene surroundings into one entity. The best description of the scene might be: human beings became an integral part of nature. Many visitors asked: "Is this Falun Gong? Why have the Chinese government decided to persecute it?" Some of the practitioners were busy handing out Dafa material to the visitors, and clarifying the truth to them.
At 2 pm, it was time for the free teaching of Falun Gong exercises. With great patience, the western practitioners treated every visitor who came to learn the exercises
A black mother swan led two of her small babies to our practice site at 3 pm every day. They either stayed beside us or walked between us, but they did not disturb us. During the last two days, the father swan also came. This beautiful scene also attracted many visitors.
One little girl wanted to learn the meditation exercise. After she did so, she continued for a long time. It rained between Monday and Thursday. Several practitioners moved the demonstration indoors. There were many exotic flowers and plants growing there. Accompanied by running streams, the scenery was totally different. There was a cafeteria in the hall. Although fewer people showed up on the raining days, we still held the activity, doing what a practitioner should do.
Category: April 25 Events