(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners from London held a series of activities on April 21, 2019, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the April 25, 1999 peaceful appeal of over 10,000 practitioners in Beijing. The events were held in downtown London, London's Chinatown, the Chinese Embassy, and the British Museum
Practitioners passed out informational materials, demonstrated the exercises, and collected signatures, while telling the public about the benefits of this self-improvement practice. The practitioners were also calling for help to stop the 20-year long persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Demonstrating the exercises in downtown London
Re-enacting the torture of practitioners by the Chinese regime
Tourists sign the petition to support Falun Gong.
Tourists talk to practitioners and learn about Falun Gong.
Musician: “Inner Peace Is What Everyone in the World Should Work Hard to Achieve”
American musician David Harris praises Falun Gong.
David Harris, a musician from America, has studied Buddhism for 10 years. The message, “Falun Gong is the world's largest prisoner of conscience group” moved him. He spent an hour watching the exercise demonstration, viewing the materials, and talking to several practitioners.
He praised the practitioners for their peaceful resistance. He believes that what they are doing has a great historical significance.
“This kind of peaceful protest is very good. In such beautiful weather on Easter Sunday, they are calling out to everyone here: Please stop and think about it, and don't miss this major historical picture. This is a beautiful moment,” he said. “These practitioners are doing what they should do, doing what they choose to do, and practicing their faith in their own life processes, and what they are doing is 100 percent correct.”
Harris believes that everyone in the world should follow the universal principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
He said that there is nothing wrong with following such principles, because it is not for personal self-interest, but for the benefit of others. This is for your conscience, and “everyone should have a conscience,” he said.
Harris said he felt the practitioners' positive energy field.
“Everyone here looks so tranquil; their energy touches me,” he said. “I am very happy that I am here, witnessing this moment.”
Harris condemned the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong and praised practitioners for their efforts.
“Falun Gong practitioners are doing very positive things very peacefully, no yelling, no negativity. Great job,” he said, adding, “Inner peace is what everyone in the world should work hard to achieve.”
Retired Professor: “Falun Gong Exercises Look Simple But Are Actually Very Profound”
Jagadish Chakraborty, a retired professor of biochemistry likes meditation practice. He was attracted to the exercise demonstration and learned all five sets of exercises from a practitioner.
With his extensive background in meditation, he immediately felt that the Falun Gong exercises were unique and they have powerful energy.
“People don't understand that the Falun Gong exercises look simple, but are actually very profound,” he said, “Their minds are so concentrated. It is not easy. For your thoughts to be concentrated on the things you are doing, your heart must be pure, so that your body [energy] can flow.”
Jagadish Chakraborty (middle) learning the exercises.
The professor believes that the peace shown by Falun Gong practitioners is very important to the world today, and helps the people of the world to maintain their wisdom, restoring and strengthening their self-discipline.
“In today's society, people are enslaved for material pursuits. Many people have lost their ability to think. The pursuit of money is accompanied by a sense of frustration,” he said.
He hopes more people will come to learn about Falun Gong and praised practitioners for their efforts to peacefully deliver their message about Falun Gong.
“They are not preaching or selling anything. They are showing you what you can do and telling you useful things. If you want to benefit, then you will find it yourself,” he said.
Maria and her mother Ella signed the petition condemning the persecution.
Maria and her mother Ella signed the petition condemning the persecution. Maria felt sad because people were being persecuted for their belief. “I am very worried about the future,” she said, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is a very good message. The world, including Europe, really needs to understand this.”
“This is what I need,” said Sharon.
Sharon cannot wait to learn the exercises. “I feel very calm. I really want to sit here to listen to the exercise music for an entire day,” she said, “I want to join the exercise site as soon as possible. This is what I need.”
The activity in London's Chinatown
Reading Falun Gong materials in front of the British Museum
Category: April 25 Events
