It has long been heard that North Carolina's mountain town Asheville, four hours drive from where we live, is known as Mecca of the New Age. There are many people in this town who are in search of spiritual cultivation practices, yet not in the main stream religions. Since many of them are interested in Qigong, Yoga, etc., we have been thinking about going there to spread Dafa for some time. These people often do their shopping at a health food supermarket specializing in organic farm products and there are all kinds of lectures and workshops held at the market. We have also been interested in this place, and finally on this past weekend, three of us (one American, one Vietnamese American, and one Chinese) made our way there to present Falun Gong.

Sixteen or seventeen people who heard about this attended the introductory workshop from the beginning to the end. They learned the five sets of movements attentively, enthusiastically bought the books and the exercise instruction videotapes, and even inquired about if there're any group practice sites in Asheville. Some said, "There have been more and more lectures and training sessions on Qigong and spiritual practices these days. Yet every one of them is very expensive, and it's getting even more so. This is now getting out of control. Many people feel that's not right. You came such a long way, and don't take a penny. As a matter of fact, it should be done like this to carry forward spiritual cultivation practices. We are glad you are correcting this unhealthy trend."

My thoughts are that there are kind-hearted people everywhere, many of them having pre-destined relationship with Falun Dafa, and they're waiting for us to introduce them Falun Dafa. This is quite some responsibility for us overseas practitioners to take on.

However, what impressed me the most was the following thought-provoking conversation between me and an American collecting shopping carts in the supermarket. (I was handing out introductory materials, as he was collecting shopping carts in and out, thus the conversation was intermittent.)

---- Supermarket Employee: I know you are all good people, and what you are doing is right. As for the Chinese government's persecution over Falun Gong, I have read all the reports. On their faces (the ones of those practitioners in China shown on TV), I saw peace, calmness, steadfastness, and courage.

Falun Dafa Practitioner: Yes, I highly admire and respect them as well.

Employee: They are just great!

---- Employee: Why?

Practitioner: Why what? Why does the government persecute Falun Gong?

Employee: No. I know why they persecute Falun Gong: because they want to control people's thinking. I was asking why these Falun Gong practitioners persist as such even though they know they are going to be arrested and thrown into jail.

Practitioner: Because they benefited from Falun Gong themselves, and they deeply know that Falun Gong is the righteous Way. Yet the government slanders it as "evil cult". Of course they want to petition to clarify the facts, and to stand up to make a fair statement for Falun Gong. They are those who have known the truth of the universe, and thus fear nothing.

Employee: Remarkable! Prison can only lock their bodies, but never their hearts. They know their spiritual journey and they are determined to finish it without hesitation. Nothing can stop them. They are enlightened persons, and they are awakening the world, and leading people out of darkness.

Practitioner: Yes, they are just like someone with sharp eyes walking with a group of blind people. They really hope the others can see the light as they do!

Employee: It will happen. It will. The energy they generated was enormous and could be felt by the whole world. And in the end the whole world will wake up.

Practitioner: Thank you for your thoughts.

Employee (turning back to me): Thank you for your ACTION.

---- Employee: I used to be a stockbroker on Wall Street. Later I moved to this small town in mountains, and now I am working at this health food supermarket. You know why?

Practitioner: I do. Life is not just money and material things. Money can't buy you happiness in life.

Employ (shaking his head while walking away): It can't, it just can't...

---- Employee (hugging the practitioner upon parting each other): You are doing the best and the most righteous thing. This is what we all should do in this world. I really admire you. God be with you!

---- I was moved by these profound words from an ordinary person who works in a supermarket. What he has said touched my heart and made me ponder for quite some time. These words seem to be spoken by the clearest side of his, and this clearest side of his seems to know what Falun Dafa is.

As Master has said, there are many kind-hearted people in the world, and many people with strong pre-destined relationship are yet to attain Dafa.

Hereby, I also would like to say a few words to fellow practitioners in China: Language alone cannot express my appreciation and admiration for you from the depth of my heart. You are not experiencing the suffering and tribulation in vain. You are not only building up your own incomparable mighty virtues for the future, but at the same time, your physical sufferings and your sacrifices with your lives are awakening more and more kind-hearted people around this world.

March 5, 2000