(Clearwisdom.net) This year was the fourth "Cultural Carnival" in Hamburg and the fourth time that Falun Gong practitioners from throughout Germany took part. We had an information booth and also took part in the cultural parade.

A fellow practitioner and I were responsible for the booth and for making the folded paper Lotus flowers.

After we had set up the booth and had put up our decorations, several practitioners began to demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises. Many visitors were curious and stopped to watch the practitioners sitting upright in the double lotus position, meditating despite all the noise and loud music around them. Many came into our booth where we displayed a photo exhibition entitled, "The Path of Falun Dafa." They admired the beauty of Falun Dafa and could not believe, after looking at the pictures of the persecution, how something as beautiful as this practice could be persecuted. They just could not understand the brutality of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against their own countrymen.

We also set up a pavilion where we taught people how to make folded paper lotus flowers. The pavilion was filled with children and their parents from morning until dark. In retrospect, we should have set up another table so we could teach more people.

When I was clarifying the truth about the persecution to two young women, an elderly lady sat next to us, quietly folding a paper flower. I thought it rather sad that she appeared so unmoved by the fact of the persecution, and to tell the truth, I was slightly disappointed. Then, she suddenly said, "Do you know that this suppression in China is so cruel that even when one is there as a tourist, one is told lies. Our tour guide was so deeply afraid that he only hissed through his teeth that he would tell us something later, as soon as we were alone.

"He told us later that all the cultural tourist attractions are only for show, as most everything was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. However if any of his co-workers would realize that he spoke about the corruption of the party and the crimes committed during the Cultural Revolution, he not only would lose his job, but would also most likely land in prison and possibly lose his life in the long run. He begged us not to ask any more questions about how terrible things are, as everyone is afraid for his or her life."

The woman gladly accepted the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party and gave her address to a practitioner so she could receive additional information.

A woman from Croatia was so happy to find, among all the loud goings-on, a place where she could find some peace and quiet. She also told me that she was very pleased to see our float depicting the persecution, as part of the parade. She told me that she is very thankful that there are still people who cannot be controlled by the Communist Party and who are brave enough to expose their crimes.

On Friday, another woman whom we had already met during our previous activities visited us at our booth. She wanted to hear more about the persecution and told us that she wanted to learn the Falun Gong exercises. She came to our booth every day we were there. On the third evening we were almost ready to close down, when she suddenly appeared again. She sat down and told me that she relished being here. Everything was so peaceful, without any acts of aggression. The men were so friendly and polite, something she had not experienced before. Her strong predestined relationship allowed her to recognize the beauty of Falun Dafa. She remained until we had packed everything. She said wanted to learn the exercises as soon as possible.

A young boy sat down at our table and carefully chose different colored paper strips to make lotus flowers. My girlfriend took a strip of paper and went over to teach him the beginning steps, when he looked at her and told her, "I know how it is done. This is already my fifth lotus flower." I remembered that he also was here last year and had not forgotten how to make the flowers. His imagination grew with each flower, and he joyfully showed me his flowers, which he wanted to give to his mother. He came to see us daily during the three days of the festival and remained in our booth for quite some time. He assured me that he would return again next year.

Many adults came every day to make more lotus flowers with us. Since we were not enough practitioners, they taught newcomers how to fold lotus flowers, and explained the easy folding method. Through this, we could see the power of Dafa, where everyone thought of the other person and gave a hand when needed. Because of this, we established a harmonious environment, which was a center of attention at the festival.

Time flew by during these three wonderful days, during which many people happily took the lotus flowers they had made home. But, also those who only watched us did not go home empty handed, as we had already made lotus flowers beforehand to give them.

Many open hearts came to listen to the truth about the persecution and often they wanted to learn the exercises. Many people came by to thank us for the information.

Originally published in German at: http://www.clearharmony.de/articles/200609/33860.html

source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200610/35750.html