(Minghui.org) The Ann Arbor Art Fair is the largest jury based art fair in the United States, and attracts nearly five hundred thousand people every year.
The fair was held July 20-22, 2023, and more than one thousand tents stretched across thirty city blocks. Local practitioners are invited to participate every year and tell people about Falun Dafa. The tranquil and peaceful atmosphere as practitioners did the exercises attracted many people who stopped and talked to them.
Practitioners participated in the Ann Arbor Art Fair.
Happy Encounter with Falun Dafa
“She caught my eye. I'm searching for a meditation method and she looks so peaceful,” Kim Adolph said when she noticed a practitioner meditating in front of the Falun Dafa booth.
Ms. Kim Adolph is a nurse and came to the fair with her friend. She said that amid the noisy crowd, she was drawn to the peaceful meditating practitioner. She talked to the other practitioners and accepted a small introductory booklet about Falun Dafa. She thanked them and said, “I will read this and look into Falun Dafa.”
Mickey McGuire is a retired professor who taught at the University of Michigan's School of Education. He said, “This is the first time I've heard about Falun Dafa. This practice resonates with me and I'd like to find out where I can learn Falun Dafa in the Ann Arbor area.” When he was told there was a practice site in a local park and he could learn the exercises for free, he said, “That's great! I'd really like to give it a try.”
Retired University of Michigan lecturer, Mickey McGuire (first on the right), talks to a practitioner.
When he learned that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been persecuting Falun Dafa practitioners for decades, he said, “This is a sad thing for mankind. Such a wonderful practice should not be persecuted.”
Ms. Elizabeth Rusanchin works at a local business and said she is very interested in cultivation.
She said that this is the first time she heard about Falun Dafa. When she noticed practitioners meditating in front of the booth, she said, “When I saw the Falun Dafa booth, I realized that this is a cultivation method. The woman is meditating and she looks wonderful. She is very peaceful. I'd like to try it out.”
Looking Forward to Reading Zhuan Falun
“I look forward to reading this book. I want to make some changes to my life,” said Mr. Wajid excitedly after buying Zhuan Falun (Falun Dafa's main book).
Mr. Wajid was helping out at another booth that introduces Indian culture. He took a short break and came to the Falun Dafa booth. He spoke to a Western Falun Dafa practitioner and learned about Falun Dafa. She not only introduced Falun Dafa to Mr. Wajid, but she also told him about some of her amazing experiences after she began practicing.
He said, “Ms. LaFarge told me her story. When she almost reached the end of her life, she met a Falun Dafa practitioner who suggested she read Zhuan Falun. She said this book totally changed her life. I also had a similar situation. She suggested that I take a look at Zhuan Falun.”
People Praise Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance and Condemn the Persecution
Retired teacher Ms. Sarah Rich and her son drove for more than two hours from Grand Rapids to Ann Arbor to attend the art fair.
She said that this was the first time she heard about Falun Dafa. When she learned that Falun Dafa abides by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, she said, “These are three very wonderful words. They help us slow down in our busy lives to think, and examine ourselves.”
Mr. and Mrs. Giacona praised Falun Dafa's principles, Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.
Registered nurse Jessica Giacona said this was the first time that she had heard about Falun Dafa, “Falun Dafa is a self-cultivation method based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. These three words are very wonderful and I really like them. They can guide our daily lives. This is very good!
“When I heard that the CCP persecutes Falun Dafa I felt that the suppression and persecution of such a peaceful cultivation and meditation definitely should not happen.”
Her husband Vinny Kona, said, “I fully agree with my wife. I really do not understand why anyone wants to persecute such a meditation that is beneficial for both mind and body.”
Business owner Ms. Paola Hop said she heard how the CCP persecutes practitioners, “I heard that Falun Dafa practitioners are persecuted in China. I really like meditation, so when I heard people who meditate are being persecuted it makes me very sad.”
Ms. Hop called on people to boycott the CCP.
Ms. Hop said that one way to help Falun Dafa practitioners is to stop buying products made in China. “I will no longer buy things made in China because I disagree with the CCP.”
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