Greece: Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference Held in Athens

(Minghui.org) A Falun Dafa experience sharing conference was held in Athens on March 10, 2024. Practitioners from Greece, Cyprus and Norway attended. Twenty practitioners presented papers about their physical and mental improvements in the course of cultivation. Topics included how they looked within and broke through tribulations with faith in Master Li (the founder of Falun Dafa) and the Fa, and how they overcame barriers while participating in projects to clarify the truth and help save sentient beings.

A Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference was held in Athens on March 10, 2024.

Practitioners speak at the conference.

Overcoming Notions

Neli Magdalene from Greece began to practice Falun Dafa in 2002. She realized that she was biased against political figures after an experience sharing with practitioners from other countries last year, and felt that it was hard to help them understand Falun Dafa and get their support to help end the persecution in China. She realized this notion was deep-rooted and blocked her from clarifying the truth to them.

After Master published, “How Humankind Came To Be” last year, Neli understood that all lives are important, and that she should not judge who is easier or harder to save.

She said, “I just need to work hard to save them.”

A few days later, Neli was contacted by another practitioner in Europe, who asked that she contact governmental officials and influential figures in Greece to help rescue his parents and other practitioners who were unjustly incarcerated in China. Neli talked to practitioners in Greece and organized a group. They began clarifying the truth to government officials and organizations.

One of the group was initially hesitant to talk to political figures. She gradually overcame her lack of confidence by studying Master’s Fa related to this and with the encouragement of other practitioners.

The group visited multiple political figures and told them about Falun Dafa and the persecution happening in China. The Greek member of the European Parliament voted yes to 2024/2504 (RSP) on January 18, 2024, an important resolution that demands that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) immediately stop the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Righteous Thoughts Resolve an Issue

Marlen from Cyprus had no issues the first time she applied for a permit to hold an activity to introduce Falun Dafa to the public. But the next time she applied, the mayor’s secretary had a tough attitude. The secretary gave her a permit to practice the exercises, but practitioners were prohibited from distributing flyers.

The next time she applied, Marlen went to the city hall in person to deliver the application. She included excerpts from Cyprus’ constitution regarding citizens’ rights to hold peaceful assemblies and distribute flyers. She talked to the secretary calmly and politely when she turned in her application.

Marlen went to the city hall a few days later, and reminded herself to have compassion. This time the secretary was very polite. The secretary and two other staff listened as Marlen explained how practitioners in China are persecuted, and the significance of holding activities to tell people about Falun Dafa. The secretary and the staff members were moved. Marlen received the permit, but practitioners were still not allowed to distribute flyers.

Afterwards, Marlen shared the experience with other practitioners. She realized that she needed to break through this obstacle with righteous thoughts. She also realized that she had a notion that was wrong: she thought Chinese people would refuse to talk to practitioners because they were afraid of being monitored by the CCP. Her notion was an obstacle in saving people.

Something unexpected happened after she corrected her notion. The mayor contacted her and apologized for the two-month delay in responding to her request to meet with him. After he was told about the application, he said Cyprus is a democratic county and that citizens can freely distribute flyers.

The issue that had lasted for four months was resolved. Marlen said, “When our actions are righteous, things can magically change.”

Overcoming a Physical Tribulation During Pregnancy

Ioanna from Cyprus moved to Norway to live with her husband after they married. One month after she became pregnant, her back began hurting. She injured her back when she’d fallen the previous month, and it still hurt. She worried that it was symptoms of pregnancy complications. Despite the pain she decided to go to a neighboring country to help with Shen Yun.

Her pain intensified and her fear was strong. She tried to let go of the attachment of fear and kept silently repeating, “I only acknowledge Master’s arrangement.” She read the Fa and did the exercises every day after she finished helping with Shen Yun. The practitioner traveling with her also helped by sending forth righteous thoughts for her.

A few days later while she watched Shen Yun, she said, “The pain in my back disappeared.” The pain was completely gone. Ioanna deeply felt the wonder of cultivation and increased the length of time she practiced the exercises. Even though her belly was gradually getting bigger, she meditated every day.

Her baby’s head was pointing up when it was close to the due date. The doctor said this was dangerous. Ioanna thought about it and realized that the baby’s head pointing up didn’t affect her ability to pull her legs up to meditate, and doing the exercises greatly benefited her and the baby. She said, “I finally understand that everything happens for a reason. What appears to be a bad thing may be a good thing. In his infinite wisdom Master arranged this test.” Ioanna believed that Master was protecting her and everything would be fine. The delivery was very smooth and the baby is healthy.

Ioanna said, “Whenever I think about this, no words can express my appreciation for Master.”

Eliminating the Addiction to the Internet

Chrysa talked about how she eliminated her addiction to surfing the Internet.

She stopped working in 2020 because of the COVID lockdown, and began clarifying the truth about Falun Dafa on social media. When the lockdown ended, she didn’t quit social media and instead gradually became addicted to it. She didn’t want to cook, and instead she only ate food that was easy to prepare. She often spent 2 or 3 hours every day looking at her cellphone. When she was not surfing the web, she heard a buzzing noise in her head.

After going through two rounds of severe cold symptoms, Chrysa felt that her addiction to the Internet had taken control of her and was difficult to get rid of. She begged Master in her heart, “Please drive this thing from my mind.” As soon as she had that thought, the buzzing noise disappeared.

Chrysa sincerely thanked Master for helping her get rid of this negative being and her addiction to the Internet.

Peaceful Protest and Event Introduce Falun Dafa 

Two days before the conference, practitioners practiced the exercises as a group in front of the Chinese Embassy to peacefully protest the persecution. They also held an event on the business street at the foot of the Acropolis to introduce Falun Dafa to the public.

Practitioners peacefully protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Athens on March 8, 2024.

George, a representative for Falun Dafa practitioners, spoke at the peaceful protest, and called for the persecution to end.

A doctor from Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH) condemned the Chinese Communist Party for killing Falun Dafa practitioners for their organs.

Practitioners did the exercises and protested peacefully in front of the Chinese Embassy on March 8, 2024, calling on the CCP to immediately stop the persecution and condemning its crime of killing practitioners for their organs. Two staff members of the embassy watched the practitioners’ activity behind the embassy’s fence.

Practitioners held activities on Thissio Street at the foot of Athens’ Acropolis on March 9, 2024.

Practitioners also held an event on Thissio Street at the foot of the Acropolis on March 9, 2024. They demonstrated the exercises and handed out flyers to passersby. They talked to people about the physical and mental benefits of practicing Falun Dafa and how the spiritual discipline is persecuted in China.