(Clearwisdom.net)
Werner
My name is Werner. I live in a small town called Arvika in Sweden, near the Norwegian border. My wife is named Kristina and we have three girls, ages four, eight and twelve. It is a blessing to be part of a family that cultivates Falun Dafa in the Fa-rectification period. This experience-sharing is intended to help fellow practitioners recognize the vast array of possibilities we have in clarifying the truth. If we can use all the skills and resources with which each of us are endowed, and if we trust and support each other with our knowledge and skills in truth-clarification, we can successfully save sentient beings.
Kristina
My education is in the field of artistic dance and I work as a dance pedagogue and choreographer. In the spring, I participated in a Swedish national telephone meeting where we discussed how to create awareness of the ten year persecution of Falun Gong. One of the suggestions was to hold a summer tour throughout Sweden to clarify the truth in various cities and towns. Several practitioners thought the suggestion was good and created a work group. The group was loosely organized and met via telephone and online.
We discussed how best to organize the tour so that we could clearly explain the persecution to the public. Finally, we found some informational materials that could expose the evilness and brutality of the persecution, while at the same time show the beauty and greatness of Dafa. We wanted to reach out to all facets of society, including local organizations, churches and government. One good way we thought of would be to invite them to speak at our events. In this way, we could clarify the truth personally and in depth. Local practitioners got in touch with the speakers, managed the site for the tour activities and invited the media.
Werner
A few years ago, I participated in a similar tour in which we walked through several towns, doing Hongfa (promoting Falun Dafa). The attention from the media was good. Local practitioners could join the activities in the towns of the touring route. I own and manage a construction company. During that summer we had a big project, so I did not want be away from work for too long. Initially, I thought that I could join the tour when it suited my plans. But I ended up with a very significant role on the tour, one in which I felt uncomfortable. Usually, I was the one who carried the materials and set things up, kept watch and handed out flyers, etc. Now I would be the host, in view of everybody and I would introduce the tour, the dancers, musicians and speakers. In addition, I was supposed to talk about Falun Gong, the persecution and other related matters. Concerns about my reputation, fears of being criticized, saying the wrong thing, being misunderstood and other such attachments surfaced. These attachments were eliminated before and during the tour.
Kristina
During the whole process of preparing the tour, it was uncertain who would actually participate. It was a test for me when practitioners came and went during our meetings. Only a small number appeared committed. A few of us tried our best to plan and organize the whole project, which was essential for having reliable logistics and having good cooperation with organizations and the local communities. I realized how important it was to always try to be righteous and trusting of others and to never have doubts, but instead have unwavering courage and joy in our work. If I was firm and righteous, I would help other practitioners to see more clearly and give them the courage to move forward.
A couple of weeks before the tour, no one had committed to joining the tour in its entirety. At one of our last telephone meetings, we talked to a practitioner who wanted to travel with us but could not drive alone all the way. At that moment, a practitioner who had intended to join another meeting, accidentally came to our online meeting. When he heard our problem, he offered to assist the other driver to drive all the way through Sweden. Everything was settled in the best way possible! I experienced Master's helping hand, and felt great gratitude that I was on the tour. It was a gift from Master!
Werner
Every town had its own unique program that best met its needs. During the ten day tour, many people had the opportunity to watch the dance, and hear the songs, music and speeches. They also saw part of the Zhen-Shan-Ren art exhibition, tried the Falun Dafa exercises, folded lotus flowers and signed the petition to help stop the persecution, that would be sent to the Swedish Government. The beautiful music, songs and celestial dances attracted even the most hurried people to stop for a moment.
The heavens were truly supporting us during the tour. It always rains in July in Sweden. When we started from our home town, the roads were flooded. But wherever we traveled, there was sunshine everywhere when we started to put up the tents for our activities. The island of Öland was windy and cloudy, so the tourists who normally lay on the beach, came to sit in the sun at our activity site. It could not be better. In Gothenburg, the weather forecast had been bad, but the moment we went out in the morning, the sky opened up. At night when we had packed up the last items and closed the luggage compartment of our car, the first raindrop came and then changed into a downpour. During the whole tour the weather forecast predicted rain but the sun shone at our sites. With the support of the gods, the response from the media, including newspapers, radio, TV and all who came into our energy field was fantastic.
Kristina
How do we reach people in the best way and how can we save them? This was my main thought before and during the tour. I noticed that the results were not good if I mechanically and dutifully took part in Dafa-projects. To attain good results, my heart had to be involved. I knew my motivation had to be self-driven, based on a righteous understanding and perception of why I was participating in the tour. Genuinely studying the Fa is crucial for ascending in cultivation and attaining further insights in the Fa. For me, it is important to understand and accept that all of us are different. We have different paths and do things differently. What is important is being able to compare without judging myself or other practitioners.
While on the tour, I began learning about myself, while letting go of things that were based on ordinary human desires. In this process, I sometimes felt vulnerable in front of other practitioners, especially when we fell into the old pattern of bitterness and blaming. As I see it, these characteristics belong to the old forces and are detrimental for practitioners. I hope that together we can further develop our compassion. In addition to saving sentient beings, we also have a responsibility towards fellow practitioners. Prior to the tour, I met up with practitioners whom I had not seen in a long time. When practitioners live far away or do not make it out to be with other practitioners, it is important to meet with them at times. Together we are strong and we strengthen each other in our continued cultivation.
Another thing that is important is not missing the chance to clarify the truth when it arises, which I unfortunately do sometimes. One time we went to a church to use the washroom and change into our costumes. A woman who worked there became interested in what we were doing and wanted some information. I didn't give her information right away but continued to think about her several times during the day. When I finally took the time to take the information to her, I came five minutes too late and the church was closed. It hurts my heart to think of this loss and I will never miss another chance to save sentient beings again.
Werner
To see my children participating in the tour is very special. Our youngest daughter is four years old. I saw how she took care of the materials so they would not get blown away, how she hugged practitioners who were tired and stayed in the sun the whole day without being tired. Her older sisters performed their dance again and again, and many people stopped to watch. One lesson that I obtained from the tour is that we should talk to people in depth. A man said, "Now I understand, I have received information about Falun Gong and the persecution before but had not really understood." He now understood why we were there and supported us. He helped to clarify the facts to others. He was there the whole day and appeared very happy. The support we had during the whole tour was fantastic. Even some practitioners who had not taken part in Hongfa for a long time showed up.
Another experience that I would like to share is about the media. A reporter is trained to search for stories that will increase sales, but unfortunately this does not always agree with our message. After I explained to a reporter about the purpose of our truth-clarification, he asked some questions that clearly came from the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) lies. I felt that something around me changed. I heard later that a fellow practitioner was standing two or three meters from us, sending forth righteous thoughts. I became very strong and firm as I spoke, instead of being uncertain and careful. I looked the reporter in the eyes and said, "As a reporter you have a very big responsibility. If you choose to believe the fabricated lies that the CCP and other so-called China experts have spread, you should know that these so called experts sit at the consulate and dine lavishly, have good business relationships with the CCP, and are on their leash. But we are here today voluntarily during our own holidays. We are here because other people suffer, are tortured and murdered for standing up for Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. You, as a reporter, can either ridicule our efforts for standing up for human rights or support us." The reporter supported us and stopped asking silly questions. When we are fearless and act in a straightforward manner, with a heart of compassion, there is no room for misunderstanding.
Kristina
It was a fantastic tour! I am so grateful that Master gave me the chance to further improve in my cultivation path! I am grateful to all practitioners who unselfishly participated and made the tour possible. Many worked to make it possible for us to travel to the different towns. We were really one body. I am grateful for my husband and my children and for doing it together and completing our mission.
During the tour I received insight on being firm and unyielding, having patience with other practitioners and always placing saving sentient beings first. I have a wish and it is that we can allow each other to be different and allow each other to blossom. It would be magnificent if we could help each other towards consummation with compassion. Then we can achieve great wonders together!
Werner
Thank you Master, thank you fellow practitioners!
My experience during this journey was that if I have courage and confidence in myself and other practitioners and let go of the attachment to reputation and of fear, then I can accomplish great tasks. Here I wish all Dafa practitioners success in cultivation and truth-clarification. I thank our benevolent Master for this honor.
