PureInsight | July 5, 2004
[PureInsight.org] There is a Canadian idiom that says, "April showers bring May flowers."
Strolling in the streets of Toronto in May, you will see tulips, roses and winter jasmines in clusters used as decorations on lawns along the road and in front of houses. Wandering about leisurely through a park, you will see lilacs, snow-white pear blossoms and pink cherry tree blossoms. In the spring lake, snow-white swans glide gracefully through the beautiful reflections of cherry tree blossoms and weeping willows.
This May a unique type of flower could be seen in some areas of Toronto. One might see palm-size lotus flowers made of colorful paper in the hands of residents near the Toronto Chinese Consulate, government officials or people walking in the streets of Toronto. Falun Gong practitioners in Toronto handmade lotus flowers in three different colors, pink, rosy red and gold. They looked elegant, beautiful and real. They each have golden center that shines lovely in the spring sunlight.
To celebrate "Falun Dafa Month" in Toronto [Falun Gong practitioners worldwide have revered May as "Falun Dafa Month" because the founder of Falun Dafa, Mr. Li Hongzhi, was born in this month and commenced his teaching of Falun Dafa in May ] when the city brimmed with beautiful blossoms, an elderly practitioner suggested that we deliver handmade lotus flowers as gifts and we agreed unanimously that it was a great idea. Throughout the past five years of brutal persecution against Falun Gong by Jiang's group in China, many Canadians have extended us their righteous support. The lotus flower carries the message of nobility and purity for the Chinese people, which makes it a perfect type of flower as a gift to those kind and noble people that support our cause, despite pressure from the Chinese Communist government.
We first sent the handmade lotus flowers along with an appreciation letter to the residents near the Chinese Consulate. In the letter, we wrote, "Please accept the lotus flower as a small token of Falun Gong practitioners' appreciation for your support. We have been peacefully appealing around the clock in front of the Chinese Consulate for the end of the persecution against Falun Gong in China, and for the end of their smear campaign to instigate people's senseless hatred towards Falun Gong. We appreciate your understanding of Falun Gong and support for our cause."
Many Western people think that handmade gifts are meaningful. The residents were pleasantly surprised when Falun Gong practitioners knocked on their doors with a smile on their faces, and with colorful lotus flowers in their hands. They graciously accepted the meaningful gift as well as Falun Gong truth-clarification materials.
Several hundred handmade lotus flowers were distributed within one day. Elderly Falun Gong practitioners hurried to make more day and night. Some of them even developed blisters on their fingers due to the heavy and continuous workload, but they didn't mind them at all. Their hearts were filled with joy while they were making them.
Xiao Zhang, a young Falun Gong practitioner in Toronto, went to school the other day and witnessed the following story. A teacher came in the classroom with a handmade lotus flower in her hand and said, "I live near the Chinese Consulate. This lotus flower is a gift from Falun Gong practitioners." The teacher started telling the class in a sentimental way the stories of Falun Gong practitioners that she had witnessed and the present persecution against Falun Gong in China. Xiao Zhang went home and told her dad the story. Her Dad had just started practicing Falun Gong, and was already undergoing spiritual and physical improvement due to his cultivation practice. While listening to the story, his eyes became moist.
On May 13, 2004, thousands of people celebrated the World Falun Dafa Day at the square in front of the Toronto City Government Building. Falun Dafa exhibit stands decorated with lotus flowers stood out among the many exhibits that day and attracted lots of people, who patiently waited in line to get a paper lotus flower made by Falun Gong practitioners on the spot. After receiving lotus flowers, some people came back a while later and said, "I have several colleagues who I'm sure will love such beautiful lotus flowers. May I get a couple more for them?" Some people started to learn from the practitioners how to make lotus flowers. Some people circled around our exhibit table after receiving the flower, and were reluctant to leave.
One day, Falun Gong practitioners put together many sets of gifts, each with a lotus flower and a thank-you card, and gave them to government officials as a small token of our appreciation for their support of Falun Gong. On the cards we wrote, "We are touched beyond words that you stood up and supported Dafa. Your righteous support made our hearts glow. Please accept this handmade lotus flower as a small token of our appreciation. In the Chinese culture, the lotus flower is a symbol of purity. It signifies that the righteous shall brave and surpass the evil. The lotus flower is also our metaphor for Falun Gong practitioners in China, who persist in their belief in Falun Gong's cultivation principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance despite the vicious attacks and tortures. We firmly believe that with our sincere and kind hearts we shall ultimately prevail over the evil."
One day, beautiful paper lotus flowers could be seen all around the government building. Government officials smiled when they received the lotus flowers. Some could not help smelling the flower although they knew it was made of paper, as if they could smell the lingering and elegant fragrance of the lotus flower. They said to us, "Continue with your efforts. The righteous shall prevail ultimately."
After leaving the government building, we met several tourists from Israel. We gave them the three remaining flowers, and told them the truth about Falun Gong. The three tourists held the flowers in front of their chest and their eyes sparkled. Then their eyes became moist as they listened to the stories of persecution against Falun Gong practitioners. Little did they expect that they would be introduced to Falun Dafa and form yuan of kindess with Falun Dafa on their trip to Toronto. [Yuan: the predestined, a predestined relationship or connection.]
We also delivered one of our handmade lotus flowers to the Premier of Canada. At an important government meeting, three Falun Gong practitioners presented a lotus flower and our good wishes to the Premier and his wife, thanking them for their continuous support for Dafa. The premier and his wife shook hands with the practitioners and thanked them for the gift. When the Premier gave a speech, his wife stood by him on the podium with a lotus flower in her hand. Many cameras took pictures of the Premier and his wife with the lotus flower in her hand.
In the flower blossoming month of May, our handmade lotus flowers decorated many places in the city of Toronto, helped people understand Dafa, and led them to a bright future.
Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2004/5/31/27386.html
