(Minghui.org) The 2023 Rose of Tralee Festival was held in Tralee, a small town on the west coast of Ireland, from August 18 to 23, 2023. On August 20 and 21, Falun practitioners participated in the market activities of the Rose of Tralee Festival.
During the event, practitioners introduced Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) and exposed the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong to tourists that had come to be part of the festival from throughout the world. Many viewers agreed with the Falun Dafa principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. One tourist said, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are exactly what the world needs.”
Falun Gong practitioners introduced the spiritual practice in the Rose of Tralee Festival on August 20 and 21, 2023.
Visitors sign the petition which is calling for an end to the persecution.
The Rose of Tralee Festival aims to inherit and spread Irish culture and brings together Irish descendants scattered throughout the world.
Dating back to 1959, the festival is now second only to Ireland’s National Day in popularity. The five-day event includes a parade, concerts, fireworks and a market, with organizers estimating around 100,000 people attending the festival.
Visitors Commend Falun Gong
Stephen believes that Falun Gong is benefiting society.
After setting up the booth, the practitioners began to do the Falun Dafa exercises on August 20. Stephen, a college student stopped to learn more about Falun Gong.
He learned that before the CCP persecuted Falun Gong, there were 100 million people in China that practiced Falun Gong. Seeing the photos on the display boards showing the group exercises, Stephen said that the practice was beneficial to the community and that people from different cultures, backgrounds, regions, and ages can practice together.
“Falun Gong delivers a message, not to control everything outside, but to control oneself – your own feelings,” Stephen said. “It’s like how you deal with the world, not how the world wants to respond to you. That’s why I like Falun Gong. It pays more attention to one’s own energy.”
After learning about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong, Stephen said, “The CCP says that controlling people’s thoughts is a cult. Isn’t the CCP itself a cult? The entire CCP relies on brainwashing.”
He said that the CCP is afraid of Falun Gong because the CCP is committed to making people pay attention to external things, so as to achieve control over people.
Ciaran and Donncha support Falun Gong.
Ciaran and Donncha talked with a practitioner at the stand for a long time. Ciaran said that he knew that since the CCP usurped power in 1949, it has killed millions of Chinese people and persecuted many religious groups and dissidents just like the Russian Communist Party. “This is unacceptable!” he said.
He said that the CCP leaders should take a look at the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance that Falun Gong practitioners follow. “This is exactly what China needs. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is what the world needs.”
Kirsten likes the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Kirsten from Germany agreed with Falun Gong’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. She said, “To tell the truth, the world needs truth so much. As for compassion, needless to say, we all need it.”
Kirsten said that she knew the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, “It’s so cruel, unfair, and disgusting!”
“Thank You for Bringing Me Hope”
Mary is a Christian. She learned that the CCP tortured the practitioners and harvested their organs simply for upholding their belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Mary said she was sad and wanted to do something for the practitioners.
When she learned that more than 400 million Chinese people had withdrawn from the CCP and its youth organizations, Mary was surprised and happy and thanked the practitioners repeatedly for letting her see the hope of the disintegration of the evil Party. “I will pray for this world, hope that the world will be filled with more love, peace, and hope. Thank you for bringing me hope.”
Condemning the Persecution
Edel (left) and Helen (right) support practitioners’ effort in ending the persecution.
Edel, who had heard in the past about Falun Gong and the CCP’s organ harvesting from living practitioners, said, “Why don’t you call it murder? Because it’s not like people can sit up again [from the operating table] and leave.” Edel and his friends all expressed their support for the practitioners’ protesting the persecution.
After signing the petition calling to stop the CCP’s organ harvesting, Philip said, “I know this persecution clearly.” He has a friend who is a Falun Gong practitioner and found out about the persecution years ago.
Philip said that he paid attention to Falun Dafa, because “I have always been interested in Buddhism, and I think that one should follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
Maria from Spain said people should have freedom of belief.
Maria from Spain is a pre-school teacher. She said that people should have freedom of belief and “should not be persecuted because of their beliefs.” After signing the petition, she tried the fifth set of exercises.
Bernadette (middle) and her two daughters Jackie (left) and Colette (right) support the practitioner.
Bernadette lives in the northern county of Louth. She and her daughters were on vacation in Tralee. Bernadette said she practiced Catholicism, and when she heard that the principles of Falun Gong are Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, she said she felt close to these principles. She said she had always held kindness in her life and told people around her to be kind to others.
Bernadette encouraged the practitioners to persevere. She said that the Irish people were once forced into exile all over the world because they did not give up their faith, but now they are successful. “Don’t give up no matter what,” because it is not easy to fill the world with kindness.
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