(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners held a rally at Piazza Vittorio on June 27, followed by a candlelight vigil at Villa Borghese Park in the evening to raise awareness about the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution.
Silvia, an Italian archaeologist, attended the events with her husband, after they were invited there by a friend. She spoke in-depth with a practitioner about the practice, and was particularly interested in the main text Zhuan Falun which she plans to read.
“I wonder why so many people read this book?” she said. “What are they searching for, and why this book?”
Silvia was surprised to hear about the CCP’s persecution of the spiritual practice and its positive values. “I think this is absurd,” she said. “Why would they persecute these peaceful people?”
“What I Have Been Looking For”
Maria Pia from Turin, Italy (Minghui.org)
Nine years ago, Maria Pia from Turin received a copy of Zhuan Falun from a friend. After reading it, she felt that she was finally at peace. “Since I was 13 years old, a voice in my heart kept telling me that I must do one thing,” she said. “This voice finally quieted down after I learned about Falun Dafa.”
She added, “Falun Dafa is what I have been looking for. This is the life path that I always wanted to follow.”
Paolo from Sardinia, Italy (Minghui.org)
Paolo from Sardinia learned about Falun Dafa from a childhood friend who sent him a PDF version of Zhuan Falun. He then printed it into a booklet, and read the entire book. “Since then, I have not stopped reading Zhuan Falun.”
“All My Questions Were Answered”
IT consultant Raffaele (Minghui.org)
Since a young age, IT consultant Raffaele has been an avid reader of books about spirituality, including Buddhism and Taoism, hoping to find answers to his questions about life. “I really wanted to have a deep understanding of spirituality, and not just church culture,” he said. “There was always a kind of Eastern connection in my heart.”
One day in 2012, someone introduced him to Falun Gong. “Because I had practiced other disciplines in the past, I was relatively sensitive to energy,” he said. “So when I started doing the Falun Gong exercise movements, I could feel strong energy.”
Raffaele was 22 at the time. He wanted to know more about Falun Dafa, and started looking online. “After extensive research, I found out that this was a great cultivation method, and that there is also a book,” he said. “This book is unique. After I read it, I realized that all my questions had been answered, and that I couldn’t find answers to in other books. I felt I should keep reading it. The more I read, the more answers appeared. So I continued reading it.”
He said that Zhuan Falun helped him understand the source of pain, karmic relationships, and the significance of upgrading one’s moral character. At first, he read the free books online, and learned the exercises on his own. Later, he wanted to join up with other people who practice. He then found out that local practitioners had a group exercise site on Sundays. “I introduced myself, and then started doing the exercises with them,” he said.
Not long after Raffaele started doing the exercises, he noticed that his back pain from working in front of a computer went away, as well as the severe headaches he used to get in winter. He also felt more calm and relaxed. Most importantly, he said, “I understood the meaning of life. Now there is a purpose to my life, and I have a mission. I can keep improving myself.”
“We Cannot Turn a Blind Eye”
As Raffaele continued to practice, he learned about the persecution of Falun Gong by the CCP.
“I was shocked the first time I heard about this,” he said. He thought that as China gradually opened up to the rest of the world, such human rights atrocities would be a thing of the past. He did not expect that the persecution would be ongoing, and with such brutality.
To understand the truth behind the persecution, Raffaele started to learn about communism, and the history of the CCP. Falun Dafa is about perfecting oneself according to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Practitioners do not get involved in politics.
Raffaele thought that because the CCP could not tolerate these values, it has spread lies and slandered Falun Gong for years, and even burned and destroyed Falun Gong books to prevent people from learning about the practice.
“The CCP is trampling human rights,” he said. “We mustn’t forget the human rights tragedies in history to prevent similar events from happening again. But such persecution continues to happen in China. We cannot turn a blind eye to this.”
He believes that exposing and stopping the persecution is the responsibility of every person that cares about human rights, not just Falun Gong practitioners.
“I’m a practitioner, and I know that on the other side of the world, there are many people who are suffering for holding fast to their faith,” he said. “I cannot just stand here and do nothing. I have to do my best to help them. This is my responsibility.”
“Today Is Truly Wonderful and Fulfilling”
English teacher Nicoletta Gerichievich (Minghui.org)
English teacher Nicoletta Gerichievich was also invited by a friend to participate in the rally at Piazza Vittorio. She had not previously heard of Falun Gong.
After reading the display boards and listening to speeches by government officials and practitioners, she learned about the persecution in China, including the state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting.
“Insane! This completely goes against human nature,” she said. She also signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution. “I just want to do what I can to support you and support human rights. I think this is something that everyone should at least do,” she said.
Nicoletta (wearing a blue shirt and black long pants) learns the Falun Gong exercises at Villa Borghese. (Minghui.org)
In the evening, Nicoletta learned the Falun Gong exercises at Villa Borghese. “This is all new for me, and it feels great,” she said. “I am very relaxed and calm. This truly is a wonderful experience.”
She thought the event was important, as many people do not know about the persecution. “If I hadn’t come here, I would not know about these things at all,” she said. “We should let more people learn about this issue.”
Before she left, she said emotionally, “Today was truly wonderful and fulfilling. The atmosphere here feels so calm, peaceful, and warm. People are very friendly, and have left a deep impression on me.”
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