Helping People Solve Their Conflicts With a New ‘Law’
Peter, a 27-year old Slovak lawyer, has a calm way of handling his cases due to practicing Falun Gong.
Often, a person looks for a lawyer to protect his or her interest and defeat an opponent during a conflict. Sometimes, the client even hopes the lawyer will use unfair practices to win.
Peter truly believes in”Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” the foundational principles of the Falun Gong spiritual practice.
Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, is a traditional Chinese system of mind-body cultivation. It was first taught in 1992 in northeastern China and has attracted tens of millions of adherents. The word “Dafa” means “Great Law” in Chinese.
“In my line of work, I have seen many conflicts and battles among people,” said Peter. “In my opinion, it is more valuable to help my clients to resolve disputes in a positive way, instead of defeating the other side.”
He advises his clients to treat opponents peacefully and not go to extremes. “Even if you have conflicts with another person, you can still respect each other and try to place yourself in the other person’s shoes,” explained Peter. “Just think, which way is better: have one more enemy or have one more friend?”
Many of his clients have agreed with him.
Falun Gong Teaches People to Be Good
When Peter was in college ten years ago, a Chinese friend introduced Falun Gong to his parents, who became the first practitioners in Slovakia.
“My father used to have a very bad temper. He got into fights easily. He always thought other people were wrong. He constantly criticized me,” Peter recalled.
“However, after my father started practicing Falun Gong, he changed. He became peaceful, happy, and understanding.” Seeing the change in his father, Peter began to practice Falun Gong too.
“My parents are so happy that I practice. They are happy I have positive moral values and am trustworthy. A lot of parents are worried that their children will be negatively affected by today’s society–smoking, drinking, or other bad behaviors. They know Falun Gong teaches me to look inward and to be a good person.”
Exposing the Persecution of Falun Gong in China
Peter and other local Falun Gong practitioners have often held public events about Falun Gong. They give information leaflets and collect signatures on petitions against forced organ harvesting from living practitioners.
People who have experienced communism, whether they are from East Germany, the Czech Republic, or Poland, understand readily. When they hear about the persecution of Falun Gong in communist China, they nod right away, “Yes, we have experienced a similar thing,” is a common comment.
“Slovakia was formerly a communist country,” said Peter. “Many people know clearly what a communist government does to its citizens. I did not have to convince them that the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is true.”
“Some people even cried when they heard about the brutal persecution. They were deeply touched. I occasionally met former Communist Party members who still try to defend the communist system, but that was very rare.”
Although the younger generation in the country did not live under communist rule, Peter was glad to see they understand very well the destructiveness of the Communist Party.
“No young person defends communism,” said Peter.
Since he began the practice seven years ago, Peter has been talking about Falun Gong and the persecution in public.
“Falun Gong teaches people to be good, and to improve. But Falun Gong practitioners in China have been under such cruel persecution. We practitioners outside of China must stand up for them.”
“The persecution must end,” Peter said firmly.
This article was originally published on Minghui.org, a website organized by Falun Gong practitioners to spread information about the Chinese spiritual practice and the persecution it suffers because of the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution.
