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Overwhelming Response to Falun Dafa in the Northeastern Tip of India

November 11, 2016 |   By a practitioner in India

(Minghui.org) Arunachal Pradesh, also called the “land of dawn-lit mountains,” is a veritable treasure house of nature and culture, situated in the Northeastern tip of India and bordered on three sides by Bhutan, China, and Myanmar. It is the largest state in the Northeast, covered over 80% with evergreen forests and inhabited by 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes of the Indo-Mongolian race, each with a distinct identity of rich culture, customs, and traditions of arts and crafts.

The land has the lightest population density in India with only 17 persons per sq. km. The majority of the population, composed of tribes, is rooted in ancient traditions and customs, beliefs, and indigenous practices.

Some tribes practice Mahayana Buddhism, others Hinayana Buddhism, and some continue with their traditional beliefs and indigenous practice of worshipping the sun and the moon, called Donyi Polo. Some maintain their indigenous practices of worship which are animalistic in nature, and other religions are also practiced.

The capital, Itanagar, also popularly known as “Mini India,” is a cultural melting pot, as people from all over the country can be seen here living in peace and harmony.

This was the third and last journey in 2016 to the northeastern parts of India for the practitioner from Varanasi who visited two other states earlier this year. It was the first time ever that a Falun Dafa practitioner visited the area.

During the last two journeys to the Northeast, the practitioner had at least one contact person in each state, but this time there was not even one. While the first two train journeys were arduous, this 30-hour-long train journey from Varanasi to Itanagar was smooth and uneventful.

Setting Out for the Northeast Again

Throughout the visit to Arunachal Pradesh, many miraculous things occurred. The first and foremost was simply that the practitioner was able to undertake the journey, as towards the end of her second trip to the Northeast she began to experience sudden and inexplicable pain. It developed into very serious “sickness” tribulations and even to a test of life and death for six weeks, during which time she wasn't even able to leave the house.

The thought of facing the challenges of an Indian train station after almost six weeks of staying inside, bringing along two very heavy suitcases filled with Falun Dafa materials, was nearly unimaginable and instilled fear. But knowing well that this was the last chance of the season to venture into the Northeast, the practitioner felt that she just had to take the risk and that there was no looking back. Remarkably, everything went very smoothly, with no signs of “sickness” appearing.

The second “miracle” happened upon arriving. The practitioner found a suitable, clean, safe, quiet place to stay that was right in the center of the capital, with convenient transportation options, Internet access, photocopy shops, and other amenities readily available. This isn't always the case in remote parts of India.

The third “miracle” happened on the second day in Itanagar, a Sunday, when the practitioner was walking by a gate and noticed the barely visible writing of a school name. She hesitated, as it was a Sunday, and was just walking about and exploring the town. She was thus totally unprepared and did not have the usual presentation of appreciation letters, photos, newspaper articles, and such. She thought, “one can always try, and there's nothing to be lost,” and decided to enter.

The director of the school, who had never heard about Falun Dafa, and had only then received a flyer, immediately agreed to host a presentation at his school. His school will therefore always be remembered as the first school in Arunachal Pradesh to welcome the Falun Dafa exercises.

Children and teachers at a school in Northeast India learn the Falun Dafa exercises during a presentation about the teachings of Falun Dafa.

Elementary school children and their teachers learn the Falun Dafa exercises.

Students learn a Falun Dafa exercise.

Students learn the first exercise.

Children doing the fifth Falun Dafa exercise.

A girl meditates quietly for a long time, while her fellow students wait for the Falun Dafa presentation to be given at their school in Arunachal Pradesh, India.

The director later wrote in a letter of appreciation, “There was tremendous response from the students in particular. The teachers and others present were also equally interested.”

One Event Leads to the Next

Right after presenting two sessions at the school, each of which lasted several hours, the director personally drove the practitioner to another school, where another session was arranged and given. That principal gave the practitioner the name of another director, at whose youth center yet another session was held. Again this director gave her the name of yet another school (and other valuable contacts), where a whole-day program was conducted.

The practitioner visited a school for the visually and hearing impaired, where she taught the Falun Dafa exercises on three different days. The children were absolutely amazing. The blind listened attentively to the music, and others helped them with the exercise movements; the deaf children concentrated extraordinarily well on the exercises.

In Northeast India, students at a school for visually and hearing impaired children learn the Falun Standing Stance.

Students learn the Falun Dafa meditation exercise.

The school’s principal wrote in appreciation, “The students greatly benefited in cultivation of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance and developed self-confidence, morality, and spiritual awareness.”

At the second visit, the school organized an impromptu cultural program with several blind children playing instruments and singing, and three deaf girls dancing. During the third visit, two blind boys repeatedly listened to the song “Falun Dafa Hao” (Falun Dafa is Good) and expressed a keen interest in learning it.

Another amazing occurrence during the visit was that several directors proactively provided contact information for other principals/directors and other people to meet. Three of them repeatedly offered to provide more contacts.

Four different people invited the practitioner to stay at their school or center instead of spending money on accommodations and transportation.

All of these people came from different parts of India, including Arunachal Pradesh, other Northeastern states, and even far away places such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, other teachers, as well as doctors, librarians, and lawyers, showed the same willingness to help and often invited the practitioner to return to their schools.

Newspaper Articles

A welfare association that runs schools, an orphanage, a women's helpline (WHL), and other services published two short newspaper articles titled “Falun Dafa for world peace” and “WHL organizes Falun Dafa for survivors of violence.” The practitioner visited the school and orphanage twice, where the children came from remote areas and poor backgrounds. At the end of the second visit, nearly 150 children, the greatest number ever, watched the Tian Guo Marching Band on a small tablet screen. They were totally mesmerized, and clapped enthusiastically, and were interested in learning the song “Falun Dafa Hao.”

Children learn the fifth Falun Dafa exercise. 

Girls at an orphanage in Arunachal Pradesh practice the Falun Dafa sitting meditation.

At a school and orphanage run by a welfare association, nearly 150 children watch the Tian Guo Marching Band on a small tablet screen.

Most of the children, teachers, and many others were very touched by Falun Dafa and concerned about the persecution of the practice in China. They expressed their deep gratitude to the practitioner for visiting this remote state and asked many questions.

From the very start and throughout the stay, people from various parts of Arunachal invited the practitioner to visit their respective areas, offered to help organize events, and provided contact information and other forms of support. They also asked for more Falun Dafa and truth-clarification materials to distribute back home in these areas.

Several articles appeared in local newspapers. One published a very long article about Falun Dafa and a color photo of a practitioner in India.

When the practitioner was returning from a nearby town, a man gave her a lift in his car to Itanagar. He apologized that he had to stop at a school on the way back to meet a relative's child there. This was, of course, not truly “accidental.” The practitioner met the principal and director of this school, who both agreed to host a day-long program at the school the following day.

Many other wondrous occurrences have taken place over the past years, especially when practitioners visit new areas for the first time. The only difference this time was that they were so constant and seemingly never-ending.

These are just a few instances, but many more accounts of miraculous events could be given.

Many Dafa and truth-clarifying materials, such as books, magazines, and DVDs, were given to three libraries and also to doctors, lawyers, politicians, and many others, who were pleased to accept them and often expressed deep interest, much concern, and shock about the persecution, especially about the Chinese regime's organ harvesting from living prisoners of conscience in China.

They were astonished that they had never heard of or read about Falun Dafa and the severe human rights violations happening in China. Most of them took these materials out of their own initiative to distribute to others in their respective fields. They also offered to help organize future Falun Dafa events.

Of course, flyers, bookmarks, printouts, etc. were given to school principals and teachers, as well as to many students.

To nearly all of the above people, except the students, the five-minute film “China-20th of July 1999.” The video was produced by Indian practitioners in Bangalore four years ago and continues to move its audiences. It is indeed true that this short film, in the form of a song, “says more than a thousand words.”

Usually, in all schools a short introduction to Falun Dafa is given first, followed by teaching the five Falun Dafa exercises. At the end of each session, the students are taught the phrases “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good” and “Falun Dafa is good.” The students are also shown posters describing the persecution in China.


Through prints of paintings from The Art of Zhen-Shan-Ren International Exhibition, students in Arunachal Pradesh learn how practitioners of Falun Dafa, and even their children, are persecuted in present-day China.

Children look at posters of paintings from The Art of Zhen-Shan-Ren International Exhibition, including “Why?” “Come Back Daddy,” “Homeless,” and “Unmovable.”

Yet, there is no set way to go about introducing Dafa at any school. The presentations depend on the time given, the students' interest, and many other factors. Practitioner(s) need to keep in mind and heart the wish to give Falun Dafa to all those present, being fully aware of this rare opportunity and very precious moment to be there with all the children and teachers, which might well be the only time in their lives.

Another appreciation letter reads, “In a world torn apart by arms-supremacy and hatred, [name of the practitioner] and Falun Dafa act as angels of Peace and Love, and the Falun Dafa message helps bring out the best in every child. Through her message to the youth about human rights violations in China, the young participants of the training have come to appreciate better freedom and democratic principles that bind the Indian society.”

Returning Home

While waiting at the only train station in Arunachal Pradesh on the last evening, yet more remarkable events unfolded.

First, when a person waiting there received a Falun Dafa flyer, he said that he had read a newspaper article about Falun Dafa and was very interested and happy to meet the practitioner.

The practitioner also ran into the young woman who had written the two articles about the event at the WHL. The reporter was surprised to meet the practitioner again. This time, she was accompanied by many relatives to see her off, so they were all introduced to Falun Dafa.

Someone who had just attended a music festival recognized the practitioner from an earlier encounter and expressed interest in learning the exercises. He was shocked upon learning about the horror of live organ harvesting in China.

The return journey took more than fifty hours due to a train being delayed just a few hours away from home. This was the longest train journey ever in this practitioner's 26 years in India, but it was also the most miraculous.

Remembering and thinking about Arunachal Pradesh, the practitioner is very grateful for all the arrangements, constant care, and guidance provided by Master, having been able to go there to fulfill her promise to do so, regardless of any obstacles, hardships, and distractions.

The practitioner also wishes to express deep thanks to the many “helping hands” and hopes that, in the future, Falun Dafa may have seeds, roots, blossoms, and various beautiful flowers in this area and other Northeastern states of India.

Six children at a school for visually and hearing impaired school watch and listen to the recordings of the Tian Guo Marching Band playing “Falun Dafa Hao.”