(Minghui.org) There are many ways for youths to engage in meaningful and productive activities. For several Taiwan college students, their choice was going to Hong Kong to inform Chinese tourists about the facts of Falun Gong, a peaceful meditation that has been banned and defamed in China for 17 years.
Nolan Kao, a graduate student from National Cheng Kung University, and Terry Cho, a student from National Taiwan Normal University, went to Hong Kong last summer with five other college students. During their visit, they distributed Falun Gong materials to passersby and debunked hate propaganda from the Chinese communist regime.
Upon returning, Nolan and others produced a documentary based on their trip, entitled, Courage on the Front Line: Our Experience in Hong Kong. (In Chinese with English subtitles.) The film received much positive feedback at National Cheng Kung University and was selected as one of the top five finalists in the Golden Film Awards for Education this past March.
“Courage on the Front Line: Our Experience in Hong Kong,” a documentary by Nolan Kao (left) and Terry Cho (right), was selected as one of the top five finalists in the Golden Film Awards for Education.
The documentary was highly praised, being one of 129 films submitted to the contest hosted by the Ministry of Education. One review committee member told Nolan that his submission was unique, saying, “Other candidates chose topics based on their interests, while you are doing it based on your faith. You have a clear goal, and you have put your entire heart in it.”
An Honorable Motive
In his freshman year, Nolan lacerated a ligament in his hand during a football game. In pain at home, he remembered a book that his mother recommended to him several years prior—Zhuan Falun, the main teachings of Falun Gong.
Nolan enjoyed reading the book and began to do the exercises. In August 2012, he participated in the 13th Taiwan Young Practitioners' Experience Sharing Camp at National Tsing Hua University.
After gaining a better understanding of Falun Gong's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and how to apply them in everyday society, he improved in the practice and started to hold events on campus to tell more people about the meditation.
Upon hearing that the Ministry of Education was beginning the internationalization of colleges, Nolan submitted a proposal to the school officials with a plan for traveling to Hong Kong to inform people about the meditation practice as well as the ongoing human rights violations in China. The school approved a grant of 8000 Taiwan dollars (about US $250) for the project with the expectation that he could produce a video of the experience.
With help from family members, Nolan purchased equipment and learned to shoot videos. Several friends also agreed to go with him.
Distributing materials to Chinese tourists.
“Join the Chinese Communists? No Way!”
As a result of propaganda from the Chinese communist regime, many tourists assume practitioners are paid to tell others about Falun Gong. “How much do you make by working like this?” one of them asked.
“Not a penny,” replied Nolan. “I have benefited physically and mentally from Falun Gong, and I just want to tell others about it. We are all volunteers.” The tourist chatted with him and thanked him for his efforts.
A middle-aged man once came up to read the posters displayed by practitioners. His wife wanted to stop him, but he continued, “The materials make a lot of sense.” In the end, he chatted with Nolan and said he had renounced his membership in the communist organizations. “The Party is corrupt and it lies all the time. Join the Chinese communists? No Way!”
A Voice from the Heart
Jacky Chen, a graduate student from National Formosa University, heard about Falun Gong from his parents. He said the practice makes him more open-minded and willing to take on more challenges.
Jacky Chen and other students from National Formosa University do the sitting meditation.
Early last year, Jacky worked in a machinery plant and made more than 20,000 Taiwan dollars (about US $630). With the money and support from his parents, he also went to Hong Kong and joined Nolan.
“Life here is busy but very meaningful,” explained Jacky. He treats each person with compassion—as he has learned from Falun Gong, and always wants to talk with as many tourists as possible. “They have been brainwashed by the communist regime in China, and I have to tell them the real story of Falun Gong.”
Jacky has encountered deaf and mute tourists several times. After reading the materials, the tourists were very excited and communicated with each other using sign language. One practitioner who understood them told Jacky that they were glad to learn the facts.
Those were some of most memorable times Jacky experienced in Hong Kong, “From the voices from their hearts, I know that what we do here is important.”
