(Clearwisdom.net) At noon on May 12, 2007, Falun Gong practitioners gathered in a park in Flushing, New York to do the exercises together, solemnly recall Master's grace, and celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction.
More than one hundred Falun Gong practitioners wearing yellow T-shirts bearing the words, "Falun Dafa," or in exercise costumes or casual attire, stood on the lawn doing the five sets of exercises to the music. The scene was peaceful and harmonious. In the background was a large banner reading "Falun Dafa," and on both sides of the banner were vertical banners in both Chinese and English, reading, "May 13-World Falun Dafa Day." Banners reading "Falun Dafa Is Good," "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," "Falun Dafa Free Instruction," and "Falun Dafa Is Widespread Around the World" in both Chinese and English were hung on both sides of the park.
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Among the practitioners were people from various social strata, including accomplished doctoral degree holders, a Wall Street manager, homemakers, people in their seventies, students and children.
Ms. Wang is a Falun Gong practitioner. She came to the US in 1992 and now works at New York University. Speaking of Falun Gong, her husband said that he did not oppose his wife practicing Falun Gong. Falun Gong is very good, and conducive to people's physical health, and the upgrading of moral quality of the entire nation. Mr. Wang sometimes complained that Ms. Wang spent much time clarifying the facts about the persecution of Falun Gong, because she had less time for looking after their grandchildren. Mr. Wang understands and supports his wife clarifying the facts on the Internet, because it is of great significance, and many people can learn the facts through the Internet.
Ms. Xu came to New York in September 1997 to work on her doctoral degree. Her classmate introduced her to the book Zhuan Falun one month later. She felt that the book especially good, and she began practicing Falun Dafa immediately. She also introduced the book to her family and her husband, and her husband also began the path of Dafa cultivation. The couple practices Falun Gong together, and their family is naturally happy and harmonious.
Practitioners follow the principles of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" at all times. When encountering different opinions, they look within first to find where they fall short, and think of others first in doing all things. They become even more considerate of others after practicing Falun Gong.
A Wall Street Western manager, Liva, has a successful career and a happy family. He also came with his wife and two children to join in the group practice. He got to know Falun Gong in 1999, as it was introduced by a colleague at his office. Now together with several of his colleagues, they do the exercises outside his office. It is very meaningful to do the Falun Gong exercises on Wall Street, the world's financial center. Under stress, many things in life lose balance. If he makes decisions under the circumstances where he is under pressure every day, either to the company or to himself, they may not be good decisions. Falun Gong helps him to maintain a steady state of mind, he treats others kindly, and this will be very beneficial to the company and himself.
Lisa, who is from Russia, began practicing Falun Gong in 1998. She said, "When I was taking a walk in a park, I saw some people practicing qigong. The music was very peaceful and harmonious. I asked them what they were practicing. They were very kind, and told me that they could teach me free of charge. Later, a Russian-speaking practitioner gave me the book Zhuan Falun in Russian, from which I understood many questions that had puzzled me before. For example, why did I come into this world? All of these questions were answered after reading the book. Practicing Falun Gong makes me more peaceful, kinder and more considerate of others. Later, my younger sister also began practicing, and then my mother followed, because they saw changes in me. In 1999 when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started persecuting Falun Gong, I was shocked. I myself and my family have benefited from practicing Falun Gong. I came from Russia, and I'm clear about totalitarian communism. They always wanted to control society. Russia was a huge prison before."
Victor, who engaged in legal affairs before and is now in the real estate industry in New York, began practicing Falun Gong in 2005. He had practiced Tai chi before, and read books about Buddhism, trying to find answers to some questions. A friend introduced him to a Falun Gong practitioner. The practitioner told him to find Falun Gong books on the Internet. He then downloaded the Dafa books for free, and began practicing Falun Gong. He said that China's 5,000 years of ancient culture is based on thoughts from the Buddha School, Dao School and Confucianism, but not at all the Communist Party doctrines. Victor said that the Communist Party is disintegrating from within, and that Chinese people should be quick to quit the CCP.
Ms. Liu, who works in blood center in New York, began practicing Falun Gong after the CCP started the persecution of Falun Gong. She came with her two-year-old son to participate in the group practice. She said, "I began practicing Falun Gong in 2000. When my boss told me that the CCP suppressed a big cultivation group in China, I did not pay much attention to it. At that time, my health was poor and I often asked for leave. I was unable to complete my work, and my life was also affected. Introduced by my friend, I wanted to try practicing Falun Gong. Unexpectedly, my illnesses disappeared soon, and I became a changed person. After reading the Dafa books, I felt another realm of life opened up for me. Over these past years, I have been practicing without stop, I'm very pleased that as a scientific worker, I do not feel any obstacles to my cultivation. One or two sentences in Dafa can open up one's wisdom, and is able to penetrate into the essential things. It is a principle at higher levels."
Qi Li, who grew up in Taiwan and came to the US from Malaysia, began practicing Falun Gong in September 2005. Qi Li is now in the second year of high school. Speaking of physical and mental changes after practicing Falun Gong, Qi Li said, "My mother began practicing Falun Gong in 2003. When I saw the so-called 'self-immolation' incident, at that time, I had a misunderstanding of Falun Gong, and neither did I treat my mother kindly. But my mother always clarified the facts to me peacefully, and treated me with 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.' I gradually understood and began practicing in 2005."
Elizabeth from Connecticut studies at Brown University. A good friend introduced her to Falun Gong. She said that she had been thinking of finding a peaceful practice, but she found it difficult to find anything meaningful. After her friend's introduction, she spent eight months gradually understanding what Falun Gong is and then began reading Dafa books. Hence she took the path of cultivation.
More than twenty people came to learn the practice of Falun Gong exercises. They learned attentively. Some people could feel the rotating Falun while doing the holding wheel movements. They listened carefully to practitioners' explanations, and also learned the facts about the Falun Gong persecution. Some people wrote down their names to ask for help quiting all the CCP related organizations. They said they would tell the facts about Falun Gong to their families and friends and advise them to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. A young man told practitioners that he followed Teacher Li's instruction video on the Internet to learn the exercises. After the exercises, his back felt relaxed and warm. He felt sorry for [people] not being able to practice [Falun Gong] in China.
The coordinator of the activity, Yi Rong, said that Falun Dafa has touched people's hearts. More and more people expressed their support for Dafa. Today, so many people came especially to learn to practice Falun Gong, learn the facts about Falun Gong and actively quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations. We are sincerely pleased for these people who have learned about the facts and made their own choice for a wonderful future.
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