(Minghui.org) May 13, 2013 was the 21st anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa. It was also the 14th World Falun Dafa Day and the 62nd birthday of Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa. Dafa practitioners in Singapore gathered at Hong Lim Park to celebrate this meaningful day.
Practitioners in Singapore celebrate the 14th World Falun Dafa Day and Mr. Li Hongzhi's 62nd birthday
The Singapore Falun Dafa Divine Land Marching Band performs at the celebration.
Passersby learn about Falun Dafa.
Passersby are drawn to the celebration and take pictures.
The afternoon was sunny and breezy. Practitioners displayed many banners and large models of the book Zhuan Falun. Members of the Falun Dafa Divine Marching Band dressed in costumes from the great Tang Dynasty performed majestic music. The music was inspiring and energetic. Other practitioners demonstrated the five peaceful Falun Gong exercises, and distributed informational flyers as well as beautiful handmade paper lotus to passersby. The practitioners also talked about their experiences with practicing Falun Gong.
Recalling Master's Lectures
Dafa practitioner Ms. Li, 80 years old, has been in the practice for 20 years. She talked about her experience in China of attending Mr. Li's lectures in September 1993. Mr. Li charged the lowest fees possible, 50 yuan (US$ 8) for ten three-hour classes. For those who could not afford it, he gave the money back to them. She also remembered that Mr. Li was always there five minutes before the class. After the classes were over, Mr. Li patiently took pictures with the practitioners who requested it. “He was so friendly and easygoing,” recalled Ms. Li.
Ms. Li looks like she is in her 60s. “When I was in my 40s, I had so many physical problems that I felt that I'd be better off dead. I had a heart problem because of the tremendous pressure I suffered when the Chinese Communist regime arrested and detained my husband during the Cultural Revolution. I also had emphysema and I could not breathe when the air pressure was low. The pain from osteoporosis was killing me, plus I had pain from headache and a frozen shoulder,” recalled Ms. Li as she raised her arms, smiling. “I experienced what it feels like to be illness-free after I practiced Falun Dafa. I did the exercises every morning and studied the teachings. A practice so wonderful as this is one I want to tell everyone about.”
Ms. Li also told a story about a relative of hers. “She was a frequent visitor of hospitals. She could pass out any time. One day she came to my house with so many bottles of medicines. My children complained that I shouldn't have let her come, worrying that she might die in our house and we'd be to blame. The next day, two people carried her into the lecture hall where Master Li was teaching. The next day, she refused to take her medicines. After the ten-day class, she was able to go hiking and do the exercises. Everyone who knew her was in disbelief. Over 100 people decided to practice Falun Dafa because of her. Falun Dafa was spread in China by word of mouth. The persecution was such an unwise decision.”
Won't Miss the Opportunity to Cultivate Again
Mr. Jiang is from Malaysia. He read Zhuan Falun once in 1998 but did not become a practitioner. In the past fifteen years, he somehow felt that something was missing in his life. He read many religious books but none gave him the answers he wanted. Recently he began to read Zhuan Falun again. He said, “The book talks about things I have never heard before. Other people can write books out of the very little knowledge they have, but Mr. Li compiled so many things in one book. This book is a system of great things. I am going to quickly pick up the practice from now on.”
Dafa Brings Blessings to Society
Ms. Huang is in the marketing business. “People nowadays are too materialistic. I used to care very much about fame and self-interest, and has very strong attachments to various desires. I was bitter and tired. Falun Dafa made me understand that I needed to return to my true self. Now I am happy and relaxed. I am able to think of others sincerely and befriend others. I work hard and am responsible. My boss and coworkers trust and like me.”
Ms. Liu, 73 years old, has been a practitioner for 17 years. She's a full-time nurse and works five and a half day a week. “I work hard and am efficient. The doctors trust me and won't let me retire. Most people come to work at 8:00 a.m. but I am always there at 7:00 a.m. so I can get the preparatory work done. In fact, I am very busy at work. I walk faster than the young people and I always have a smile. Many of my patients told me that I am the only one who smiles there,” she said. Ms. Liu is very grateful to Mr. Li Hongzhi. She explained, “The practice keeps me healthy and energetic. At work, I help more people understand how great Falun Dafa is.”
A Predestined Young Man
Tom is a 26-year-old student from Czech Republic. He learned about Falun Dafa from other students. He has a great interest in meditation and hence came to the celebration. He took a lot of pictures and asked a lot of questions. Falun Dafa gave him a feeling of tradition, auspiciousness, and peace, he said. He asked how he could find practitioners in Czech.
Tom expressed that he felt sorry for the practitioners in China suffering persecution. He learned from previous generations in his home country that in totalitarian countries, most people didn't know that their freedom was deprived and that they were suppressed, until after they gained freedom. He believed that it was the same for people in China, that most people did not know the truth.
Becoming Aware of the Truth
Several people from China observed the celebration and declared that they quit the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliates. They said that it was their first time to see such a grand activity by Falun Dafa practitioners. One of the young men said, “I never believed that news that Falun Gong practitioners set themselves on fire on Tiananmen Square. The minute I saw it, I knew it was fake news again.” Another man said, “The Chinese Communist Party has not done a good thing [in persecuting Falun Gong].”
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