(Minghui.org) The first group of Falun Dafa practitioners in the Atlanta area regularly did the exercises together in Jones Bridge Park in 1997. Twenty-four years later, local practitioners decided to celebrate the upcoming World Falun Dafa Day near the Chattahoochee River in the park on May 1, 2021. In order to reflect the practitioners’ ethnic diversity, the celebration was carried out in Chinese, English, and Vietnamese. 

On May 1, 2021, practitioners in Georgia held a day-long celebration for World Falun Dafa Day in Jones Bridge Park. 

Three hosts conducted the celebration in three languages: Chinese, English, and Vietnamese. 

Practitioners meditate near the Chattahoochee River in Jones Bridge Park during events to celebrate Falun Dafa Day. 

After the hosts read the opening speech in three languages, practitioners recited several poems from Hong Yin written by the founder of the practice Mr. Li Hongzhi. Among them was “A Clear Heart,” which Mr. Li wrote on October 16, 1996, while he was in Atlanta. 

Several practitioners gave musical performances on the erhu, flute, violin, and an electronic organ. They also performed two songs, “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Coming for You.” Afterwards, all the practitioners sang songs to express their gratitude to Mr. Li and Falun Dafa. 

Practitioners played the erhu, flute, violin, and an electronic organ. They also performed, “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Coming for You.”

Practitioners reflected on the positive changes they’ve experienced after taking up the practice of Falun Dafa. 

Positive and Uplifting Experiences

Mr. Scott Roberson, a computer programmer, began practicing in 1999. He said he applies Falun Dafa’s principles, Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, in his daily life and he enjoys good health both physically and mentally. By following Falun Dafa’s teachings, he said he’s able to face troubles and frustrations, and added, “Practicing Falun Dafa comforts my soul.” 

Scott Roberson said that practicing Falun Dafa comforts his soul. 

Mr. Michael Mai owns a printing company. He heard about Falun Dafa through another Vietnamese practitioner and he started practicing in 2019. Before he practiced Falun Dafa, he coughed every winter. After he began practicing Dafa, the coughing stopped. 

Mr. Mai said that at first he focused on doing the exercises but he later realized the importance of studying the teachings. As soon as he read Zhuan Falun he felt like his brain opened up and the many questions he had were answered. His strained relationship with his wife improved each day. He realized that what he did and said was wrong when he interacted with her. 

Mr. Mai said that he feels Zhuan Falun is a guide given to him by Master Li. Everything, including his relationship with his business partners, employees, and customers, is great if he follows the principles in the book. 

Mr. Michael Mai said his relationship with his wife improved after he began practicing Falun Dafa. 

The first time Ms. Erin Gibson heard about Falun Dafa was through a friend who highly recommended the practice. The friend said, “Read Zhuan Falun with me.” She finally made up her mind and decided to practice Falun Dafa. Shortly afterwards she was able to give up smoking, drinking, and taking the antidepressants that she’d depended on for years. 

During a recent experience sharing conference, Ms. Gibson said that she was born with a thyroid defect and relied on medication since childhood. The second day of the conference, she said she somehow knew that she didn’t need the medicine anymore. She stopped taking it and was fine—something she never imagined could happen. She thanked local practitioners for their care and encouragement. 

Ms. Erin Gibson said practicing Falun Dafa helped resolve her thyroid defect. 

Mr. Zhi Yushan learned about Falun Dafa in China in 1995. He immigrated to the U.S. in 2001 and worked as an aerospace engineer. 

Mr. Zhi said that the educational system in China taught him atheism. He was taught that there was no point or purpose to life and that people just died. Searching for answers, he turned to ancient stories and intuitively felt that the depictions of divine beings were true. He was never able to confirm the stories until he met a Falun Dafa practitioner at the Harbin Institute of Technology. The practitioner worked in the same laboratory with him and was gentle and kind, which impressed him. One day they chatted and the practitioner told him about Falun Dafa. 

Mr. Zhi said the greatest change practicing Falun Dafa brought him was understanding why he was alive. After he knew the purpose of life, nothing bothered him. He knew that there was a reason why things happen. He had a clear goal and felt happy. He guided himself with the principles of Falun Dafa and knew that he’d never go astray. 

Mr. Zhi Yushan said that Falun Dafa answered the most important questions in his life and showed him the meaning of life.