(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners from Germany and Austria wished Master happy Chinese New Year and expressed their utmost respect and gratitude. They also reflected on their cultivation journeys.

Grateful to Master for Introducing Such an Amazing Practice

Nina from Germany thanks Master for introducing Falun Dafa.

Nina from Germany began practicing Falun Dafa in 1998 and said, “I thank Master for teaching such an amazing practice. In the past over two decades of my cultivation journey, whenever I ran into problems, Dafa always provided me with guidance and power. I know Master is with me, protecting me. I also learned to let things take their course and I let go of many attachments. I found all the answers to life in Falun Dafa’s books.”

Recalling how she started to practice, Nina said she had searched for something since she was young. She tried various practices, “but I never found the answers I was looking for.” One day, a Chinese woman suggested she read Falun Dafa’s main book Zhuan Falun.

“In the beginning, it took me a long time to finish reading the book,” Nina said. “I knew nothing about qigong, but what caught my attention was the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, I should become a good person.

“I was uncertain because many people say we should be good people but will this truly work?”

Nina began practicing at home, “I continued to read the book and the other books. Soon, I realized it was an excellent book.”

Improved Health and Family Relationships

Nina used to suffer from many health problems, “I had severe allergies and psoriasis. I could not work or study normally. After I began practicing Falun Dafa, nearly all these symptoms disappeared.”

Her character improved tremendously as well. In the past, she had many conflicts with family members and often had arguments with her father. She was sensitive, depressed and negative. Her father was temperamental and the relationship between them was tense. “I learned to be tolerant and think of others. This truly helped me and gave me strength to persist amid hardships.”

She moved back home. Her mother, young sister and brother began to practice Falun Dafa and her relationships with her family improved. “I don’t know what would happen to us if it weren’t for Dafa, I cannot imagine.

“Words cannot describe how grateful I am to Master. Whenever I ran into difficulties, I would think, oh my god, thank goodness Master taught us Dafa. I do the exercises and study the teachings every day, I cannot imagine life without Dafa.”

Going to Tiananmen Square to Tell the World Falun Dafa Is Great

Nina was a university student when she began to practice Dafa. Soon after, the persecution in China began. She said, “Practitioners in China are so remarkable, they bravely hold onto their conviction amid the persecution and go out to tell people Falun Dafa is great. I thought I should go to China because I am grateful to Master. Dafa is magnificent and gave me so much.”

Together with over 30 Western practitioners, she went to Tiananmen Square and held a banner with the words Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance to tell people in China, “The whole world knows Falun Dafa is good.” She recalled, “The environment there was terrible. There was surveillance and policemen everywhere, it was unlike the free environment in Western society.”

Nina wants to tell Chinese people who still believe the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) propaganda and have negative opinions of Dafa, “Falun Dafa is amazing, there are now many ways to find out the truth, you must see it for yourself. The nature of the CCP is to be evil. I have many friends in China who are persecuted, and worse, tortured to death. Only bad people would do such things.

“If you look at the facts, you will know what is right and wrong.” She believes things will get better, “Because Falun Dafa is so well known overseas, I think you should not be so scared.” She invites Chinese citizens: “Please think about it because this is the moment for you to make a choice: Are you on the side of justice and a good future? Or will you follow the CCP? You are responsible for everything you do.”

I Am Grateful to Master for the Opportunity to Practice Dafa

Julia from Austria thanks Master for the opportunity to practice cultivation.

Julia, a music teacher in Austria, said, “I thank Master for giving me this precious opportunity. When I think of how people are suffering in the world yet they don’t know the cause of their hardships, but we (Falun Dafa practitioners) know why things happen, therefore I am very grateful to Master for the opportunity to practice cultivation. I hope that I cultivate well.”

When she performed with another musician in 2009, Julia thought, “Why is he different from others? He’s always so positive, balanced and radiant. What does he do to be like that?”

She asked him, “Why are you always so happy?” He explained that he practiced Falun Dafa. Julia immediately thought, “I’d like to practice cultivation too.

“He then taught me the exercises and gave me the book Zhuan Falun. Everything happened naturally.”

Finding Peace and Tranquility

Julia experienced great changes physically and mentally after she began practicing Falun Dafa. She used to have severe insomnia and often stayed awake for several hours after waking up in the middle of the night. “I was exhausted. Now I sleep like a baby, the quality of my sleep is excellent. I became peaceful and tranquil.”

Julia was still studying music when she started to practice cultivation. “Piano was my major and I was struggling with it. I was under a lot of pressure when there was a concert. I was often nervous and the results were not great.”

After she practiced Falun Dafa for several months, Julia dramatically improved, “My piano teacher asked me, what are you doing? How did you become so relax and play so well all of a sudden? Did you spend more time practicing?” I said no, it’s because I started to practice Falun Dafa.

“Practicing Falun Dafa had a positive influence on my art and studies, life suddenly became easier,” she said.

Her family also noticed her changes and said she became more positive. “Many coworkers asked me, it is not easy to teach students, how come you are always so calm and steady? In fact, everyone says I am an easygoing teacher. Of course this is due to practicing Dafa.”

Julia said, “I hope all Chinese citizens can realize the truth about Dafa. I hope they can find their true selves.”