(Minghui.org) Zhuan Falun, the main teachings of Falun Dafa, was first published in 1995. Since then, the book has been embraced in over 100 countries, guiding about 100 million Falun Dafa practitioners around the world with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to improve their character. Turkey, a nation at the historical crossroads of Europe and Asia, is one of these countries.
Falun Dafa practitioners participate in a cultural festival parade organized by the Eregli Municipality in Zonguldak.
Falun Dafa practitioners participate in the Adana Orange Blossom Festival parade.
The True Purpose of Life
Atifet is a former nurse and has practiced Falun Dafa for 10 years. She was first introduced to Falun Dafa during a meditation session held at a family club. She was interested in searching for the meaning of life, so she attended the session and was amazed by the feeling when she did the exercises. “I received a copy of Zhuan Falun, but I did not know I needed to read the book from cover to cover,” she recalled.
A new practitioner might find many new concepts in Zhuan Falun. Veteran practitioners often tell new learners to read the entire book without taking any long breaks the first time they read it. But Atifet found it hard to continue, “Although the book was on my bedside for three years, I could not even finish the second lecture because I kept going back to the beginning to understand the content,” she said.
During that time, Atifet had troubles in her personal life, which motivated her to give Zhuan Falun another look. “I took my annual leave and went to another city to be with my daughter. I read many books while I was there. Finally, one day, I picked up Zhuan Falun. I finished the book in three days with great excitement,” she recalled. “Before that I hadn’t been able to finish the book in three years.”
“When I finished reading the book my heart was just like many other practitioners described—I was filled with joy and amazement. I realized I found what I was looking for: a true teaching. All my questions were answered and the longing within me was fulfilled. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t read the book earlier,” added Atifet.
Like many other people who came into Falun Dafa, Atifet searched for the meaning of her life since she was young. “I looked everywhere but I couldn’t find what I was looking for. Something was missing in my life, which made me unhappy,” she said. “Reading Zhuan Falun gave me inner peace and true happiness.
“I’m a different person now. I read Zhuan Falun every day while following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” Atifet said. “My endurance increased. My ailments such as allergic rhinitis, chronic pharyngitis, varicose vein pain, and high blood pressure disappeared. I’m fit and healthy and the quality of my life improved. I don’t get tired no matter what I do.”
More importantly, she also became more mentally resilient and able to cope with stress. “I realized it was my attachments that made me afraid and anxious,” she said.
A Deeper Understanding of Art
Sendag is a piano teacher who enjoys classical music. As a musician, she always searched for a higher truth through her art. She felt the world was confusing, and it was difficult to tell what was right from wrong. After she read Zhuan Falun and started practicing Falun Dafa, Sendag felt as if a new world opened up.
“The moment I came to know Falun Dafa, all the illusions in life disappeared. I realized that many things exist to deceive people,” she said. “I now feel deep compassion for all beings.”
Piano teacher Sendag
From Zhuan Falun, Sendag also found a new understand of the divine and this helped her to look at art through a new lens. “With Dafa, I could understand how profound and precious art is. When I listen to a pianist who performs classical music well, even the pianist disappears. Everything vanishes and only purity remains – the texture of angels and gods can be heard,” she continued.
Sendag noticed the art performed by Falun Dafa practitioners in Shen Yun also carries this purity. Through cultivating themselves according to Falun Dafa, they are able to deliver an uplifting message to the audience.
“Art is like the language of the gods manifesting themselves in the human world. Shen Yun is the pinnacle of art. For mature artists who know the traditional culture, I think they will support and understand Shen Yun even without seeing it,” Sendag said.
To her, the book of Zhuan Falun is a symbol of purity in the chaotic world. “When I hold Zhuan Falun, I feel safe. It makes me brave and purifies me from the corrupt environment. When I read, pure energy flows into me,” said Sendag. “It wakes me up, calms me down, makes me always gentle, and gives me strength.”
Quitting Bad Habits
Ayman (pseudonym) is an Arabic practitioner in his 30s who was introduced to Falun Dafa a little over three years ago. As he grew into adulthood, he began to experience anxiety and lacked a clear direction in life.
However, after he began reading Zhuan Falun, he found answers to many of the deep questions he had in his life. He said the book, “contains boundless and profound meanings of principles in the universe, life and the cosmos.”
This motivated him to live life more purposefully. “By practicing more, adhering to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and reading Zhuan Falun, I have become a better person, regained my health, and performed my work better. As a result I am able to serve people and society in a better way,” he explained.
In the mean time, Ayman found himself moving in a more positive direction overall, in both body and mind. He said that he’s experienced, “Recovery from diseases, quitting smoking and drinking alcohol, increased energy levels, improved sleep, getting rid of existential anxiety and fear as well as worry about the future, and finding balance, meaning and purpose in my life.”
A Gift to Humanity
Since childhood, Hura (pseudonym) was a person who questioned many things about life. She wanted to find out why she existed, so she researched the teachings of different beliefs and cultures. However, nothing seemed to answer her questions.
When working at the headquarters of a bank in 2003, Hura came across Falun Dafa. Although she traveled frequently, she made time to learn the exercises and read Zhuan Falun.
“When I started reading the book, I could not hold back my tears. From that moment, I began to feel a great compassionate energy. Every word written in Zhuan Falun penetrated into my being and enlightened my daily life. When I finished the book, I was sure with all my heart that I found what I was looking for,” she said.
When she did the Falun Dafa exercises, Hura felt like she was “connected to every corner of the universe by a very powerful energy.” After she began practicing she’s diligently improved her character according to the teachings and she’s worked on being more compassionate to others.
“When I first heard about the persecution of Falun Dafa by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), I thought the regime made a deal with the devil – who else could be against the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance?” said Hura. “My life has changed because of my belief in Falun Dafa and the compassion of Master Li, founder of Falun Dafa. Zhuan Falun is a great gift to humanity.”
“Zhuan Falun Nurtures My Mind and Body”
Hatice first heard about Falun Dafa in 2012, when she attended an instructional session on Falun Dafa in a shopping mall. Impressed by the exercises, she decided to continue practicing.
Hatice heard practitioners mention Zhuan Falun. “I felt very excited, as if I’d been waiting for this. So I bought a book and started reading it. When I first read the book, I realized that the teachings were very good,” she recalled. “When I read a second time, I became a little more enlightened and I felt better. This was very different for me. After reading Zhuan Falun a third time, I said to myself, ‘Okay, this is what I’m looking for.’ I was excited, and I really wanted to read it again and again.”
Hatice reads Zhuan Falun with her granddaughter.
At that time, Hatice had been going through some struggles. She had constant arm pain and difficulty breathing, and her doctor told her to have surgery to avoid further complications. However, as she continued doing the Falun Dafa exercises, her symptoms gradually disappeared. The pain in her arms disappeared completely, and she could breathe normally. “I was excited to be able to breathe easily, I thought it was a miracle,” she explained.
Hatice said that Zhuan Falun brought her out of a time in her life when she was feeling stuck. “I was in a bad period spiritually, and I could not see any light. After reading the book, I realized that it was my light,” said Hatice.
The Guide for Life
Like many other practitioners, Derrin also searched for answers in life since she was young. “I always dreamed someone would knock on my door, because I thought I would meet an enlightened old person,” she recalled.
But as she got older, got married, and had children, Derrin became busy and lost hope in finding any kind of enlightenment or higher direction in her life. “Then Falun Dafa found me at the right time. When I went to the practice site for the first time, I realized this is what I’d been waiting for—the knock on my door was Falun Dafa. This would become my true path,” said Derrin.
Derrin practices the Falun Dafa exercises.
She believes Zhuan Falun played a pivotal role in her spiritual journey, helping her understand the reasons behind the good and bad things she’s experienced in life.
“Zhuan Falun became my life’s guide, very different from all the books I ever read. The book taught us that, no matter what we experience, we should look within ourselves, cultivate our hearts, always think of others before ourselves and not go with the tide of this collapsed morality – in fact, we should go the opposite way,” she added.
Through Zhuan Falun, Derrin was able to overcome her fear of speaking up so now she can tell other people about Falun Dafa. Now in her 40s, she is able to become a better person on a daily basis.
“My gratitude to Master Li for giving me a new life is beyond words,” Derrin explained. “Zhuan Falun is a priceless treasure.”
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