(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Finland gathered on May 3, 2025 near the Kamppi shopping center in the capital city of Helsinki to celebrate the “May 13 World Falun Dafa Day” and commemorate the 33rd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s dissemination throughout the world. Practitioners also took this opportunity to express their most sincere birthday wishes to Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa.
To celebrate this special day, practitioners celebrated by singing, playing music, and demonstrating the Falun Dafa exercises, showcasing the beauty of cultivation to the public and introducing more people to the universal values of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” advocated by Falun Dafa.
The event venue featured an information exhibition decorated with colorful balloons, creating a festive and warm atmosphere. Historical photos were also displayed, allowing passersby to glimpse the popularity of Falun Dafa around the world. The gentle movements and peaceful energy attracted the attention of many, and practitioners encouraged them to learn more about the truth and meaning of Falun Dafa. Many people expressed their support and resonance with Falun Dafa on the spot.
To celebrate this special day, practitioners celebrated by singing, playing music, and demonstrating the exercises.
Slovak Teacher: Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are the Values This World Truly Needs.
Mirka is a teacher living in Slovakia who has come to Finland for a week-long training course. She shared her personal experiences with the participants. In 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell, she was only twelve years old. At that time, she could not attend religious classes because the government did not allow people to receive religious education. Her father had already left the Communist Party, and the Communist Party's influence was beginning to decline at that time. Her father believed in God and remained steadfast in his faith and religious beliefs.
Slovak teacher Mirka (right): Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are the values that the world truly needs.
“In those days, every middle school student was required to join the Communist Party. You had to accept communist ideology, or else you would be persecuted. This is the same as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).” She lived in Dublin, Ireland for ten years, where she encountered Falun Dafa activities on multiple occasions and signed several petitions. She stated, “I know you are supporting human rights, which is a faith-based commitment.”
She said, “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are values that our world truly needs, especially compassion for others and all life. In today's world of fake news ‘Truthfulness’ is particularly important, and ‘Forbearance’ is needed even more as we face various challenges.”
When she mentioned the CCP’s crime of live organ harvesting, she said, “It’s totally beyond my imagination. It’s hard to believe that human beings can be subjected to live organ harvesting, but it’s really happening.” She concluded with a heartfelt, “I wish you all the best! Hopefully, your efforts will result in great changes in the future.”
University Student: Falun Dafa is a Practice that Focuses on Physical and Mental Health
Akseli, a student at the University of Helsinki, walked up to the truth information table and smiled as he chatted with the participants. He said, “Falun Dafa is a peaceful practice and a method of cultivation that emphasizes physical and mental health. I feel that it is connected to traditional Chinese culture.”
Akseli mentioned that human rights issues in China are extremely serious. Ethnic minorities, Muslims, and Falun Dafa practitioners are all treated extremely badly by the CCP. Taiwan and Hong Kong are also under the influence and control of the CCP, which makes him feel very discouraged. He said, “As an ordinary person, it is very difficult to fight against a government.”
This young man believes that the CCP is afraid of losing control, and that it holds firm power over the people, “There is no real leadership in China. The country is ruled through fear and brainwashing. It is not based on respect, trust, or true leadership. I am very sad that the Chinese people cannot vote and build their own country like us. However, it is good that the Chinese people are striving for freedom.”
Akseli had also heard that China’s unemployment rate was very high, that many young Chinese had lost hope and could not find work, and that competition was extremely fierce. He felt that this was truly sad.
He praised the people, “The Chinese people are brave and strong. I sincerely hope that China’s authoritarian rule will eventually collapse, allowing more people to live happier and freer lives, without fear of violence and persecution.” Akseli also tries to discuss these topics with his friends because they are one of the themes of his thesis, and he is also taking Chinese language courses. He left us with kind words, “I hope the Chinese people will persevere, and I also hope that other countries, including Finland, will do something to help.”
Kind Support From the Public
Reijo is a retired Finnish man who came alone to the city center square, and was drawn from afar by the Falun Dafa practitioners’ activities. He walked over and carefully read the information boards about the petition campaign. After learning the truth, Reijo asked the practitioners with a serious expression, “How many petition forms do you have?” He hoped that each one could be signed with his name. He stated that as a conscientious citizen, it is his duty to support justice through action.
When he signed the petition calling for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s organ harvesting from Falun Dafa practitioners, he said, “These crimes must be stopped!”
After signing, the practitioners gave him a yellow lotus flower, symbolizing purity and resilience. A happy smile immediately appeared on his face, and he said with emotion, “Yellow is my favorite color, and this flower matches my clothes perfectly. Thank you!”
Kind support from the public
Sannaly is a Brazilian tourist who recently visited Helsinki, the capital of Finland, with her husband. As they passed by a booth in the city center, they noticed a celebration taking place. Sannaly stopped out of curiosity and accepted a leaflet about Falun Dafa from a practitioner, while her husband listened attentively to the practitioner’s account of the human rights persecution in China.
As he learned the truth, the man looked solemn and expressed deep sympathy for the cruelty of the persecution. He said that the practitioners’ spontaneous efforts to share the truth with the public on the streets were an “admirable project” that allowed more people to understand the current situation in China, and aroused people’s concern for freedom and human rights. Before leaving, he thanked the practitioners for the information they provided and wished them all the best, and continued success in spreading the truth to more people.
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