(Minghui.org) The 2025 Midwest U.S. Falun Dafa Experience-Sharing Conference was held on August 17 in Chicago, Illinois. Practitioners from Illinois and nearby states attended the event, during which 17 practitioners talked about how they followed the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
From telling the public about Falun Dafa and the persecution to hosting Shen Yun performances, from remaining determined in cultivation practice to improving their xinxing at work and at home, attendees said these stories resonated with them and reminded everyone to cherish the opportunity to cultivate and improve.
Seventeen practitioners talked about their stories during the Falun Dafa Experience-Sharing Conference in Chicago on August 17, 2025.
Some practitioners said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had intensified its attacks against Falun Dafa and Shen Yun since 2024. But practitioners maintain righteous thoughts and remain undisturbed no matter the circumstances. They believe that anything that occurs during cultivation can be viewed as an opportunity to improve, and let more people know the facts about Dafa.
Stepping Forward and Telling More People About Dafa
Several practitioners talked about the importance of telling people about Falun Dafa while refuting the CCP’s hate propaganda.
Ms. Tian described her experiences in the past year. She met with state representatives of her own district and another district, and told them about Dafa, and how the CCP has expanded the persecution to the U.S. (transnational repression). These two representatives were very supportive, and they criticized the CCP’s persecution of Dafa. To support Falun Dafa and Shen Yun, they worked with three other state representatives to create and approve a joint resolution proclaiming Shen Yun. When Shen Yun came to their state one of the representatives came to the theater in person to present the resolution.
From initiating the resolution on March 4 to receiving it in the theater on March 15, everything went smoothly, and Ms. Tian felt this happened because of the cosmic changes. She said their efforts were strengthened by Master Li (Falun Dafa’s founder), and it came into reality through practitioners’ joint efforts. From this incident, Ms. Tian realized that we should step forward and participate in community activities to let more people know about, and offer them opportunities to support, Falun Dafa.
Ms. Tian said she previously lacked confidence because some practitioners were much more capable than she was, but she now understands that regardless of our abilities, we should do things, as long as they help people know about Dafa.
Staying Steadfast Amid Tribulations
When encountering difficulties practitioners should maintain their xinxing and stay true to the cultivation practice. This includes tribulations associated with the transnational repression recently launched by the CCP outside China.
Maria is a successful entrepreneur and is well known in the local Chinese community. A sudden tribulation showed her how serious cultivation is and the importance of having faith in Dafa and Master Li.
About eight years ago, a Chinese woman Hong (alias) came to Maria and said she wished to purchase her accounting firm. After examining Hong’s technical skills, Maria declined her request and kindly pointed the areas in which Hong needed to improve. Hong appeared very modest and asked to join the firm and learn. Maria trusted her and put a lot of effort into teaching her. Over the years, Maria gradually trusted Hong. She was involved many business operations and was allowed to handle certain issues on her own.
On June 7, 2024, Hong suddenly offered to purchase the accounting firm at an extremely low price but Maria refused. That was a Friday. When Maria came to her office on Monday, she was shocked to find the office equipment, business intelligence, and client documents were gone. Hong moved everything along with Maria’s employee to a new office she recently opened.
Facing such blatant theft and illegal possession, Maria was very confused. Why was the woman so reckless? After her lawyer began to work on the case they learned that Hong’s defense was related to a New York Times news report published on June 6, 2024 about The Epoch Times. Hong knew that Maria and The Epoch Times wereconnected to Falun Dafa. She claimed that was why she was “forced” to leave and open another firm.
Apparently Hong used Falun Dafa as an execuse to take over Maria’s business. She thought that the U.S. was like mainland China, and anyone associated with Falun Dafa could be targeted at will.
Fortunately this is the United States. Maria’s lawyer cited the Falun Gong Protection Act recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The judge concluded that Hong must immediately return all equipment and client documents. In addition, within 30 days Hong also had to return the nearly $400,000 she had embezzled over the past four years.
From this incident, Maria learned that practitioners should also safeguard their legal rights. Dafa practitioners, not only need to stay firm in their faith, but also need to make choices when facing tribulations. With society’s morals sliding downward we may encounter many situations that test our xinxing. This is part of our cultivation practice, and the tribulations offer us opportunities to validate Dafa.
Bomb Threats
Several practitioners talked about their experiences while hosting Shen Yun Performing Arts performances. This past season, the CCP pressured theaters to cancel performances by resorting to bomb threats. Numerous theaters that scheduled Shen Yun performances encountered this. For example, a threat was received the day Shen Yun artists arrived in St. Louis, Missouri. The threat demanded the theater immediately cancel the Shen Yun performance; otherwise the bomb would be detonated. The theater told the practitioners in charge that the case had been forwarded to police as well as the FBI, but the performance would be held as scheduled.
After practitioners entered the theater and began preparing for the opening performance the theater management and staff members condemned the threats. They also expressed support for Shen Yun and shared the investigation results. Police and police dogs searched the theater inside and out to ensure the safety of Shen Yun performers and the audience. The FBI also traced down the address where the threat was sent from. Because the theater staff hosted large events on a regular basis, they were very experienced in handling bomb threats.
This incident did not interfere with the Shen Yun performances. Instead, it helped the theater management and staff see how vicious the CCP is, and that Shen Yun is important.
Cherishing Cultivation During Wartime
Paul began practicing Falun Dafa in 2017, and he moved from Ukraine to the United States two years ago. The first time he read Zhuan Falun, he realized that Falun Dafa was what he had been searching for. The book answered many questions that Paul had—he had been unable to find answers elsewhere. Through group study and group exercise with other practitioners, along with participating in activities to tell people about Dafa, Paul improved significantly, physically and mentally.
Then the war started. Paul lived 50 miles from the Russian border, but chose to stay, because he did not expect the situation to become so terrible. Several days later, Russian aircraft bombed a residential building half a mile away. Paul did the Falun Dafa exercises to counter his fear. He felt his body had many layers and only the outer layer – the one that had not cultivated – was afraid.
When the air raid sirens sounded after a few days, Paul joined others and headed to a shelter. He only took a backpack containing his ID and some personal items. Looking back at the apartment behind him, he truly felt that none of his possessions mattered—including things he purchased over the years, because he could not take them with him.
The war taught Paul how precious cultivation practice is. From his experience in Ukraine he also gained a greater understanding of what the persecution means for practitioners in mainland China. In a city targeted by the military forces, he was facing the danger of losing everything, including his life. In China, however, practitioners choose to tell others the facts about Falun Dafa even if this deprives them of their jobs, forces them to leave home, or even lose their lives. He feels this is a testimony to why Dafa practitioners are dignified and extraordinary.
A Better Life
Several Asian practitioners talked about how they began to practice. In July 2022, Quan searched YouTube for some methods that could improve his health, and he found the Falun Dafa website. As if following guidance, he clicked the video in which Master Li was teaching the exercises. Drawn to the movements, Quan began to follow the video and learned them.
When he learned of Falun Dafa’s health benefits Quan immediately thought of his brother-in-law who was often sick, and he called him. To his surprise his sister and brother-in-law had begun practicing Falun Dafa several months before. The brother-in-law said he became much healthier and no longer needed medicine. He also encouraged Quan to continue practicing. When Quan returned to his home country in late 2022, his sister and other practitioners shared their experiences with him, and explained what cultivation practice is. Shortly after Quan returned to the U.S. his mother also began practicing Dafa.
Ms. Nguyen heard about Falun Dafa from her friend. In the past, the friend had hepatitis B and was pale. Three months after she began practicing Falun Dafa her health improved dramatically. When he saw she was almost like a different person her husband also began to practice Falun Dafa.
After hearing their stories Ms. Nguyen decided to practice. Her incurable illness disappeared and her xinxing improved. She no longer had a bad temper—instead she learned to look at things positively and with an open mind. Her family became harmonious and Ms. Nguyen also recommended Dafa to her other family members. Her sister, brothers, and sisters-in-law now all practice Falun Dafa.
The conference concluded to warm applause. Many participants said they were fortunate to attend the event and learn from others. They said they would strive to cultivate better and tell others about Falun Dafa.
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