(Minghui.org) Practitioners in New York and surrounding areas participated in the annual Chinese New Year parade in Flushing on February 21, 2026. Flushing is a major Chinese community in New York.
Young Practitioner
Cynthia Sun began practicing Falun Dafa with her parents when she was a child. After she graduated from college with a major in international relations, she began working as a researcher at the Falun Dafa Information Center. She compiles data regarding cases of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) and provides reports and policy recommendations to US government departments.
Cynthia Sun
She said, “When I was growing up, I had many questions about society, life, the universe, and interpersonal relationships. For example, which profession was I interested in and which university should I attend? I felt uncertain about my future.
“I realized that Falun Dafa answered all my questions and addressed all my fears, so I never felt depressed or anxious.”
Talking about why it’s important for practitioners to participate in the parade, she said, “People from China can see the possibility of freedom of expression and embracing culture without the influence of a political party.”
As a researcher who has spent years studying issues related to Falun Gong, she said she’s observed a clear shift in how the practice is viewed—more people are actively seeking spiritual direction, and Falun Gong’s teachings are increasingly resonating with those who search for moral clarity.
She noted that the principles of Falun Dafa—Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—offer a moral benchmark at a time when many feel society is drifting. “These principles set a standard,” she said, “and they remind people not to simply follow the downward trends around them.”
Her impressions were reinforced at a recent religious freedom conference in Washington, DC. The persecution of Falun Gong in China was a major topic, and she noticed a growing curiosity about the practice.
“Many attendees weren’t just concerned about the persecution,” she explained. “They wanted to know how to learn Falun Gong, how to read its books. There was a genuine interest in personal cultivation and inner spirituality.”
People From China Give Me Thumbs Up
Mr. Xian said he was persecuted for years in China. He was deeply moved to be able to be in the parade: “In this free land, I no longer have to fear being arrested for my belief. I feel incredibly fortunate and proud. Seeing so many Falun Dafa practitioners gathered together—this is something I never would have dared to imagine when I was still in China.”
He’s noticed that, in recent years, the attitudes of the Chinese toward Falun Dafa have changed. “When the persecution first started, many were misled by the Party propaganda, and they were hostile towards Falun Dafa. They didn’t even want to hear those words.
“People are now increasingly sympathetic, especially after the COVID pandemic. Many social media platforms in China mention the disappearance of children, and people have started to realize the CCP’s forced organ harvesting is true and they’re afraid.
“Now when I talk to people about Falun Dafa, they give me thumbs up and say, ‘We know about Falun Dafa.’ They thank me. This was unimaginable before.”
Retired Sheriff Benefits From Practicing Falun Gong
Mike Revers and his wife Ting-yu participated in the parade.
Mike Revers and his wife Ting-yu from Texas moved to New York last year. Mike is a retired sheriff from Houston, and Ting-yu was a board director of a company in Taiwan before she retired.
Ting-yu has practiced Falun Dafa for over 20 years, while Mike started practicing after he retired two years ago. He said his views on many things changed after he read Zhuan Falun. He used to be negative and suspicious, tense, and easily agitated. Now he’s calm.
He gave an example: “In police work, you have to control your emotions quickly and adjust to whatever is happening around you. Now I find myself staying calm, and I’m no longer as quick to make impulsive decisions as I once was.”
He also described noticeable improvements in his physical well-being. “My health improved. I lost a lot of weight, and I feel younger and more energetic. I’m over 60, yet I started skiing again—and I even teach children how to ski.”
Ting-yu started practicing Falun Dafa in Taipei in 1999 and benefited a great deal. She said, “First, it was my physical health. I used to suffer from many ailments, but after I began practicing, I truly became healthy, not just on the surface.
“The second change was the elevation of my character and moral standards. I used to think I was already a good person—I did many good deeds and cared deeply for my students. But after I started practicing, I truly understood what it means to be a good person. My moral standards have risen, and I’ve improved as a result.”
Mike said he participated in the parade because he wants people to understand that Falun Dafa is positive. He added that he hopes that, “People will see that practitioners care about our community, and that local residents can understand what we’re doing. Maybe it will help change the minds of those who are still closed-off.”
He said that Falun Dafa is not limited to any one nationality, “It’s not just Chinese people who practice. Americans, Europeans—people from all over the world practice it.”
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