(Minghui.org) The Southern US Falun Dafa Experience-Sharing Conference took place in Houston, Texas, on May 23, 2026. Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, came to Houston 30 years ago and gave a lecture. Practitioners reflected on their cultivation and talked about how they improved by following Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
The conference was held at the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston. The stage, which was decorated with flowers, featured Master’s portrait and one of his poems:
“Pause for a moment of self-reflection,and increase your righteous thoughtsThoroughly analyze your shortcomings,and progress with renewed diligence”(“Rational and Awake,” Hong Yin II)
Mr. Yang, President of the Southern US Falun Dafa Association, said Master Li’s lecture in 1996 helped more people in Texas learn about Falun Dafa and benefit from it. “We are honored to gather here again today to thank Master for introducing Falun Dafa.” Some of the speakers at the conference have practiced Dafa for 30 years, while others only began practicing recently. They all spoke about how they improved physically and mentally after they began practicing.
During the break, photos of Master Li with practitioners when he gave his lecture in Houston in 1996 were displayed on a large screen.
The Southern US Falun Dafa Experience-Sharing Conference was held on May 23 in Houston, Texas. (Minghui.org)
Precious Memory
Mr. and Ms. Song, who have practiced Falun Dafa for more than 30 years, attended Master’s lecture in 1996. Ms. Song remembered it was a fine day on October 12, 1996. “When Master came to the stage for the lecture, every one of us stood up and welcomed him with warm applause,” she recalled.
An assistant to the Mayor of Houston presented two proclamations to Master Li. One honored him as an “Honorary Citizen and Goodwill Ambassador” and the other proclamation declared October 12, 1996, “Li Hong Zhi Day.”
Therapist: Finding Her Way Home
Ms. Zhang, a therapist, moved to the United States in 1988. Starting from when she was a child, she often two dreams: in one, a young girl abandoned at an intersection did not know which direction would lead her home; in the other dream, she was waiting for a plane that would bring her a letter from home, but the letter never arrived.
When she was 10 years old, she occasionally had headaches that lasted two to three hours and were accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting and alternating bouts of cold and hot sweats. As time passed, she started to get the headaches every week. Sometimes she suffered from abdominal pain in the middle of night that was so intense she was unable to move or speak.
In late 1992, Ms. Zhang’s family wrote her and said that Falun Dafa was very good. When she visited China in 1995, her mother gave her a copy of Zhuan Falun, an exercise instruction video, and the exercise music. “After I returned to the US, I immediately began reading Zhuan Falun. I was amazed by the profound teachings in the book,” she said.
Ms. Zhang was 38 at the time. After she read Zhuan Falun, she stopped having those recurrent dreams. “That was because Falun Dafa had shown me the way home. And the information came through a via air letter,” she explained. Falun Dafa relieved her pain and a new chapter of her life began.
“I learned from Falun Dafa that the purpose of life is to constantly improve and return to our true selves,” Ms. Zhang continued. She also recommended Falun Dafa to her patients so they could benefit.
Young Practitioner: Letting Go of Attachments
Mr. Khoa began practicing Falun Dafa nine years ago. “I feel so fortunate to have found Dafa. I used to be arrogant and selfish. Dafa changed me, and I am now grateful and considerate of others. That is why I want to thank Falun Dafa and Master Li,” he said.
He manages restaurants and often has to deal with disgruntled customers, employees, and managers. “The pressure is intense, and I often wondered if I should look for a different job,” he said. “But the more I tried, the more confused I became. By studying Falun Dafa’s teachings, I learned I had an attachment to seeking comfort. I’m lucky to have a steady job, and I should treat these conflicts as opportunities to improve my character.”
By looking within, Mr. Khoa also noticed he had an attachment to pursuing money and material possessions: “Why else would I look for an easier job that paid more? I now understand that life is not about acquiring material possessions. Rather, I should cultivate diligently, do the three things well, and fulfill my vow to help Master save people and return home with Master.”
Constantly Improving Ourselves
Both Mrs. Zhang and Ms. Huang, who have lived in the US for many years, used to practice different forms of qigong. After she heard about Falun Dafa, Ms. Zhang showed Ms. Huang a copy of Zhuan Falun. “I was surprised by the book, because it was the first time I understood what ‘cultivation’ meant. Falun Dafa is very righteous. It focuses on improving one’s character and is taught free of charge,” Ms. Huang said.
They were excited to attend Master’s lecture in 1996. “There were practitioners from Sweden and Hong Kong. The practitioner from Hong Kong came to the venue straight from the airport,” Ms. Zhang recalled. “Master’s lecture was profound and opened my mind. He was very compassionate and approachable. I was so moved.”
Over the past 30 years, Ms. Zhang worked for several large companies as an executive. “Most of these opportunities came through referrals, and I took every job seriously,” she explained. Other than working diligently and fulfilling her responsibilities, she also found opportunities to tell people about Dafa or to introduce Shen Yun.
“I am so glad I found Falun Dafa and became a practitioner,” she said. “Let us cultivate diligently and share Falun Dafa’s blessings with others.”
