(Minghui.org) May 13, 2012 was the 20th anniversary of Falun Dafa's introduction to the public, the 13th World Falun Dafa Day and also the 61st birthday of Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong. On this special day, practitioners in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with deep gratitude and great joy, gathered at the Labor Education and Life Center in Kaohsiung. Many government officials attended the celebration or sent flower bouquets in congratulations. The atmosphere was both solemn and joyful.
A series of activities included playing videos depicting Falun Dafa's wide spread, performances by the Divine Land Marching Band and Waist Drum Team, Minghui School young practitioners demonstrating the exercises, display of more than ten works from the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance International Art Exhibit and Han Couture show, distributing truth clarification materials, and folding paper lotus flowers. The practitioners displayed the wonderfulness of Falun Dafa to passersby, who slowed down their steps or stopped to learn the facts. In the end, the practitioners sang together, “Ode to Master's Grace,” and the celebration concluded at 5:00 p.m.
Kaoshiung City government officials send flower bouquets to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction
Deputy Mayor of Kaoshiung Li Yung-Te, legislators, city council members and former national policy adviser Chou Ping-Te celebrate the 20th anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction
Divine Land Marching Band performs “Falun Dafa Is Good” and other pieces to kick off the celebratory activities
Energetic waist drum performance
Young practitioners from the Minghui School demonstrate the exercises
Viewing the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Art Exhibit
Government Officials Support and Express Appreciation for Dafa
Deputy Mayor of Kaoshiung Li Yung-Te said that the Falun Gong practitioners' physical and mental changes after cultivating Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are impressive. The practitioners' care for society, and particularly their efforts for public welfare and human rights, are admirable. He extended his respect and gratitude to Master Li on his birthday.
Deputy Mayor of Kaoshiung Li Yung-Te
Legislator and former mayor of Fengshan Hsu Chih-chieh said that Falun Gong has been spread around the world, and has brought countless people health and joy. He sincerely thanked Master Li Hongzhi. He said that a good country should allow people to have more freedom. He condemned the CCP for persecuting Falun Gong, and called for attention to human rights in China.
Legislator Chiu Chih-wei, who often participates in Falun Gong activities, said that he admires Mr. Li Hongzhi for promoting the core values of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance around the world. He also hopes that everybody pursues Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and promotes this spirit to the totalitarian countries, including China, and therefore spread peace, democracy and human rights to every corner of the world.
Legislator Lin Tai-hua said that she felt that Falun Dafa practitioners are mature citizens, they remain steadfast in their beliefs, but they adopt tolerant and peaceful approaches to spread their appeal and uphold human rights. She said that she was both moved and grateful.
“Dafa Gives Me Extraordinary Physical Strength”
Mr. Hong Ming and Ms. Tong Yuru, along with her father and three children
Mr. Hong Ming, manager of Shanghao Advertising Marketing Co., Ltd, and Ms. Tong Yuru, Ms. Tong's father, and her three children are all Falun Gong practitioners. Ms. Tong said, “My family has benefited a lot, and my xinxing has improved greatly. I have to deal with employees, business owners and customers daily, and I often meet with many challenges, which used to make me unhappy. After practicing Falun Gong, I have become simple and pure when looking at things and thinking of problems. I have become tolerant in treating others, and every employee can feel it. After viewing the Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Art Exhibition and attending Shen Yun performances, they know the truth of Dafa.”
The three children go to the Minghui School on weekends to do the exercises and study the Fa. When encountering conflicts, they would remind each other with Fa principles. The older brother, who is in sixth grade, takes very good care of his two younger sisters. When their parents got off work late, he would cook the rice first. He also picks up his sisters after school. He received a “Filial Piety Award” issued by his school this year.
Ms. Tong has long working hours. Sometimes, she works from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.. She is also the mother of three children. Despite all of that, she gets up at around 2:00 a.m. and drives her motorcycle for 30 minutes to a practice site at Sun Yat-sen University to do the five sets of exercises, and studies one lecture of Zhuan Falun before returning home. She has been doing so for more than three years, rain or shine.
On Mother's Day, a 100-year-old mother and granddaughter Li Hsin-Yi invited ten family members to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day
In the crowd, an elderly woman sitting in a wheelchair, accompanied by her family, arrived at the celebration venue. She is Ms. Li, who is 100 years old. Her granddaughter and her daughter are both practitioners. Her granddaughter invited the whole family of ten to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and experience the wonderfulness of Falun Dafa.
