(Minghui.org) May 13, 2012 is the 20th anniversary of Falun Dafa being first taught to the public and also the founder of Falun Gong, Mr. Li Hongzhi’s 61st birthday. Finnish Falun Dafa practitioners held a celebration of World Falun Dafa Day in Helsinki's Ocean View Park. During the event, practitioners spoke of their own cultivation experiences and the feeling of gratitude towards Master.

Celebrating May 13, Finnish practitioners spread the Fa in Ocean View Park

Passersby sign a petition to show support for the practitioners' efforts to end the persecution

Falun Gong Practitioners’ Cultivation Experience

Finnish practitioner Anya was a nurse before her retirement, and she has practiced Falun Gong for over 10 years. She said: “Falun Gong has changed my whole life. Not only did it improve my health, but it also changed my whole perspective on the world and life.”

Anna was a musician, and she said: “After practicing Dafa, I learned to handle difficulties in life with calm and courage. It has changed all aspects of my life tremendously. I am grateful for Master’s patience in me, his earnest teachings and for showing me the way.”

Sveta was a Russian student in Finland, and since graduation she has remained in Finland. She said: “Falun Gong enables me to look after others, and to be considerate of others. I can now feel the power of compassion.”

Ms. Chen, who was from Xinjiang, expressed that practicing Falun Gong helped her learn to become filial to her parents and be more tolerant.

Ms. Lu had worked in a foreign trading company in Heilongjiang Province in China. After practicing Falun Gong, she got rid of her previous selfishness, jealousy and other bad habits, and she became more considerate and thoughtful of others. Falun Gong has transformed her into a completely new person.

Another practitioner, who was from Guangzhou Province in China, had the fortune to attend Master Li Hongzhi’s class in 1994. After that, her deadly skin disease disappeared. She understood that Falun Gong is a high level, virtuous Great Law, which can revitalize her body and heart. She was determined to cultivate earnestly.

Passersby Learned the Truth and Showed Their Support

On the morning of May 13, many visitors passed through the park. Many of them stopped to learn about Falun Gong's worldwide spread over the last 13 years, as well as the CCP’s ongoing persecution of Falun Gong. They also signed a petition to end the persecution.

A Taiwanese tourist learned the facts about Falun Gong and left, but before long he came back to the activity area and took out 50 euros to donate to the practitioners, wanting to show his support for this event. The practitioner didn’t accept it. She explained that practitioners teach the exercises voluntarily and do not gather money or gifts, but thanked the tourist for his kindness and support.

When Alexander, a young man, learned the principles of Falun Gong and the persecution, he signed the petition to support the practitioners' efforts and started learning the five exercises.