(Minghui.org) The coming Chinese New Year offers a bright, celebratory moment during this global pandemic. Even the weather was warm and sunny as Falun Dafa practitioners in Los Angeles held activities in Fountain Valley Park in Southern California’s Orange County on January 31, 2021. They expressed their deep gratitude to Li Hongzhi, the founder of the spiritual discipline, and sent their sincere greetings, wishing him happy holidays.

Practitioners displayed banners with the messages: “Dear Master, Happy New Year,” “Thank you, Master,” “Falun Dafa is Good,” “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is Good,” and so on. They said in unison: “Wishing Master Happy New Year.”

Falun Dafa practitioners in Los Angeles held activities in Fountain Valley Park on January 31, 2021, to wish Master Li Happy Chinese New Year.

Practitioners from various occupations, ages, and backgrounds participated in the day’s activity. They all have something in common—through practicing Falun Dafa they obtained healthy bodies and minds and became kinder, better people.

Chronic Depression Turns Into Optimism

Wu Yixuan began practicing Falun Dafa in 2001. She works as an accountant. She said, “I want to express my gratitude to Master for introducing Falun Dafa to the world.”

Wu Yixuan thanks Master Li for introducing Falun Dafa to the world.

Wu said that practicing Dafa improved her physical and mental well being. Her nose used to be very sensitive. “I went to see Western and Chinese doctors but nothing worked. After practicing for a week, my nose began to get better. I later completely recovered,” she said.

What surprised her most was how she calmly handled all big and small challenges with a positive mindset after she began practicing. She used to be depressed and preferred her solitude—but this made her sad and petty. When she became very depressed, she even thought about suicide. After she began practicing Falun Dafa she became optimistic and cheerful. “Dafa opened my compassion and I became forgiving,” she said.

Talking about why millions of people worldwide practice Falun Dafa, she said, “Why is it that in spite of the persecution which has been going on for over 20 years, more and more people are embracing Falun Dafa? It’s because it is amazing. I hope more people can open their hearts to accept Falun Dafa. It will bring you a different perceptive and change your life.”

Following the Principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance for Twenty Years

Johanna, an artist from Austria, is a project manager at New Masters Academy. Twenty years is not a short period of time. Yet, to Johanna, it was a process of evolving from a rebellious teenager into a mature woman. She feels the past two decades of her life have been wonderful and interesting because she practices Falun Dafa.

Johanna wishes Master Li Happy New Year!

Recalling her first encounter with the spiritual practice, Johanna said, “I was a teenager in Austria and I learned about Dafa from my mother. She had many health problems and was a very pessimistic person. After she began to practice, I noticed her transformation. This made me curious about Dafa. Through practicing cultivation, I learned to live by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance. This truly changed my life.

“Now, I can stay calm when things happen unexpectedly. But I wasn’t like that before. I was a rebellious girl. Dafa taught me to forgive and tolerant. When I run into conflicts, I first reflect on my shortcomings. Consequently, I get along very well with my husband,” she said.

Her improvement in character has benefited her career too. “Falun Dafa taught me the importance of beauty and the arts to humanity. My artistic skills and creativity have elevated through my faith. I can share this beauty with people. The academy I work in is teaching people to connect with traditional Western arts.”

She said that twenty years have gone in a flash and she is constantly improving herself. Feeling extremely grateful for going through this journey of life, she thanked Master Li for bringing Dafa to the world and wishes him Happy Lunar New Year!

Dafa Offers Serenity and Calm

Tiffany Le, a Vietnamese practitioner, is a pharmacist. Before she became a practitioner, she felt life was meaningless despite having a successful career. She often felt anxious and got angry from time to time. This made her anemic condition worse. Everything changed after she began to practice Falun Dafa in 2012.

Vietnamese practitioner Tiffany Le said that Dafa is the most precious thing in her life.

“Dafa changed me from inside to outside. I have no words to describe how wonderful my life became after I practiced Dafa. People around me noticed my transformation. I meet all kinds of patients in my work. In the past, when I encountered difficult people, I managed to control my temper outwardly but I could feel my blood pressure rising and my heart rate increasing. I have anemia and because I get upset easily, I relied on vitamins and iron pills to control my symptoms. I even did foot massages to relax,” she said.

Tiffany started to practice Falun Dafa after her sister in Vietnam told her about it. She said, “After I began practicing Dafa, I no longer needed to take medication or go for foot massages. My health is excellent now, that’s how amazing Dafa is!”

Her temper has greatly improved. “I'm no longer as anxious as I was before and I no longer get upset easily. I am in good spirits every day. People around me are surprised by how calm I am now. They say I look younger!” she said.

“Dafa has given me a sense of serenity as well as an optimistic outlook in life. When the pandemic broke out, I continued working at the drugstore. I was in contact with many patients every day but I was fine. Many of my co-workers were terrified and stressed out. In contrast I felt very calm.”

“Dafa is the most precious thing in my life and I thank Master Li for it. I know that being grateful is not enough. Master has been guiding us, therefore I must practice cultivation diligently. The new year is just round the corner and I just want to say Master, Happy New Year!”