My Thoughts on the Falun Dafa Day Parade in Manhattan

(Minghui.org) On May 9, thousands of Falun Gong practitioners held a grand parade in the pouring rain in Manhattan, New York. I witnessed with my own eyes the resilience of Dafa disciples, as well as their peace and compassion.

Why do Dafa practitioners hold parades? They do it to tell the world that Falun Dafa is good and Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good, to demonstrate our firm belief, and to convey the truth.

In the rain, I saw a mother and her child handing out Dafa pamphlets and small lotus flowers to passersby. I also saw five or six non-practitioners holding banners that said, “We Support Falun Gong” and “Quitting the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] to Keep Safe.” When I smiled and waved to them, I couldn’t hold back my tears. I realized that Dafa practitioners around the world are one body, working together to help people learn the truth and renounce the CCP. Furthermore, people are quickly waking up and recognizing the lies of the CCP.

I took off work to participate in this parade because I cherished this opportunity. I believe that activities like this will be rare in the future. We might be able to hold parades in China soon. Every Dafa activity and parade outside of China should be treasured and might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Many onlookers took pictures of the parade, applauded, and gave the participants a thumbs up. Despite the rain, I felt light and joyful. I have been studying the Fa for some time and have improved a lot. Every step in the rain reflected practitioners’ resilience and that we are cultivating with the hearts we once had.

Master said in “Fa Teaching at the 2008 New York Conference” (Collected Teachings Given Around the World Volume VIII):

“Now is the final moment that concludes arrangements that are eons old. History’s progression to this point today has not been easy, fraught as it’s been with hardship and ups and downs. From ancient times till today, the multitude of gods have been watching and closely following this affair, and are paying particular attention at this final phase. They watch carefully every action and thought of Dafa disciples. At the beginning, there were many unknowns—what would be the result of imparting the Fa in this world; would this grand aspiration that predates history be achieved; would Dafa disciples be able to fulfill their missions at the final time, and could they manage to do well. There was also the basic question of success or failure, and whether the Three Realms would be kept. And in addition, although Dafa disciples had been given the mission of validating the Fa, it remained to be seen whether they could really come through. It’s gratifying that you have made it through. No matter what hardships or ups and downs Dafa disciples have gone through along the way, in retrospect, those were but a means of tempering you. It has made you more mature and helped you to remove your human attachments in the process, culminating in your progression towards Consummation. That is the path you have traveled. When you look back, you will find that to be the case.”

Please point out anything not in line with the Fa.