Cultivation Experience in Promoting Shen Yun in 2025

(Minghui.org) I would like to share my cultivation experience while supporting Shen Yun Performing Arts in the Los Angeles area in 2025. This year, Shen Yun held 27 performances in Los Angeles culminating in a 100% sellout on May 4 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. Reflecting on the entire promotion process, we had been working hard since last September, and had not let up for a single moment.

Facing Challenges, Go All Out to Promote

This year’s promotion was challenging, underscoring our great mission to eliminate evil influences and help Master save all living beings. We utilized nearly every possible method. In addition to mailing flyers, we also displayed posters, hung flyers on doorknobs, distributed flyers at theaters, set up Shen Yun booths at various events, and conducted comprehensive promotions in communities, business districts, schools, and medical institutions.

Throughout this process, I came to understand that this promotion activity represented a battle between good and evil. It served as a means for Dafa disciples to cultivate cooperation, strengthen their righteous thoughts, and explain to people the truth about the persecution of Dafa by the Chinese Communist Party. When the entire group works well together, and each Dafa disciple steps forward to assist Master in Fa-rectification, a powerful force can be created to save sentient beings.

Wildfires

Shen Yun’s performance at the Dorothy Chandler Theater in Los Angeles in January faced serious challenges. In the days leading up to the show, massive wildfires erupted across Southern California, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 people. Over 200,000 people were forced to evacuate, more than 18,000 structures were destroyed, and over 57,000 acres were burned.

During that period, news outlets repeatedly showed images of the fires, generating concern and panic throughout Southern California, and as a result, the theater was unable to confirm whether it could proceed with its scheduled performances.

Despite the difficult situation, our fellow practitioners worked together to promote Shen Yun, and strengthened their efforts to send forth righteous thoughts. In the end, as Master said:

“Disciples’ righteous thoughts are strong, Master has the power to turn the tide” (“Master-Disciple Grace” Hong Yin II)

The day before the performance, the theater finally agreed to hold the shows as scheduled, and people rushed to buy tickets to see Shen Yun. During this most difficult time, the four performances achieved an average ticket sales rate of 100%.

Persevering With Ticket Sales

From March to May, the performances were scheduled so close together that we couldn’t afford to slacken off. By the end of March, the coordinators reported that only 30% to 40% of the tickets had been sold at the Orange County, SLO, and Hollywood theaters. The situation was extremely urgent, and the coordinators were under considerable pressure. All I could do was work closely with them and do my best to ensure that every detail came together smoothly.

I have come to understand from the Fa teachings that every Dafa disciple is linked to a vast universe where countless beings are depending on us for salvation. If we do not fulfill our responsibilities, we cannot accomplish this historical mission by relying solely on a few practitioners. If the seats are empty, the celestial bodies corresponding to our cosmic particles will be incomplete, and countless sentient beings will be eliminated.

Despite our best efforts, just a few days before the Saturday night show at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood we were still stuck at about 60% of our ticket sales, and were slow to break through. Many of our fellow practitioners worked tirelessly from early morning until late at night, but ticket sales remained stagnant, leaving us very anxious.

The last minute was a test of our righteousness and faith, and we had to persevere to the end. Most of the time, I was at the booth selling tickets, and in my spare time, I handed out flyers in crowded places and conducted face-to-face conversations.

Master told us:

“When divine beings made man, they did so at the Creator’s behest...”

“While their outward appearances differ, the souls within them were given by the Creator. And that is why they have common values.” (How Humankind Came To Be)

Promoting Using Wisdom

Shen Yun connects people all around the world through dance and music, an art form that transcends language barriers. I often think about how to express this in a single sentence to impress those who might not be interested in Chinese culture, dance, or even live performances. How can we motivate everyone to attend Shen Yun?

When handing out flyers, I often say, “This is a gift from the Creator, a performance from heaven, that will change your life.” I talk about the positive energy, hope, and good luck that Shen Yun brings, emphasizing that buying a ticket to see Shen Yun is the best investment you can make in your life.

This experience is not just about buying a ticket; it’s an investment in purifying one’s soul. After watching Shen Yun, any feelings of pessimism, anxiety, or self-doubt will disappear. When leaving the theater, you will feel happy, and a smile will naturally appear on your face. This positive energy attracts good things, helps you to make the right decisions, and brings good luck to your life.

The most effective form of promotion is genuine feedback from the audience. For instance, one audience member remarked, “Shen Yun is so beautiful that I held my breath and watched it intently, not even daring to blink.” Another audience member said, “I have been suffering from insomnia for many years, but after watching Shen Yun, I had a good night’s sleep that night.” Some audience members even reported seeing a rainbow-like light emanating from the performers, while others noted that they saw angels; others stated that for some reason they had tears in their eyes without realizing it before the curtain was even drawn.

A couple who had been married for thirty five years attended a Shen Yun performance. After the show, the wife said excitedly, “In all the time we’ve been married, I’ve never seen my husband shed a single tear, no matter how much difficulty we’ve faced. But during the Shen Yun performance, I saw him secretly wipe the corners of his eyes several times.” Shen Yun’s performances resonate deeply with people, touching their hearts, and awakening their most sincere and tender, true selves.

Touching Stories from Various Promoting Sites

While handing out flyers at the Beverly Hills Farmer’s Market, two ladies declined to take one and expressed their belief that the Shen Yun performers were underpaid. I asked if I could take a few minutes to explain the motivation behind the New York Times’ collusion with the Chinese Communist Party and its attack on Shen Yun. I also wanted to clarify that some of the Shen Yun cast members were interns whose tuition and housing was waived, and that performing in Shen Yun is their lifelong dream and honor.

When they asked me if I was paid, I told them that I was a volunteer, and said, “The purpose of Shen Yun is to revitalize traditional culture and elevate morality; just as Christians dedicate themselves to their faith, so do we.” Their attitude softened, and they said they would see Shen Yun and were willing to learn the truth. They also asked about sources of information, so I recommended the English Epoch Times. After they finished their grocery shopping, I continued talking to them about the Chinese Communist Party’s live organ harvesting and how it infiltrates and manipulates the United States and the world.

When I introduced Shen Yun to a gentleman at the Torrance Farmer’s Market, he said he disagreed with Falun Gong. He identified himself as a Christian and asserted that only Jesus Christ is the true God, claiming that the only way to return to Heaven is through Jesus. I replied that I fully agreed with the teachings of the Bible, which surprised him.

I continued, “Look at the stars in the sky. There are countless stars visible to the naked eye, and the stars farther away are invisible to us. There are many countries and races on Earth, and I believe there are different kingdoms in Heaven. If you want to enter Heaven, you must go through Jesus. But if you want to enter the Paradise of Pure Land, the Falun World, or the Lotus World, do you need Jesus? I believe that what the Bible says is true. Compared with the vast universe, we humans are so minute, just like telling a fish in a fish tank what an ocean is. It can’t even imagine the existence of a lake.” He was momentarily at a loss for words, and said that he needed to find his pastor to discuss our conversation. Before he left, he mentioned that he would consider watching Shen Yun.

While handing out flyers at the Farmer’s Market in Thousand Oaks, a woman asked if Shen Yun was about a particular religion. I replied that most of Shen Yun’s dancers and musicians are Falun Dafa practitioners, that it presents traditional Chinese culture centered on Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, and that its performances and beliefs transcend all religions.

Audience members often feel a profound sense of unity. Despite our different nationalities, languages, and beliefs, we are all created by the Creator, and all of us can realize our connection with the Divine. After hearing the experiences of others, the lady said that she had been apprehensive in the past due to her Islamic faith, but she was pleased to express that she would go to see Shen Yun.

At the Riverside Home Show, the crowds were thinning out as the show neared its end, and most of the surrounding booths had closed, but we stayed until the last minute.

At that moment, a couple approached our booth. We learned that the lady was of mixed American and Taiwanese descent, and that her mother was from Tainan. For many years, she had longed to see Shen Yun, but her husband was reluctant to purchase tickets. It so happened that I came from the same hometown as her mother, so we chatted warmly as hometown folks, and we tried to convince her husband to agree to see Shen Yun. If we had left early because of the small crowd, we would have missed them. We later saw her being interviewed by New Tang Dynasty TV after watching the Shen Yun performance.

I encountered a father with two children at the Ontario Mall. His daughter appeared to be about 11 or 12 years old, and had partially-dyed green hair. As I approached the father, I smelled a strong odor, suggesting that his clothes had not been washed in a long time. I sensed that he might be facing some difficulties in life, particularly financial ones. I handed him a flyer, and he stopped to listen to my brief introduction of Shen Yun, then asked his children if they wanted to see it. He then quickly purchased three tickets.

On several occasions, I noticed that some pedestrians ignored us as they walked by the booth. Despite this I still handed them the flyers, and some ended up buying tickets. On another occasion, a couple passed by our booth two or three times, and each time I had offered them a flyer, they refused. But the fourth time, they took the flyer and told me that they had seen Shen Yun before, and eventually bought two tickets to see it again.

This experience made me realize that we should avoid judging whether to hand out flyers based on appearance, or our feelings. As long as someone walks by, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to share with them. Even if they don’t buy a ticket, reading the flyer and developing an interest in Shen Yun could be beneficial to them.

Closing Remarks

Reflecting on the process of promoting Shen Yun in 2025, we faced many difficulties and challenges. These included a smear campaign by The New York Times, the wildfires raging in Southern California, bomb threats from the Chinese Communist Party, and all kinds of interference from multiple sources. Nonetheless we remained resolute in our efforts.

All of this reflects the overall cooperation of our fellow practitioners, our unwavering faith in Master and the Fa, and the responsibility and mission that Dafa disciples demonstrate through their righteous thoughts and actions.

While promoting Shen Yun, I realized the importance of teamwork. The strength of the group inspired me as each practitioner quietly fulfilled their role, supported one another, and worked together to achieve our goal.

Despite all the difficulties and challenges, I can always feel Master’s compassionate blessing and the tireless dedication of my fellow practitioners, which enables me to draw strength and hope in every difficult situation.

While promoting Shen Yun, I not only witnessed the joy of sentient beings after they had elevated their understanding, but also continuously improved my own understanding of the Fa and my compassion for sentient beings.

Every challenge and breakthrough strengthened my faith as a Dafa disciple. It is a great honor for me to participate in the Shen Yun promotion, and it also helps me to fulfill my vow.

Finally, I would like to thank the coordinators for their reminders and encouragement, which kept me alert at all times and helped me break through my complacency. Thank you, compassionate Master! I also want to thank my fellow practitioners who have encouraged, urged, and reminded me along the way during the promotion process!

This is my experience in promoting Shen Yun this year; please kindly point out anything inappropriate.