Eight years have passed since Falun Dafa was first introduced to the public by its Founder and Teacher, Mr. Li Hongzhi. In that time, millions of people from many nationalities and diverse cultural heritages have benefited through deepening their understanding of its principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. In addition, many have experienced dramatic improvements in their health by practicing this cultivation method's five tranquil exercises.

While Falun Dafa is still unfamiliar to most Americans, its principles embrace the values that we cherish as thoughtful human beings, as a democratic nation, and as a civilized world. In an increasingly complex society, where the distinctions between true and false, right and wrong, are often blurred, and where speaking the truth often becomes entangled in matters of societal convenience rather than of inner necessity, Falun Dafa has helped millions of people to self-reflect, upgrade their minds and hearts, and to live courageously and peacefully as the noble, intelligent human beings they were intended to be.

Compassion -- the capacity to put others' needs ahead of one's own and to suffer the pain of others -- lies at the heart of Falun Dafa. Throughout history, all orthodox religions have likewise taught the world this principle. The heart of Christ or the heart of Buddha will always consider others before oneself. Without the capacity of individuals, communities, and whole nations to embody such a heart of generosity, how would history have developed to this point in time? How much bleaker the road ahead? Finally, the principle of tolerance, inseparable from truthfulness and compassion, has helped people transform their human anger into forgiveness and understanding. As you can well understand through your knowledge of history and your own noble efforts in the U.S. and abroad, this principle has made it possible for all leaders of good will to seek peaceful resolution to the world's problems. With a peaceful heart that is open to the truth, it becomes easier to tolerate adversity, criticism, and to step back from conflicts rather than adding fuel to the all too human fires of hatred and ignorance. When one's nature becomes more truthful, more compassionate, more tolerant, intelligence easily changes into wisdom guided by a clear conscience. The road ahead becomes brighter for all. Thus, Falun Dafa is not something we need to struggle intellectually to understand. Rather, it is something we can gradually enlighten to, as its principles encompass all that we can conceptualize as good and true, including all human virtues and positive cultural values.

As we approach the close of the year 2000, many Americans are pausing to give thanks for their many blessings and are turning their thoughts to exchanging gifts with family and friends in memory of heaven's gift to humankind. What better gift to give our nation at this time of year than a chance to become acquainted with Falun Dafa and to recall its profound principles that uphold and live deep within us.

We Falun Dafa practitioners therefore would like to request that you issue a proclamation for Falun Dafa Day/Week. This will be a wonderful and rare opportunity to raise the awareness of millions of kindhearted people from around our country to this great cultivation method and its principles. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to express this wish for our nation and the world. Wishing you and your family a glorious and peaceful holiday season.