(Clearwisdom.net) Minghui.org correspondent reports from New York -- On, December 25, 2004, Falun Gong practitioners in New York celebrated Christmas Day in a special way. In the afternoon, practitioners from different countries throughout the world got together with practitioners in the Metropolitan New York area and held a large-scale group Fa-study in midtown Manhattan. Practitioners read through Master's lecture, "Teaching the Fa at the 2004 International Fa Conference in New York". In the evening, Master came in person to greet and encourage practitioners.

Group Fa-study

Aiming at some thoughts and behaviors of some individual practitioners, Master reminded practitioners that we must understand that the police in New York are the police of a democratic country; they are not Chinese Communist Party police. Practitioners who are not familiar with the local situation should learn about it. Regarding the conjecture spread among a few practitioners about when truth-clarification in Manhattan would end as well as when the Fa-rectification would end, Master reminded practitioners with a compassionate tone that we should not casually make such guesses. Instead, we should steadfastly do the three things well until consummation.

Since August 2004, Falun Gong practitioners from across North America, Taiwan and other countries and areas throughout the world have overcome various challenges in work, family and finance to come to Manhattan and tell people about the persecution of Falun Gong in China by means of holding anti-torture exhibitions, multimedia displays, and distributing flyers. The purpose is to allow the entire world to be aware of what has been happening in China and call for people's attention to help stop the inhuman persecution.

Over the past five months, a great number of people in Manhattan have learned the truth about Falun Gong and the persecution. Many touching stories have occurred on the streets in Manhattan. In particular, a large number of Spanish and African American people have had the chance to learn what Falun Gong is and how it benefits people's mental and physical health. They earnestly and enthusiastically sign petitions in support of Falun Gong practitioners and against the persecution.

Since December this year, in order to clear away the poison from the CCP's deceptive lies, and to allow more people who work in Manhattan to learn the truth about Falun Gong, practitioners have unfurled new banners with the words, "Many of your Chinese colleagues have been deceived and help spread CCP lies. Please don't be misled by their words. Please read the real story of Falun Gong for yourself." The strong message moved many passersby. According to practitioners who clarify the truth on the streets, almost all people would read this banner when they passed by. More and more people accept truth-clarifying materials and stopped to carefully read the posters.

A practitioner wrote in a brief report: One day, in the morning, we went to subway station close to Ground Zero. A man came over. He said that he works in a government health department. He told practitioners and he saw them clarifying the truth on streets every day and he was quite touched. He said that although we quietly stand, our efforts were very powerful.

More and more Chinese people have been accepting the materials, too. For instance, two Chinese university students initially did not want to take the materials. After a practitioner talked with them, the two girls asked many questions such as, "Why would practitioners go to Tiananmen Square to commit self-immolation?" "Why don't they practice the exercises at home?" Their questions showed that even though they have been overseas over the past few years, they too had been influenced by Jiang's faction's lies. The practitioner patiently answered their questions: We follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance to be better people. How could it be possible for us to kill others or commit suicide? You see there are so many people throughout the world practicing Falun Gong We Chinese people should be proud of it... In the end, the two girls did not only take the materials but also expressed they would definitely find a copy of the book Zhuan Falun to read.

Over the past more than five months, group after group of practitioners have come to Manhattan to clarify the truth. Some practitioners from the Metropolitan New York and surrounding areas have persisted in clarifying the truth from the heat of August to the cold winter. Many practitioners who participated in this Christmas group Fa-study realized in the evening that we must follow what Master reminded us, better sum up our experiences and lessons and try our best to do even better.