(Minghui.org) British Falun Dafa practitioners gathered in London on December 8 to meditate and read the Dafa books together. At this holiday season, they are very thankful for the benefits the practice has brought them. In particular, they are grateful to Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, and wish him a Happy New Year.

On December 8, 2019, British Falun Dafa practitioners in Hyde Park wish Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, “Seasons greetings!”

Hairdresser: A Magnificent Gift for Everyone

News reporter Lorraine (left) and hairdresser Joy (right) consider Falun Dafa a precious gift for everyone.

“With 2020 just around the corner, my only New Year's wish would be for everyone to get to know Falun Dafa, because it is so wonderful and magnificent,” said Joy, a hairdresser who lived in Brighton on the southern coast of England. She really cherishes the principles of Falun Dafa – Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance – and follows them on a daily basis.

She first came across the practice in mid-1999. She saw a flier about a free Falun Dafa workshop. Six months later, when a friend asked her to make a wish on New Year's Eve 2000, she replied, “I just want to be a practitioner, a practitioner of Falun Dafa.” Noticing her friend's surprise, Joy told her about the workshop she'd attended and the book ZhuanFalun, the main book of the cultivation practice..

By that time, Joy had been seeking spiritual guidance for about five years. She's tried yoga and another meditation system but did not see any progress. “When I read Zhuan Falun for the first time, I was very excited because I could not agree more with what it said. Although I could not understand everything, I did know that this was the book I had been looking for,” she explained. 

She said the principles of Falun Dafa are profound and very precious. “You cannot find them elsewhere,” she said. “Sometimes we may run into a bad day or a good day. But regardless of the situation, if you always keep Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in your mind, you will know what to do.”

Her family members also noticed that she changed. “My husband said I was more forgiving, and my two daughters—who are grown up now—are also considerate of others, given my influence. Falun Dafa teaches me how to educate children and help them become better citizens. I think this is a great book for everyone.”

News Reporter: Blessing from the Divine

Lorraine lives in suburban London and has practiced Falun Dafa for over five years. As a news reporter, her job is to write articles on traditional culture and art. Impressed by the wisdom and enlightenment she has derived from Dafa, she calls it a “blessing from the divine.”

Ever since she was a child, Lorraine had thought about life and the world around her. “To me, life wasn't worth living.” Although she studied different Buddhist systems in the UK, India, and New Zealand, Lorraine was still puzzled about this secular world and had many unanswered questions.

“I cannot imagine what my life would be without Dafa,” she continued. “I had been searching for so many years, and I did not know that there was something so profound.” For example, Falun Dafa helps practitioners improve their character without going into seclusion. “There are always uncertainties in life. As long as one keeps Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in mind, one can calm down, and those anxieties and worries will diminish. This sounds simple, but it works really well,” she explained.

Lorraine recommends that everyone read Zhuan Falun because it can teach one how to be a better person. “Cultivation practice involves hardship, but I will not change my mind, because that's why we are in this world,” she added. 

Business Owner: Returning to the Origin

Michael and his wife Nina said Falun Dafa has brought their family happiness and harmony.

Michael, 47, a business owner, is originally from Vietnam. Having lived through war and chaos as a child, he turned to Buddhism at a young age, hoping to find peace and stay away from wars, violence, and hatred.

In late 2017, he saw an article on Facebook written by a Falun Dafa practitioner. Impressed by what he read, he surfed the internet for information on the practice. He found the Falun Dafa website and Zhuan Falun.

As he read Zhuan Falun, Michael realized that the book was really special. “It was exactly what I had been looking for. As I continued reading, I had the strong feeling of returning home, returning to my original self through cultivation,” he recalled. 

After reading the book from cover to cover, Michael began to learn the exercises from a video on the Falun Dafa website. “Beginning in April 2018, I listened to Master Li's audio lectures. My family joined me, and we all became practitioners,” he said. In addition, they joined a group in Alexandra Park in north London on the weekends.

When he used to read Buddhist scriptures, Michael said he often felt confused since some parts were unclear or indirect. “In contrast, Master explains things clearly and gets right to the point. I now understand where we came from, why are we suffering, and where we are going,” he added. 

Since he was young, Michael had longed for a happy life. “Now we no longer hang onto that wish, since we already so blessed,” he said. “Falun Dafa is so real and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance teach us what true happiness is and how to achieve that.”

Interestingly, when Michael was able to maintain a peaceful and compassionate mind, his children also became peaceful and the entire family was in harmony. He said, “So many wonderful things are happening. I believe many other practitioners have witnessed the same—as long as we follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, our surroundings will head in a positive direction.”

Engineer: Mother Detained in China for Her Belief

Li Hui, an engineer in London, said she would help get her mother released from prison.

While people embrace the practice in the UK, practitioners in China are still being persecuted for their belief – a persecution that was initiated in July 1999 by Jiang Zemin, the former head of the communist regime. “My mother was arrested at home in Beijing on December 4. The police ransacked her home and confiscated Falun Dafa books and informational materials and a printer,” said Li Hui, an engineer working in London.

Ms. Han Fei, 49, is from the Chaoyang District in Beijing. Officers who arrested her were from the Pingfang Police Station and Chaoyang Domestic Security Division. At Pingfang Police Station, her husband was told on December 5 that Ms. Han was arrested for practicing Falun Dafa. The next day, he found out that Ms. Han had been taken to the Chaoyang Detention Center. 

Li began to read Zhuan Falun in 1998 when she was 6. Despite the suppression in China, she admires her mother's courage in refusing to give up her belief. To help raise awareness of the persecution in China, Li plans to share her story with coworkers, friends, and the community. 

“Because of her faith, Mother was detained in a forced labor camp for two years prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics,” Li said, adding that the police continued to harass her mother after she was released in 2010. “Now she is detained again and I don't know what will happen to her. I want her home.”