(Minghui.org) A diverse group of people gathered in Sydney's Hyde Park on December 24, to share their happiness in practicing Falun Dafa. From renewed hope in life, enjoying happy families, to becoming better citizens in society, they are very grateful for the practice of Falun Dafa, and especially to Dafa's founder Mr. Li Hongzhi. They send their heartfelt greetings across the ocean, all the way from Oceania to the Northern Hemisphere: Happy New Year, Master Li!
Sydney's Falun Dafa practitioners gathered in Hyde Park on December 24, to celebrate the New Year and send greetings to Master Li, Dafa's founder.
Doing the Falun Dafa exercises in Sydney, Australia on December 24, 2019.
From France to Australia: A Journey of Spiritual Enlightenment
Thomas Dobson started practicing Falun Dafa, also called Falun Gong, in France in 1996. Three years later, he traveled to Changchun City, Jilin Province, in 1999 to learn Chinese and take part in the Falun Dafa group exercises.
“I consider myself very fortunate,” he said, “because I witnessed how popular Falun Dafa was in China, and the great benefits it has brought to the society. I wish to go again to China, and do the exercises with our fellow Chinese practitioners.”
Having lived in Australia for 20 years, Thomas shared that his wife and children have also joined him in embracing the self-improvement meditation system. As a family, they follow Falun Dafa's principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched its suppression of Falun Gong in July 1999, practitioners have clarified the facts non-stop about this practice, and have helped the public understand the real story of Falun Gong.
“As I work at a university,” Thomas said, “people often tell me about the bad deeds the CCP has and is still committing, and how it is interfering in our society. Gradually, people discuss them, learn what is truly happening, and come up with ways to try to end the persecution in China.”
Thomas Dobson said that he is grateful for the blessings he's received from practicing Falun Dafa.
Practicing Falun Dafa for 23 years has turned him into a sincere and kind person.
“That is why we are here today,” said Mr. Dobson, “to thank Master Li, and to wish him a Happy New Year!”
Young practitioners have also benefited from practicing Dafa.
The Purpose of Life
Two sisters, Priscilla Kan (left) and Natalie Kan (right), have practiced Falun Dafa since childhood.
Priscilla Kan, an MBA student at Macquarie University in Sydney, said she began practicing Dafa at age 7 with her mother and two sisters. Later on, she had all sorts of questions, such as why are we here in this world? Where are we going in the future? Fortunately, as she continues to read Zhuan Falun, the main teachings of Falun Dafa, she found answers to all of these questions.
Priscilla said, “I have realized that the purpose of life is not making more money, leading an elite life, or having a relationship with someone. Rather, it is how to refine your true self, and return to one's origin.” To achieve that, one needs to let go of all kinds of degenerated notions in this secular world. Luckily, the principles of Falun Dafa help one to truly improve oneself from the heart and make real progress.
“It is Falun Dafa that teaches me what is right and wrong,” Priscilla continued, “and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance saved me from being lost in this world.” She said that Dafa helped her improve her mind, body, and has been beneficial to her studies, making her relaxed and happy.
No More Family Issues
Priscilla’s younger sister, Natalie, is in her senior year in high school, and plans to attend college next year, majoring in music. At age 3, she learned Falun Dafa with her family. At home, she was involved in the group exercise site, and she also helped with Falun Dafa information booths at various local events. Through these activities, she gradually learned more about the practice.
“Falun Dafa helps me to understand life and the world in a better way,” Natalie said, “and was important in changing myself into a better person. It helped me learn traditional and moral values. Therefore, no matter what happens to me or around me, I can remain positive. Most importantly, when my family experiences conflicts, each of us will look within and examine ourselves. Any problems then dissolve instantly.”
Indebted to Falun Dafa for her peaceful and happy family life, and appreciative for being guided in life and school, Natalie said that Falun Dafa has become integral to her life, and she will strive to do even better in the future.
Positive Changes
Alison has just graduated from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) with a major in music, with an emphasis on the viola. Although she has been practicing Falun Dafa with her family since childhood, she did not quite understand its preciousness until several years later.
For a while, Alison felt upset by her grades, because some students in her class did well without much effort. In contrast, she did not see major improvements in her performance no matter how hard she tried. “Thinking that every one had a system for achievement, but I did not, I was very sad,” she recalled.
The practice of Falun Dafa reminded Alison to look at things in a different way. “I came to learn that those thoughts of mine were quite selfish. That was why they did not work well. As I continued to do the exercises and study the Falun Dafa teachings, I learned to treat everything that happens to me as a practitioner. It is the same with school—I should just work hard, and do everything that I was supposed to do without pursuit,” she added. Therefore, she was no longer stressed out but was nonetheless serious about doing everything well as a student. Pretty soon, she was able to make a breakthrough in her performance at the university.
Alison said that Falun Dafa teaches her how to be a better person.
Alison said that Falun Dafa is beyond mere human notions. The Fa principles have shown her how to be a better person, and how to handle everything with a positive attitude.
“As a result,” she said, “people around me say I have a great personality. Seeing that I am a hardworking student, my music teachers often gave me extra help after the class. At my part-time job, both my boss and coworkers liked me a lot and they did not want to see me leave after I graduated,” she continued.
Alison credits all of this to the power of Falun Dafa’s principles, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. She said, “These principles are profound, and they taught me how to be a good person and how to cultivate. I cherish this, and will walk this path well. Thank you, Master Li!”
Surviving and Recovering from Gunshot Wounds
David Liang, who started practicing Falun Dafa in 1998, said he used to worry about everything, especially his chronic lumbar pain. To make things worse, he lost lots of money as a result of gambling. He'd tried numerous times to quit gambling but did not succeed. As a result, he was frustrated all the time.
Then, he said, “Everything changed after I began to practice Falun Dafa.” After reading Zhuan Falun for the first time, he stopped gambling. Three months later, he recovered from his lower back pain. He said, “Since then my physical health and energy have gotten better than ever.”
Upon hearing about the suppression in China, David joined other practitioners in raising awareness of the persecution. In 2004, he and a group of practitioners traveled to South Africa, planning to file a lawsuit against two Chinese Communist Party leaders, Zeng Qinghong and Bo Xilai.
“Unfortunately,” he said, “our phones were tapped and we were followed as soon as we arrived at Johannesburg Airport.” As he drove his fellow practitioners from the airport to their hotel, three people in a passing car shot at their car at least five times. With both ankles shot through and a comminuted fracture on the right ankle, the doctor said that full recovery was impossible and the only option would be to amputate and receive an artificial limb.
David Liang is thankful for Master Li’s help in his past 21 years of cultivation practice.
David added, “With the help from Master, I quickly recovered through studying the Fa and doing the exercises. Otherwise, it would be unimaginable—I probably would have to use a wheelchair my entire life or I could even have died. That is why I am so grateful.”
Detention Due to Belief
Ms. Li works for a news media outlet. She and her entire family are practitioners. “When I first read Zhuan Falun in 1995 [when she still lived in China], I knew that this book is special—it talked about the essence of life, something I had been looking for for decades,” she recalled. After finishing Zhuan Falun overnight, she went a nearby group practice site the next morning to learn the Falun Dafa exercises.
She remembered clearly that there were new people joining the practice every day. She said, “Those were the happiest days, because every day we read the Dafa books, and discussed how to be better citizens by following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
Ms. Li was detained numerous times in China for practicing Falun Dafa.
Because of her belief, however, Ms. Li was persecuted by the Chinese authorities. She was taken to a detention center, brainwashing center, and a labor camp. “But none of them could change my determination in continuing to cultivate in Dafa,” she said. “Master gave us the most valuable and precious thing; something no one is able to take away.”
Renewed Hope
Ms. Zhai began to practice Falun Dafa in 1999. Looking back over the past 20 years of her cultivation journey, she is grateful to Master Li for the care and support she has experienced.
She said, “Whenever I see or hear people in China fighting for material interest or fame, I am always thankful for Falun Dafa. Without that, I would probably be one of them too—hurting others and harming myself without knowing it.”
Ms. Zhai said that Falun Dafa offers hope for the future.
Ms. Zhai said that she experienced tremendous physical improvement from practicing Falun Dafa.
“At that time I wasn't yet 40 years old,” she said, “but I suffered from lower back pain, neck problems, and had an egg-sized tumor. All these problems disappeared after I started to practice Falun Dafa.” In addition, she also learned to look within, and she improved her moral character. Ms. Zhai remained humble, and always worked well with others.
Marleen van Wame, a tourist from the Netherlands stopped to watch the practitioners’ group meditation. Although this was the first time she'd come across Falun Dafa, she found the practice peaceful and rejuvenating. Concerned about the harsh persecution in China, especially the regime's organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners, Marleen said she would tell her friends about this important issue.
Upon leaving, Marleen said that she admired the practitioners’ consistent efforts in safeguarding the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. She said, “I also thank Mr. Li for bringing something so wonderful to this world, and wish him a Happy New Year!”
