California: Practitioners in San Francisco Hold Parade to Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and Wish Dafa’s Founder a Happy Birthday

(Minghui.org) May 13, 2021 is the 29^th anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa as well as the 70^th birthday of Dafa’s founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi. To celebrate the occasion, Bay Area Falun Dafa practitioners held a parade on Saturday May 8, 2021 at the popular tourist destination Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.

Practitioners do the Falun Dafa exercises before the parade.

In celebration of Falun Dafa Day, practitioners held a parade at the popular tourist attraction Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. They also wished the founder of Falun Dafa a Happy Birthday.

Saturday May 8th was sunny and warm. Practitioners first did the Falun Dafa exercises together outside the Ferry Building, demonstrating the serene and graceful movements. Many tourists were drawn to the scene, and some followed along and learned the exercises. 

The parade started off at the Ferry Building at 12 p.m. It moved along Embarcadero St., passed through Fisherman’s Wharf and ended at the Maritime Garden.

Before the parade, practitioners took a group photo and wished Master Li Happy Birthday.

Family Thanks Master for His Compassionate Salvation

Andy Ellsmore and his family have benefited from the practice of Falun Dafa.

Andy Ellsmore and his family all practice Falun Dafa. They traveled from Truckee, a town in Northeast California to attend the parade. Andy said he was overjoyed to take part in the day’s activities and celebrate Master’s birthday. “Today is a great day. I hope people will get to know how amazing Falun Dafa is. My wife and I have reaped rewards from practicing. Our children also practice. Our family has become even more harmonious. We thank Master for his compassionate salvation,” he said.

His wife Lisa Ellsmore added, “I became more patient after practicing Falun Dafa. My health improved too. It is not easy to bring up three children. As practitioners, I learned to teach them with patience. I am always looking at how I can improve my character.”

Their oldest daughter Maia said, “Falun Dafa has enabled me to be more peaceful and get along well with my younger siblings. It has helped me concentrate better in my studies. It’s wonderful to be able to take part in activities to celebrate Master’s birthday.”

A More Forgiving, Better Person

Jiang Lan thanks Master for teaching the practice.

Jiang Lan works in a media company in the Bay area. Her dentist introduced her to Falun Dafa in April 1998. She was impressed by her dentist’s calm demeanor and rosy complexion. The dentist learned that Jiang likes to practice qigong and recommended that she read Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa. “I thought it was just an ordinary qigong book. After reading it, I realized how extraordinary it is,” she said.

Jiang Lan recounted an experience she had while reading the book for the first time. “It was common for businessmen to offer gifts and money as bribes and I was used to accepting them. My relatives were envious [of my job]. But after I read about the relationship between loss and gain, I realized this is not right. I thought I was capable but I had gained a lot of karma. From that day on, I never took a single thing from my workplace. The power of Dafa is amazing!

“My family was poor during the Cultural Revolution and great famine. I was malnourished and suffered from many illnesses. My face was covered with black spots. Since I began to practice, the power of Dafa has changed me completely. I became a better person with higher morals and took fame and gain lightly. I have become more forgiving and learned to take things lightly. My health is better. Dafa is great and I am grateful to Master.”

Practitioners Are Doing a Good Thing

Fred, a tourist from Florida (left), learns the exercises.

Fred Valles is from Florida, and said he felt wonderful after learning the exercises. “I can feel energy while doing the exercises. The practitioners very patiently showed me the movements. My body feels great now, and I feel very relaxed,” he said.

Seeing practitioners doing the exercises so serenely, he said, “They are astonishing. These people are doing a good thing, helping people gain energy.”

He said he will look for a local practice site when he returns home.

A Peaceful Energy

Marta Ceron (right) learns the exercises.

When Marta Ceron, a medical worker, saw practitioners doing the exercises at Fisherman’s Wharf, she followed along with their movements. She said doing the exercises made her relax and forget about the pandemic. She enjoyed the calm atmosphere and thought it was wonderful.

Marta, who looks after the elderly at a local clinic, said, “I feel amazing after learning the exercises. I love it. I have been looking for something to help me relax. This is excellent. There is a peaceful energy coming from these practitioners. It makes me feel at peace too.”

I Support Falun Dafa 1000%

Robert Martin, who works in an insurance company in San Francisco, said he totally supports Falun Dafa.

Robert Martin, who works in an insurance company in San Francisco, kept using his mobile phone to take photos of the day’s activities. He said, “I think Falun Dafa is excellent especially in such troubled times; it is great that people know about it.”

He read the banners held by practitioners and learned that they were celebrating the 29^th anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa. “I often see practitioners' activities. I support them 1000%. The Chinese Communist Party’s persecution is terrible. We cannot tolerate such a thing in today’s 21^st century,” he said.

Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, This Is Exactly What We All Need

Darrel Adams

Darrel Adams who lives in the East Bay Area never heard of Falun Dafa, so he stopped to watch the practitioners for a long time. He was reluctant to leave and finally said, “I love this activity. They look so kind and serene. I feel as if I am part of it and I feel amazing. It makes me want to know more about Dafa.”

When Darrel learned that practitioners in China are tortured for their belief and that this is still happening, he said in shock, “Why? Why would the CCP persecute this group of kind people. They simply want to be good. I think Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is exactly what we all need and these principles should spread to every corner of the world.”

Falun Dafa Brings Us Hope

Sergio Martinez

Sergio Martinez, a San Francisco hair stylist, was drawn by the peaceful exercise movements and the music. Sergio said, “I love to watch the exercises. I can feel a very strong energy field. The weather is excellent today. Their yellow costumes appear so bright under the sun, it makes one feel good. I thank you for showing people such an amazing practice. It brings us hope!”

Sergio agrees with the principles of Dafa – Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. He said, “If you put Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance in front of everyone in the world, do you need anything else? These are universal values. If everyone follows Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance—the basic human principles, the world will become a better place.”