(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners gathered in front of Toronto City Hall on December 25, 2022, to send New Year greetings to Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of the mind and body practice, and express their gratitude to him.

Practitioners in Toronto wish Master Li Happy New Year.

Young practitioners in Toronto wished Master Li a Happy New Year!

Practitioners who clarify the truth to people at tourist attractions wish Master Li a Happy New Year!

Practitioners in the Toronto Tian Guo Marching Band wish Master Li a Happy New Year!

Western Practitioner Finds Falun Dafa During the Pandemic

Ben Christensen, who began to practice Falun Dafa in the spring of 2020, wishes Master Li Happy New Year!

Ben Christensen, who began to practice Falun Dafa in the spring of 2020, said, “Every day is a precious opportunity and gift to me now because it enables me to keep changing into a better self by following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.”

He said he found information about Falun Dafa during an Internet forum when the pandemic was at its height in Toronto.

Ben, who studies graphic design in school, said, “Doing the exercises and studying the Fa helps me focus on my work in design because I need to observe and pay attention to many details.”

“I naturally quit smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs after taking up the practice. Before I lived for fleeting pleasures and as a result, my body paid a price for these unhealthy habits. I felt tired and drained of energy the whole day.”

“Not long after I began reading Zhuan Falun, I went through physical cleansing as mentioned in the book.”

For example, ailments such as lumbar disc herniation and osgood-schlatter disease that plagued him since childhood disappeared. “In addition, I used to be afraid of being overworked. Hence I never persisted in my part-time jobs for long and my grades were not too good.”

“Through practicing Falun Dafa, I became wiser, physically stronger and fit. I stayed in my part-time job for over a year and only quit when I had gone to the university.” He also did many laborious tasks at work but did not feel tired at all.

According to Ben, he used to be selfish and only cared about himself. “After I became a practitioner, I learned to put others before myself. I felt my life becoming more meaningful and of value when I am able to care for others. For instance, I now enjoy cooking for my roommates.”

He thanked Master Li for making his life more meaningful through practicing cultivation and wishes Master a Happy New Year!

I Will Continue to Practice Cultivation Solidly

Li Yuanlong is a young practitioner who followed his mother in practicing Falun Dafa when he was young, and sent New Year greetings to Master Li.

Li Yuanlong has been practicing Falun Dafa together with his mother since 1998, when he was a child. “My mother was repeatedly sent to forced labor camps and brainwashing classes because of her faith. I grew up in fear.”

His family was financially persecuted as well and life was difficult. “I was reported for telling my classmates about Falun Dafa when I was at the university. I decided to leave China. I went through great challenges applying for overseas studies. My mother was arrested again and during interrogations, the authorities asked if we had connections with hostile forces outside of China.

“Master arranged everything. I got my student visa and my mother’s application for a passport was approved. We managed to find enough money for my school fees and we came to Canada.”

Yuanlong now has a stable job. His friends and classmates envy his current situation. “Non-practitioners see me as a hardworking, self-motivated person but these are all blessings from Dafa.

“I consider myself very fortunate to be a Dafa practitioner. I hope I can practice cultivation solidly in the New Year, get rid of attachments and awaken people to the truth about Falun Dafa and the persecution. Thank you Master! Thank you Dafa!”

Zhuan Falun Guided Me to Become a Better Person

Michelle Nguyen, who began to practice Falun Dafa in 2016, wished Master Li a Happy New Year!

Michelle Nguyen, who began to practice Falun Dafa in 2016, said, “Before I practiced Falun Dafa, I suffered from all kinds of illnesses. I could not eat a lot of food due to digestive problems. I also had a pituitary tumor in my brain. In less than a month, I was told by doctors I had a rare congenital disease. I only had one carotid artery carrying blood to my head. After surgery, doctors informed my family they had done their best and my condition could not be treated.”

Soon her vision, hearing and memory started deteriorating. “At times, my right arm would suddenly become numb. Gradually, my face became distorted. From the age of 24-32, during the prime of my life, I went from one hospital to another. I even went to the U.S. to seek treatment.”

At the end of 2016, she learned that a friend who had cancer slowly recovered through practicing Falun Dafa. “Two weeks later, someone left a flier about Falun Dafa on my door.

“I went to the Falun Dafa website to watch Master’s taped lectures. I fell asleep and slept soundly. Three hours later, I woke up. I rewound the video and continued to watch the lectures. I fell asleep several times while I watched. I sat up all night and watched Master’s Nine Day Lecture until the next morning.”

She later met a practitioner who taught the exercises, and she began going to the park to do the exercises. “I went home after learning the movements and doing the exercises for an hour. To my surprise, I slept continuously for 12 hours afterwards I never slept so well after I began suffering from migraines and insomnia. I felt refreshed when I woke up.

“Falun Dafa lifted me from the darkness and depression at a time when my life was at a low point. Now, I face life full of hope and brightness. I finally found meaning in life. I learned not to resent and to forgive others. I turned into a better person and built great relationships with my in-laws, relatives, neighbors, and everyone around me. Thank you Master!”

I Hope More People Can Experience How Wonderful Falun Dafa Is

Lisa, who began to practice Falun Dafa in 2016, sent New Year greetings to Master Li.

In 2016, Lisa became aware of the persecution of Falun Dafa by the Chinese Communist regime through news reports. She searched online to learn more about the practice and read many stories of practitioners benefiting through practicing cultivation.

“I started to read Zhuan Falun after reading articles on the Minghui website. I felt as if I woke up from a deep sleep after reading just a few sentences in Zhuan Falun. The contents of it was the truth I had been looking for. I was astounded and joyous. I don’t know why but I wept.”

“I often wondered when I was young: What is the purpose of life? Why do people go through birth and death? I was constantly searching for answers. At times, I thought if there was a teacher who could explain things to me and guide me to the right path, how wonderful that would be. Now my wish has come true. I taught myself the five sets of exercises following Master’s video instructions.”

“My three children were very young then. My youngest child was only one year old. I often read Zhuan Falun while taking care of them.”

She read the Fa and did the exercises herself at home for several years. She found other practitioners in 2021 and joined a study group. “We read the Fa online at a fixed time and even worked on truth-clarification projects together.

“Falun Dafa taught me to keep improving my character. I have now become kinder. I used to have post-natal depression and got upset easily. I would lose control when I suffered setbacks or got upset. I would be overwhelmed by negative thoughts. Since I became a practitioner, I knew challenges in life happen for a reason.

“My mind has been purified by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance and my life is filled with happiness. I am more optimistic and think positively. I am able to guide my children in the right direction. When there are problems in life, I can deal with them calmly now.

She said she hopes more people can learn about Falun Dafa and know how wonderful it is. “I cannot thank Master enough for teaching us the Fa!” she said.

Background: What Is Falun Dafa?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.

Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 23 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply China’s organ transplant industry.