New York: Falun Gong Practitioners Wish Master Li a Happy New Year

(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners from the greater New York area held an event at the Sheraton Hotel in Flushing, New York, on December 24, 2022, to wish Master Li a Happy New Year. They thanked Master for spreading Falun Dafa to save sentient beings from danger. 

Falun Gong practitioners from the Greater New York area wish Master Li a Happy New Year for 2023

Because of a winter storm across the United States, temperatures had dropped sharply that day, but the Phoenix Ballroom in the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing was warm. Nearly 1000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered together to watch performances and wish their great and compassionate Master Happy New Year. The stage was surrounded by flowers and a pink banner that read: “2023 New Year’s Greetings to Master from New York Dafa Disciples.” A huge banner in the middle of the stage read: “Happy New Year, Master.”

Falun Gong practitioners who participated in the event were of all ages and many different ethnicities. Some were from families where three generations were all practitioners. Ms. Feng, the oldest in attendance, was over 90 years old and in good spirits. Some of the young Dafa practitioners were in elementary school or junior high school. One baby was only seven months old. Her mother, Ms. Sun, said that she played recordings of Master’s lectures to the baby every day, “Four generations of our family practice Falun Dafa. We are extremely fortunate and grateful to Master Li,” Ms. Sun said.

Falun Gong practitioners pressed their hands in front of their chests in heshi and recited together with gratitude, “We wish Master a Happy New Year. Falun Dafa is good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.” They also encouraged each other to be more diligent in their cultivation and seize the time to save people.

Ways to Avoid the Pandemic: Two Phrases and Quitting the Chinese Communist Party 

The COVID-19 pandemic has been spreading fast in China ahead of the New Year. Master Li Hongzhi has been telling people the truth for many years. Mr. Li Hongzhi pointed out in his scripture “Stay Rational” in March 2020: 

“Truth be told, pandemics only come when people’s morals and values have turned bad and they have come to have a massive amount of karma.” (“Stay Rational”) 

“What people should do, instead, is to repent to the divine with all due sincerity, admit to their faults, and pray for a chance to change their ways. That is the way to go, and that is the magic cure.” (“Stay Rational”) 

“But a pandemic like the current Chinese Communist Virus (or “Wuhan Virus”) comes with a purpose behind it, and it has targets. It is here to weed out members of the Party and those who have sided with it.” (“Stay Rational”) 

“...when people’s morals change, things will change for the better.” (“Stay Rational”) 

The pandemic situation in China is currently very dire and has caused concern among overseas Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong practitioners around the world have been working hard to clarify the truth to Chinese people through making phone calls, raising awareness on the streets, advising people to withdraw from the CCP organizations, printing materials and running media. They hope that Chinese people will quit the CCP organizations to have a safe future.

Yi Rong, Director of the New York Falun Dafa Association and Chair of the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP, said, “For the past 23 years, Falun Dafa practitioners have been persuading people to quit the CCP organizations to ensure safety. This is true, especially now during the pandemic. There is a good way to avoid the epidemic: quit the CCP organizations to keep safe, and at the same time remember the two phrases: Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good. One can receive blessings and save oneself from danger.”

Falun Gong Practitioners’ Gratitude

Juan Lara, 27, has been practicing Falun Gong for a little over two years. He started practicing after his curiosity was stirred as he passed the practice site in Manhattan’s Central Park in August 2020. It was during the peak of the pandemic in New York. 

He said that after studying the Fa, he understood many principles in life and changed a lot. He said he was very lucky to practice Falun Gong. He said he had encountered difficulties before practicing Falun Gong, but did not know why. After practicing, he realized that all the hardships in life were opportunities to refine his character.

“I thank Master for teaching me these Fa principles and letting me know how to act according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” Juan said.

Art Performances Call on People to Seize the Opportunity to Gain Salvation

The celebratory activities that day kicked off with a golden lion dance and a golden dragon dance team. 

Performances during the celebrationPerformances

Sun Changyu sang a song during the performance and explained the meaning of the lyrics: “This song expresses a deep understanding of a person’s life and the meaning of life. The meaning of life lies in practicing and returning to one’s true self. Now Falun Dafa is spreading in the world, and just like the lyrics in the song: There is a way to return to heaven; The truth solves worries; and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has come. 

“I hope that people in the world will cherish the opportunity, listen to the words from Falun Gong practitioners, and understand right and wrong, good and evil,” he 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 worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—and learned the five exercises have experienced improved health and well-being.