(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Pennsylvania were invited to the office of State Representative Robert E. Merski on the afternoon of May 11, 2023, where they received a citation sponsored by Rep. Merski that celebrated World Falun Dafa Day and recognized the tradition that is now practiced by tens of millions around the world, including Pennsylvania. Rep. Merski also expressed strong interest in learning Falun Dafa.

Rep. Robert E. Merski (right) presenting the citation to Falun Gong practitioners Liu Xiaoyan (middle) and Bob Taylor (Courtesy of Rep. Merski)

Rep. Merski commended the practitioners’ dedication in bringing this ancient mind-body practice to the community, as well as their persistent effort in raising awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s violent campaign against Falun Dafa since 1999.

“Now therefore, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania joins with citizens across this commonwealth in commemorating the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction to the Chinese public on the 13th day of May 1992 and in recognizing the tradition now practiced by tens of millions around the world, including Pennsylvania,” read the citation.

Rep. Merski also invited the two Falun Dafa practitioners to share their experience in the practice and expressed his interest in learning it.

Ms. Liu Xiaoyan told Rep. Merski that she used to suffer from memory loss before taking up Falun Dafa. The practice not only helped her regain health, but her character also improved. She abides by the principles of Falun Dafa, and has become calm and peaceful.

Ms. Liu gave an example of how she improved her mind nature while working in a lab. “My manager did not get the funding that he applied for. He was in a bad mood and scolded us at will. People left one by one, but I stayed and continued to work hard. He was moved and said to me that I was a kind person. If I did not practice Falun Dafa, I might have just left like the others. Dafa enabled me to handle things calmly, consider others first, and not to get upset or resentful when things didn’t go my way.”

Rep. Merski listened attentively and he said, “This practice gave you a new life. Everyone in my office needs to learn this.”

Another Falun Dafa practitioner, Bob Taylor, had worked in the performing arts industry for more than thirty years. When Shen Yun came to Pittsburgh four years ago, a lighting technician from Shen Yun introduced Falun Dafa to him. Taylor liked it very much. He went online, found the practice site, and then started practicing.

“I got angry easily before. When I encountered a traffic jam, I would honk and yell. After practicing Dafa, I became calmer. And when I do the exercises, I can feel strong energy and feel so much better.”

Rep. Merski shared that he had the same frustration and he needed to improve in that area. He added that his son always plays on his phone and he cried when he took his phone away. He said that he needed to introduce Falun Dafa and the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance to his son.