(Minghui.org) Practitioners in the greater Toronto area celebrated World Falun Dafa Day and the 31st anniversary of the introduction of Falun Dafa by its founder, Master Li Hongzhi, on the front lawn of the Ontario Provincial Parliament building on May 13, 2023. They did the group exercises and wished Master Li a happy birthday. The peaceful exercises attracted many passersby. Some immediately said they wanted to learn the practice.
Practitioners celebrated Falun Dafa Day on the front lawn of the Ontario Provincial Parliament building on May 13, 2023.
Passersby talk with practitioners.
“I Will Definitely Learn This Practice.”
Pranav, from St. Louis, Missouri, joined the practitioners in doing the exercises.
Pranav, from St. Louis in the U.S., attends high school in Toronto. He was attracted to the peaceful exercises. He did the second exercise with the practitioners.
He said, “I walked by the park today and saw them practicing. My mother was interested in meditation and we did it together. These practitioners seemed so peaceful and relaxed. I was very interested in it. I wanted to join them because it seemed more peaceful than other practices.”
He talked about how he felt while doing the exercise, “I felt very peaceful. I felt that I could control my body and my mind. I liked the feeling of meditating, and I enjoy meditating.”
He added, “I think Falun Dafa teaches people how to improve their bodies and minds, so I like it. I think it’s very beneficial to me.”
When he learned more about Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, he said, “I completely agree with it. I think these three words cover all aspects of life. When we have a moral code to follow and values to adhere to, we have a direction in our life. I think Falun Dafa’s principles apply to all situations.”
Before leaving, Pranav said, “I will definitely learn how to practice. It will be very beneficial to me and I am very excited.”
“This Practice is Very Peaceful and Serene.”
Omar, who passed by with his daughter, was fascinated by the group exercise. He said, “When I saw them practicing, I was very interested. I felt that this practice was very peaceful and tranquil. I think it’s a good meditation method.
“I would like to learn to practice it in the future.” After learning from the practitioners that Falun Dafa was more than just five sets of exercises and that its principles are Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, Omar said, “I agree that physical health and spiritual health are equally important. I agree with the principles. I think these principles are essential to all aspects of society, and I think everyone should follow these principles.”
He concluded, “I think that practicing through meditation is a good way. Practitioners introduced the virtue of kindness and sincerity to people, and that is very good.”
New Practitioner: Lucky to Start Cultivation During the Pandemic
New practitioner Nhan drove from Hamilton to join the activities.
Nhan, who has been practicing for two years, learned about Falun Dafa from his friend. He drove to Toronto with some friends to join the group exercises.
He said, “I watched the video of Master’s teachings and started to practice on my own after my friends told me about Falun Dafa. During the pandemic, many people around me got COVID, but I did not panic. I was safe and sound. I believe in Master, and I hope to return to my true home together with Master. I also hope that people all over the world can learn about Falun Dafa and benefit from it.”
Nhan said, “Falun Dafa has changed me. I have learned that I should be kind to people, help others, and treat people sincerely. Mental and physical health are equally important. This is especially important for today’s young people. Through reading the Fa (teachings) and cultivating myself, I have really changed a lot.”
Grateful for Master Li
Young practitioner Lu Hongyan (center)
Lu Hongyan grew up in poor health. Her health worsened in junior high school, “I had a family history of hepatitis B. My intestines were very weak because I had taken medicine for years. I always hoped that a powerful Master would help me.
“When I was in high school, I had to have an operation for appendicitis. I was very scared. My mother, who was a practitioner, suggested I read Zhuan Falun, the main text of Falun Dafa. She said if I practiced, maybe I wouldn’t have to undergo the operation. After reading the first lecture, I started to vomit. To my surprise, even though I vomited all night, I didn’t feel bad. After vomiting out some small black sand-like things, I didn’t feel pain at all. The doctor examined me and said I didn’t need the surgery. I experienced the wonders of Dafa.”
However, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) started the persecution a few months later, and Hongyan lost her practice environment. After leaving home for college, she gave up practicing altogether.
She later moved to Canada. “I went to a university in a small city where there were few Chinese, and I had no contact with any practitioners. I felt hopeless, and felt life was meaningless.
“In 2005, a practitioner held a Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance exhibition at the university where I was studying. I felt that this was probably my opportunity to resume cultivation. I talked to the practitioners and returned to cultivation with their help. I was grateful that Master didn’t give up on me,” she said.
“After returning to cultivation I looked at the world with kindness and no longer felt that the world was dark and cold. After I gave up cultivation, I became selfish and egotistical. I always wanted to fight with others. After practicing sincerely, I began to think of others and look inward when I encountered conflicts,” Hongyan added.
She said that having the opportunity to practice Dafa was the luckiest thing in the world, “Dafa not only teaches people to cultivate their minds to become better people, but also filled people’s hearts with hope. I no longer felt that life was hopeless, and felt lost. I believed that as long as I did not give up in cultivation, I would always find a way out with hope, no matter how difficult it was.”
She concluded by saying, “Life has its ups and downs. We will encounter all kinds of difficulties, but if we are fortunate to have Master and Dafa to guide us, we can always walk out of the challenges!”
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