(Minghui.org) The Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance held the Fun Philippines event on July 22 and July 23, 2023, in Toronto’s Little Manila neighborhood.
The two-day event is one of Canada’s biggest street festivals during the summer, with stalls stretching more than half a mile. About 200,000 people participated in the event this year. Falun Dafa practitioners were once again invited to participate and set up a booth.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the event. When the Prime Minister passed by the Falun Dafa booth, a practitioner was standing beside him holding a leaflet introducing Falun Dafa. The Prime Minister extended his hand and shook hands with the practitioner.
This year, many people came to the Falun Dafa booth to learn the exercises. They read the display boards, took brochures, listened to practitioners introduce Falun Dafa, and asked for little lotus flowers with cards that read “Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”
Some people told practitioners that they had seen practitioners doing the exercises in the park before and that they had read display boards introducing Falun Dafa on the side of the road, and that they had been interested in Falun Dafa at the time. Because of this interest, when they saw the practitioners’ booth they came over to learn more about it and learn the exercises. Many people said they felt very comfortable after learning the exercises.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau passes by the Falun Dafa booth.
People came to the Falun Dafa practitioners’ booth to learn about Falun Dafa
People learn the exercises at the booth.
Organizer: Falun Dafa Is Suitable for All Ages
Organizer Nestor Lumayor (right) praised Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.
Nestor Lumayor is a director of the Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance. He came to the Falun Dafa booth in the process of coordinating various booths.
A practitioner introduced Falun Dafa to him. He said, “It is very good that practitioners take Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance as their personal beliefs. It can soothe the soul and refresh the body and mind. The principles of cultivation explained by the teaching of Falun Dafa are profound, yet average people can understand and practice them. Moreover, the movement of the exercises is slow and suitable for all ages.”
Filipino Immigrant: “Practicing Falun Dafa Makes Me Feel Relaxed”
Jean said that she felt relaxed after learning the exercises at the booth.
Jean is Filipino. She went straight to the booth when she saw practitioners demonstrating the exercises. “I know Falun Dafa,” she said, “I saw practitioners doing exercises in the park before.” A practitioner asked her if she wanted to learn. She agreed without hesitation.
After learning the exercises, Jean said, “I feel good and relaxed. Doing the exercises can make your mood relaxed and calm, especially when under psychological pressure.”
After seeing the flyer that explains Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are the guiding standards of Falun Dafa, she commented, “It's all positive qualities.”
Civil Servant: “I Always Wanted to Learn Falun Dafa”
Jared said that he has always wanted to learn Falun Dafa.
Jared is a public servant and had set up a community booth at the event. He came to the Falun Dafa booth and told the practitioners that he had a strong interest in traditional Chinese culture. He said a few simple Chinese words.
He expressed his strong interest in learning Falun Dafa, “I once saw practitioners doing the exercises outdoors. I wanted to learn it at that time, because I always felt anxious, unable to relax, and had difficulty falling asleep. I know that Falun Dafa is beneficial to physical and mental health, so I always wanted to learn it.”
A practitioner told Jared that apart from the exercises, Falun Dafa also has the concepts of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. He agreed with the principles, “Forbearance is very important. I work in a government department and can deal with people who are not simple or friendly. Therefore, I need to learn to remain calm. I must forbear at work and cannot speak ill to others. At the same time, I also need to release the pressure so it won’t break me down.”
Jared had to leave because he had to go back to his booth to work. He told the practitioner before leaving, “I will visit the website written on the brochure when I get home and learn more about Falun Dafa.”
Thailand: “Doing the Exercises Makes My Body and Mind Feel Light and Soft”
Cindy came to the Falun Dafa booth and learned the Falun Dafa standing exercises and sitting meditation.
Cindy is from Thailand. She had seen practitioners’ booths in Chinatown before and had also gone online to learn about Falun Dafa. She came to the Dafa booth at the festival and stayed for a long time, attentively learning Falun Dafa’s standing exercises and sitting meditation.
After finishing the exercises, Cindy said, “I feel that the exercises are very good. Both my body and mind feel light and soft. I think practicing Falun Dafa will benefit me. I will go online and continue to learn it.”
A Tourist: “I Will Continue to Learn It After I Go Home”
Ateseh at the Falun Dafa booth.
Ateseh is a tourist visiting Toronto. “Although it’s the first time that I've heard about Falun Dafa, once I saw the booth, I wanted to come and learn the exercises,” she said. Ateseh learned all five sets of exercises at the booth.
After learning the exercises, she said, “I feel refreshed after doing the exercises. I know that practicing it will make me healthier. Thank you for teaching me the exercises. I am very grateful! I will continue to learn it.”
Italian: “I Can’t Understand the CCP’s Persecution of Falun Dafa”
Mario said he cannot understand the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) persecution of Falun Dafa.
Mario is an Italian. He had watched an online video that exposed the CCP’s persecution of Falun Dafa. He said he could not understand the persecution at all. “Falun Dafa teaches people a way of thinking. The CCP’s persecution of the body cannot kill spiritual belief.”
Looking at the practitioners demonstrating the exercises, Mario said, “Before, I only knew that Falun Dafa teaches the principles of life. I didn't know it included exercises. When I came to the booth, I found that the practice not only brings spiritual sublimation, it also exercises the body.”
He went on to say, “Being a person according to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is a way of self-improvement, and can build a better and wonderful world in a practitioner’s heart. I liked it when I first heard about this philosophy of life. I went to websites and read information about Falun Dafa. I will continue to read about it online after I go home.”
Bulgaria: The Exercises Make Me Feel Peaceful, Serene, and Friendly
Radostina (left) said that doing the exercises makes her feel happy, and she feels peaceful, serene, and friendly in her heart
Radostina saw a practitioner teaching a lady the exercises as she passed by the Falun Dafa booth while riding her bicycle in the evening. She parked her bicycle and came over to learn too. She followed the practitioner and did all five sets of exercises.
She said, “I felt a calm and beautiful atmosphere in the booth. I felt the resonance and was attracted to it, so I came over. I didn’t expect the teaching would be voluntary and free of charge. I am very grateful for the time and effort that the practitioner spent, and for carefully teaching me the exercises.”
Radostina explained how she felt when she was doing the exercises. “I felt a kind of natural positive energy when I was learning the exercises. I like all five exercises. They make me feel happy. At this moment, I am at peace, serene and friendly. Thank you so much,” she said.
Radostina continued, “I was going to do yoga tomorrow, but now I have changed my mind. I am going to read the books on the Falun Dafa website. When the practitioner told me about the website, I thought I would help with translation if the books are unavailable in Bulgarian, because I gained so much at the booth and wanted to repay it. I was very happy when I learned that Falun Dafa books have been translated into Bulgarian. I will read in English and my mother tongue. I will also tell my yoga buddies to learn Falun Dafa because everyone needs to discover and explore by themselves.”
In the end, she expressed concern and sympathy for Falun Dafa practitioners in China, “My country, Bulgaria, used to be a communist country too, so I understand its evil. I am worried about the Falun Dafa practitioners who are imprisoned by the CCP.”
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