(Minghui.org) World Falun Dafa Day celebrations were held in major cities in Australia to wish Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa, a happy birthday and to mark the 32nd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction. Officials, local community leaders, and citizens honored the occasion and commended the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.
[Continued from Part 1]
Letter from Councilor of the City of Gold Coast
Letter from Councilor Joe Wilkinson of the City of Gold Coast
The letter reads, “With approximately 100 million people in over 100 countries around the world practicing Falun Dafa, it’s wonderful to see my local Gold Coast branch of Falun Dafa actively encourage those they meet to experience the benefits of Falun Dafa; to enjoy good health, increased energy levels and reduced stress.”
Councilor Jess Diaz of the City of Blacktown addressed the rally.
Blacktown City Councilor Jess Diaz conveyed greetings and congratulations to Falun Dafa practitioners for commemorating World Falun Dafa Day 2024 and the birthday of its founder Li Hongzhi. “I feel very honored to be able to praise Falun Dafa disciples on this memorable day.”
Councilor Paul Garrard of the City of Cumberland addressed the rally.
Cumberland City Councilor Paul Garrard said that World Falun Dafa Day “is a great holiday that represents the foundation of Falun Dafa” and “the founding virtues of this great movement - Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. I am proud of your organization for demonstrating and living these virtues.”
Councilor Helen Hughes of the City of Cumberland addressed the rally.
Cumberland City Councilor Helen Hughes said, “The courage and perseverance shown by the Falun Dafa group in insisting on standing embodies their faith, virtue and courage in the face of adversity.”
Parramatta City Councilor Sameer Pandey said, “I have always been very supportive of organizations that work with communities to improve health and wellbeing, promote peace and harmony, provide hope and help and build a moral foundation for communities. I firmly believe that Falun Dafa has done these things for all of us in our community. I thank and congratulate the organization for sharing with us a tradition of self-cultivation based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.”
Parramatta City Councilor Phillip Bradley said, “I wish the celebration of World Falun Dafa Day on May 13, 2024 a complete success!” He also said, “I am a true and staunch supporter of the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.”
Councilor Sarkis Yedelian OAM, former Mayor of Ryde, said, “I know that Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are the tenets of Falun Dafa. I would like to thank you for your dedication to your faith and the contribution you make to our community by sharing your practice and faith with all of us.”
Councilor Sreeni Pillamarri of Hornsby County, Justice of the Peace of New South Wales, stated in his letter, “Today, the guiding principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are still the same as those first proposed in 1992. It is still of practical significance.
“I recognize and thank Falun Dafa practitioners for their contributions to our community. By sharing their practice and values with the public, they promote harmonious living among people of all nations.”
Kerry Robinson OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Blacktown Council wrote, “As you prepare to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day, I write to wish you all the best.
“Your commitment to practicing your cultural traditions contributes to the prosperity of our community.”
Councilor Tina Liu of the City of Whitehorse speaks in the rally.
Councilor Tina Liu said that Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are universal values and essential to humankind.
Councilor Blair Barker of the City of Whitehorse addressed the rally.
Councilor Blair Barker addressed the rally and said that the Falun Dafa group in Whitehorse is full of energy. He said that everyone is free to practice their faith in a democratic country.
Councilor Andrew Munroe of the City of Whitehorse
Senior city councilor Andrew Munroe believes that the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are very important. “These principles promote people’s well-being and community harmony.”
He said, “I wish Master Li Hongzhi a happy birthday on May 13th. Please give my most sincere wishes to Mr. Li!”
Former Mayor Andrew Wilson
Andrew Wilson, former Lord Mayor of Parramatta, New South Wales said, “Happy birthday to Master Li! I am very happy to wish you all the best! I think this year will be a good harvest for Falun Dafa. This year is a harvest year for China and a harvest year for the world!
“I believe that evil will be corrected and good will prevail. I firmly believe that Falun Dafa will be practiced freely in China like other regions.”
Dignitaries of All Circles Commend Falun Dafa
Cong Le, Chair of Vietnamese Community in Australia
Mr. Cong Le, Chair of the Australian Vietnamese Community, said, “I cherish Falun Dafa very much and appreciate Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong developed very fast in the early days because this practice can benefit many people. This is why Falun Gong is so widely accepted by more than 100 countries around the world, and that one in 13 people in China practiced Falun Gong at that time, which is a very high proportion.”
He said, “I know this is a peaceful spiritual cultivation method. During the persecution, you stick to your belief in Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. You are as stoic as water, the best is as good as water, and you are rational and wise. This is why Falun Gong, in the face of cruel persecution, still persists to this day.
“Falun Gong is suitable for people of all ages and can bring benefits to the entire community. Please stick to it. Kind-hearted people all over the world stand behind you and support you!”
Professor David Flint AM
Professor David Flint AM, a recipient of the Order of Australia and a senior Sydney jurist, said, “Over the years, I have seen that Falun Dafa operates entirely within the scope of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.”
Dr. Sev Ozdowski AM
Former Australian Human Rights Commissioner (2000-2005) Dr. Sev Ozdowski AM was awarded the “2021 Falun Gong Human Rights Award” by Friends of Falun Gong for his long-term support of Falun Gong’s effort against the persecution.
Dr. Osdolsky described Falun Dafa as “a very beautiful group.” Regarding Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, Dr. Osdolsky said, “If we are not compassionate toward each other, what kind of world will we live in? These three words [Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance] are exactly what our modern society needs.”
His message to practitioners on World Falun Dafa Day was, “Please be strong, because the message you convey is not only very important to Falun Dafa practitioners, but also to the whole world!”
Dr. Feng Chongyi of the University of Technology Sydney
Dr. Feng Chongyi, chairman of the “Australian and New Zealand Alliance of Victims of the Chinese Communist Regime”, a scholar on China issues, and professor at the University of Technology Sydney, said, “You are spiritual practitioners who practice the principles of traditional Chinese Buddhism. The Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance you follow are a challenge to the totalitarian rule of the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese Communist regime will not tolerate any spiritual beliefs or organizations. You are facing the most evil regime in human history.”
Paul Folley, General Manager at Australian TFP
Paul Folley, General Manager at Australian TFP, said, “I am very happy to be with you today. When the time to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day comes again, I want to celebrate the resilience of so many people in China in the face of such horrific and brutal persecution, and Falun Gong has been, in many ways, the most seriously persecuted group over the past few decades. So it’s very important that we stand with the Chinese people.”
Dawa Sangmo
Dawa Sangmo is the Chinese Liaison Officer of the Central Tibetan Administration’s Government-in-Exile Office in Australia. She said, “I learned that the core principles of practicing Falun Gong are Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, which guide practitioners to cultivate their hearts and be kind. It is admirable to see the firm belief shown by Falun Gong practitioners in the face of persecution.”
Ruan Jie, Chief editor of the pro-democracy Chinese Australian newspaper The Tiananmen Times
Cheif editor Ruan Jie said, “We should be proud that China can give birth to a force like Falun Gong that advocates Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, which represents universal values.” He said, “Falun Gong is very great and Falun Gong is very good. I hope that all people, especially the Chinese, will realize the importance of Falun Gong in restoring morality in our Chinese society, and support them and recognize them.”
Ruan Jie said that only Falun Gong can make China better. “I think restoring social morality is the most important thing in today’s China. The emergence of Falun Gong allows our country in the future to quickly restore social morality and social justice on the ruins of morality destroyed by the Chinese Communist Party.”
Gao Jian, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of the Melbourne Democracy Alliance
Gao Jian, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of the Melbourne Democracy Alliance, said, “In the face of the brutal persecution of the Chinese Communist Party, tens of millions of Dafa practitioners are still practicing and promoting Dafa. Falun Gong practitioners adhere to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, peace, rationality and non-violence. Resisting the tyranny of the Chinese Communist Party is an amazing force that only God can do.
“I see hope from Falun Gong practitioners, and I am grateful to Dafa disciples!”
Dr. Qin Jin, Chairman of Federation for a Democratic China
Dr. Qin Jin said, “I am very happy to express my long-term support and appreciation for Falun Gong. The emergence of Falun Gong has made a great contribution to the revival of traditional Chinese culture and moral concepts.”
Dr. Qin hopes that the Chinese Communist regime will collapse so that, “the Chinese people can be saved from the brutal communist regime. I hope to see Falun Gong practitioners practicing Falun Gong freely not only in Australia, but also in China.”
Dr. Qin added, “We will win! Truth will win! Kind people will win!”
(The end)
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