(Minghui.org) People often send well wishes to each other during the Mid-Autumn Festival. As the 2024 festival approaches, young practitioners in Toronto thank Master Li Hongzhi, Falun Dafa’s founder, for teaching them the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

Four young practitioners explained how following these principles have helped them improve their moral character. They wished to let more people know about the positive impact Falun Dafa has had on their lives.

Young practitioners in Toronto wish Master Li a Happy Moon Festival!

Young practitioners participate in activities to tell people about the persecution of Falun Dafa in China and tell people about the benefits of the practice.

Putting the Teachings of Falun Dafa into Practice

Neng Neng wishes Master Li Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.

Neng Neng, 8, began practicing Falun Dafa in February. One day, instead of doing the exercises, he played basketball. He realized he had the attachment of laziness. The next day, when it was time for him to do the exercises, at first, he didn’t want to do them. He said, “However, 5 minutes later, the thought of wanting to skip the exercises went away, 10 minutes later, I was able to do the exercises with a quiet mind. Although there was some interference, during the last few minutes, I was able to meditate. I understood that if I studied the teachings and did the exercises diligently, those bad thoughts will disappear.”

Neng Neng’s friends chatted with another classmate and ignored him. He thought it would be good if the classmate wasn’t there, so his friends would play with him. While playing, his friends helped a classmate who bullied him in the past throw a basketball into the hoop. Neng Neng said, “I wanted to hit him then but then I thought, I am a Falun Dafa practitioner, I cannot hit others. Through this incident, I saw my jealousy. Afterwards my friends stopped ignoring me.”

His classmate bought a remote-controlled car and let the others play with it. Neng Neng asked, “Why don’t you let me play with your car? I’m your best friend.” He replied, “You’re a close friend, but not my best friend.” He realized he said something like that to other people in the past and divided his friends into three groups: regular, good and best friends. He said, “I realized I was discriminating against people and this was an attachment I needed to get rid of.”

Neng Neng gave out fliers to people at the truth-clarification site near Canada’s national TV tower to help them know the facts about the persecution in China.

On weekends, Neng Neng accompanies his mother to truth-clarification sites. There’s no shade in the hot summer and they stand for hours. He met a group of people from China one day who were rude to him. He felt discouraged, but after a practitioner encouraged him, he quickly cheered up and continued handing out fliers.

Most people are friendly to children and praise him after accepting the flier and give him a thumbs up. Neng Neng and another young practitioner met an elderly woman who wanted to treat the children to ice cream after seeing their kind acts. When the children declined her offer, she took out chocolate from her pocket and gave it to them, and said she hopes they go to top universities in the future. After a practitioner told her about Falun Dafa, she said she wanted to learn the exercises.

In the few short months he’s practiced cultivation, Neng Neng shares his cultivation experiences with his mother every day, telling her what areas he did well and where he needed to improve. On the occasion of the moon festival, he wants to tell Master Li: “Although tribulations are tough, I will strive to improve. In conflicts, I gradually learn to regard myself as a Dafa disciple. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Master!”

Learning to Be Tolerant and Considerate

Anna wishes Master Li a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.

Anna is in first grade. When her toy was taken by someone she was upset. When her older brother heard what happened, he went to the classmate who took Anna’s toy and asked her to return it. Anna said, “I felt happy inside when my brother stood up for me. I thought he was helping me.” But the teacher told Anna and her brother that they should be more considerate of others.

Anna realized she was wrong: “My brother is older than us. When he went to confront the classmate, she would be afraid. It seems he was helping me, but to the girl, my brother’s action lacked kindness and that’s not right. I too must learn to be tolerant. The child took my toy, but I must learn to share my things instead of getting upset.”

Another time, the girls were playing a game. Anna wanted to join them but one didn’t want her to play with them. Anna argued with the girl and in the end she was unhappy as well. She told Anna she didn’t want to be friends with her anymore. Anna regretted her action because she didn’t want to lose this good friend. Following Master’s teachings, she looked within and found her problem: “I discovered it was my combative mentality, and I apologized. I told her I hope we can be good friends in the future.”

Anna does the second Falun Dafa exercise.

Anna also attends group exercises with her brother. She wants to tell Master, “When I do the second set of exercises – embracing the wheel, although my arms ache, I still persist. I hope my movements will be more precise in future. Thank you, Master!”

Paying Attention to Attachments and Getting Rid of Them

Owen thanks Master for teaching him to be a good person and wishes Master Li a Happy Moon Festival.

Nine-year-old Owen said a classmate didn’t know how to play a sport, so he and the other classmates laughed at him. He felt guilty afterwards: “I treated the classmate badly and looked down on others. He must be lonely and sad. I’m determined to get rid of my bad behavior.”

The next day during dance class, the classmate’s movement wasn’t as coordinated. Owen said: “I nearly wanted to laugh at him, but then I remembered yesterday’s incident and reminded myself not to treat others like that. I am glad this time I was able to control myself. I felt I had improved. One should not do to others what you don’t want them to do to you. I dislike other classmates making fun of me, therefore I should not laugh at others.”

One time, Owen’s friend lost a soccer match. He was depressed because the opponent won through cheating. Owen felt upset over the injustice to his friend. Later on, when he looked within, he discovered: “Doesn’t it mean I am attached to gain and loss?”

There was another day in the afternoon, a classmate copied the answer at the back of the textbook in order to finish his homework quickly. When Owen saw what he did, he could not help but do the same thing. Afterwards, Owen thought what he did was inappropriate: “I was lazy and wanted to finish my homework quickly so that I could go and play. I was not being “truthful” in accordance with Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. I was deceiving my teacher and myself.”

Owen (third one from the right) took part in Falun Dafa day activities with other children.

This year, Owen performed in a program on stage during Falun Dafa day. He said: “It was hard work practicing the dance. I felt everything was worth it when I heard the audience clapping. I want to take part in more truth-clarification activities in future.”

Owen wants to express his gratitude to Master Li on the occasion of Mid-AutumnFestival: “Thank you, Master, for teaching me so many things so that I am able to improve myself in everyday life. I will be diligent and be a qualified young Dafa disciple.”

Helping Others and Not Asking for Anything in Return

Junren thanks Master Li for teaching him to think of others and not ask for anything in return.

Junren, 11, practices cultivation along with his mother. He has turned into a patient child who thinks of others without asking for anything in return.

Junren’s classmates brought snacks to school. One time, a classmate brought candy to share with other children, but didn’t give any to Junren. When Junren asked her for candy, she refused to share. He became angry, and thought, “I give her candy whenever I bring some to school. I treated her well and always helped her whenever she asked. I felt I was treated unfairly and was a little angry.”

He later realized he shouldn’t ask others for their snacks, and should get rid of his attachment to being greedy. Furthermore, he shouldn’t want to be repaid when he treats others well, otherwise it’s an attachment to gain.

Junren (third one from the right) attends the flag raising ceremony on Falun Dafa Day.

Junren also attended the flag-raising ceremony on Falun Dafa Day. He hopes more people will learn of the benefits of practicing Dafa. As it is the Moon Festival soon, he wants to say to Master Li: “I wish Master a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! I hope I can grow tall and one day dance with Shen Yun!”