UK Professionals Rediscover Their True Selves in a Chaotic World

(Minghui.org) Under the warm sunshine, Falun Gong practitioners in London held a parade and rally to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day on May 9, 2026. The tranquil exercise music and banners displaying the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance attracted many passersby. During the event, two professionals shared their experiences of the spiritual practice.

Learning Kindness and Tolerance Through Dafa

Paula, an artist and media professional, reflected on her years of cultivation. As she spoke, she mentioned the words “gratitude” and “compassion” several times. She became emotional while describing how Falun Dafa has transformed her life, saying, “My whole being has been saved by Dafa.”

She continued, “I’m immensely grateful to Master for allowing us to obtain the Fa and become Dafa disciples at this time. It’s a very special thing—it’s an honor to be a Dafa disciple.”

Paula first learned about Falun Gong in 2008, and began practicing in May 2009. She endured challenges that many people would consider overwhelming. Her partner suffered a stroke, she had to care for her children and family, and she faced tremendous pressures in daily life.

“Without my practice, without Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, without being able to do the exercises, without the purifying effect of reading the Fa, I wouldn’t have coped with any of it,” she said.

Through studying the Fa and doing the exercises, Paula felt that both her body and mind were purified. “I feel like my brain is clearer,” she said. “My heart is quite pure, and I have fewer and fewer negative thoughts.” She added that she no longer has any ill intentions towards others.

Looking back, Paula said she once carried a great deal of anger and resentment. After practicing Dafa, she gradually learned to be more forbearing and considerate. She also learned to respect her parents, and become more tolerant toward family members.

Reflecting on nearly 20 years of cultivation, Paula said she has experienced Master’s protection, and how he resolves so many issues. “I can feel the love, compassion and benevolence from Master Li,” she said. “I feel he is guiding me all the time. Master’s Grace is immense.”

Paula at the rally on May 9 celebrating World Falun Dafa Day (Minghui.org)

“We’re practicing in this world where morality has slid right down,” she said. “We’re left with things that have already happened, that we’ve done when we didn’t realize it was wrong. Master helps us have benevolent resolutions for these mistakes. We have miracles in our lives that we know are from Master Li resolving these issues,” she said. “I get a glimpse of it now and again.” She said that this also makes her realize how serious cultivation is.

Paula studied painting with a classical artist in Florence, Italy. She believes that because Dafa purifies both body and mind, Dafa disciples’ artistic abilities can improve more quickly. As a result, she was able to produce higher quality artwork.

Paula likes to paint portraits of people with stories related to Dafa and the persecution. Among her projects was a portrait of Ethan Gutmann, American author and co-founder of the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC). “I realized my skills were given to me so that I can help expose the persecution of Falun Gong,” she said. “I approached him and asked if I could do his portrait.”

Over the years, she has participated in various projects that raise awareness about Falun Gong, and expose the persecution in China.

Paula said that through cultivation, she gradually understood talent is not meant for fame or personal gain, but to help spread the message of kindness, and bring back humanity. She added, “We’ve actually forgotten what it means to be human nowadays because morality has declined so much.” Cultivation has taught her to become a good person “learning to have self-restraint and tolerance, improving our own morality as well.”

She concluded, “To be able to cultivate Dafa in this era is the greatest blessing in my life.”

Giving Up Smoking and Drinking After Years of Failed Attempts

Another practitioner, Simon, a mental health training consultant from Scotland, shared the changes he experienced after beginning to practice Falun Gong in 2001.

Although he had explored other forms of qigong before, Falun Gong appealed to him because the exercises are simple and powerful, and the teachings provide moral guidance based on Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

Simon explained, “When I first started practicing, I attended a free class in Edinburgh. I quite enjoyed the exercises, but I wasn’t really studying the Fa.”

Three months later, he joined a Falun Dafa experience sharing conference in Manchester. “After that, just traveling home, I felt very different. My whole energy was very different.”

Simon expresses gratitude for the physical and spiritual benefits he has received from Falun Dafa. (Minghui.org)

For many years, Simon had struggled with quitting smoking and drinking.

“I had some habits that were not very healthy, like drinking, and smoking cigarettes,” he said. “I wanted to let go of these habits for years, but found it very difficult.” Repeated failures left him frustrated and discouraged.

Yet after the Fa conference, something remarkable happened. “When I got back, I stopped drinking and smoking, just like that! Very easily, without any difficulty.” He said there were no withdrawal symptoms and no cravings. “It was nothing like, ‘Oh, I really want a cigarette.’ Nothing like that, just automatic.”

The experience convinced him of the extraordinary power of Dafa, and led him to begin cultivating more seriously. “I had a sense that it was the start of something very special—a really important, special, new beginning. A new chapter in my life.”

“From that point on, I just wanted to keep going.”

He said that cultivation has not only improved his physical condition, but has also helped him remain calm and resilient during life’s challenges. He cannot imagine ever giving up cultivation. “If I stopped, it would be like a huge part of my daily life was missing.”

Simon has participated in activities that introduce Falun Dafa, and raise awareness about the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution for many years. “The persecution in China is so terrible,” he said. “It’s so important to let other people know about what’s going on. People in China don’t have a voice—we need to be their voice.”

He felt that the London parade that day was especially meaningful. “There are so many people who maybe have never even heard of Falun Gong. We need to carry on holding these parades regularly and finding other ways to raise awareness about what’s happening.”

At the end of the interview, he expressed his gratitude to Master. “Thank you so much for everything, for this practice,” he said. “Because it has changed my life for the better.”