(Minghui.org) In honor of World Falun Dafa Day, the day 22 years ago that Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, began teaching the practice, practitioners in Sydney, Australia, met on the evening of May 3, and reminisced about Master's compassion for Australia's practitioners.

They recalled the three times he visited Australia, the first time to set up a practice site at Darling Harbor in Sydney in 1996. Several practitioners shared their own cultivation experiences.

French Practitioner: “The Best Time of My Life Was in Changchun.”

Mr. Thomas Dobson, who is from France, remembered his experience in Changchun, China. He started practicing Falun Dafa before the French version of Zhuan Falun was available. He saw many Chinese Falun Dafa books at a fellow practitioner’s home. “I wished I could learn Chinese in China and read Master's teachings in the original. I also wanted to see how Falun Dafa was spread in China,” he recalled.

A fellow practitioner from Changchun suggested he go to China to learn Chinese. In January 1998, Thomas went to Changchun and taught at Northeast Normal University. “I remember going to the practice site at Jilin University. The temperature was -25°C. The first Chinese word I learned was 'very cold.'

“I had many expectations about China, Chinese culture, fellow practitioners, and cultivation before I went to China. I experienced much more than I expected after arriving in Changchun--I had the best time of my life. At that time, there was a practitioner in almost every family in Changchun. Everyone thought cultivation was important.

"When I see pictures on the Internet of tens of thousands of people practicing the Falun Dafa exercises in Changchun, I feel very touched, because I was among them. It was a spectacular scene even though there was frost on my face and my beard was frozen. Among practitioners, we exchanged our understandings with open hearts; we helped each other, and people were very caring and friendly. But, we also felt the tension ahead of the suppression.”

Thomas went back to France to visit his family and to attend a Fahui in 1999. He had planned to go back to Changchun, but he never made it because the persecution had started. Thomas ended his sharing by saying, “I believe we will be able to go to China to practice Falun Dafa in the near future.”

“My Body Was So Light; It Felt As If I Was Floating”

Ms. Tao Yuefang started practicing Falun Dafa in 1993. She saw Master at the Oriental Health Expo. She still remembers the feeling of joy, as if it happened yesterday. Ms. Tao followed Master around China beginning in 1993. She also attended the unveiling ceremony when Zhuan Falun was first published.

She recalled, “After one lecture, Master said he would cleanse our bodies. I really felt my body was very light and comfortable. My body was so light it felt as if I was floating. I started to tell people about Dafa, and over 20 people just in my family alone began to practice. Whenever I thought of Master’s compassion, I felt that there was nothing I couldn’t let go of. We were so fortunate to learn and cultivate in Dafa. We must be diligent and save more people so we can return to our true homes with Master.”

Understanding the Purpose of Life Through Practicing Falun Dafa

Susan started practicing Falun Dafa because of her illnesses. She recalled: “A doctor couldn’t cure me, so he told me about qigong. A co-worker told me that his daughter-in-law practiced Falun Dafa and told me to look into it. I didn’t pay attention at the time. Then, in a dream, I saw eight big characters in the sky. I only remembered 'Falun turns always.'”

Susan borrowed Zhuan Falun . After reading it for the first time, she felt as if a light bulb went off in her head. The book explained many questions she had about life, the universe, and other dimensions. She said, “I understood that the purpose of life was to return to one’s true self. Even though I had never seen Master, I had still experienced many miracles. I knew Master was watching over me.”

Benefiting from Fellow Practitioners’ Experience Sharing

Vietnamese practitioner Mimi was very moved after hearing fellow practitioners’ experiences about obtaining the Fa. She said: “I was brought to tears listening to how Master cares for practitioners in Australia. I have no words to describe my feelings. I was very touched to hear Thomas talking about his experience in Changchun, where someone in every family practiced Falun Dafa, and the entire city was filled with the energy of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

"I have always felt really good at group Fa-study, and all my worries just melt away. I am encouraged and have learned a lot from fellow practitioners’ sharing. I always try to listen to other practitioners carefully and with a calm mind. We are one-body. We cultivate together and do things that are very meaningful. I always find opportunities to tell people about Falun Dafa and the persecution.”

Mimi started practicing Falun Dafa in 1998 when she was only 17 years old. One day she asked a classmate about the meaning of life. The classmate introduced her to Falun Dafa, and she began her cultivation journey.

Mr. Yu started practicing in 1996. He said, “I am so moved by practitioners’ sharing today. I was in tears the entire time, and I felt I had learned so much. Even though the words fellow practitioners used were simple, they were their own personal experiences. I see that I am not doing enough in my cultivation and I need to put in more effort.”

New Practitioner, “I Am So Happy to Have Master!”

Ms. Xu started practicing Falun Dafa after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts last year. She said, “Those who saw Master were so fortunate. Many practitioners are very good at cultivation. I started late, so I need to work hard to catch up. One day I told my husband, ‘I have a Master!’ I was filled with happiness, the kind that keeps you awake at night.”

“There Are No Words That Can Express My Gratitude”

Mr. Lu recalled how he started practicing Falun Dafa. He had made a name for himself in the business world years in Guangzhou ago. He could have bought anything he wanted, but he still was unhappy, and his health turned for the worse. He visited the best hospitals. Because he had money, he could see the best doctors. But it was no use, and in the end, the doctor would say, “I have the same thing, and there is no cure.” Or “my wife has the same problem, there is nothing I can do.”

Eventually Mr. Lu asked his friends to introduce him to doctors of Chinese medicine. He had a friend in Beijing who was in very bad health. When Mr. Lu called his friend, he told Mr. Lu that he didn’t need doctors anymore. Mr. Lu asked his friend, “What made you better?” “Falun Dafa!” replied his friend. He told Mr. Lu to look for books on the Internet. Mr. Lu and his father started practicing Falun Dafa.

Mr. Lu said, “I don’t know if I would still be alive if it were not for Dafa. I cannot find the words to express my gratitude to Master. I am ashamed that I have not cultivated well. I will try to be diligent from now on.”