(Minghui.org) Practitioners gathered at a park in Singapore’s Downtown Core on May 5, 2023 to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day, May 13. This year also marks the 31st anniversary since the practice was introduced to the public in 1992. Practitioners are grateful for the positive changes they’ve experienced from practicing Falun Dafa and hope more people can benefit from it.
Practitioners’ event in Singapore on May 2 to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day
Group exercises
Practitioners ranging from a few years old to those in their 80s participated in the event at Hong Lim Park. Some have practiced Falun Dafa for more than 20 years while others started a few weeks ago. Some practitioners’ families joined the celebration.
Ji Qiang and Ji Bao, sister and brother, both practice Falun Dafa.
Ji Qiang, 83, said that she has been healthy since she began to practice Falun Dafa 27 years ago and did not retire until five years ago. Her brother, 76-year-old Ji Bao, started to practice six years ago on his sister’s recommendation. At that time, he had just had heart bypass surgery, and after he began practicing his health quickly improved. He is now energetic no matter how far he walks. “I am so happy with all these positive changes,” he said. “That is why I am very thankful to Falun Dafa and the founder, Master Li.”
Seven-year-old Zhen Zhen
Zhen Zhen, 7, started to practice Falun Dafa with her parents when she was a baby. She likes to read Dafa’s teachings and said she’s gained wisdom from them. Although her mother taught her very few Chinese characters, Zhen Zhen learned to read by herself. Her family has a book, Journey to the West, that is over 300 pages long, and Zhen Zhen has read it several times.
Ting Ting, 40, began to read Zhuan Falun, the main teachings of Falun Dafa, in March. Having been through many challenges in her life, Ting said the book explained the purpose of life and why people suffer illnesses and other tribulations. Master Li’s recent article “Why Save Sentient Beings” made her sense Master Li’s compassion. Instead of complaining about life, Ting is now very grateful for the opportunity to cultivate, especially when she watched the video recordings of Master Li’s Nine-Day Lectures.
Zheng came from mainland China and currently works in Singapore. Although he heard about Falun Dafa over 20 years ago, he did not dare to look into it due to the CCP’s (Chinese Communist Party) defamatory propaganda. Worried about his own health during the pandemic, however, Zheng found Falun Dafa on the Internet and began to do the meditation. “I regained my health and I also became open-minded,” he said. In addition, Zheng gave up bad habits such as smoking, drinking, and gambling. “It is like a miracle,” Zheng said. “Falun Dafa is truly wonderful. You won’t know how great it is unless you practice it yourself.”
Passersby stopped to learn about Falun Dafa.
Many people stopped to talk with practitioners and ask questions. They included local residents as well as tourists from Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Poland, Russia, Belarus, Hungary, Japan, India, the Philippines, and elsewhere. They were glad to hear that Falun Dafa’s teachings are available online in dozens of different languages. Some said they would look into it, others wanted to learn the exercises, and some took photos or video-recorded the peaceful scenes.
Kana, a student from Belarus, wanted to know more about Falun Dafa, so she talked with a practitioner for a long time. Shunan, 27, who came from India three years ago for work, said he would read Zhuan Falun. Two young Russian men on bikes asked lots of questions about the practice. One woman was interested in the practice and stayed for a long time to watch the graceful movements. One Japanese tourist said he had not heard about Falun Dafa before, but he was very impressed by the peaceful group practice.
A New Life
Government officer Youting
Youting, 53, a government officer, developed the symptoms of paralysis in June 2018. After a neighbor gave her a Falun Dafa pamphlet, she went to a nearby park to learn the exercises.
At that time, her left arm was numb and she sometimes had difficulty turning over in bed. Youting tried different medications, diet therapy, and other methods, but nothing worked until she came across Falun Dafa. “Everyone was nice and the exercise music was great,” she recalled. “I really liked the group practice and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”
Before that, Youting was often stressed and tired due to work and household chores. By the end of the day, she felt sleepy and dizzy. After doing the exercises in the morning, she had energy all day even though she slept less. “Without realizing it, I found my paralysis was gone,” she said.
In 2019, Youting took her mother to see a Shen Yun performance in Taiwan. After that, she began to read Zhuan Falun and later began to do the five exercises. Her father was also supportive. When she practiced calligraphy, she often wrote the phrases “Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good.”
As World Falun Dafa Day approaches, both Youting and her parents are grateful for Falun Dafa and Master Li. Youting hopes more people will get to know Falun Dafa and read Master Li’s two new articles, “How Humankind Came To Be” and “Why Save Sentient Beings.”
Becoming a Better Person
Vivi, 30, is the founder of an educational firm. She followed her mother Xu to practice Falun Dafa when she was young.
When Xu first began to practice, Vivi was very young. One time she had a fever. Xu read Zhuan Falun to her and then went to sleep. When she woke up several hours later, Vivi’s fever was gone. This experience made Xu determined to practice Falun Dafa.
Xu had previously suffered all kinds of health issues, especially toothaches and headaches. “The intense pain was unimaginable,” she recalled. She sometimes had difficulty cooking due to lower back pain. She frequently caught the flu or colds. After practicing Falun Dafa, all these problems disappeared.
In the past, Vivi was often sick as well. Xu gave her Chinese herbs and Western medicines. After reading Dafa books and watching Master Li’s video lectures, her health improved dramatically.
It’s nearly World Falun Dafa Day, and Vivi is thankful for the benefits she has derived from practicing. Xu said she is very fortunate to practice Falun Dafa. “Master Li helped me become a better person. Thank you, Master Li!”
Background: What Is Falun Dafa Day?
World Falun Dafa Day was first designated on May 13, 2000, to celebrate the Falun Dafa spiritual discipline and its positive impact on the health and spirit of millions around the world. The occasion also highlights practitioners' efforts to uphold their freedom of belief in the face of brutal persecution by the Chinese communist regime. May 13 is also the birthday of Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa.
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