On World Falun Dafa Day, Falun Gong practitioners in mainland China expressed their gratitude to the founder of the spiritual practice, Li Hongzhi.
May 13 is World Falun Dafa Day, and also the birthday of Li. Li introduced the spiritual practice in China on May 13, 1992, and within two years it was practiced by tens of millions of people across the country. The practice, also known as Falun Gong, consists of meditative exercises and a set of moral teachings centered around the principles, truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.
An Octogenarian’s Gratitude
Mr. Xu’s wife and child practice Falun Dafa. He told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times that he truly appreciates what Li’s teachings have brought to his family, “I have benefited tremendously from their cultivation.”
In his 80s and in good health, he mentioned that his wife used to be burdened with serious illnesses but regained good health through the practice. He says she is able to do regular house chores despite her advanced years.
The persecution of Falun Gong has created a massive number of victims and tragedies for cultivators in China. His child was once imprisoned by the authorities for being a Falun Gong practitioner. In prison, his child was tortured and abused, which tormented him greatly.
His child is now living apart from him and his wife in order to protect the parents, as the police would often show up at their door and harass the family.
He said that when he realized how his child insisted on maintaining Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance even while under the hardship of imprisonment, he knew nothing would stop people from searching for their true selves.
Changchun Resident
Thirty years ago, Li began publicly teaching Falun Dafa in Changchun, China.
Mr. Guo, a Changchun resident, expressed his sincere wish on World Falun Dafa Day: “Happy Birthday, Master Li.”
He mentioned that he learned about the persecution of Falun Gong in China through calls from abroad and online.
He agrees that Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance are moral standards that human beings are rooted in, and thinks the regime’s suppression is despicable and shameful.
He told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times that he has friends who are Falun Gong practitioners. He said they are good people. They display good and right moral values and thoughts. “Their cultivation is doing good deeds,” he said.
Locked-Down Shanghai Residents
Shanghai resident Mr. Chang said he agrees with Falun Gong’s concepts of Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance. He also has friends who are Falun Gong followers who he believes bring stability to society. He says the persecution is a violation of the Chinese constitution, “Religious belief is a constitutional right of people.”
Chang also expressed his good wishes to Li, “Good health, and a long and happy life.”
Shanghai resident Mr. Zheng said, “We only believe what we have experienced in life. Those who have real-life experience would know right from wrong.” He referred to the overwhelming negative propaganda that smeared Falun Gong on state TV more than 20 years ago when the regime initiated the campaign against Falun Gong.
He said that he met Falun Gong cultivators in China and knew they were not the bad people portrayed in the various media.
Since the lockdown, people have truly experienced how precious it is to be truthful, compassionate, and tolerant. He said, “Honest information is what we are lacking now. The lockdown has restricted our survival, but it isn’t reported. Everything the media is talking about is false, empty, and farcical.”
Zheng mentioned that many people who used to praise the regime are now faced with the reality, “They are awakened from this lockdown. No one would ever believe in the regime and its policies anymore.”
He expressed his best wishes to Li for a happy birthday and good health. He believes that the spread of true kindness and honesty will benefit mankind and bring real peace to the world.
Hopes
Hu Jianguo is an activist in Shanghai. He told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times that his neighbors were practicing Falun Gong back in 1995. When he started his rights defending activities in Beijing, he met other Falun Gong practitioners there as well.
He described them as kind-hearted, and with a decent mindset. He knew the cultivators were not what the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) portrayed in its propaganda. He said, “I have only met good Falun Gong cultivators. They are very nice people.”
He believes China today would have been so different if it weren’t for the fact that the CCP persecuted Falun Gong. With the spread of Falun Gong, “China would have been a whole new world,” he said.
Hu feels lucky that the world has welcomed and appreciated Falun Gong, even high schools and police academies in India are promoting Falun Gong.
He said, “I can only see hope for our nation, society, and culture with Falun Dafa.”
He expressed his appreciation, “I definitely want to thank Master Li Hongzhi. Without his inspiration, I would not have improved as a person. I now ask myself to at least tell the truth and be sincere and kind to others.”
On this day, Hu Jianguo said, “I’d like to wish Master Li Hongzhi a happy birthday, his health forever, his return to the land of China as soon as possible, and the spread of Dafa.”
Lin Cenxin, Hong Ning, Yi Ru, and Chang Chun contributed to this report.
From The Epoch Times