Practitioners from Mid-U.S. Gather in Chicago to Celebrate the Blessings Brought by Falun Dafa (Photos)

By Xu Qing, Correspondent from Minghui.org

(Clearwisdom.net) After a few days of overcast weather, the sky became clear with thin cloud on May 14, 2005 in Chicago. A group of Falun Gong practitioners from mid-US area including Chicago, Springfield, Champaign, Indiana and Michigan gathered at the well-known Buckingham Fountain in Chicago. Practitioners celebrated the sixth World Falun Dafa Day and extended their respectful birthday greetings to esteemed Master with group practice.

Group practice

Group practice

Clarifying truth about Falun Dafa to passers by

In front of the fountain, practitioners unfurled a huge banner that read, "World Falun Dafa Day" and some small banners reading, "Falun Dafa is great" and "The world needs Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance". Practitioners demonstrated the elegant five-set exercises. Many tourists stopped to watch their demonstration, learn about the history of Falun Dafa and took pictures to remember this beautiful moment. Practitioners who handed out flyers introduced Falun Dafa and explained the persecution facts in China to people who wanted to know more.

Ms. Zhang Cui, a practitioner who was rescued from China this past February used the expression, "full of a myriad of emotions" to express her feelings. She recalled the grand occasion in Wuhan City in 1999 when practitioners celebrated Master's birthday. She sighed with emotion, "On Master's birthday in 1999, 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners from Wuhan City got together to hold a group practice on a side of a street. The line stretched several miles. Countless spectators watched the practice demonstration. At that moment, many people joined to learn the exercises. The effect was quite good and practitioners felt very happy. Then we formed Chinese characters to celebrate the special day and held an experience sharing." Such kind of scene could not be seen after the persecution began on July 20 1999. However she said, "Even though the big environment is destroyed, practitioners who have the condition still keep hanging Master's Fa Image in their apartment and practice the exercises to the music. They never stopped. Especially on special days such as Falun Dafa Day, practitioners express their congratulations and gratitude to Master in their hearts." Today, in this democratic country, Ms. Zhang was able to practice Falun Gong exercises with overseas fellow practitioners. She sighed, "I believe there will be one day, all Dafa practitioners are able to openly and nobly stand out and practice the exercises and celebrate Master's birthday and Falun Dafa Day."

Mr. Chen Difei, a senior gentlemen with his face glowing with health, is a Chinese-Indonesian who went back to China in 1958. He immigrated to Chicago several years ago. Today is the second time for him to participate in the celebration of World Falun Dafa Day. He could be considered a new practitioner. He said that because his major is science, he did not accept some principles of Falun Dafa for a long period of time. However when he was in Beijing, especially after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began suppressing Falun Gong on July 20, 1999, he kept thinking one question, namely, why are there so many people from professors to the illiterate, practicing Falun Gong? After he came to the U.S., Mr. Chen was even more surprised to find that many practitioners in the U.S. carry master or doctorate degrees. Many of them are experts in natural science. He felt that a practice could not deceive so many people. Later, he decided to learn Falun Gong. As a result, the illnesses including high blood pressure and diabetes that he had suffered for quite some time are all cured. It is believed in today's medical science that patients of these illnesses have to take medicine for the rest of their lives. The health improvement lets Mr. Chen feel extremely gratitude towards Master and hence, he joyfully started practicing the cultivation.

Group photo of some of the practitioners from mid-USA who respectfully wish Master a Happy Birthday and celebrate the World Falun Dafa Day.

It is like this that Falun Dafa attracts numerous people with predestined relationship and spreads blessing to people all over the world. Today, practitioners from mid-USA gathered together and took a group picture to wish Master a Happy Birthday!

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/5/15/101898.html

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