By a former Beijing Falun Dafa Practitioner Who Now Lives Overseas

(Clearwisdom.net) Today it is April 25th again. This is a "sensitive day" for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) every year. It is also a date that millions of Falun Dafa practitioners will never forget. On April 25, 1999, history witnessed the practitioners' magnificent feat of safeguarding the universe's Great Law despite malevolent and unprecedented pressure. It also set the example for future peaceful protests by large groups of people.

I am a Falun Gong practitioner. When the "April 25" event occurred, I had practiced Falun Gong for a little more than a year. The minute we heard of the arrests and beatings of practitioners by Tianjin police for appealing after He Zuoxiu slandered Falun Gong, my fellow practitioners and I decided without a second thought to go to the Appeals Office located near Zhongnanhai, where high level government officials live. We wanted to tell the government that Falun Gong is a good qigong practice that brings our entire nation and all people only benefits.

The next day, April 25, 1999, at 5:30 a.m., we rode bicycles to Fuyou Street, next to the Xinhua Gate of Zhongnanhai. There were already some practitioners there. Several practitioners assisted the police to direct the traffic. Everyone stood on the sidewalk in an orderly manner.

Gradually more and more people gathered. There were only Falun Gong practitioners between Chang'an Street and the Xisi intersection. There were the elderly, the young, males, and females. Some were reading Zhuan Falun, some were doing the exercises, and some shared experiences and understandings. I saw some policemen also reading Zhuan Falun. The atmosphere was very quiet and peaceful. There was no chanting or unruly conduct by any practitioner. The weather forecast had called for rain. But, there was not a single rain drop all day long. Instead, it was sunny. We waited from morning to evening and did not eat. But we did not feel hungry or thirsty. In the afternoon, we heard that our representatives went into Zhongnanhai for a conversation with then Premier Zhu Rongji. They presented the reasons for this appeal:

1. Provide a normal practice environment for Falun Gong practitioners.
2. Allow publication of Master Li Hongzhi's books.
3. Release the arrested practitioners from Tianjin immediately.

After they had concluded their discussion with Premier Zhu Rongji they reported that he had already given positive instructions concerning Falun Gong. We were very delighted.

A little after 4 pm., I heard a burst of applause from the practitioners. Some practitioners said, "Quickly! Look! There are Faluns!" I looked towards the direction they told us, but I could not see anything. I was anxious and started calling "Teacher, Teacher." All of a sudden my eyes were full of tears from excitement. The applause became thunderous. Even policemen looked towards the sky and clapped their hands. It has been eight years since then. The scene is imprinted into my mind.

Eight big coal miners from Henan Province stood next to me. They were all in tears. With hands in heshi position and facing the sun, they shouted "Teacher! Teacher!" These big guys cried just like children that could not find their way home. I was even more anxious. One practitioner said, "Look! There are Faluns all over the sky! And Teacher's law bodies are also everywhere in the sky!" But, I still could not see anything. So I decided not to worry about anything and looked towards the sun. Yes! I too saw a Falun rotating in front of the sun. I could even see the golden figures in it. As the Falun rotated, the sky became pink and later purple. I found that I was surrounded by a golden world. The ground was gold, trees were gold, everything was gold. How magnificent and colorful! It took me a long time to return back to normal. With great joy and excitement I told a veteran practitioner about what I had seen. Seeing me lose my composure, she calmly said, "We need to uphold our xinxing at all times." I realized that I over-reacted and that I still had a long way to go to achieve the calmness of those veteran practitioners. But, that was my level at that time. From then on, I suddenly understood that no matter the situation, we should not be overjoyed or hold any other attachment.

After thirty minutes, the practitioners calmed down. We continued to study the Fa, exchange experiences and wait. Suddenly there was more traffic on the street. I saw many high-level officials cars drive by and someone inside the cars was video-taping us. Later I heard that Jiang Zemin (then President of the CCP, who ordered the persecution against Falun Gong) hid in a limousine to watch us.

In the evening, I noticed more people with camcorders video taping practitioners. I suddenly felt fear in my heart. I said to myself, "I am a Falun Dafa practitioner and I should do what I need to do openly." Then my fear vanished immediately.

Around 9 p.m., some practitioners came to tell us that we should go home. They shared that the government officials had listened to our requests and promised to resolve the issues. Then all practitioners scattered and left through different streets in an orderly manner. I saw Mr. Wang Zhiwen, a contact person of the Falun Dafa Research Association explaining something to some practitioners. There was a CCP spy who kept harassing and videotaping him. I also noticed that some practitioners collected the garbage on the ground in plastic bags. The entire street was so clean that it was hard to believe there were ten thousand people there for an entire day.

Most people could not understand this. Jiang Zemin was extremely fearful. He saw that Falun Gong practitioners were disciplined. This was too deep for him to understand.

April 25, 1999 was an ordinary day for many people. But, it is a day when the entire universe was watching. It is also a day that the righteous stood up against the evil. On that day, we Fa-rectification period practitioners felt our benevolent and great Teacher strengthening and protecting us. I did not feel any pain when sitting in meditation and I felt a strong energy field surrounding me over the next few days.

Eight Years Have Passed Since April 25, 1999

During these eight years, the force of Fa rectification has moved through the entire universe and it is getting closer and closer to the human world.

During these eight years, the evildoers changed from appearing overwhelmingly powerful in the beginning to hiding in a dark corner, bemoaning their last-ditch struggle.

During these eight years, Falun Dafa disciples have developed their diamond-solid and unshakable belief despite the unprecedented evil "test" and walked steadily on the path that Teacher was blazing for us.

During these eight years, people worldwide changed from being bewildered and numb at the beginning to being awakened and actively choosing their own destinies.

"April 25" is the date that the evil force fears, the date when Falun Dafa disciples validated Falun Dafa and the entire universe stood in awe. It will be recorded in history forever.

By April 24, 2007

Posting date: 4/27/2007
Original article date: 4/27/2007
Category: Open Forum
Translated on 4/25/2007
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/4/25/153479.html

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