San Francisco: Celebrating World Falun Dafa Day and Helping the World's People to Learn the Truth about Falun Gong (Photos)
By Wang Ying and Kerry Huang, Minghui/Clearwisdom reporters in San Francisco
(Clearwisdom.net) In order to celebrate the 15th
Anniversary of Falun Dafa's Public Introduction, "World Falun Dafa
Day" and respectfully send congratulations for Revered Master's 56th
birthday, hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners from California gathered in
Chinatown in San Francisco on May 12, 2007. They held a series of celebratory
activities, including, Falun Gong exercise demonstrations, teaching the
exercises, photo exhibit, music and dance performances, and other activities.
Practitioners said that Falun Gong has benefited more than 100 million people
around the world both physically and spiritually since its public introduction,
and they hoped that more people could learn the truth about Falun Gong. People
who watched the activities said that they hoped the persecution will end soon. Falun Gong practitioners do the exercises in the morning People learn to practice Falun Gong American doctor shares his cultivation experience, and
condemns the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong Falun Gong practitioners clarify the facts A rally held to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day Parade procession Parade procession Parade procession Led by the Divine Land Marching Band, which is composed of more than a
hundred Falun Gong practitioners, the parade procession encircled Chinatown. The
marching band performed majestic selections including, "Falun Dafa Is
Good," "Fa Drums and Fa Trumpets Shake the Ten Directions" and
"Fa Rectifies the Universe" along the way. The band was followed
closely by a section with practitioners holding colored banners bearing
messages, such as "May 13-Heaven and Earth Celebrate World Falun Dafa
Day," "Falun Dafa Is Good" and "The World Needs
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." The grand procession and vigorous
drum beats attracted many passersby and tourists along the way. They took out
cameras or cell phones to take photos of the parade procession. Some people
applauded. After the parade, the practitioners held a rally at the Garden Corner in
Chinatown. Several practitioners shared their experiences of having achieved
physical and mental well being after practicing Falun Gong. About ten Western
Falun Gong practitioners sang "Falun Dafa Is Good." Hostess Dr. Sherry Zhang said that since Master Li Hongzhi first introduced
Falun Dafa to the public in 1992, Falun Dafa has been spread widely to over 80
countries. She also talked about the journey that Falun Gong practitioners have
walked through over the past 15 years. She condemned Jiang and the CCP for their
brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Personal Experience of An Engineer from Silicon Valley: Practicing Falun Gong
Benefits People Both Physically and Mentally Software engineer Zhang Liang from Silicon Valley of California said that
since he started practicing Falun Gong, all kinds of illnesses that he had
suffered before, such as arthralgia (joint pain), cough, asthma and prostatitis
disappeared. He said that the CCP is still persecuting Falun Gong, and it is his
responsibility to tell people what Falun Gong really is. He said, "When I
see the plight of Falun Gong practitioners inside China and the persecution they
have suffered, I feel that as I'm outside of China, I have a responsibility to
step forward to speak out. Falun Gong is indeed very good, it enable people to
improve both physically and mentally. It purifies people physically, and
spiritually, it teaches people to become good." Zhang Liang said, "I believe if people can obtain objective and
impartial information, they will make their own judgment. So I step forward to
take part in these activities to tell those people who have been deluded and
poisoned by the wicked CCP what Falun Gong truly is. I hope people can make
their own choice after having learned some facts." American Doctor Condemns the CCP's Fabricating Lies and Slandering Falun Gong An American practitioner who is a doctor has practiced Falun Gong for eight
years. He said he had great interest in the East and qigong when he studied in
medical school. Since he got to know Falun Gong, he realized it's easy to learn
and has quick effects. It teaches people to cultivate by following
"Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" and to become good people. Since
he practiced Falun Gong, he has had a positive understanding of life, and his
relationships are more harmonious with his family and friends. The doctor
condemned the CCP's fabricating lies to deceive the public, such as
"practitioners do not take medicine." He said, "As a doctor, I
have practiced [Falun Gong] for many years, Falun Gong has not at all had such a
saying as the 'practice forbids people to take medicine.'" Sixty-eight-year-old Ms. Gao Calls on People to Take the Initiative to Learn
the Truth Ms. Gao, sixty-eight years old, and her husband Mr. Liu and nearly 30 Falun
Gong practitioners came from Los Angeles to participate in the day's activities.
Ms. Gao said that since she was 5 years old, she has been puzzled by one
question: Why did I come here, and where will I go? She often dreamed of wanting
to go home. Since her Falun Dafa practice, she found out that the question that
had accompanied her for so long was resolved. Ms. Gao said that others said she was always in high spirits, unlike a person
who is nearly 70 years old. Nobody even could think that she had been a cancer
patient before. She said Falun Dafa gave her second life. She hoped that people
do not believe in the CCP's lies and hate propaganda, and hurriedly take
initiative to learn the truth. Audience Members: The Persecution of Falun Gong Should be Stopped Soon During the celebration, many tourists stopped to watch, applaud, cheer, and
take flyers. They signed the petition to oppose the CCP's persecution of Falun
Gong. Ms. Li who just came to San Francisco from Taishan, Guangdong Province said
that seeing Falun Gong practitioners' activities, she felt very peaceful and
harmonious. She asked where she could find Falun Gong practitioners in San
Francisco. Ms. Li said that she had friends who practiced Falun Gong when she was in
China. They achieved sound health. The CCP slanders Falun Gong, and this is not
good. A human being should have conscience and love. She opposed the CCP's
persecution of Falun Gong. Speaking of quitting the CCP in China, Ms. Li said that her parents were
labeled as rightists during the Cultural Revolution, and she was discriminated
against. The CCP has made the mainland a big mess. She quit the CCP's Youth
League and Young Pioneer anonymously on the spot. Mr. Muller and his family who came from Germany were attracted by the
activities. Mr. Muller said that Falun Gong practitioners are very peaceful, and
he could not comprehend why the CCP persecutes Falun Gong. When he learned that
the head of the CCP, Jiang, persecuted Falun Gong out of his jealousy, he said
the persecution is wrong. Mr. Hu, a resident of the Bay Area said that it is a good thing to believe in
"Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." Freedom of belief is one's
basic right, and also a universal value that should not be persecuted. As
Mother's Day was approaching, he wished all mothers in the world, including
mothers of Falun Gong practitioners, Happy Mother's Day. He also hoped the
persecution would end soon. One of the coordinators of the activity, Lu Hui, from the Bay Area pointed
out that several CCP officials headed by Jiang have been sued in over ten
countries for "Genocide," "Torture" and "Crimes against
Humanity" and other crimes for their leading roles in the persecution of
Falun Gong. Lu Hui said that by conducting himself according to
"Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," he has achieved sound health,
and more importantly, he has achieved a pure mind and the elevation of his moral
standard. He called upon people from all walks of life to work together to stop
the CCP's evil persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. During the celebration, over a dozen Western practitioners sang in Chinese
"Falun Dafa Is Good". Several young practitioners performed the dance
"Lotus" to express their gratefulness to revered Master. They also
wanted to commemorate the fellow practitioners who have died as a result of the
persecution. People stopped to watch, and listen attentively. The scene was
touching.
Chinese version available at
http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/5/13/154706.html
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