(Minghui.org) The Falun Gong practitioners in Wuhan City were very fortunate. From March until October, 1993, Master Li Hongzhi taught Falun Gong in the lecture hall of Wuhan City 701 Institute, the Metropolitan Municipal Building, Mid-South Finance and Economics University, the Municipal Political Bureau, and Wuhan Steel Factory. Those who attended the classes witnessed numerous moving stories and miraculous events. From then on, Falun Gong widely spread by word of mouth, from person to person and family to family. Not only did the residents of Wuhan City practice Falun Gong in the parks, on city squares, and in the stadiums on college campuses, people in the neighboring villages began cultivation practice as well. A person from Macheng attended Master’s classes, and soon afterwards, more than one thousand people in Macheng began practicing Falun Gong. It was just as Master said in Lecture 9 of Zhuan Falun:
Throughout the entire course of teaching this Fa, I have intended to do things according to the principle of being responsible to everyone and society. In actuality, we have followed this principle. As for the result, I will not make any comment. It is up to the public to judge. My intention is to make this Dafa public and have more of our people benefited, enabling those who truly want to practice cultivation to advance in their cultivation practice by following the Fa. At the same time as teaching the Fa, we have also explained the principles of being a human being, and hope that if after the class you cannot follow this Dafa to practice cultivation, you will at least be a good person. This will benefit our society. In fact, you already know how to be a good person. After the class, you will be a good person.
Below, practitioners from Wuhan City recall four large-scale group study and Fa-promoting activities that they participated in during the days when Master publicly spread the Fa.
1. May 24, 1996 – Wuhan City #4 Middle School
On May 24, 1996, Falun Gong practitioners from Wuhan City studied the Fa, practiced the exercises and shared experiences together at Wuhan City #4 Middle School. Attending the event were practitioners from the Wuhan Metropolitan area and other areas in Hubei Province. Many people who were not yet practitioners also came to watch. In total, more than five thousand people participated in the event. The stadium was packed.
In 1996, Wuhan practitioners practiced the exercises and formed the pattern of Falun together
At 4 p.m., more than one thousand practitioners formed the pattern of Falun (law wheel), and over two thousand people formed about forty rays surrounding the Falun. Nearly four thousand people recited Master’s “Essentials for Further Advancement” and Lunyu in unison. Their voices echoed in all directions. Practitioners could even feel their cells melding into the Fa. The magnitude of their voices moved heaven and earth, and the atmosphere of the entire field was magnificent and solemn. After reciting Master’s lectures, more than four thousand practitioners demonstrated the beauty of Falun Dafa by practicing the exercises in a smooth and gentle manner.
A practitioner saw the entire formation – the Falun and its rays – slowly move up and down and then upward again, its bright rays even shining on the houses nearby. The scene was amazing. Another practitioner saw a huge, magnificent Falun scroll waving up and down. The constantly changing scene in the sky paralleled the big Falun formed by practitioners on the ground. The grandson of one practitioner saw many colorful Falun and even chased them. Within the energy field, all living beings benefited. The spectators began to imitate practitioners’ movements, longing to learn the exercises as well. People, both inside and outside the stadium, could sense the energy field.
Afterwards, practitioners began to share their personal experiences. One practitioner’s article entitled, “The Buddha Light Illuminates My Home” particularly attracted the attention of many non-practitioners in attendance. This practitioner shared that after she started practicing Falun Gong, the various diseases she suffered from had all been cured. She previously did not get along well with her husband, and their children were not respectful to her. Her family was on the brink of falling apart. After practicing Falun Gong however, she changed completely into a different person. From then on, not only did her relationship with her husband become harmonious, their children also came to learn the practice. Her touching article demonstrated to people how Falun Gong had the great power to change people’s hearts and enlighten their Buddha nature. To conclude the day, practitioners recited Master’s lectures, “When the Fa is Right,” “Broad and Immense,” and “Validation.”
That event helped to promote Dafa, and many of the spectators began to learn Falun Gong. The practitioners who came from other areas brought home their personal recollections of the miraculous wonder that Dafa demonstrated to them at the event. Afterwards, Dafa became even more widely spread in other areas. At first, there were only two to three practitioners in counties like Xishui and Yingshan, but within a few years, about three to four thousand people in each county became Falun Gong practitioners. From then on, the new practitioners just wanted to share the countless number of miraculous experiences that they had witnessed, as well as the gratitude and appreciation they had for Master.
2. May 11, 1997 – Bihu Park in Wuhan
It rained the morning of May 11, 1997. Over three thousand practitioners had gathered in Bihu Park in Wuhan to recite the Fa, practice the exercises and introduce Falun Gong to the public. Wearing yellow exercise suits, nearly one thousand practitioners formed the three words, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” The other practitioners formed a circle outside the three big words. As more and more people joined them, the circle also grew. Eventually over one thousand people participated.
About one thousand practitioners formed a big pattern of the three words, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” in 1997
The practitioners forming the three words recited Master’s lectures: “True Cultivation,” “A Brief Explanation of Shan,” and “What is Forbearance.” The other practitioners also joined in, and the ones who had not memorized the lectures read along. The thundering sound of the Fa echoed in all directions, shaking the world. At that moment, the rain stopped, and the sun emerged. The three words, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance appeared in the sky along with hundreds of beautiful forms: Jade palaces, cranes, carriages, fairies, and numerous other miraculous scenes. Someone in the crowd shouted, “Master is coming!” Suddenly, everyone witnessed a bright silver disk gradually rising to a high altitude. A huge figure sent down a wave, and a rainbow of clouds in red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue and purple began to pour down like waterfalls covering the entire Park. A group of heavenly beauties also scattered flowers, and a heavenly ladder stretched all the way to the pattern of the words, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.” Astonished, people started to applaud, their applause lasting for a long time.
Some spectators also saw the extraordinary scene in the sky. One woman brought her father and daughter to the event. When they heard people clapping behind them, they turned around and saw a huge silver ring, like a gigantic shiny disk dimming the sun. Meanwhile, Master, wearing a red robe, appeared high in the sky, smiling mercifully, holding one hand in front of his chest and nodding at everyone. About fifteen minutes later, Master began to send out Falun in different sizes and colors. The law wheels were magnificently beautiful. Like rain drops, the spinning law wheels landed on people. When the people turned around to look up again, Master had gone; however, the law wheels were still falling down like snowflakes. That miraculous, splendid and most magnificent scene touched this family’s hearts, and from that day on, all three of them became genuine Dafa disciples.
After reciting the Fa, practitioners stood up and practiced the exercises together. Following the gentle and soothing music, they demonstrated the five sets of exercises. Their uniform movements were relaxing, and everyone felt delighted. The spectators were also engulfed in the powerful energy field, which was beneficial to both their minds and bodies. Many people wanted to learn the exercises that day. A few days after the event, a veteran practitioner established a new practice site in Bihu Park.
A few days later, pictures of the event were published. Looking at the images, practitioners were surprised to find out that the naturally formed big circle was actually in the shape of a heart. Some of them pleasantly remarked that it meant they should keep Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in their hearts. Tears began to roll down some people’s faces; Master knew practitioners’ hearts the best. Originally, practitioners formed the three words to express their willingness to assimilate to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Master then utilized that opportunity to encourage and tell them,
The heart embraces Zhen-Shan-Ren,
Cultivate oneself, benefit others.
Dafa does not leave the heart,
Some year, surely transcend the human.
(“Perfect And Illuminate,” Hong Yin)
3. May 24, 1998 – Wuhan City Youth Club
On May 24, 1998, practitioners gathered, once again, on the soccer field at Wuhan City Youth Club. After studying the Fa together, they practiced the exercises and also shared their experiences. Wearing colorful exercise suits, they formed a big law wheel, and the others, in traditional yellow exercise suits formed the characters for “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” in the middle of the field. The remaining practitioners formed more than 70 rays around the words and law wheel. Falun Gong practitioners as well as non-practitioners sat and watched the event from the stadium seats. Many more people watched the event from outside the fence.
More than five thousand practitioners formed the characters for “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” in 1998
When the exercise music started, the crowd applauded and cheered loudly. It turned out that people saw many wondrous scenes in the sky. Everybody looked at the sun and saw that a large, transparent law wheel was spinning. The colorful and bright circle constantly expanded outward, while numerous law bodies sat in a circle above the field. Countless law wheels in all sizes spun constantly and revealed a rainbow of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue and purple. The law wheels rained on practitioners and ordinary people’s heads and bodies. Master’s law bodies in the shape of big and small lines melted into the mass of people like pearls. When those who were present witnessed the magnificent view, they were amazed. Deep in their hearts, they knew that Master and Dafa were great.
Those who were sitting directly under the sunshine felt a cool breeze. Inside the tranquil energy field, everyone felt very light. It was exactly like what Master said,
“Our exercise sites are better than any other qigong exercise sites. As long as you go to our exercise sites for practice, it is much better than your treating your own illness. My fashen sit in a circle, and above the exercise site is a shield on which there is a big Falun. A large fashen guards the site above the shield. This site is not an ordinary site, and neither is it a site for an ordinary qigong practice: It is a site for cultivation practice. Many of our practitioners with supernormal abilities have seen that this FalunDafa site is shielded with red light, and it is red all over.” (Lecture 3 in Zhuan Falun)
Practitioners studied the Fa and shared their experiences. Some shared about the changes that they experienced after cultivating in Dafa, while others learned that they needed to be good people no matter where they were, and they should think of others first. Many people said that the practitioners seemed to have gone through special practice when they formed the patterns and practiced the exercise. It seemed inconceivable. Practitioners were able to do this because Dafa provided them with a pure land and the opportunity to cultivate. Afterwards, a large number of people also began to practice Falun Gong.
4. April 11, 1999 – Hanshui Park in Wuhan
A Fa-conference was held on April 11, 1999. One day before the conference, practitioners used lime dust to draw the pattern for the formation of the words for the next day. Normally, it always rained either before or after conferences, but it would stop raining once they started. It was different this time, however, as it rained continuously from April 9 onward. At 4:00 a.m. on April 11, the volunteer coordinator for the conference came and was deeply touched by the practitioners who had been guarding the site for the entire evening. The lines that they marked the night before were all washed away, and they were worried about not knowing how to form the words. At that moment, more practitioners gradually began to gather on the site.
Even though the rain was still falling later that morning, it did not prevent several thousand practitioners from coming to the experience sharing conference. The entire park was filled to capacity. Practitioners from Wuhan City, the suburban areas and other provinces all came. A young female practitioner carried her infant to the conference. With the love of Dafa in their hearts, people came to the conference despite the rain.
Since the lines had been washed away, practitioners used strings to form a large square, and then the coordinator assigned practitioners to the right spots based on his memory. Several of the spots were puddles. If some hesitated when told to sit on puddles, other practitioners would sit on those spots right away. The entire procedure was accomplished with the coordinator and practitioners working collaboratively. Within half an hour, the huge words “Falun Dafa,” and the rays around the words were completely formed.
Many practitioners gave their umbrellas to the spectators. Because there were more people than there were umbrellas, men gave their umbrellas to women, veteran practitioners gave their umbrellas to new practitioners, the local practitioners gave theirs to those from out of town and the young to the old and children. Everyone was friendly and thought about others first.
A practitioner who had just obtained the Fa a month earlier came to the conference from a village. At the end of the conference, he was soaked from head to toe, however, he commented, “Everybody listened to the speeches so attentively the whole time, nobody made any noise. It’s a miracle. I have opened my eyes today.” The loudspeaker was moved inside the tent, and although the sound was not steady, everybody could feel that the solemn and compassionate atmosphere engulfed the area like never before. Amidst the pitter patter of the pouring rain and the sound of the gentle and peaceful speeches, practitioners listened quietly and shared experiences from their hearts.
1999 in Wuhan Hanshui Park, ten thousand practitioners formed the words “Falun Dafa”
The rain kept pouring down, but as soon as the exercise music began, practitioners all lay down their umbrellas and practiced the four sets of exercises together. Everyone was soaked from head to toe. A new practitioner who just had surgery for breast cancer also practiced the exercises in the rain. Her incision was not completely healed yet, and the doctor told her, “Don’t touch water or else your wound will become infected.” Even though she was soaked, the wound was not affected.
The staff members of Hanshui Park said, “Your exercises are magical. As soon as the music is on, people, old and young alike, all lay down their umbrellas and begin to practice without complaint. Following the music, everyone had a compassionate and peaceful expression. This scene is hard to find in society nowadays.” An army colonel in his fifties said, “If we form things like this in the army, it’ll take us at least a few months.” A man in his seventies said, “I’ve lived for so many years, but I’ve never seen so many people in the rain and wind without any complaints. You people are not afraid of misery, rain and neither do you feel tired.” Some people also commented, “This is very touching. I want to cry.” Under such a powerful energy force, many people contacted the volunteer coordinator and asked for the location of the practice site. They also planned to learn Falun Gong.
Because of the heavy rain, patches of grass were crushed by the large crowd. After the conference, practitioners told the staff members of the park that they wanted to volunteer to help fix the lawn. The staff members repeatedly told them that it was ok since the practitioners had paid the deposit; however, the practitioners still left 400 yuan for the staff to clean up the park and repair the lawn. The staff members respectfully watched the followers of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance leave the park.
In total, practitioners in Wuhan City held four large-scale Fa-study and experience sharing activities. Some practitioners could see that every time practitioners gathered, dramatic events happened in other dimensions. The heavy rain seemed to have predicted that something big would happen, like Master said,
“Suddenly wind and clouds change,
and the sky threatens collapse
(Hong Yin II, “Self-Evident is the Heart”)
At that time, Dafa disciples were headed to face some huge tribulations. Master’s verse means that Dafa disciples must step out and walk their path at this historical moment to carry out the vows that they made in prehistory. The Fa-conference held on April 11, 1999 was the last conference that practitioners from Wuhan City held when they organized the word formation, group exercises and experience sharing activities. Fourteen days later, the April 25 incident took place in Beijing which shocked the world.
