(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, sent Master Li Hongzhi their New Year’s greetings and gratitude.

Practitioners in Ottawa wish their founder Master Li Hongzhi, a Happy Chinese New Year.

During the gathering practitioners shared their cultivation experiences and expressed their gratitude for this opportunity to practice Falun Dafa. They hope that more people will learn about Falun Dafa and understand how wonderful it is. They also hope fellow practitioners will strive forward on the cultivation path and save more people. 

“More People Are Signing Up for Online Classes”

On October 31, 2020, Canadian Falun Dafa practitioners organized the first free online English Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) introductory class. With participants spanning 90 countries, more online classes were introduced and now provide instruction in more than twenty different languages. During the current global pandemic, these online classes allowed those interested to learn Falun Dafa in order to keep fit and improve their moral principles.

According to Dr. Lei Shizhong, coordinator of the website LearnFalunGong.com, since Master started allowing classes to be conducted online, many people from all over the world have signed up for courses. After learning the five sets of exercises, many go on to attend the nine-day lecture seminar, and begin practicing.

Carolina, a Canadian student, left a voice message: “After attending an online exercise class over a year ago, I decided to become a practitioner. I’ve found happiness in cultivation and wish to express my sincere thanks. I wish everyone a Happy New Year!”

Devali, a new practitioner from India, said she benefited a lot after attending the online classes and expressed her gratitude.

Devali from India said, “I attended a Falun Dafa online class a few months ago and enjoyed it immensely. After practicing the five sets of exercises and reading Zhuan Falun, I felt surrounded by positive energy. Falun Dafa teaches correct moral concepts, the truth of human nature and helps keep one fit. I find myself living a happier and blessed life.”

Dr. Lei Shizhong thanked Master for affirming this novel cultivation path. “We will work harder to help Master rectify the Fa. Wishing Master a Happy New Year!”

“Every Shen Yun Performance Is Amazing”

Dai Jiani is a dancer with Shen Yun Performing Arts. Since 2011, she has participated in over 700 performances, in more than 15 countries throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

A 2021 photo of Dai Jiani and her mother, Dai Gongyu.

“Every Shen Yun performance is an amazing experience. Shen Yun seamlessly blends traditional art, colors, dance, music and stories to create the perfect experience for viewers. At the end, receiving the audience’s enthusiastic applause is sufficient reward for my hard work and effort. It is my wish that people will know the goodness of Falun Dafa. I cherish this opportunity to perform in Shen Yun and I thank Master for giving me this chance.”

Training herself in the art of dance over the past seven years was not an easy process. Besides honing her expertise, she learned the values of tenacity, hard work and the essence of many traditional cultures. For instance, the female characters she depicted in her dances were often filial, loyal and virtuous, such as Wang Baochuan and her devotion in the story “Han Yao.” Learning from these examples helped her become a better person.

Having enrolled in a media course at university, Dai Jiani hopes to utilize her professional media skills in the future to clarify the truth and save people.

Medical Student: Cultivation Taught Me the Meaning of Life

Anna immigrated to Canada at the age of six. Roughly five years ago, while preparing to attend McGill University, Anna attended Master Li's New York lecture and became interested in Falun Dafa. She started practicing soon after. “Cultivation has taught me the meaning of life,” she said.

Vivian and daughter Anna, wish Master Li a Happy New Year.

According to Anna’s mother Vivian, “Since she began practicing Falun Dafa, Anna’s character has changed from a rebellious teenager to a sensible adult, willing to communicate calmly with her family. In terms of her studies and personal life, she has become both mature and filial.”

During her time at the Minghui School, Anna attended some of the school’s traditional Chinese culture courses, which covered values such as filial piety and respect for others.

After she began practicing Falun Dafa she learned Chinese in order to read Falun Dafa books such as Zhuan Falun. She also started writing in Chinese in order to share her cultivation experiences. Her proficiency in French also improved by leaps and bounds. After graduating, she was admitted with honors to the Faculty of Medicine at Laval University, a French medical university.

Vivian and Anna wish to thank compassionate Master Li for giving new meaning to their lives. “Cultivating the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance has brought us happiness. Close family members also acknowledge the goodness of Dafa and support our efforts to tell others about Falun Dafa. We will cultivate diligently and follow Master in achieving consummation.”

International Student: Remembering Master’s Teachings

Liu Zhiyuan is a student at Canada’s Carleton University. His father, Liu Zhoubo, is an oil fracking specialist, while his mother Cao Wen is a professional technician for oil development projects. In 1995, husband and wife started practicing Falun Dafa and following the core principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. When the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) started to persecute Falun Dafa, Liu Zhoubo refused to renounce his belief and was imprisoned, tortured and threatened with death for nine years.

In 2010 Liu Zhoubo was released from prison. He introduced his ten-year-old son Liu Zhiyuan to Falun Dafa and played the recordings of Master Li Hongzhi’s lectures for him. However, Liu Zhiyuan only began practicing last year. “Although I heard Master Li’s teachings three or four times, I still remember most of the content. In contrast, I’ve forgotten many of my childhood memories.”

After he began practicing Falun Dafa, Liu Zhiyuan felt his thoughts become clearer, and his character changed for the better. He became more considerate and got rid of his jealousy towards others. “I was afraid of the pandemic. After cultivating, my fear of the virus disappeared. I know that I am protected, and Master will help us purify our bodies.”

Liu Zhiyuan thanked Master Li for refusing to give up on him. “I will be more diligent in my future cultivation path.”

Restaurant Owner: Letting Go of Fame and Fortune

Ren Jian is the owner of a well-known Japanese restaurant in Ottawa. After he began practicing Falun Dafa, he followed Master Li’s teachings and let go of his attachments to fame and fortune. He started searching inward whenever he ran into problems, developed greater consideration for others and diligently cultivated himself.

A few years ago, Ren Jian realized thieves were stealing copies of the Chinese Epoch Times newspapers that were placed in front of a grocery store. Anxious to prevent the theft, he worked with another Falun Dafa practitioner to conduct frequent checks and supervision. Although they managed to catch and warn some of the thieves, they also realized their time-consuming efforts were not effective.

“One day, I suddenly came up with the idea of modifying our existing newspaper boxes to prevent copies from being stolen in large quantities. I commissioned 20 of these newly designed newspaper boxes, before ordering 11 more for Montreal.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, government mandated measures forced the restaurant to close its doors for a period. Ren Jian used this unexpected break to install display boards for parade floats in order to promote Shen Yun. He also started delivering newspapers weekly. Despite his busy schedule, Ren Jian found his days fulfilling and happy.

With the easing of pandemic measures, Ren Jian reopened his restaurant and found business was unusually good. “I'm not fixated with profits or loss. I conduct my business with honesty. Although inflation of raw goods has caused prices across many restaurants in Toronto to increase by 40% to 50%, we want to keep our prices reasonable. Our prices have only increased by 5% to 10%.”

“I wish to thank Master Li for his compassion. I will endeavor to overcome all challenges and follow Master to reach consummation. I wish Master Li a Happy New Year!”