(Minghui.org) Practitioners gathered on the Boston Common on May 6, 2023, to celebrate the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction. They demonstrated the exercises and presented cultural performances including waist drums and songs. Dressed in bright yellow t-shirts, they handed out information and told people about the amazing benefits of the mind-body practice.

Practitioners did the exercises together and played the waist drums to celebrate the  31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction on May 6.

Practitioners wished the founder of Falun Dafa a happy birthday.

Young practitioners at the World Falun Dafa Day celebration took a group photo to wish Master Li a happy birthday.

It was a lovely, spring day in Boston, and many people were out, enjoying the great weather. The celebrations started at 11 a.m. with practitioners demonstrating the exercises. Many people said they felt a calm energy field and stopped to watch. Some took photos with their mobile phones.

Passersby read the information on display. Some were shocked to learn about the organ harvesting atrocities while others wept. Several people were interested in learning the exercises and did so at the event.

Locals and tourists stopped to read the information and take photos.

We Need Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance

Ari Beneisa was on holiday with her family. “We came out of the hotel and saw a group of people dressed in yellow entering the park. They are very eye-catching,” said Ari, who decided to walk over and investigate.

She said, “We discovered this is Falun Dafa, an ancient cultivation practice.” When practitioners told her that Falun Dafa was persecuted in China, she found it hard to believe, “Because this practice makes one feel good, everyone loves it.”

After reading an introduction to Falun Dafa, Ari said, “This is the best. We need Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Especially in today’s world, something so precious is hard to find.”

She said she plans to learn more about Falun Dafa when she returns home. Her daughter said she loved Falun Dafa as well, “It makes me feel happy. I want to join them. I want to learn it.”

I Want to Learn This, Too

Riley Grainger and her sister Katie Gallagher often take walks together on the weekends. They were delighted to encounter the practitioners’ activities. Riley said, “This is wonderful. We hope to join in too because they are so bright and look so peaceful.”

Sisters Riley Grainger and Katie Gallagher said Falun Dafa is great and they hoped to learn the exercises.

They listened quietly as a practitioner explained Falun Dafa. Katie took a flier and read it carefully. She said, “We feel lucky to receive a flier because we want to learn this when we get home. Everyone looks so tranquil and happy.” Riley nodded and said, “We must give it a try.”

Lien Seng and his wife and son receive a lotus flower from a practitioner.

Lien Seng and his wife accepted a beautiful lotus flower after a practitioner told them about Falun Dafa. “I am thrilled to see such a great cultivation practice in our area. I hope I can learn it, too. Besides, it is free to learn. It is great that you give back to the community.”

Carrie Fidel and her husband Ralph said the celebrations were beautiful.

Carrie Fidel and her husband Ralph loved watching the waist drum performance. Carrie said the drum beats made her feel relaxed, “This is truly a beautiful celebration. We can see different cultures. It is great.” She thought practitioners appeared peaceful and she was interested in learning the exercises.

Background: What Is Falun Dafa Day?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises have experienced improved health and well-being.

Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, introduced the practice to the public on May 13, 1992. The first Falun Dafa Day was celebrated on May 13, 2000, just months after the persecution began in China in July 1999.

Mr. Li Hongzhi, gave his first lecture in his native city of Changchun, in northeast China. Today, Falun Dafa is practiced by tens of millions in over 70 countries.