(Minghui.org) Practitioners held activities on Capitol Hill in Ottawa on May 8, 2024, to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day, which is on May 13. The date coincides with Mr. Li Hongzhi’s birthday (Falun Dafa’s founder).
This year marks the 32nd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction. Practitioners have shown the beauty of Dafa to the world through group exercises, truth clarification activities, and parades. Every year officials in Canada and other countries join the celebrations to deliver speeches, or send congratulatory letters and proclamations to recognize the contributions of Falun Dafa and its practitioners, and to call for an end to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) practitioners.
Many people were attracted by the grand celebrations, and talked to practitioners about Falun Dafa during the celebrations in Ottawa.
Falun Dafa practitioners in Eastern Canada wish Master a happy birthday!
Dafa practitioners in Eastern Canada wish Master a happy birthday!
Practitioners do the Falun Dafa exercises on Capitol Hill.
The Tian Guo Marching Band led a grand parade through the streets near Capitol Hill.
Practitioners gave performances to celebrate the arrival of World Falun Dafa Day.
Mia was attracted by the parade.
Mia, from Saskatoon, said she was drawn to the parade. “The parade was joyful. The practitioners were dressed in bright colors, and the music was beautiful!” she said, “It was raining today, but as soon as the parade started, the sun came out!”
After she learned that practitioners follow Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, Mia shared her understanding, “Truthfulness makes people be honest with each other, and it helps people be closely connected. Compassion and forbearance are also very important. Everyone is suffering, so compassion and forbearance help people understand and help each other. It’s great that we can appreciate each other and learn from each other’s differences.”
Mia said, “Seeing this parade made my journey more fulfilling. When I go home, I will go online to learn more about Falun Dafa.”
Sleiman was happy to see Falun Dafa practitioners.
Sleiman noticed practitioners doing the exercises on the lawn in front of the parliament building, so he came to take photos. He said, “I’ve previously seen practitioners do the exercises in front of the Chinese consulate, and calmly expressing their demands to end the persecution, but this is the first time I’ve seen Falun Dafa practitioners practicing in a large group.”
He said that he would recommend Falun Dafa to his family. “As soon as they started practicing, the rain stopped, which is really amazing! My son is interested in traditional Chinese cultivation culture, and I will tell him about Falun Dafa.”
Gil from Kingston said practitioners are a peaceful group.
Practitioners told Gil about Falun Dafa, including the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. He said, “Truthfulness is not only being honest with others, but also being honest with oneself; Compassion is not to have discrimination, not to be prejudiced, to have sympathy; Forbearance is very lacking in the world right now.” He added, “I think there’s a need for Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in this society.”
He was also told about Falun Dafa’s book Zhuan Falun, and how practicing can benefit people physically and mentally. Gil was very interested and asked where he could get a copy of the book.
Practitioners also mentioned that the CCP is persecuting Falun Dafa, and Gil expressed his concern. He said that he will tell his friends and family so that more people learn about the persecution and help to end it.
Chantal saw the parade held by practitioners and thought it was gorgeous.
Chantal, who works in a federal agency, noticed the practitioners’ parade through her window and said they looked gorgeous. She also liked the music played by the Tian Guo Marching Band, and said it was beautiful.
The practitioners told her that practitioners follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Chantal said that from these principles, she could feel the purity of Falun Dafa.
The practitioners told her that in China, practitioners are being persecuted by the CCP. Chantal was saddened and said, “This persecution is wrong. Those who have stopped persecution or experienced persecution have a strong heart, and people need to learn this spirit.”
Anna (third from right) thinks that people should be allowed to practice Falun Dafa.
Anna and her family are from the Netherlands and were touring Canada. When they passed by Capitol Hill, they noticed practitioners doing the Falun Dafa exercises, so they stopped to watch, and asked the practitioners about the practice.
Anna talked to the practitioners and learned that they follow Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, but in China, Falun Dafa is banned by the CCP. She said, “People want to be physically and mentally healthy through practicing Falun Dafa. This is good and should be allowed.”
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