Taipei, Taiwan: Practitioners Gather for Exercises and New Year Greetings to Master Li

(Minghui.org) On the morning of New Year’s Day 2025, practitioners in Taipei gathered at Liberty Square in front of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to practice the Falun Dafa exercises and wish Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, a happy New Year.

Practitioners in Taipei Wish Master Li a happy New Year on January 1, 2025.

Video: Practitioners wish Master Li a happy New Year during an event on Liberty Square on January 1, 2025.

Practitioners did the Falun Dafa exercises on Liberty Square on the morning of January 1, 2025.

It was slightly cold on the morning of January 1, and tourists just finished watching the flag-raising ceremony outside the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The peaceful scene of practitioners meditating and practicing the Falun Dafa exercises in the usually empty Liberty Square drew their attention. Many people took photos.

People Admire Falun Dafa

Miss Chi, a software engineer who passed by the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, noticed practitioners doing the exercises and walked back to Liberty Square to take photos. She said that Falun Dafa practitioners were cool and that the atmosphere was peaceful. “There were many people and the group was very neat. It’s not easy to get up so early to do the exercises.” She also said that she was interested in Falun Dafa and would go to Minghui.org to read about the exercises.

Ms. Chieyu took photos of practitioners as they did the exercises on Liberty Square, and said happily that her parents-in-law practice Falun Dafa and she wanted to take photos to share with them. She believed that practicing the exercises makes people calm. “Many things have happened in society recently, and people in this era need to calm down.”

Chieyu said that Taiwan needs Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and freedom of belief. “Religious beliefs teach people to be good, that is, to be sincere, kind, and tolerant.” She also felt that it wasn’t easy to uphold one’s beliefs, so she encouraged practitioners, “It is not easy to do the right thing, because many in society are hypocritical. You may be gossiped about or be pressured. It’s not easy to do the right thing.”

Many practitioners participated in the New Year’s Day activities. Some came from Nangang, Tucheng, and Beitou. Yumei, who coordinated the event, said, “A year’s plan starts with spring, and a day’s plan starts with the morning. A beautiful year starts with the exercises. I made a wish: I must come out to practice with the group, follow Master’s teachings, and study the Fa. This is the most basic. So, my fellow practitioners and I encouraged each other and held today’s event.”

Children Like the Practice

Yiyuan

Yiyuan said that as parents we need to guide young Dafa practitioners to study the Fa and practice the exercises. “If you encounter a child who is in a bad mood, don’t confront him head-on, but talk to him gently.” He said his children feel the grace of cultivation. Recently, his eldest son took the initiative to go to the park for morning exercises, which is very gratifying.

Yiyuan said that after practicing, he is considerate of his superiors and colleagues at work. When he disagrees with them, he puts aside his feelings and stands in their shoes. His colleagues say he is reliable. “Many colleagues know that I practice Falun Dafa and are willing to talk to me and tell me some of their inner thoughts.”

Benefiting from Practicing Dafa

Alice

Before she practiced Falun Dafa Alice said her relationship with her parents was at a standstill, “I used to be very selfish—I only thought about my own feelings and emotions, and I was angry with my parents. After I began practicing, I became considerate and caring and my attitude towards them improved.” Her parents saw the changes in her and strongly supported her practicing Falun Dafa, “My parents don’t practice, but they saw how I changed after I began practicing, and encouraged me to study the Fa and practice the exercises to stay healthy physically and mentally.”

Eliminating Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Ms. Hong

Ms. Hong’s sister told her about Falun Dafa. She read Zhuan Falun, but didn’t believe in miracles beyond science. With her sister’s encouragement, she decided to put aside her doubts and practice.

She said she experienced how amazing Falun Dafa is, “I did not need to take another sleeping pill. Before I practiced I took sleeping pills for more than ten years, and I also drank. I no longer thought about these two things.”

Ms. Hong said her life has been life renewed, and she smiles every day.