Poland: Practitioners in Warsaw Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners in Poland held a rally in Warsaw’s Old Town Market Place on May 4, 2025, to celebrate the 26th World Falun Dafa Day, the 33rd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction, and the birthday of the practice’s founder Master Li Hongzhi.

In 2000, the second year of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) full-scale persecution of Falun Dafa and its practitioners, 17 Falun Dafa Associations outside of China issued a joint statement designating May 13 as “World Falun Dafa Day.”

World Falun Dafa Day is a celebration that unites Falun Dafa practitioners and kind people around the world. The designation seeks to raise awareness of Falun Dafa around the world and enable predestined people to encounter and start to practice it, while also appealing for support from members of the public to help practitioners in China regain their right to freedom of belief.

On May 4 practitioners in Poland gathered in Warsaw’s Old Town Market Place to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction and to wish Master Li a happy birthday!

Demonstrating the Falun Dafa exercises and sending righteous thoughts in Warsaw’s Old Town Market Place.

Practitioners tell people about Falun Dafa and the persecution.

Passersby sign the petition in support of Falun Dafa practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution in China.

American Tourists: We Will Remember This Special Day Forever

Michael Eisenberg and his father Marlon Eisenberg from the U.S. were visiting Warsaw when they encountered Falun Dafa for the first time. They were impressed by the warm and peaceful atmosphere of practitioners doing the exercises but stunned to read about the CCP’s human rights atrocities. They listened to a practitioner explain the persecution and then added their signatures to the petition calling for an end to the persecution.

Michael (center) and Marlon Eisenberg (right) from the United States with a Falun Dafa practitioner

The father and son talked to many practitioners, eager to understand Falun Dafa from different perspectives. Marlon Eisenberg remarked, “I must read Zhuan Falun. I cannot miss such an important book. This is my greatest benefit from our European trip.” His son Michael added, “I want to learn Falun Gong. I believe my [college] classmates will also be interested. We can learn and practice it together.”

The pair repeatedly thanked practitioners and insisted on taking a commemorative photo. The father said, “We will always remember this special day.”

Joanna, another tourist, was passing by the old city when she heard the Falun Dafa exercise music. She followed the music and was mesmerized to see the peaceful exercise movements.

“Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are beautiful values and important standards for this world. The Chinese regime’s persecution of Falun Gong shows it is corrupt. It’s terrible,” she said.

“I pray that those with influence can do something for these Chinese practitioners. I believe that evil will ultimately perish, like dark clouds in the sky that are scattered by the sun,” she said.

Chinese Practitioner: “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Has Given Us Physical and Mental Health”

Mr. Huang, one of the participants, said that practitioners in Poland have been doing the exercises in a park in Warsaw every week since 2008.

“This site has been instrumental in spreading awareness and encouraging those interested in practicing Falun Dafa. Whatever their race or background, practitioners all gain hope and enlightenment by studying Falun Dafa’s teachings of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” he said.

“We have witnessed tremendous improvements in their bodies and minds. People suffering from all kinds of health problems, those about to undergo eye or knee surgery or even surgery for cancer—all their ailments were removed after practicing Dafa. People with chronic bad habits—smokers, alcoholics, and drug abusers—all turned over a new leaf without conscious thought after cultivating Falun Dafa. Those who were impatient and short-tempered found themselves becoming more cheerful, as their family and working life changed for the better.

“Practitioners all believe ‘Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good’ and would like to spread the word about this practice, because those who can cultivate will benefit in many ways.

“We are grateful for the introduction of Falun Dafa to Poland. In Warsaw alone, the number of practice sites has increased from one to five. New practice sites are in the works, and more and more people are studying the Fa and practicing the exercises each day. Falun Dafa has benefited us physically and mentally. On the occasion of World Falun Dafa Day, I would like to express my gratitude to Dafa and Master Li,” he said.

Polish Practitioner: “I Hope More People Will Learn About Falun Dafa”

Polish practitioner Magda established a Falun Dafa practice site in a park and even applied to the city government to grant her use of a gym so that she could hold free Falun Dafa teaching classes.

The city government approved Magda’s application. During these weekly classes, Magda and other practitioners clarify the truth about the persecution in China before demonstrating the exercise movements. The classes were so successful that one woman was even willing to pay her to teach the exercises and promote Falun Dafa in their area.

Magda told her, “I am a practitioner, so I am very happy and willing to teach the exercises and introduce Falun Dafa. But we do this on a voluntary basis and do not charge fees.” The woman was moved by her words and replied, “Falun Dafa is the only thing that remains pure in today’s money-oriented world.”

Practitioner Magda

Magda said the new practitioners who visit their practice sites always leave feeling good, saying things like: “After practicing, I feel very comfortable.” “I always feel restless after practicing yoga, but with Falun Dafa, I can calm down immediately. It’s amazing.”

“Dafa Changed My Life”

Tomek, who lives in Warsaw, became a Falun Dafa practitioner in 2019. While many people view him as a humble, polite, and even-tempered, Tomek said he was completely different in the past.

Tomek (right) telling tourists about Falun Dafa.

“Before I practiced Dafa, I would hit and hurt people I disagreed with. I was quick to get into quarrels, and my private life was in chaos,” he said. “I had enough self-awareness to know I was not a good person, but whenever I encountered issues, I just couldn’t control my emotions. My hatred and anger would burst forth like a volcanic eruption no matter how hard I tried to suppress it. Acquaintances, friends, and even family members looked at me with fear. To be honest, I hated myself from the bottom of my heart. I wanted to change, but I didn’t have enough willpower to get rid of my bad habits.

“Despite my inappropriate behavior, I always felt I was searching and waiting for something important. Because I didn’t know what I was trying to find, I was very confused. Then a colleague introduced me to Falun Dafa and gave me a copy of Zhuan Falun.

“I realized this was the truth I had been longing and searching for. The more I read, the more impressed I was. I was lucky to be saved by Falun Dafa’s Master, to understand that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is the only way to discern good from bad. Dafa changed my life, purified my mind, taught me to distinguish right from wrong and good from evil, and guided me to my true self.

“By aligning myself with the standards of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, I got rid of many of my attachments, and my living environment, family, and interpersonal relationships became harmonious. Worldly temptations are no longer appealing, and bad encounters no longer ignite my anger. I now face every situation calmly, with strong righteous thoughts,” he said.

“I started a practice site in a park, hoping to spread the word about Falun Dafa’s benefits. Compassionate Master Li opened my third eye and showed me a magnificent view of heaven and countless angels. From that pure world, I felt a sense of peace and tranquility. I knew this was Master’s way of encouraging me to bring those who are predestined to return with me to that beautiful world.

“On World Falun Dafa Day, I want to thank Master Li for spreading Falun Dafa to the world, for his compassionate salvation, and for turning my life around. I wish Master Li a happy birthday! Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!” Tomek said.