(Minghui.org) On May 10, 2025, practitioners held an event at the Signal of Peace Monument by Lake Michigan in Chicago to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and to respectfully wish their founder Master Li Hongzhi a happy birthday. This year’s May 13 marks the 33rd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction to the world. Practitioners did the Falun Dafa exercises, gave performances, and shared the beauty of practicing Falun Dafa’s guiding principles, Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, with Chicago residents and visitors. They also expressed their gratitude to Master Li.

On May 10, 2025, Falun Dafa practitioners held an event by Lake Michigan in Chicago to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and respectfully wish Master Li a happy birthday.

Young practitioners give performances to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day

“Falun Dafa Helped Me Find Direction in Life”

In 2007, Ms. Wen Yi suffered a torn lumbar disc, which left her nearly unable to walk and plunged her life into deep misery. During a heated argument with her husband, when her emotions were spiraling out of control, a sudden thought flashed through her mind: “Wen Yi, why are you acting like a shrew? You weren’t like this before. Remember how Falun Dafa practitioners don’t fight back when hit or insulted?” She previously talked with practitioners and learned about the practice. She recalled with emotion that this thought struck her like a beam of light piercing through the chaos in her heart. She lowered her raised fist, turned around, went back to her room, and looked on her computer for information about Falun Dafa.

“When I read Zhuan Falun, I was profoundly shaken,” Wen Yi said. “This book answered all the deep questions in my heart.” Just two weeks after she began practicing Falun Dafa, her back injury was miraculously gone. “My mind became calm and peaceful, and my body became healthy.

“Master teaches us to live by Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, to always consider others, return to traditional moral values, and rekindle faith in the divine,” Wen Yi explained. “I finally understood why morality is declining in today’s society and why people have become indifferent and hostile to each other.” She believes the Chinese Communist Party’s promotion of atheism and the struggle philosophy destroyed the Chinese people’s deep-rooted tradition of reverence for the divine.

“Falun Dafa helped me find the direction of my life!” Wen Yi said. “Dafa teaches people to be kind. If everyone followed the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, society would be harmonious, and people would treat each other with goodwill and trust. I will continue to cultivate and strive to be an even better person.”

“Dafa Is the Source of My Inner Peace”

Paul Palvo said Falun Dafa is the source of his inner peace.

Paul Palvo believes that in today’s rapidly changing and uncertain world, people are often overwhelmed with anxiety and a sense of being lost. “In such an environment, I think everyone needs something that brings inner peace and harmony to their life. For me, that strength comes from Falun Dafa.”

He said practicing Falun Dafa not only improved his physical health, but more importantly, his spiritual growth and mental tranquility. “Dafa answered many of the questions I had about life,” he said, “and helped me find the answers I had been seeking for so long.”

He explained, “I think everyone in some way tries to improve themselves, but they don’t know how to do it. No matter what you’re doing in your life, Falun Dafa can benefit you, give you what you need, and help you.”

Paul emphasized that Falun Dafa is more than just a philosophy; it’s a guide for living that teaches people to be truthful and sincere. In the real world, people often have different opinions and standards. But Dafa helped him realize that the true measure comes from our compassion and righteous thoughts.

When asked how he practices the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance in daily life, Paul used the example of filial piety to parents. “It sounds simple, but it’s not easy to truly live up to it. It requires constant self-cultivation, letting go of ego, and learning genuine compassion and tolerance.” He added, “I’m calmer and happier, and my mom is also happy.”

“Dafa Taught Me to Treat Others with Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance”

Ricky, a bank operations manager, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Master Li

Ricky, a bank operations manager, was introduced to Falun Dafa at a young age. As he continued reading Dafa’s teachings, he developed a deeper understanding of how to cultivate himself and apply the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance in everyday life.

“Every time I open a Dafa book, I’m moved by the profound teachings. When I truly apply the principle of looking inward in all situations and always thinking of others first, I find that the environment around me becomes more peaceful and harmonious,” he said.

He believes that following Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance isn’t just about personal character, it extends into every aspect of life and work. “For example,” he said, “in my job I often have to coordinate cross-departmental projects. Initially, each department focused only on its own priorities, which led to inefficiencies. But when I took the time to listen to their concerns, consider each team’s situation, and work together to find solutions that benefited the company as a whole, the conflicts quickly resolved, and collaboration improved significantly.”

Ricky expressed heartfelt gratitude to Master Li. “I’m thankful to Master for bringing such a wonderful practice to the world. Dafa has given me the opportunity to improve myself by following Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. I hope more people will read Dafa books and begin the journey of returning to their true selves.”

“Falun Dafa Helped Me Understand the True Meaning of Life”

Mr. Liu, a veteran healthcare professional at a major hospital in Chicago with over two decades of experience, began practicing Falun Dafa in 1997. He was delighted to attend the celebration of World Falun Dafa Day with his entire family. “Looking back on more than 20 years of cultivation,” he said, “what I feel most is gratitude to Master for spreading Falun Dafa!”

For Mr. Liu, practicing Falun Dafa goes far beyond improving health or benefiting his family. “Falun Dafa helped me understand the true meaning of life.”

He reflected that while the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are easy to say, they’re not always easy to live by. “Especially in today’s materialistic and morally declining society, truly putting these principles into practice can be challenging. But precisely because of that difficulty, I’ve come to deeply appreciate how important it is to uphold these values.”

“When we feel how much we’ve benefited from Falun Dafa, the most natural thing is to share its beauty with others,” Mr. Liu said. “We want more people to know about Falun Dafa, so they too can benefit and have a brighter future. That’s one of the reasons why we celebrate Falun Dafa Day.”