(Minghui.org) May 13, 2025, marks the 33rd anniversary of the introduction of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong), as well as the birthday of its founder, Master Li Hongzhi. On May 3, 2025, practitioners gathered at City Hall Square in Toronto for a group photo to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day.

Practitioners expressed their gratitude to Master Li. Some also thanked him for guiding them with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, which helped them raise their children to be honest, pure, and calm.

Practitioners gathered at City Hall Square for a group photo on May 3 to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction.

Some practitioners expressed gratitude to Master Li for helping them raise good children by following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

My Son Became Imaginative and Creative

Tara wishes Master a happy birthday

When Tara was young, she spent her holidays planting trees in northern Canada. She did this for seven years. Looking back on her first year, she said, “I carried heavy bags of tree seedlings, and climbed over fallen trees and uneven ground. I was exhausted. Then suddenly, a butterfly gently flew by and landed on my hand. In that moment, I felt a sense of kindness and care.

“I experienced harsh conditions such as snowstorms, pouring rain, swarms of mosquitoes, and extreme heat. At the same time, I kept sensing the beauty of the Creator. Modern science had led me to believe in atheism. I believed humans had the highest wisdom. But in the forest, I sensed a loving presence in the universe. That made me rethink faith. A coworker who also planted trees told me about Falun Dafa.”

When she returned to school, Tara found that there was a Falun Dafa club at Western University, so she joined their group exercises, “When I did the exercises, I felt a strong energy. It was a peaceful hour each week that helped me relax from my busy studies. I started reading Falun Dafa’s main text Zhuan Falun, but I didn’t finish it right away because I was reading other spiritual books at the time.”

After graduating, Tara went on a two-year trip. She visited Germany and then Australia. On January 1, 2010, at the age of 26, she was working a temporary job at a pizza shop in a small town in Western Australia. One day, a coworker came in with a Falun Dafa flyer.

Tara remembered, “I wanted to read Zhuan Falun. After reading it, I instantly knew this book came from the heavens. It was extraordinary. I felt like I was wandering in the forest and suddenly found a clear road that leads straight home. After years of searching through different books and practices, Zhuan Falun brought me unmatched clarity and insight.”

A few months later Tara went to New York as a volunteer to raise awareness of the persecution of Falun Gong in China. While there, she met her husband, who is from Brazil. They later moved to Canada and now have two sons, Rowan, age 9, and Mateo, 4.

Rowan and Mateo

Tara believes that the most important quality for a mother is selflessness. She said she had to adjust everything: her time, rest, hobbies, and quiet moments, for her children. She also cares for her father, who was left paralyzed on one side after a brain injury from a car accident.

“It was painful at first. I really wanted some uninterrupted time to myself. But now I’m learning to let go. I no longer feel sad or frustrated. Cultivation helps me find joy in helping others. It doesn’t feel like a sacrifice anymore. It’s something I truly want to do from my heart.”

Tara’s husband meditates with Rowan every evening. Even though Rowan is still young, he can sit quietly for an hour. Tara says practicing cultivation has helped him stay pure. “Some of his friends are into video games and cartoons and are too mature for their age. Rowan is different. He’s imaginative, finds fun in simple things, and creates his own games. He’s good at storytelling, chess, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He also has a strong sense of right and wrong. When he sees a kids’ show with twisted values, he immediately says, ‘No, that’s not right.’”

Mateo is more energetic, but his teacher says he never pushes other kids and comforts those who fall down. He can meditate for 15 minutes. Although he can’t sit still for long, he walks around a bit, and then continues. Tara said, “When my husband and I create a good environment for cultivation, our children are calm, and they get along well. Rowan is kind to Mateo and hugs him often. When we take them out, people often comment on how polite and well-behaved they are.”

A Happy Family of Three Generations

Veronica’s entire family wishes Master a happy birthday

Veronica, a young teacher, practices Falun Dafa with her two children and her mother.

When Veronica was a child, her mother suffered from back pain. In 1998, her aunt and uncle sent her mother a set of Falun Gong books, hoping she could improve her health through self-study and practice. Her illnesses disappeared soon after she started practicing. She encouraged 10-year-old Veronica to practice. Veronica said, “Even then, I knew Falun Dafa was something very precious.”

Now, 27 years later, Veronica is married and has two sons, Jayden, 7, and Liam, who is a year and 9 months.

In 2023, Jayden suddenly developed a facial nerve condition that caused uncontrollable twitching, including around his eyes. Other parents told her the condition was incurable.

Worried, Veronica followed Falun Dafa’s teaching to look inward first. She said, “I realized I was putting too much pressure on Jayden. When I saw other kids doing better in school, I was competitive and jealous, and I started criticizing him. At the same time, his younger brother had just been born, and I wasn’t being sensitive to Jayden’s feelings.”

So she asked Jayden, “Has Mom been too strict lately and made you feel stressed?” He nodded and said, “I’m kind of scared of Mommy.” Veronica gently replied, “Mommy will do better.” Jayden smiled and hugged her. Within a week, his facial twitching disappeared and never came back.

After his little brother was born, Jayden sometimes acted out and hit him. Veronica talked to Jayden using the teachings of Falun Dafa to guide her. She said, “You’re angry at your brother because of jealousy. That’s an attachment we should let go of in cultivation.” Jayden understood and started to care for his brother. Now, Liam smiles and wants to copy whatever Jayden does.

Veronica and Jayden recently began a new routine: studying Falun Dafa’s teachings together for half an hour at night. Then they do the exercises for half an hour. After a week, Jayden had a dream. He dreamed he was in the heavens, and Master, appearing as a Buddha, handed him a scroll that said, “Diligence.” He told his mom, “Master is encouraging me to be more diligent.”

Two Miracle Births

Wang Wen was weak since childhood. She suffered from severe menstrual pain and relied on painkillers. She also had frequent mouth ulcers and inflammed tonsils, making it difficult for her to swallow food. Every autumn, her legs itched. She tried all kinds of Chinese and Western medicines, but nothing worked. In 1997, doctors discovered that her Fallopian tubes were blocked and told her she couldn’t have children. One doctor suggested she try practicing Falun Dafa.

Just two months after she began to practice, Wang Wen’s health problems were gone. In 2001, her first son, Shawn, was born.

When Shawn was just four months old, Wang Wen took him to a peaceful protest outside the Chinese consulate to tell people about the persecution of Falun Gong. She recalled, “His little face was red from the cold, but he didn’t cry or fuss. He stayed quietly in my arms until the event ended. From then on, I always brought him to Falun Gong activities. Even at a young age, he understood that practitioners in China were suffering and needed help. He learned to dance when he was five and performed on community stages with other young practitioners to help raise awareness and support efforts to end the persecution.”

Shawn (far left) performed on stage when he was a child.

In 2007, her second son, Ryan, was born. Like his brother, he began attending events with the family at four months old and grew up handing out truth clarifying flyers on the streets. Helping to end the persecution became the children’s mission.

Ryan (left) and Shawn

The two boys have now grown up and are professional dancers. They perform on stages around the world, and help people learn about the Chinese regime’s persecution. Wang Wen said, “I’m deeply thankful to Master for giving me good health and a happy life.”