Las Vegas, USA: Practitioners Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day

(Minghui.org) Practitioners in Las Vegas held an event at Exploration Peak Park on the afternoon of May 3, 2025, to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. They demonstrated the exercises and told people about Falun Dafa. World Falun Dafa Day is on May 13, and this year marks the 33rd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction. They also sent their best wishes to their founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, and wished him a happy birthday.

Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises at Exploration Peak Park on May 3, 2025.

Practitioners sang a song, Ode to Master’s Grace.

Falun Dafa was introduced by Mr. Li Hongzhi in 1992. Its guiding principles are Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. More than 100 million people around the world practice Falun Dafa in more than 100 countries and regions. The main text, Zhuan Falun, has been translated into 50 languages.

The peaceful and calm practice scene drew many people to learn more. Some signed a petition in support of the Falun Gong Protection Act. Some asked where they could learn the exercises. Two young girls learned them on the spot.

People sign a petition to support the Falun Gong Protection Act.

Searching for 20 Years

Mr. Tian from China has lived in the U.S. for many years. He said, “I’ve always been very interested in the essence of China’s 5,000-year-old traditional culture. I studied books on traditional Chinese medicine and tried several types of qigong. In the early 1980s, I also learned Tai Chi. But after 20 years of searching, I still hadn’t found a true path of cultivation.”

In 1996, Mr. Tian visited his Tai Chi teacher’s home. Someone there played a video of Master Li Hongzhi’s Guangzhou Lectures.

“I was immediately drawn to Falun Dafa,” Mr. Tian said. “At that time, I knew nothing about Falun Dafa. But many things I always wanted to understand, that had confused me for years, were suddenly explained clearly and simply. I was fully focused and just sat there and listened. I borrowed the video to take home.”

After watching the video, he was overwhelmed with emotion: “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!”

He gave up Tai Chi and began practicing Falun Dafa.

“The early days of practicing were full of joy!” Mr. Tian said with excitement. “Every morning, I went out to do the exercises around 5 a.m., and we finished by 7 a.m. I then went to work. In the evenings, I studied the teachings and helped spread the practice. When I walked, it felt like the wind was lifting me; when I rode my bike, it felt like someone was pushing me; I was not tired even after climbing many flights of stairs. Everything Master described in the book, I experienced myself.

“Everyone’s spirit improved a lot. We gave up bad habits like smoking and drinking. We learned to take personal gains lightly. At the time, I worked at a five-star hotel. After I started practicing, I worked diligently, came in early, and stayed late. I never felt tired and was full of energy. I no longer cared about competing for fame or money. I was awarded Top Ten Employee of the hotel, Model Worker of the Asian Games, and other titles. The company even sent me abroad for training.”

As World Falun Dafa Day approaches, Mr. Tian, who has now practiced Falun Dafa for 29 years, said, “I’m deeply grateful to Master for helping me reconnect with this sacred path. Thank you, Master, for your compassionate salvation. Master, you’ve worked so hard. I wish you a very happy birthday! I will do my best to walk the path well from now on.”

Every Day Feels Like a Blessing

Jackie has practiced Falun Dafa for 19 years. Before she found Falun Dafa, she searched for a true spiritual path, something that could explain the meaning of life and help improve her character. It took four encounters with Falun Dafa before she finally began practicing.

Jackie (in the yellow shirt), hands out Falun Dafa flyers and collects signatures for the Falun Gong Protection Act.

She said, “In 2001, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I felt a bit hopeless and started wondering if there was still any good left in the world. That’s when I came across Falun Dafa for the first time.” She said with joy, “I found a magazine called Compassion at the local library. It was published by Falun Dafa practitioners, and it really touched me. I decided to learn more.”

The second and third times happened while Jackie was working at different shopping malls. Practitioners gave her a newspaper and later a bookmark. She said the bookmark was in a drawer at home for years. She never used it for any regular book until she finally began practicing.

Her fourth encounter with Falun Dafa came in 2006, when she saw a flyer on a bench outside a mall. “It was a blue flyer with the words Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” she said. “It really stuck with me.” After reading it, she became interested in the practice and was surprised to learn that the practice was free.

Jackie even traveled to Mexico to pay for spiritual training programs. But after returning to the U.S. and picking up the Falun Dafa flyer again, she saw the words “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance” and thought to herself, “Now I’m ready. This is the path I truly want to follow.” That’s when she officially began practicing Falun Dafa.

“I’m thankful for all the efforts that practitioners made,” Jackie said. “Their efforts planted a seed in my heart, and when I was ready, I started cultivating.”

After she began practicing, Jackie experienced a big change in her personality. She became patient and understanding of others. “Through practicing kindness and improving myself, I get along better with people. I used to lose my patience quickly when my family upset me, but now I can step back, think things through, and handle situations much better.”

Jackie added, “Cultivation is great! Every day feels like a blessing. Thank you, Master, for your compassionate salvation. Thank you for never giving up on me.”

Local Radio Station Staff: “I Like Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance”

Katie, who works at a local radio station, was taking an afternoon walk in the park when she noticed practitioners demonstrating the exercises. A practitioner told her they were there to celebrate their founder’s birthday. She learned that Falun Dafa includes both movement and meditation, and that there’s a group practice every morning from 7 to 9 a.m. at Desert Breeze Park. Katie was interested.

Katie (second from right), who works at a local radio station, said she appreciates Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

A practitioner explained, “Falun Dafa teaches people to be good by following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. In China, people are persecuted just for their belief. Many practitioners have been tortured in prison. We’re currently collecting signatures for the Falun Gong Protection Act.” Katie listened and signed her name.

She then noticed a pink display board nearby and pointed to it happily. “Pink is my favorite color,” she said, “and I also love the values of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I’m a Christian, and I see a lot of similarities between Christian teachings and the values of Falun Dafa.”

Katie said, “Everything here feels so peaceful,” and added, “I support what you’re doing to wake people up and to help them realize this persecution is happening and that it’s wrong.”

Young Girls Learn the Exercises

A young girl learns the Falun Dafa exercises.

Two young girls from Polynesia were walking through the park when they saw the event. A practitioner gave them small lotus flowers, and they happily posed for a photo in front of the booth while holding a Falun Dafa flyer.

Later, as practitioners did the fourth set of exercises, the girls passed by again. They told practitioner Jackie they wanted to learn more. Jackie taught them the fourth exercise and explained the key points. Smiling, the girls followed along carefully, and afterward one said, “It feels very comfortable.”

Jackie also told them about the persecution of practitioners in China. The girls then happily signed the petition in support of the Falun Gong Protection Act.