(Minghui.org) Practitioners in Western Australia would like to wish Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, a happy Chinese New Year. They expressed gratitude to him for compassionately introducing Falun Dafa and saving people in this chaotic world.

Pet Care Service Provider: “Eternal Gratitude for Master’s Compassion”

Jason Uttley, a pet care service provider who lives on the Gold Coast, began practicing Falun Dafa in 2019. As a supporter of the Human Rights group Amnesty International, he noticed an online article regarding a prisoner of conscience who was arbitrarily detained by the Chinese authorities for practicing Falun Dafa. He said, “I wanted to verify this information was 100% accurate before I wrote to support the release of this prisoner. I started reading Falun Dafa books and realized the teachings were not harmful. Quite the opposite, Falun Dafa is a righteous spiritual teaching that upholds the universally upright values of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.”

Jason’s belief in Falun Dafa became even stronger after he began practicing the exercises. He said, “I used to suffer from scoliosis, which made walking excruciatingly painful. Chiropractic treatment gave only temporary relief. Yet six months after I started practicing the Falun Dafa exercises, my back pain disappeared and has never returned. Now I am fit and healthy and I can do all kinds of physical activities. Friends and strangers are amazed whenever I tell them that Falun Dafa cured me.

“When I first read the book Zhuan Falun, I was fascinated by the chapter on prehistoric civilizations. I have a keen interest in ancient history—it was one of my favorite subjects in school.” When he learned that modern day understandings of human history and theories regarding the origin of humans was far off the truth, he felt very fortunate to have encountered Falun Dafa.

Jason feels he’s benefited from Falun Dafa. Besides becoming more peaceful and tolerant, he now has more energy, and he is happy. “Dafa guides my life and work. When conflicts arise, I look inward rather than clinging to the belief that I’m right. I should examine myself to see if I have said or done anything unkind. By maintaining a compassionate heart, I can instantly resolve differences, and even prevent conflicts from occurring.”

Jason regularly clarifies the truth about the persecution near Surfers Paradise, which is steps away from the coastline and seaside market. Surfers Paradise is a popular destination and attracts both local and international tourists from around the world. Many people stop to read the colorful banners about Falun Dafa and watch as practitioners demonstrate the exercises. They learn about the persecution of Falun Dafa in China and sign petitions to help end the persecution.

Jason Utterly

“I live in a small town. Each round trip between the truth-clarification site and my home requires more than two hours by car. At Surfers Paradise, I meet locals and tourists who never heard of Falun Dafa. I tell people about the beauty and goodness of Falun Dafa and expose the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) lies regarding the ongoing persecution of practitioners. This helps people understand the truth and turn away the lies spread by the Party. Those who understand the truth will have bright futures. I know my efforts to help people and create a better world are meaningful.

“Thank you, Master Li, for introducing Falun Dafa to the world and demonstrating supreme compassion towards humanity. Dafa has the ability to elevate human morality and save humankind. I am grateful to Master Li and wish him a happy Chinese New Year!”

Aged Care Worker from Western Australia, “I’ve Been Waiting and Searching for Falun Dafa My Whole Life”

Eirini Comino, an elderly care worker in a nursing home, spent six years in India learning meditation and exploring her spiritual path. In her 40s, she poured all her resources into finding the true meaning of life but never found the answer.

After returning to Western Australia from India in 2005, Erini felt lonely and depressed. She missed her husband, who remained behind in India.

A friend told her about Falun Dafa in 2006, and suggested she read Zhuan Falun. Eirini said, “The moment I started to learn the exercises, something miraculous happened. That feeling of emptiness vanished in an instant, and I felt so content. I couldn’t describe that comfortable feeling to anyone, apart from the friend who lent me the book. Although he was also a new practitioner, he introduced me to a small Fa study group and guided me to an exercise practice group at the park. My body was purified the moment I started practicing, and fellow practitioners reassured me that this was normal. I was incredibly happy to find Dafa.”

Eirini firmly cultivated without wavering. “My whole being was energized. This was what I had been waiting and searching for my whole life. I finally found my path, a true method of cultivation and the way to continuous improvement.”

Eirini wishes Master Li Hongzhi a happy Chinese New Year.

As a new practitioner, Eirini already felt a sense of responsibility. Every weekend, she goes to the truth clarification site to hand out flyers, collect signatures to help stop the persecution, and explain to passersby about the unjust persecution of Dafa and Falun Gong practitioners in China. She continues to exercise with local practitioners at the park every Saturday morning, while exercising opposite the Chinese Consulate every Sunday morning.

After 20 years, Eirini has gained the confidence to clarify the truth well. “I tell people how Falun Dafa and its practitioners are brutally persecuted by the CCP, and how the persecution continues to this day.

“After hearing the truth, many people voluntarily sign the petitions while I give them lotus flowers or beautiful bookmarks in return. While we chat I try to convey my sincerity, integrity, compassion, tolerance, and patience. I tell people that following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance will keep them safe. Communism embraces a completely opposite ideology—it is filled with lies, hatred, violence, power, and the desire for control.

“Many people are deeply moved after learning the truth. After acknowledging how bad the CCP is and how it tramples on human rights and freedom of belief, the majority will give me very positive feedback, commenting on how we have positively contributed to human society.

“Unfortunately some people are indifferent, which I feel is in line with the downward trend of today’s modern society. These experiences have helped me improve in cultivation, making me more compassionate and tolerant while motivating me to do better.”

Eirini expressed her unwavering commitment to Falun Dafa. “I hope to maintain the determination I had when I first obtained the Fa, help end the CCP’s persecution, fulfill my vows, and follow Master back to my true home.”

She respectfully wished Master Li a happy New Year, and said, “I am grateful to compassionate Master for rescuing me from the abyss of Hell and granting me salvation.”

Teacher from Cairns, “Zhuan Falun Can Explain the True Meaning of Life”

Maria from Cairns, a coastal city in northern Queensland, has practiced Falun Dafa for 21 years, since 2005. She said, “I’ve encountered many teachings and practices, but Falun Dafa was the only practice which truly helped me. My immigrant mother was a steadfast Catholic and I followed in her footsteps from a young age. I remain grateful to her for instilling in me a firm faith in the divine. Later, I left my hometown to pursue a teaching career and I began exploring other faiths. I found myself constantly searching for something, although I couldn’t fathom what it was.

“A fellow teacher who met a practitioner who was teaching the Falun Dafa exercises for free in a nearby town told me about Falun Dafa. I attended a few classes, found them excellent, and asked the practitioner if he could visit my town to introduce Falun Dafa. He came to teach at my town for a few months before he returned to Sydney.”

Her colleague also gave Maria a copy of Zhuan Falun, which she reads diligently to this day. Maria had an epiphany the first time she read Zhuan Falun. “This was what I’d been searching for. The book explains the true meaning of life, why we are here, why we encounter difficulties, how to raise our moral base and the importance of it, and how to become a truly good person by aligning our thoughts and actions with the universal principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. This was a truth I’d never encountered in any other teachings.”

Although she has yet to meet Master Li, Maria firmly believes that his selfless teachings are truly priceless and can offer anyone salvation. “I am incredibly grateful and honored to be one of the many Falun Dafa practitioners during this special period of Fa-rectification.”

Maria concluded, “Only by diligently doing the three things, looking inward to discover my issues, adhering to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and improving my character in life and work, can I express my deepest gratitude to Master. I wish Master Li a happy 2026 Chinese New Year!”