Italy: Falun Dafa Practitioners Celebrate World Falun Day

Falun Dafa practitioners held activities in Milan on May 8, 2021, to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and wish Master Li Hongzhi a happy 70th birthday. Twenty-nine years have passed since Falun Dafa was first made public in China in 1992, and today, many people in Italy hold dear the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Falun Dafa practitioners expressed their infinite gratitude to Master for his salvation.

Practitioners hold activities in Milan to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and wish Master Li a happy birthday

It was a beautiful day, and many onlookers stopped to watch practitioners demonstrate the five Falun Dafa exercises.

New Practitioner Has Energy Like Never Before
Anna, a new practitioner who participated in the celebration, described how grateful she is to Master Li, the founder of the practice. “May 13th is World Falun Dafa Day,” she said. “It is also Master’s birthday. Two years ago today, I started to read Dafa books and listen to Master's lectures.”

Anna demonstrates the fifth exercise, the meditation

Anna encountered Falun Dafa two years ago when a practitioner gave her several documentary videos about Falun Dafa. She watched them and was deeply touched. “I was surprised at how so many people all over the world were cultivating Faun Dafa. I was also shocked to hear that Master has endured so many tribulations and hardships in order to spread the Fa.”

Anna’s health issues had always been a problem for her. “I was diagnosed with low blood pressure when I was young, and my hands and feet were always cold. I also suffered from headaches. Though I would go to bed at 10 p.m., I would not fall asleep until 3 or 4 a.m. Countless nights I was unable to fall asleep and thus felt tired the next day. I also had migraines and there would be hateful voices in my head.

“I’d tried many different methods to solve my health issues. I tried counting numbers, drinking herbal tea, listening to music while meditating, reading books, and taking Eastern and Western medications. However, everything ended up in vain. The medications I took to alleviate my headaches left me in a daze. The insomnia that I’d had for many years was a direct result of my feeling anxious and tired, and it was hard for me to maintain a clear mind.

“Master purified my body and my health improved after I started cultivating Falun Dafa and practicing the exercises. I no longer feel cold or suffer from insomnia or dizziness due to low blood pressure. Most importantly, the migraines have never come back to bother me. I am now more clear-headed and I am full of vitality.

Anna talks to passersby about Falun Dafa.

“My view of the world changed for the better after reading the book Zhuan Falun. I realized all of my problems could be solved by reading this book,” Anna said, “My understanding of Dafa also became more clear to me. I’d always thought I was a good person before cultivating. Whenever I’d encountered a conflict, I would always think I was right. After sharing experiences with other practitioners, they pointed out many of my attachments, like competitiveness and fighting for personal gain and profits. However, I denied it all. Gradually, I realized that I needed to recognize my own shortcomings. I shouldn’t look at other people’s mistakes—I should look within and find my own attachments in order to correct myself.

“Initially, it was a very difficult process for me. In a conflict, I should not argue, get angry, or resent the other person. I realized I needed to look inward and relinquish any attachments I may have. It wasn’t easy! By reading Master’s lectures while I was going through hardships, I was able to find solutions and pass the tests. Whenever I’d relinquish an attachment, my heart would feel light and bright. This was something I’d never experienced before.”

Anna started to become more courageous and to clarify the truth to more people after learning about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa. Anna overcame her shyness and timidity and started to have more righteous thoughts and to conquer her fears.

Anna said from the bottom of her heart: “Thank you, compassionate Master, for saving me! I wish you a happy birthday!”

Young Practitioner: My Boundless Gratitude
Giacomo is a young Falun Dafa practitioner. He recalled how he started to cultivate: “My father gave me the book Zhuan Falun as a present. Without even glancing at the book, I told him I would practice the exercises.”

Giacomo, a young Falun Dafa practitioner

Giacomo was unable to focus when he first started to read the book. He saw a Falun Dafa information booth and started chatting with a practitioner at the British Museum in London. He realized that he was predestined to cultivate Falun Dafa.

Like other young people his age, he had been tempted by lust and violence and had gone to extremes in relationships. After he started cultivating, he pulled himself away from those negative things and found inner peace. He was able to sleep better at night. “I cannot think what I would have been like if I had not found Falun Dafa.”

Giacomo was very happy to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. “I feel very comfortable when I am around practitioners. It feels like I’ve known them for an eternity,” he said.

“On this special occasion, I want to wish Master Li Hongzhi a beautiful day. I will be forever grateful for what Master has bestowed upon me. I want to express my utmost gratitude to Master. I want to do what I can to the best of my abilities and not leave any regrets,” he said.

I Am Grateful for Master’s Compassion
Ah Long first encountered Falun Dafa in 2013 but did not really understand its true meaning. “I knew that exercises are a good thing so, I would accompany my wife to do the Falun Dafa exercises in the park. It occurred to me that my body would feel very comfortable while practicing some of the movements, and I would be in good spirits the next day.

“After a couple of weeks, I was encouraged to read the book Zhuan Falun. When I read it, I would start to feel drowsy and tired because I did not recognize Chinese characters. This went on for two years.

“One day, my wife and I went out for a drink. A few hours later, my wife, who had enteritis, started to feel hot and uncomfortable. I wanted to take her to the hospital, but I began to feel very cold and had no strength. At that moment, I thought about Zhuan Falun and asked Master Li for help. I encouraged my wife to do so as well. After a few minutes, my wife went to the bathroom and she was no longer in pain!

“I spent almost two years reading and trying to understand Zhuan Falun and what Falun Dafa truly is. I thought this was a very good thing when I realized that this is genuine cultivation. Falun Dafa teaches people to be compassionate. Today, on World Falun Dafa Day, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Master for helping me eliminate my karma,” Ah Long said.