On May 13th, 2006, practitioners from the Los Angeles and Orange County areas joyfully gathered together at Santa Monica Beach to respectfully celebrated Master Li's 55th birthday, the 7th World Falun Dafa Day and the Fourteenth Anniversary of Falun Dafa's public introduction.
Respectfully wishing Master Happy Birthday |
Colourful flags of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" fluttering in the breeze, banners reading "Falun Dafa is good" and "The World Needs 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance"
Group exercises |
The practitioners started the celebrations with group exercises. The peaceful and harmonious exercises drew people's attention. Many people stopped to watch, and a young couple from Europe started to learn the exercises right on the spot.
On behalf of the local practitioners, Prof. Wu Yingnian of UCLA delivered a speech. He reviewed Falun Dafa's fourteen years of glory since 1992, when Master Li Hongzhi introduced it to the public, until now, when Falun Dafa has been spread to more than 80 countries. At the same time he expressed practitioners' sincere appreciation to Master for his compassionate salvation.
Dr. Wu condemned Jiang Zemin and the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. He stressed that "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" cannot be overcome by evil.
Practitioners also performed the dance "Pure Lotus" that depicts Master's poem "Fragrant Lotus" from "Hongyin 2":
Mercy spreads fragrant scent,
And sprinkles sweet dew on the human world
The lotus blooms throughout the court of heaven"
Young practitioners from Minghui school perform "Planting Lotus Flowers" the lotus symbolising the children's pure hearts, which will bring the world a better future.
Sword Dance "The Sword Eliminating the Evil" |
Dance "Dunhuang Dance Music" expresses people's reverence and respect to the deity |
The practitioners' poem "Praise for Return" expressed their boundless gratitude and respect towards Master. They will work more diligently, with righteous thoughts and righteous actions, not to disappoint in fulfilling their pre-historic grand vows, and live up to sentient beings' hope for us, and live up to Master expectations!
During the celebration, many tourists stopped to watch, applauded, accepted truth-clarifying materials and signed the petition to support the effort against the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong.
After the celebration, practitioners reenacted the organ harvest from living practitioners that is happening in China, in order to expose the persecution of Falun Gong. Many people were shocked and encouraged us to further raise awareness of these atrocities.
At the end of the celebration, the practitioners had a photo taken to respectfully wish Master Happy Birthday.
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