United States: New York State Senate Passes Resolution Recognising May 2011 as World Falun Dafa Month

On May 3rd, 2011, the New York State Senate passed Legislative Resolution No. 1450 recognising May 2011 as World Falun Dafa Month, and commemorating the 12th Annual World Falun Dafa Day Celebration, May 13th, 2011. Below is the text of the Resolution.

State of New York

Legislative Resolution

Senate No. 1450

By Senators Martins and Maziarz

Recognising May 2011 as World Falun Dafa Month, and

Commemorating the 12th Annual World Falun Dafa Day

Celebration, May 13th, 2011

Whereas, The Legislative Body is justly proud to recognise May 2011, as World Falun Dafa Month, and to commemorate the 12th Annual World Falun Dafa Day Celebration, May 13th, 2011, in Union Square Park; and

Whereas, Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a self-improvement practice rooted in ancient Chinese culture based on refining the body and mind through special exercises and meditation; and

Whereas, This special event observes the day Falun Dafa was first introduced to the general public in China in 1992, by Mr. Li Hongzhi, who now resides in United States; and

Whereas, The practice of Falun Dafa is simple; it consists primarily of two components, self-improvement through study and practice of the gentle exercises; and

Whereas, Practitioners of Falun Dafa strive to live by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance in order to improve their moral nature, and in turn, to experience remarkable health benefits; and

Whereas, The practice of Falun Dafa goes beyond the pursuit of health and fitness to the goal of greater wisdom and enlightenment; and

Whereas, The Falun Dafa philosophy espouses the idea the when the heart is pure, the mind balanced, and the body energised, health and happiness are a natural outcome; individuals have been empowered to leave behind addictions and bad habits; families, to live in peace together; and communities, to embrace what is virtuous and life-affirming; and

Whereas, The effectiveness of Falun Dafa in improving health, as well as the principles upon which it is founded, have proven to be immensely popular throughout the world and have attracted people in more than 40 countries; and

Whereas, To the people of China, Falun Dafa provides a source of strength in the face of oppression; although the practice is banned in the land of its origin, practitioners persevere in the pursuit of their spiritual beliefs, risking imprisonment or worse; and

Whereas, Falun Dafa is a practice which has brought better health and inner peace to millions around the world; now therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to recognise May 2011, as World Falun Dafa Month, and to commemorate the 12th Annual World Falun Dafa Day Celebration, May 13th, 2011; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Falun Dafa practitioners of New York State.

Adopted in Senate on

May 3rd, 2011

By order of the Senate,

Francis W. Patience, Secretary