North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: Celebrating Falun Dafa Day

(Minghui.org) It has been 29 years since Falun Dafa was first introduced to the world on May 13, 1992. People from more than 100 countries and regions have benefited mentally and physically by practicing Falun Dafa. To celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and the 70^th birthday of Falun Dafa’s founder Master Li Hongzhi, practitioners from North Rhine-Westphalia held events in the city center park in Düsseldorf and in front of Cologne Cathedral on May 13 and 15.

Practitioners demonstrated the exercises and told people about Falun Dafa and how the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) persecutes the spiritual practice. They also gave waist drum performances and did calligraphy. Because they regularly clarify the truth in these two cities, many residents know about Falun Dafa and the CCP’s persecution. During the events, people signed the petition to condemn the persecution.

Cologne Residents Condemn the Persecution

Practitioners demonstrate the exercises in front of Cologne Cathedral on May 15.

Practitioners’ waist drum performances lend a festive note to the celebrations.

People listen as a practitioner tells them about the CCP’s crimes.

On Saturday, May 15, 2021, practitioners from North Rhine-Westphalia gathered in front of Cologne Cathedral to celebrate Falun Dafa Day. They demonstrated the exercises and played the waist drums. Many passersby stopped to watch and take photos.

After learning about the live organ harvesting, Ion from Romania signed the petition to condemn it.

After Ion from Romania read the brochure about the CCP’s live organ harvesting from practitioners, he signed the petition to condemn it. He even took out his identity card and asked a practitioner to take his photo to show his determination.

Ion said, “Live organ harvesting! Horrible! Inhuman! I know that China has a long and historic culture and that the Chinese people are very intelligent. I believe that when the CCP’s reign ends, the Chinese people will have a very good future.”

Aslam and Puy signed the petition to condemn the persecution.

Aslam and Puy both live in Cologne. After learning how the CCP persecutes Falun Dafa practitioners, they signed the petition and said, “Everyone in the world should unite to condemn the CCP.” They also said that they would share the truth about Falun Dafa with their friends and family.

A young man who lives in Cologne told a practitioner that he was drawn to the event by the waist drum performances. He said he’d seen practitioners’ activities many times and read the banners about the CCP’s live organ harvesting crimes. This time he wanted to learn more about the persecution. He asked a practitioner if he could sign the petition and also said that he would share the information on his social media account.

An elderly lady called out in Chinese, “Falun Dafa is good!” as she passed by the site. She said that she first heard about the persecution 15 years ago. She said she knows Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are good, and every time she sees practitioners’ activities, she always says, “Falun Dafa is good!”

A young man cycling by noticed practitioners demonstrating the exercises and stopped to take photos. He said, “I already signed the petition a few months ago. Every time I see you all meditating, I feel that the atmosphere is especially tranquil, so I wanted to take a photo today.”

Activities in Düsseldorf

Thursday, May 13, 2021, was World Falun Dafa Day and also Father’s Day in Germany. Practitioners from Düsseldorf and the surrounding regions celebrated the event in the park in the city center.

The weather was fine, and because it was a holiday, there are many visitors at the park. Practitioners unfurled a large “World Falun Dafa Day” banner and demonstrated the exercises. Because they have been clarifying the truth at the Chinese embassy and in the center of the city every week for many years, most local residents know about Falun Dafa. Many tourists were attracted by the practitioners demonstrating the exercises and came over to learn more about the persecution. Practitioners shared their own personal experiences to show how wonderful Falun Dafa is.

Practitioners celebrate Falun Dafa Day with activities in Düsseldorf.

Maria was one of the organizers of the events. Before she began practicing Falun Dafa in 2002, Maria was searching for something. She said, “I learned many practices but gave up after a few months because they could not answer my many questions. I was surprised to find that Falun Dafa is so profound. I immediately knew that this is what I had been looking for all these years.”

Maria said, “In the past, I had difficulty breathing. I knew that this was a chronic condition that could not be cured. What I did not expect is that after practicing Falun Dafa, the symptoms disappeared.” Not only did she benefit physically, Maria also talked about her improvement mentally, “Through studying the Fa, I had a greater understanding of life and I can understand others better. My relationships with my family and the people around me really improved.”

Maria said practicing Falun Dafa helped her understand others.

Maria also talked about the many years she’s clarified the truth to people. She said, “Every week we hold activities in Düsseldorf. We clarify the truth at the Chinese embassy and in the city center. On weekends, we will also hold candlelight vigils. I very much hope that those Chinese people who have been deceived by the CCP’s lies can learn the truth. I hope that they can see how precious and good Falun Dafa is. After all, Falun Dafa came from China. I really thank Master for introducing Falun Dafa to the world so that so many people can benefit from it.”

Ina said she was pessimistic before she began practicing Falun Dafa.

Ina talked about the positive changes she experienced after she began practicing. “I used to be pessimistic and timid. After cultivating, I understood the meaning of ‘...When it’s impossible to do, you can do it.’ (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun) I became proactive and optimistic, and I also became stronger. My friends and colleagues all noticed my positive changes.” She hopes that more people can feel the goodness of Dafa. She wished Master a happy birthday.

Natelie and Noah, two practitioners who were married this year.

Natelie and Noah married this year. They said, “Both of us practice Falun Dafa. From cultivating, we understand that, in a traditional marriage, the mutual support and sense of security between two persons from the bottom of their hearts is very precious.

“When we think about the fact that there are still Falun Dafa practitioners who are being persecuted to death in China, we are very sad. We feel we have the responsibility and duty to disclose this persecution to Western society. We also hope that more people can discover the goodness of Dafa. Thank you, Master, for introducing such a wonderful practice to the whole world!”

Background: What Is Falun Dafa?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people have embraced the practice, which is based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance as well as five gentle exercises, and experienced improved health and wellbeing.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, issued an order to ban the practice.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 22 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.

Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.