(Minghui.org) The London Ribfest was held on August 1-5, 2024, at Victoria Park in downtown London in Ontario, Canada. The event drew people from all over Canada.
Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) practitioners from London and nearby cities were participating in the Ribfest for the fifth time. They set up a booth to introduce Falun Gong to the public and demonstrated the exercises. They also offered free exercise instruction sessions. A steady stream of people came by to learn.
Falun Gong practitioners shared their practice with eventgoers at London’s Ribfest in Ontario, offering free lessons on August 1-5, 2024.
Tonye and Naliejah noticed two practitioners meditating and approached them out of curiosity. After learning that the exercises are always taught free of charge, they eagerly joined practitioners and learned all five sets of exercises.
Tonye (left) and Naliejah (right) learned the five sets of Falun Dafa exercises. They said that following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance can make the world a better place.
Tonye was amazed by the energy he felt while learning the first exercise set. He said, “Wow! My hands are just making the movements, but I feel like the environment around me is changing and the energy within me is slowly expanding. It’s a fantastic experience. This practice has something truly wonderful that needs to be experienced firsthand.”
He added, “I’ve heard many people say that meditation can improve the mind and body and even bring a new perspective. I wanted to experience that, so being here to learn meditation is a blessing. The energy here is perfect.”
Naliejah, who has practiced other forms of meditation, believes that meditation can help regulate the nervous system and bring calmness to the mind and body. After practicing, she said, “These five sets of exercises helped me relax my body. The music and movements are soothing. I will benefit from this practice.”
The practitioners explained that in addition to the exercises, Falun Gong also requires practitioners to live by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Tonye remarked, “These three words are what I need, making me calmer, more patient, happier, and more willing to give.” Naliejah agreed, adding, “As Tonye said these principles are essential. When we follow them the world becomes a better place.”
The practitioners told Tonye and Naliejah about the main text of Falun Dafa, Zhuan Falun, and that all the books and instruction videos are available free of charge on the Falun Dafa website. Tonye and Naliejah were very interested and said they would explore and study it when they got home.
Natalia said people would benefit from following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.
Natalia is from Colombia and is studying English in Canada. She said it was her first time hearing about Falun Gong. After learning the five sets of Falun Gong exercises, she said, “I feel my body has become stronger and more relaxed.” She also mentioned that she could sense an energy as she performed the movements.
Natalia noted, “The principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are more important than ever in today’s society. People need to follow this philosophy.” She said that people will benefit from practicing these principles.
Practitioners introduced her to the official website and told her she could read the Spanish translations of the Falun Dafa books, and that all the e-books and audio materials are available for free. Natalia was delighted and saved the website address on her phone. She said she would visit a local practice site in London to become familiar with the exercises.
Trevor said Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is the foundation of everything.
Trevor passed by the Falun Dafa booth on Saturday but didn’t have time to learn more. He returned on Sunday and asked the practitioners for more information. After learning the five exercise sets, Trevor said he felt very good. He noted that he needed more practice to remember each set of movements. The practitioners recommended that he attend a free online teaching workshop, and Trevor said he would sign up.
The practitioners also told Trevor about the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Trevor remarked, “We get caught up in the trivialities of life and gradually forget about the three words. But these three words are the foundation of everything, so we need to return to these universal values.”
Donna and Angela felt relaxed after learning the exercises.
After learning the five sets of exercises, Donna and Angela shared their experiences. Donna said, “I feel very relaxed and energized, and there is a flowing power that I can feel.” Angela added, “I also feel relaxed and more at peace.” Both expressed their gratitude to practitioners for their patience while teaching the exercises.
Donna and Angela then watched an introductory video and learned about the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Angela, who works in a hospital, noted, “This is similar to our work motto; kindness, empathy, and care.”
Donna added, “I believe that expressing compassion and kindness toward others gives you a sense of fulfillment and makes you feel more complete. When you are good to others, they will be good to you.” Donna also mentioned that she would visit Falun Dafa’s official website to learn more.