(Minghui.org) More than 4,500 practitioners attended the US West Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference on October 16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Hailing from 36 countries, some of them shared how they have benefited from the practice by a Tianti book stall, where they were waiting to buy Falun Dafa books during a break.
Graphic Designer: Questions Answered While Reading the Book
Perry Uzunoglu from San Francisco is a graphic designer. With a strong interest in traditional Chinese culture, he had always wanted to be a good person that helped others, but he was not sure where to start.
Uzunoglu heard about Falun Dafa in 2008 at an art exhibition held by practitioners, and he soon became one himself. “Zhuan Falun teaches us how to judge what is good and what is bad, at a higher level. It motivates me to be a better person, to help others and to keep improving myself.”
Perry Uzunoglu, a graphic designer from San Francisco
He said the book broadened his view. “It covered prehistoric civilization, supernormal abilities, and qigong. This book answered my questions and provided me with guidance.”
Currently working on traditional arts at the Fei Tian Academy of the Arts in San Francisco, Uzunoglu says he would like to recommend Zhuan Falun to more people, “As the main teachings of Falun Dafa, this book is very profound, yet it is not difficult to understand, because many of them are universal topics that span across languages.”
From Christian Minister to Falun Dafa Practitioner
For Jose Luis Sanchez-Alvarez from Mexico, becoming a Falun Dafa practitioner was natural, “When reading Zhuan Falun for the first time, I immediately realized that this was something that I had been looking for.”
As a former Christian minister, Sanchez-Alvarez now works in news media. Ever since he was a little boy, his entire family had been searching for ways to improve mind and body. “But finding a right path is not easy. We did learn something from Christianity. Now I have found Falun Dafa, which is more fundamental with a deeper and broader meaning.
“Because the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are characteristics of the universe, practitioners can follow them to uplift their mind nature,” said Sanchez-Alvarez.
Sanchez-Alvarez drew a certain pattern whenever he was bored since he was a child. Later, as he began to read Zhuan Falun, he suddenly realized that what he drew earlier was very similar to the Falun emblem. “At that moment, without any doubt I knew I would practice Falun Dafa.”
Five years have passed and Sanchez Alvarez said Zhuan Falun and the practice are helping him understand the purpose of life. “The exercises are easy to learn. Everyone can do it.”
Selflessness Is Most Valuable
Yiyuan, who currently works at a university in New York, was also born in China. “Many of my family members benefited from the practice, both physically and spiritually. That is why the persecution in China did not stop them,” she recalled.
Seeing the positive changes in her family members, Yiyuan also began to read Zhuan Falun. “I knew all the defamatory propaganda in China were lies because the examples listed [in the propaganda] were against Falun Dafa principles.”
Yiyuan works at a university in New York.
Gradually her metabolic disorder disappeared and her grades improved dramatically. Her scores were the highest in the university.
“I learned to be responsible for myself and treat others well, with no pursuit for fame or self-interest. My friends told me that I am now very humble—I know that all of this comes from Falun Dafa because it teaches me to be selfless, the most valuable thing in the world.”
At 80, No Need for Medication for 20 Years
Mr. Yang, a retired teacher from Beijing, first heard about Falun Dafa when he was 60. “About 20 years have passed and I haven't needed to see a doctor or take medication since then.”
But it was a long journey to get there. After previously trying Taichi, other qigong systems, and physical exercises for over a decade, Mr. Yang's health saw little improvement. “Falun Dafa is different, because the book Zhuan Falun teaches us to change our hearts in a positive way. When a person's mind nature improves, he or she will gain true health, mind and body.”
Mr. Yang started to practice Falun Dafa 20 years ago at 60.
Mr. Yang said it is a process of returning to one's origin. When a practitioner continually purifies his mind, he or she will become more considerate of others.
“This will benefit ourselves, our families, and society,” he said with a smile.
