(Minghui.org) The Chinese New Year is around the corner. Falun Gong practitioners from Toronto assembled in front of the city hall on Saturday, February 10, 2018, and wished Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, a happy new year.

In front of the city hall, practitioners from Toronto wish Master Li a happy new year.

Practitioners have set up many displays at local tourist spots during the past ten years, regularly held events to tell the public what Falun Gong is about, and exposed the persecution in China.

Display at Queen's Park

Display at the harbor of Lake Ontario

Display at the Toronto TV Tower

Display at the local Chinatown

At the assembly, a few practitioners shared their stories of talking to fellow Chinese from their hometowns about this self-improvement cultivation practice.

Practitioner Ms. Wang ran into Mr. Zhu from Beijing, who has double Ph.D. degrees in engineering and physics. Mr. Zhu wondered what Falun Gong really is, and whether divine beings truly exist. Ms. Wang talked to him for a long time, covering the basic teachings of Falun Gong, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, to the persecution of Falun Gong in China. They also discussed the spirituality of Falun Gong.

Although Mr. Zhu still found it hard to believe in the existence of gods, he recognized the evil nature of the Communist Party. He quit the Party with Ms. Wang's help, and told her that he would give careful thought to the topics they discussed, and perhaps in the future he would practice Falun Gong too.

Mr. Wang from Shandong didn't have a positive attitude towards Falun Gong. When he saw practitioners at a tourist spot, he pointed to them and said to his son, “Look, they are Falun Gong, a group of psychos.” The young boy looked at practitioners curiously.

Practitioner Ms. Zhang, who is an artist, overheard them. She talked to the young boy, who told her he loves Chinese calligraphy. Ms. Zhang then showed him the pictures of her own masterpieces that were saved on her phone.

Mr. Wang's family was attracted. The mother and the father both looked at the pictures with great interest. Mr. Wang then asked Ms. Zhang, “You are so talented, and for sure you can make a living. Why do you stand here, enduring people's slams?”

Ms. Zhang told them in detail what Falun Gong is about, and how she has benefitted from practicing. She also talked about the persecution. Mr. Wang was touched, and gave Ms. Zhang a box of candy as a gift. The entire family agreed to quit the Party. Upon leaving, they all shouted “Falun Dafa is good,” and asked Ms. Zhang to give Master Li Hongzhi their greetings.

Practitioner Ms. Mai had a similar experience. A family of three from Hubei Province refused to listen to her. The husband kept cursing her and Falun Gong. He even tried to punch Ms. Mai, before the wife stopped him.

The husband asked Ms. Mai, “Why do you want to talk to us?” Ms. Mai said, “I want you to know the truth, which is for your own good.”

The family calmed down a little bit, and started to listen to Ms. Mai. Upon hearing about the guiding principles of Falun Gong, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the husband asked Ms. Mai for more materials. He asked many questions, such as if practitioners were paid by the U.S. government.

Ms. Mai said, “We are here because we have all gained a lot from practicing Falun Gong. No one pays us. We just want to tell people what Falun Gong really is, and restore its reputation in the Chinese community.”

“Back in China, I was arrested five times, and sentenced to four years for passing out Falun Gong flyers in public. Can all of this be bought with money? Here, I have the freedom of talking to people about Falun Gong and passing out flyers. Do I need to be paid to do it?”

The husband was touched, and kept nodding.

The family quit the Party, and wished Ms. Mai a happy Chinese new year upon leaving.