(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in France celebrated World Falun Dafa Day on the Plaza of Liberties and Human Rights in Paris on May 13, 2018, marking the 26th anniversary of Falun Gong's public introduction and wishing Master Li Hongzhi a happy birthday. They put on traditional Chinese dance and music performances, demonstrated Falun Gong exercises, and called for public support to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Crowds of tourists from different countries stopped to watch the joyful celebration. Many signed a petition calling for an end to the persecution.
Demonstration of Falun Gong exercises on the Plaza of Liberties and Human Rights in Paris.
Tourists and local residents watch the celebration of World Falun Dafa Day.
Children Falun Dafa practitioners recite poems from Hong Yin.
Falun Gong practitioners give performances and call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
French People Appreciate Falun Gong
Ms. Leopoldine Boto teaches French literature in college and high school. She watched the celebration for a long time. She said Falun Gong was such a great and awakening practice, but the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had persecuted these innocent people. “I commend them and thank them for telling us the truth!”
Ms. Leopoldine Boto (right) appreciates what Falun Gong practitioners have done.
Mr. Jose Arugo and his wife from Turkey learned the exercises at the event and said it made them feel calm and relaxed. They thought the CCP's persecution was absolutely unacceptable. Analyzing the reason, Mr. Arugo said, “How could you expect a communist dictatorship to grant people freedom of thought?!”
Mr. Mustafa Sevgi, a magazine photographer, watched and took pictures of the celebration for the whole afternoon. He said, “It's the first time I have heard about Falun Dafa. It's very refreshing!” He felt very sorry for the Chinese people because the CCP has been persecuting such a great practice.
Mr. Mustafa Sevgi, a magazine photographer, watched and took pictures of the celebration for the whole afternoon.
Ms. Li from China and her French husband celebrated their first anniversary on the plaza. They took a picture with Falun Gong exercises as a background. Ms. Li said, “I'm so happy to see so many Chinese people, and so fortunate to see Falun Gong! I'm excited!” She said she wished to be one of them.
Ms. Li and her husband celebrated their anniversary and watched the Falun Gong exercise demonstration.
Falun Dafa Teachings Bring Peace
Guillaume has been practicing Falun Dafa for two years. He said, “I'm so happy to have found Falun Dafa and cultivate myself. I'm grateful for Master's work and teachings. The more I cultivate myself, the more peaceful I am. It has given me a bigger heart and a clearer mind. Cultivation according to Dafa has brought a huge change to me.”
Falun Gong practitioner Guillaume (left) and his cousin Axel at the World Falun Dafa Day celebration.
Guillaume's 19-year-old cousin Axel started reading Dafa books thanks to Guillaume's recommendation. Axel has been cultivating for five months. He said, “The more I follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the calmer I feel and the more helpful I am. Dafa has given me a clear mind. I can concentrate better on what I do.”
Quentin, a 25-year-old math teacher, said, “I have been cultivating myself for almost three years. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance resonated with my heart when I visited the Dafa website for the first time. Falun Dafa has given me peace. I don't understand why such a great practice has been persecuted terribly and that practitioners have even been killed for their organs.”
Quentin at the World Falun Dafa Day celebration
Marie-Paule has been practicing Falun Gong for nine years. She said, “I'm so grateful for Dafa. Three weeks after I started my cultivation, I told others at a group study session, 'I don't know what it is or why I'm here, but I know this is what I have been looking for all my life. I will never give it up.' From that moment on, all the things blocking me from Dafa have been eliminated. All of a sudden, I could understand all the teachings in the book.
“I think everyone has divine nature, which connects us with the divine. We can feel it when we run into the truth, because we resonate with the truth. Only when we welcome and recognize Dafa, can our divine nature be awakened.”
Marie-Paule at the World Falun Dafa celebration
Viladia Nuyttens has been cultivating himself for two years. He said, “I think our society today especially needs these valuable teachings. I hope my family and friends know that this practice is pure, noble and the best thing ever. It's something that has never been seen in our society. The door is open to everyone.”
Viladia Nuyttens demonstrates the Falun Gong exercises.
Falun Gong practitioners took a group picture while saying in unison, “Happy birthday, Master! Falun Dafa is great! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is great!”
Falun Gong practitioners wish Master a happy birthday.
