(Minghui.org) With the Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) approaching, Falun Dafa practitioners in New York gathered at Kissena Corridor Park in Flushing to celebrate and to wish Mr. Li Hongzhi, founder of Falun Dafa, a happy holiday. 

Falun Dafa practitioners in New York celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival at Kissena Corridor Park on September 12, 2021.

With a backdrop of clear blue sky and bright sunshine, the colorful Falun Dafa banners and flags set a joyful tone. From young children to seniors in their 80s, both Chinese and Western practitioners are grateful for the physical as well as spiritual benefits they received from the practice. 

Recovery from Partial Paralysis

Ms. Xie Jianrong, 70, was a dancer when she was young. After she was injured in her 20s she had lower back and leg pain. By the time she was 40 she suffered from lumbar disc herniation, and lumbar stenosis. “Doctors told me my condition was incurable,” she recalled. 

In 1998, someone recommended Falun Dafa to her. After doing the exercises just once Ms. Xie said her lower back and leg pain lessened. “I was very surprised. I thought if the effects were that good after just one time, this was really an amazing practice,” she explained. After one month, most of her pain was gone. Later, all her diseases disappeared. “I felt young and energetic,” she explained. “People were surprised by my changes.”

After the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began to persecute Falun Dafa in 1999, Ms. Xie stopped practicing for a while due to fear. Her lower back and leg pain returned, and her spine became severely deformed and protruded. As a result of the pain she had to lie in bed every day and could not do anything. She was semi-paralyzed. 

In desperation, Ms. Xie resumed practicing Falun Dafa. “My pain was miraculously reduced. When I did the sitting meditation, my spine and neck constantly snapped. I knew Master was adjusting my body,” she said. “One time I felt strong energy going through the top of my head. My entire body was straightened out. Afterwards I felt very relaxed and comfortable.” She was able to walk with agility again. The protruding bone in her back also went back to normal. 

Ms. Xie, 70, recovered from semi-paralysis through the practice of Falun Dafa. 

To share the beauty of Dafa with others and to debunk the CCP’s hate propaganda, Ms. Xie goes to the Chinese Consulate in New York five days a week. She holds banners, does the exercises, and chats with passersby. Although her commute is four hours long, she said she never hesitates. “I just want to tell CCP officials my experiences and that Falun Dafa is good and the persecution is wrong.”

To help more people know about the practice and benefit like her, Ms. Xie also joined the waist drum team. She travels to various places for events. Looking at her youthful face and energy people find it hard to believe that she was once half-paralyzed and had to lie in bed all day. 

From Taking 20 Medications to Still Working at Age 82

Chris Petallides, 82, is very healthy and still works.

Chris Petallides started practicing Falun Dafa 10 years ago. In the past he had to take 20 different medicines every day. Because of heart disease, he almost died and underwent bypass heart surgery. He became very healthy after he began to practice Falun Dafa. “I no longer need any medication and I am so happy!” he said. 

At 82 years old, Mr. Petallides is very energetic and still works. “I work as an engineer. This was unimaginable given my poor health in the past,” he explained. 

He said Falun Dafa’s spiritual guidance is uplifting. “I used to be lost, like a boat drifting in the sea without a mast,” he said. “Now I know why I’m here and where I am heading. I’m so happy and grateful!” 

Worry-Free Mother

Legal assistant Sarah Matheson and her daughter

Sarah Matheson searched for the meaning of life since childhood. After looking into various religions she did not find it. When she practiced the exercises for the first time, she felt very comfortable and relaxed. “After I finishing reading Zhuan Falun I realized the answers to all my questions were in this book,” she said. “I have been practicing for many years and I am healthy and happy.”

As a legal assistant, Matheson always applies the principles of Falun Dafa, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, in her daily routine. “Master told us to be a good person wherever we are. I not only work hard myself, but I also take on other responsibilities that my coworkers find boring or tedious.”

Ms. Matheson has a 10-year-old daughter. While many parents struggle with parenting, she found things are very naturally resolved when guided by Dafa’s principles. “I do not need to raise my voice. My daughter agreed to limit her screen time and stay away from online games,” she added. 

She believes child education is very important because it impacts society. “It is our responsibility as parents to help our children become good people who can contribute to society,” she said. “That is why teaching children the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is the best way.”

Looking Forward to a Reunion

Mr. Xue Peng and his six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter

Mr. Xue Peng, who has practiced Falun Dafa for 25 years, agrees with Ms. Matheson. He has a six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter, and said that Falun Dafa’s teachings helped his children to be good and considerate of others. 

Mr. Xue reminds his children that the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance tell us to be nice to others and not fight. When his children were three years old, he taught them to memorize Hong Yin, a collection of Master’s poems. “This not only helped their Chinese but also taught them to be well behaved. Their friends’ parents are impressed by this,” he explained. 

Yi Rong from the New York Falun Dafa Association said the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the best traditions in Chinese culture that symbolizes family reunion and happiness. During the past 22 years, however, tens of millions of practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured in China for their belief. “We sincerely hope more people can see through the CCP’s lies and embrace Falun Dafa’s universal values,” she said, “Anyone who embraces the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance will be blessed and have a good future.”