Falun Dafa Day was celebrated with a flag raising ceremony out front of Amherstburg town hall last Friday morning.
Representatives of the Falun Dafa Association gathered with members of town council in front of town hall to mark the occasion. Falun Dafa Day is officially May 13, but the flag was raised last Friday morning.
Carolyn Jin, one of the Falun Dafa Association representatives, said that “people around the world are having a good time” but Falun Dafa is about truth, compassion and tolerance.
“Every year on May 13, we celebrate Falun Dafa Day,” she said.
Falun Dafa is “five gentle exercises” that helped her and that it is about love and compassion. It has been met with resistance from the Chinese communist government and those who practice it continue to oppose the Chinese government’s position from democratic countries like Canada. Jin said “tens of millions” of people practice Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, around the world.
“Falun Gong continues to face persecution from the Chinese community party,” she said.
Jin believed if more people were to practice Falun Dafa, “the world would be better and a safer world for future generations.”
“Let’s choose compassion and forbearance,” she said.
Jin has known Mayor Michael Prue for roughly a quarter century with Prue standing up for his belief in Falun Dafa.
“I can’t understand why everyone doesn’t embrace it,” said Prue, also pointing out Falun Dafa is about truth, compassion and forbearance.
Prue said a recent vacation in Hong Kong showed little to no signs of Falun Dafa, with it being present in a limited capacity in a previous visit.
“It’s becoming very repressed,” he said.
According to www.falundafa.org, “Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a spiritual practice that millions around the world have made a part of their lives. Rooted in Buddhist tradition, it consists of two main components: self-improvement through the study of teachings, and gentle exercises and meditation.
“The belief system of Falun Dafa offers the possibility of spiritual growth through disciplined practice. Its teachings encourage learners to let go of unhealthy attachments as they strive to attune their lives to the underlying qualities of the universe: Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance.
“People who practice Falun Dafa often find it to be life-changing. Many experience dramatic health benefits as well as newfound energy, mental clarity, and stress relief. More importantly, many feel that in Falun Dafa they have found a deeply rewarding spiritual path.” Falun Dafa Day coming May 13, flag raised by town
By Ron Giofu