(Minghui.org) On December 28, 2024, Falun Dafa practitioners from Germany, parts of Austria, and the German-speaking regions of Switzerland gathered in Berlin to wish Master Li Hongzhi happy New Year.
Falun Dafa practitioners from Germany, Austria and Switzerland wish Master Li a happy New Year.
Finding Dafa After a Long Search
Michel from Germany thanks Master Li.
Michel expressed his gratitude to Master Li. “Master has done so much for us. Despite suffering through so many years of persecution, he remains compassionate and merciful towards sentient beings. Thank you Master for patiently guiding practitioners who have repeatedly fallen short while cultivating. Thank you for helping us stand up and move forward again on the correct path. I am very grateful to Master for showing me the way home.”
Michel works in a pharmacy and practiced yoga for over ten years before he found Falun Dafa. “After a certain point, I realized my inability to continue moving forward. I looked to the heavens and wished for a master who could fulfill my desire and guide me back to my original home.”
A week after Michel made his wish in April 2019, he talked with practitioners who were holding an event in Lübeck to tell people about Falun Dafa. “A kind old man told me about Falun Dafa and his words deeply touched my heart.” Seeing a poster depicting a lady meditating, Michel found himself so attracted to Falun Dafa that he didn’t want to step away from the information booth. He told himself, “I will take up this cultivation path and try to help practitioners who are persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“The strong attraction and warmth made me feel as though I had found my true home. My hometown is in the Allgäu region of Bavaria, and people often talk about ‘the feeling of home’ (Heimatgefühl). The depth of this feeling prompted me to learn more about Falun Dafa.”
Michel said he was amazed by the power carried within the three words Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. “They (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance) hold such profound power that I can feel it in both my mind and heart. When I tell others about Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, they always come to a sudden realization or understanding of the power behind these three words.”
Over the past five years, those close to Michel noticed he is calmer and more patient. “I’m advancing rapidly and now I can communicate well with people.
“Whenever I talk about Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the other person easily accepts what I say due to my unwavering belief in my cultivation path. I feel a strong power behind my ability to pass on this trust and convince others of its authenticity. Moreover, my family and friends have commented on the positive changes they have seen in me.”
Having benefited from Falun Dafa, Michel wants to tell people in China: “I encourage you to have faith in your 5,000-year-old tradition and the spiritual connections you feel deep within your heart.
“Through Dafa, I caught a glimpse into the vast potential of China.” Michel believes China, propelled by its own people, will be able to reform itself. Chinese citizens need to have the courage to topple the CCP. If Chinese citizens can succeed in improving their situation, peace and justice will be reestablished worldwide.
Cultivating Well in Order to Repay Master’s Kindness
Roswitha from Austria said words are inadequate to express her gratitude to Master.
Roswitha works as a marketing manager. She started practicing Falun Dafa in 2002 after a friend gave her the book Zhuan Falun.
After reading Zhuan Falun, she had a startling realization. “I am where I need to be. I now know why I came here [to this world]. A world governed by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance can only be a paradise in heaven. That’s where I want to go.”
After she began practicing, Roswitha quit smoking and drinking. She became more considerate of her family and friends. “I started visiting those around me more often, and they now rely on me.”
Friends and relatives felt she changed for the better. “When conflicts arise or when things don’t go as expected, I try to think positively or step in to improve the situation. I learned to stay calm and explore possible solutions.” When faced with a problem that cannot be fixed, she will try to lift up everyone’s spirits by telling them this may not necessarily a bad thing and may even be beneficial down the road.
As she described the extent of her gratitude to Master Li, Roswitha started tearing up. “It’s indescribable, words can’t express how I feel. I have no way to repay Master. The only thing I can do is to truly cultivate myself and do the three things well.”
Roswitha knows that many people in China have misunderstandings and prejudices about Falun Dafa due to the CCP’s lies. She wants to tell them, “It is of utmost importance for you to consider your future. For those who don’t understand what Falun Dafa is but can relate to Dafa’s upright principles (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance), that is sufficient. Chinese citizens need not practice Falun Dafa, but they should at least acknowledge the goodness of Dafa, the heinous crimes committed by the CCP, and withdraw their support for the Party. I think that is very important.”
With Dafa, There Will Always Be a Way Forward
Silvia from Germany thanks Master for his compassion and care.
Silvia works in a bank and has practiced Falun Dafa for 24 years. She said she had searched for a true cultivation way since childhood, but to no avail. One day in 2000, her mother encountered some Falun Dafa practitioners in Göttingen who were collecting signatures on a petition to stop the persecution of Falun Dafa. When she heard the details of how the CCP brutally persecutes practitioners, Silvia’s mother wept and immediately signed the petition.
Sylvia learned about Falun Dafa from her mother on December 21, 2000, and immediately felt drawn to the practice. She counted herself lucky to have finally encountered Dafa.
“I was a teenager who was in the process of growing up and understanding the world around me. My mind flitted between good and bad, further unbalancing my cultivation state. With my motto of ‘being willing to endure more pain than others,’ I ended up taking some very difficult paths in life because of my shallow understanding of the Fa.”
Sylvia went through many difficulties and years of severe family conflict. “I sought validation from others and suffered from fear, anger, sadness, resentment, among other human attachments. But Master was always by my side, protecting me throughout the many ordeals I faced. Master refused to give up on me and taught me how to rid myself of these negative notions. With Master’s help, I learned how to improve my character through cultivation practice.
“Without Dafa, I would have remained a broken, miserable and confused person. Practicing Dafa enabled me to become mentally stronger, boosting my ability to endure hardships. I progressed rapidly in cultivation levels and overcame many difficulties.
“I’ve become more mature, and my family and living environment are now harmonious. Although I don’t think I’ve cultivated diligently, I still receive blessings from the Fa, including a more youthful mentality. People often mistake me for being younger than my actual age. This topic opener allows me to tell people the benefits of practicing Falun Dafa and clarify the truth.”
Although she has cultivated for years, Sylvia feels she has a lot of attachments, human emotions and selfishness that need to be eliminated. “But with Dafa, there will always be a way forward. With righteous thoughts, I can overcome any obstacle. This mindset is both doable and highly important.
“Thank you, respected Master Li for your compassionate help and protection. I sincerely wish Master a happy New Year! Please rest assured, I will do my best to fulfill my pledge.
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Category: Greetings
