(Minghui.org) “If this were happening today I would definitely participate, for I deeply believe in the power of truth,” said Leo, reflecting on an event that took place 27 years ago.
On April 25, 1999, approximately ten thousand Falun Gong practitioners gathered in Beijing to show their concern over increasing government obstruction of their right to practice Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa). They requested that the authorities release fellow practitioners who had been unlawfully arrested the day before, and asked that the government not interfere with their constitutional right to freely practice their belief. The practitioners’ composure and peaceful, non-confrontational demeanor that day—known as the “April 25th Spirit”—still resonates around the world, transcending borders and cultures.
Minghui reporters in Toronto interviewed three Western Falun Gong practitioners who work in the fields of art, education, and media, to learn how the April 25 appeal has impacted their practice. All three spoke about how this historic event led them to discover their true selves and that it continues to inspire them to raise awareness of the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Artist Discovers His True Self
Leo, who is an artist, was only 12 when the April 25 appeal occurred. He said he read about the appeal on the Minghui website, and, “The greatest impact this event had on me was that it allowed me to witness the power of truth itself. Back then, the practitioners’ kindness was self-evident; even the highest-ranking official handling the matter at the time, having witnessed the power of the truth, ordered the release of the detained practitioners.”
Leo said he was mired in confusion and despair about the meaning of life before he began practicing Falun Gong. He’d attempted to explore the mysteries of existence, but failed to find answers—until 2021 when, at the age of 34, when he encountered Falun Gong on the Minghui.org website. This changed his life forever. By reading articles on Minghui, he also gained a detailed understanding of the full scope of the April 25 Appeal.
Leo talked about his experience of reading Zhuan Falun: “When I read Zhuan Falun for the first time, I was moved to tears and felt an indescribable sense of wonder. That very day I successfully quit smoking—an addiction I’d been unable to break for years.
“Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, has made immense contributions to improving people’s health—a fact that was confirmed even by scientific research conducted by the Chinese government.”
After taking up the practice, Leo regained not only his physical health but also his long-lost vitality. Today, inspired by the courage of the practitioners who participated in the April 25 appeal, he devotes himself to various activities to clarify the truth about the persecution, which continues in China to this day.
Leo participates in an event to to introduce Falun Gong.
Early Childhood Educator: A “Moral Monument” That Transcends Borders
Masi, a preschool teacher, participates in events to commemorate the April 25 appeal almost every year. She said it is an opportunity for her to reflect on history: “The practitioners expressed their appeal to the government peacefully and with dignity, rather than attempting to resolve issues through conflict. This is precisely why the event is widely recognized as a moral monument.”
Masi
Masi shared that in 2001, she was at a low point in her life—she was tormented by depression and physical ailments. She sought relief through medication, but the results were unsatisfactory. She asked herself: Why must I endure so much suffering? What is the true meaning of life? How can one avoid being ensnared by concern with fame and fortune? In her quest for answers, Masi explored various spiritual practices, yet her questions were not answered.
Her life took a turning point after she attended a free nine-day Falun Gong class. She realized that this practice was extraordinary—it was pure, righteous, and, no one asked her for money.
Today, at the age of sixty-one, Masi remains vibrant and energetic, as if she were in her forties; in fact, she works alongside a group of young people. Both Masi’s family and her colleagues have noticed that she’s become more patient and kind.
Masi said, “Over the more than twenty years that I’ve practiced Falun Gong, my health improved and my mind has become more tranquil. These changes are the result of my following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—specifically, by looking inward to examine myself and improve my character whenever I encounter difficulties.”
Masi has a clear and sober understanding of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) smear campaign about the April 25 appeal: “At the time, [General Secretary of the CCP] Jiang Zemin was seeking a pretext to persecute and disseminate misleading information to the world.”
She said that her participating in the annual events to commemorate the appeal is an opportunity to reflect on history. She wishes to celebrate those pioneer practitioners who, with great benevolence and forbearance, stood guard over the truth.
Media Professional: From Physics to the Fundamental Laws of the Universe
Dan, who studied Mathematical Physics at the University of Waterloo, now works for an international media company.
Dan
Born in Soviet-era Ukraine, Dan is keenly aware of the difficulties involved in openly expressing one’s faith under Communist rule. He views the April 25 peaceful appeal as an awakening of Falun Gong practitioners’ inner “true selves,” and said it shows the world the noble character of the Chinese people.
Shortly after the start of his freshman year of college in 2007, the school organized a club recruitment fair. Amidst the dazzling array of booths, Dan noticed a young man in a yellow T-shirt sitting in meditation, as if nothing else in his surroundings existed. Dan marveled: “This guy knows how to control his mind! I want to be like that, too!” And so, Dan joined the Falun Dafa Club.
As soon as Dan began practicing the exercises, he could feel energy circulating throughout his body. “At that time, everyone was discussing String Theory and hoping to unify Relativity with Quantum Mechanics; yet, looking at Zhuan Falun on my desk, I realized that Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are, in fact, the most fundamental principles that govern the universe.”
Falun Gong not only resolved Dan’s chronic insomnia, it also transformed his character. The evening he learned the Falun Gong exercises, he was able to fall asleep normally. After reading Zhuan Falun, he gained a deeper understanding of the true meaning of cultivation and of Dafa (the Great Law). Dan was once domineering, competitive, and prone to challenging authority. Through practicing Falun Gong, he learned to cultivate his moral character and he even apologized to his father for his earlier rebelliousness.
Today, Dan channels this spirit of being considerate into his work, as he exposes the persecution and the CCP’s lies to the world. “It is my hope that more people will understand the truth about Dafa and help expose the Chinese Communist Party’s lies,” Dan said.
Let Truth Become a Force That Transcends Borders
Although from diverse backgrounds, these three practitioners found their true life’s purpose through practicing Falun Gong.
For them, the peaceful appeal that took place on the streets of Beijing 27 years ago was not merely a historic event; rather, it was a force of justice that transcends both time and space, inspiring them to move forward on the path of sharing the truth.
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Category: April 25 Events
