(Minghui.org) Emma and her friend Fiona had just finished doing their exercises when they came across a grand gathering at Union Square Park. Dozens of people were meditating to gentle and soothing music, as though they were totally unaffected by the bustling and hectic scenes of Manhattan around them.
Out of curiosity, both ladies decided to find out what the event was all about, so they accepted a short meditation introduction and had a quick experience of trying the Falun Dafa meditation.
“Learning the exercise made me feel very peaceful and calm, and my mind is very clear,” Emma said. “I just sat there for a while, and it felt really nice.”
Emma and Fiona encountered the event by chance. Falun Dafa practitioners from New York and the surrounding regions were celebrating World Falun Dafa Day, which commemorates the date that Falun Dafa’s founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, first introduced the cultivation practice to the public in 1992. Although World Falun Dafa Day falls on May 13, practitioners made use of the weekend to hold the event so that more people from the public could join the celebration too.
Emma and Fiona learn Falun Gong at the World Falun Dafa Day celebration held at Union Square Park on May 9, 2026. (Photo by New Tang Dynasty Television)
To celebrate this special day, the event was divided into two parts. In the morning, practitioners demonstrated the five Falun Dafa exercises at the park and provided free instruction to pedestrians who were interested in learning the practice; in the afternoon, practitioners presented a series of artistic performances.
Practitioners from New York and surrounding areas performed the exercises at Union Square Park on May 9, 2026, to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. (Minghui.org)
Practitioners’ artistic performances at Union Square Park on May 9, 2026, to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. (Minghui.org)
During the event, Mr. Erping Zhang, a representative of the Falun Dafa Association, read several congratulatory letters to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day from New York State government officials, who complimented the positive influence of Falun Dafa.
Several congratulatory letters from New York State government officials were read aloud during the World Falun Dafa Day celebration at Union Square Park on May 9, 2026. (Minghui.org)
Falun Dafa, also called Falun Gong, is a cultivation practice that is rooted in Buddhist tradition. In the past, this cultivation practice had only been passed down in the cultivation community until Master Li Hongzhi introduced it to the public in 1992. Falun Dafa consists of five sets of exercises and also emphasizes abiding by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance to elevate one’s moral character and behavior.
Mr. Zhang said that since its introduction to the public, Falun Dafa has spread to more than 100 countries, and its main book has been translated into more than 50 languages.
“We make use of this moment, as we celebrate World Falun Dafa Day, to introduce to the New York residents and public society, what Falun Dafa is all about,” he said. “This morning, many New York residents have joined our practitioners to do the exercises and meditate.”
New York Resident: The Energy from the Event Venue Is Very Attractive
During the event, many passersby were curious about the event and stopped to take photos and videos. Some stopped to watch the artistic performances and went up to talk to practitioners to find out more.
New York resident Chris Harvell said that he could feel the joyous energy that was coming from the event.
“I felt so peaceful, and it is just a warm feeling. This energy is here, which really brings you in and makes you want to get closer to understanding what’s going on. It feels like the energy just wraps its arms around you like a warm hug from your mom,” he said.
New York resident Chris Harvell was drawn to the World Falun Dafa Day celebration. He said that the energy at the event was very warm and pleasant. (New Tang Dynasty Television)
He also said that the Falun Dafa’s principles made him feel calm, and when he heard the words “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance,” which are the principles of Falun Dafa, he felt a form of inner peace.
Fiona said that Falun Dafa’s values are very positive. “These principles are very powerful, and I feel like they can be incorporated into everything and be interpreted in their own way,” she said.
New York Practitioner: Falun Dafa Is “The Best Thing I Have Ever Found”
To many Falun Dafa practitioners who joined the event, this celebration had a very personal meaning. Through abiding by the principles of Falun Dafa to cultivate their body and mind, these practitioners have benefited greatly. That is why the World Falun Dafa Day celebration has also become a way for them to give back to society by introducing this cultivation method, which has benefited them greatly.
Jake Zocco is the manager of an engineering company and is also a Falun Dafa practitioner. He attended the Union Square event and has been cultivating in Falun Dafa since 2008.
“It is really the best thing that I have ever found,” Jake said, “It helps me feel better, and it helps me deal with all the issues in my life, and with interpersonal things. The main thing with Falun Dafa is Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. Being able to apply those things in every aspect of my life, it just improves everything.”
New York State Senate Passes Resolution to Celebrate World Falun Dafa Day
The New York State Senate also joined in the celebration. They officially adopted Legislative Resolution No. 1648, titled “The Commemoration of the 27th Anniversary of the World Falun Dafa Day Celebration.”
The New York State Senate passed Legislative Resolution No. 1648 to celebrate the 27th anniversary of World Falun Dafa Day. (New York State Senate)
In this resolution, the State Senate affirmed the positive effects that Falun Dafa has brought to its cultivators in terms of improving their moral character and health. It also complimented Falun Dafa practitioners for providing long-term free teaching of the Falun Dafa exercises to the community.
The resolution was introduced by State Senator Dean Murray and was adopted by the State Senate on March 5, 2026. The full text of the resolution is as follows:
Commemorating the 27th Annual World Falun Dafa Day Celebration, to be observed May 13, 2026.
Whereas, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 27th Annual World Falun Dafa Day Celebration, to be observed May 13, 2026, and
Whereas, Many of those who participate in World Falun Dafa Day celebrate the teachings which have brought physical health, joy and peace of mind to millions of people across the globe throughout the entire week; and
Whereas, Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is a self-improvement practice rooted in ancient Chinese culture based on refining the body and mind through special exercises and meditation; and
Whereas, This special event observes the day Falun Dafa was first introduced to the general public in May of 1992, in Changchun, China, by Mr. Li Hongzhi; he then traveled around China lecturing to the public; and
Whereas, The impact his lectures had on the society was so profound, that the practice spread very rapidly by word of mouth alone; by 1998, it was estimated that 100 million people had taken up the practice in China; and
Whereas, The practice of Falun Dafa is simple; it consists primarily of two components, self-improvement through study and the practice of five gentle exercises; and
Whereas, Practitioners of Falun Dafa strive to live by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance in order to improve their moral nature, and in turn, to experience remarkable health benefits; and
Whereas, The practice of Falun Dafa goes beyond the pursuit of health and fitness to the goal of greater wisdom and enlightenment; and
Whereas, The Falun Dafa philosophy espouses the idea that when the heart is pure, the mind balanced, and the body energized, health and happiness are a natural outcome; individuals have been empowered to leave behind addictions and bad habits; families, to live in peace together; and communities, to embrace what is virtuous and life-affirming; and
Whereas, The effectiveness of Falun Dafa in improving health, as well as the principles upon which it is founded, have proven to be immensely popular throughout the world and have attracted people in more than 114 countries; and
Whereas, To the people of China, Falun Dafa provides a source of strength in the face of oppression; although the practice is banned in the land of its origin, practitioners persevere in the pursuit of their spiritual beliefs, risking imprisonment or worse; and
Whereas, In 1996, Falun Dafa was introduced to New York, and has since grown to include hundreds of practitioners who can be found throughout the tri-state area offering workshops in senior centers, corporate offices, health clubs, private residences and police stations at no cost to the participants; and
Whereas, Today Falun Dafa is practiced and cherished by millions of people and has received over 3,000 awards; and
Whereas, Falun Dafa is a practice which has brought better health and inner peace to millions around the world; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That this legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 27th Annual World Falun Dafa Day Celebration, to be observed May 13, 2026; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Falun Dafa practitioners of New York State.
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