(Minghui.org) Nearly 2,000 Falun Dafa practitioners from Greater New York held a parade in Manhattan on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day.
Many young Falun Dafa practitioners took the opportunity to express their heartfelt gratitude to Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong).
Heartfelt Gratitude to Master Li
Senlin Li, a conductor for the Tian Guo Marching Band, said practicing Falun Dafa has made her kinder and more considerate of others. (Minghui.org)
Senlin Li grew up in Frankfurt, Germany, and is currently a product manager for a New York company. As one of the conductors for the Tian Guo Marching Band, Senlin marvels at the positive energy generated whenever the band plays. “Each parade with the band increases my motivation to do more. The band helps people understand who we truly are and what Falun Dafa is,” she said.
Senlin started practicing Falun Dafa with her mother when she was very young. “The teachings of Falun Dafa contain a lot of wisdom that show you how to live an upright, honest life. Many of my friends realized these same principles only after years of psychological therapy. For example, when faced with problems, one should look inward to find one’s own shortcomings. A person should strive to improve themselves instead of trying to change others,” she said.
Falun Dafa taught Senlin to be considerate of others in all situations, even when faced with personal challenges. “I consider the other person’s perspective in order to empathize with their suffering.”
On encountering negative situations in life or at work, Senlin strives to maintain her kindness by using the principles of Falun Dafa as a guide. “Cultivation taught me to shift my focus away from myself and consider those around me. Falun Dafa continues to show me the correct path to walk in life,” she said.
Senlin expressed her deep gratitude to Master Li, “I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“Practicing Falun Dafa Changed My Perspective and Made Life Easier”
Simon Liao from Maryland hopes more people will learn about Falun Dafa. (Minghui.org)
Simon Liao, a senior software engineer at a financial tech company, grew up in the State of Maryland. Although his parents are Falun Dafa practitioners, Simon failed to appreciate the value of cultivation until he reached college.
During college, Simon pursued both academic and career success but felt lost after achieving his goals. “For example, I worked hard and managed to snag a high-paying job. But the satisfaction eventually disappeared. After achieving academic recognition for excellent grades, I could only work toward getting even better results the next semester,” he said.
“We live more comfortable lives than any of our ancestors, yet statistics indicate we suffer the worst from emotional depression. What is the purpose of life? Why is there suffering?” he said.
Simon eventually realized that Falun Dafa, which he had been practicing since childhood, had the answers he sought.
“I came to realize the process is as important as the end result. Do I place kindness, honesty, and respect at the forefront of whatever I do? Do I demonstrate tolerance and forbearance toward others? Instead of obsessing over how much I stood to gain, I focused on applying the principles of Falun Dafa whenever I encountered difficulties. Life became easier after I changed my perspective and ways of dealing with people.”
Simon said he hopes more people come to understand Dafa and benefit from it. “Falun Dafa is a cultivation method that anyone can learn. It consists of just one book of teachings and a set of exercises. The teachings and exercise instructions are available online for free. The cultivation method is so simple, even my 90-year-old grandmother has mastered it.
“The book Zhuan Falun provides answers regarding the purpose of life, the fundamentals of the universe, and the method to obtain good health. This cultivation method only brings benefits to people, and this is what I am most grateful for.”
Simon concluded, “Thank you, Master Li, for founding the practice and sharing it freely. I am grateful to be a cultivator.”
“Falun Dafa Helps Me Better Understand Myself”
High school students Angelica and Fara participate in the parade.
New York high school students Angelica and Fara participated in the parade together. Angelica is Canadian and hails from Toronto, while Fara grew up in upstate New York.
Angelica said, “I wanted to introduce Falun Dafa to the public, and this parade is a great way to do so.”
Angelica grew up in a family that practices Falun Dafa. “My mother faced a lot of pressure at work, and doing the exercises and reading the teachings helped her manage this stress,” she said. “In high school, I have to deal with a lot of academic stress and various problems. Reflecting on Falun Dafa’s teachings at the end of the day really helps calm my mind. Practicing Dafa has made me very happy.”
A grateful Angelica would like to wish Master Li a happy birthday. “I have learned so much about how to live life through Falun Dafa. Whenever I feel lost, I reach for Master Li’s teachings to find solutions. I am truly grateful to Master Li.”
Fara also expressed her gratitude. “I would like to thank Master Li for everything he has done for us! I am grateful to be a cultivator. As a student living in this messy and chaotic world, Falun Dafa helps me better understand myself.”
Grateful for the Inner Peace and Hope Brought by Falun Dafa
Pavel Porubiak from Prague participated in the parade.
A visitor to New York, Pavel Porubiak is a Falun Dafa practitioner from Prague in the Czech Republic.
Pavel first encountered Falun Dafa in 2013 through a website, and almost instantly decided to become a practitioner. “When I first read Zhuan Falun, I thought it was a very good book. With each round of reading, I gained new insights,” he shared.
Before cultivating Dafa, Pavel found himself floundering with the feeling of something missing in his life. He tried learning some mystical practices, but these did not help fill the emptiness in his heart. Students of these mystical practices had to pay lesson fees, and Pavel wondered, “Can I truly become a better person just by absorbing cosmic energy through these mystical methods? By spending money, can I buy my way into becoming better?
“My first impression of Falun Dafa was really good. Falun Dafa does not teach a person to change their external factors. Rather, it tells practitioners to become better by improving their inner character. Falun Dafa helps me view setbacks and challenges from the right perspective. It has given me hope. I’ve developed a calmer, more positive outlook on life,” he said.
Young people face pressure to compete with others and obtain achievements to secure their standing in society and validate their self-worth. Pavel, however, does not agree with this. “Dafa helps me maintain inner peace so I can reject society’s mindset. As long as I remain calm and do what is right, any problem will eventually be resolved,” he said.
Some people believe that following a faith requires them to suppress their inner selves. But Falun Dafa approaches this differently. According to Pavel, “I don’t need to suppress myself. Instead, I learn how to improve my character according to Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. I am free to act and think according to my conscience.
“I hope more people will come to realize the benefits of Falun Dafa. This practice can uncover a person’s inherent goodness and restore their true nature.”
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