Hundreds gathered at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on May 3, dressed in yellow and performing meditative exercises, to celebrate the 34th World Falun Dafa Day.
The annual day of celebration commemorates the day Falun Dafa was introduced to the public in China on May 13, 1992. Similar celebrations are held in many cities around the world each year on or around May 13.
In Toronto, the event consisted of traditional Chinese music and dance performances, demonstrations of Falun Dafa’s five meditative exercises, speeches from human rights advocates, a marching band, and a parade through downtown Toronto.
Peaceful Resistance
In a speech during the Toronto event, Ardeshir Zarezadeh, executive director of the International Centre for Human Rights in Canada, said Falun Dafa’s teachings of truthfulness, kindness, and patience are values that “everyone can understand and respect.”“Today is not just celebration. It’s about thinking deeply, it’s about reflection,” Zarezadeh said. “What kind of world do we want—a world where people are afraid to be themselves, or a world where people are respecting each other, even when they disagree?”
“Let’s stand up for a world where people can live with respect and freedom,” he added.
Toronto resident Sheng Xue, a Chinese Canadian and longtime democracy advocate, said in a speech that she has attended World Falun Dafa Day events since 1999.
“Now, 20 years have passed and many practitioners have indeed suffered greatly and endured immense hardship in this process,” she said.
But she noted that despite the persecution, practitioners have persevered in their practice for more than 26 years.
“Falun Dafa has formed a complete, powerful, and benevolent force throughout the world,“ she said. ”Every practitioner should feel proud and honoured, because [they] have generated this power of truth, compassion, forbearance, and love.”
Falun Dafa Association of Canada representative Joel Chipkar, who also spoke at the event, noted that millions of people around the world have experienced health benefits from Falun Dafa, but said the moral teachings have left the “deepest imprint.”
“Unfortunately, in communist-controlled China, freedom of belief does not exist,” Chipkar said. “In China, countless Falun Gong practitioners have faced violent persecution for simply choosing to live with the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.”
However, he noted that even in the face of propaganda and violence, millions of practitioners have held firm in their faith and responded to the persecution with compassion rather than hatred.
Matthew Leeder, who has practised Falun Dafa for more than four years, said he suffered a severe brain injury and was bedridden for about six months before beginning the practice. His mother, who has practised Falun Dafa for most of his life, encouraged him to try it, noting that many people have regained their health through the practice.
“I didn’t believe her, however, I just felt I had nothing to lose,” Leeder told NTD, a sister media of The Epoch Times, in an interview at the event. “However, it was through the practice of Falun Dafa that I was able to make a full recovery from my brain injury, but most importantly… I genuinely feel Falun Dafa has made me a much better person.”
Sandra Gutierrez, a financial specialist, drove from Waterloo, Ont., to see the Falun Dafa parade in downtown Toronto.
“This parade is wonderful… This is a beautiful practice to enhance our heart with truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. I think we all need to learn this,” she told NTD in an interview.
“I feel very proud that here in Canada we have that freedom to select what you believe, and the freedom of choosing what you want in your heart,” she added.
Joe DaSilva, a Toronto Portuguese bakery owner, told NTD the Falun Dafa parade was “wonderful” and “very peaceful.” He said the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance are universal values that all cultures should seek.
“No culture, no human being should be persecuted for any reason, for any belief, or for any religious practice,” DaSilva said.
“Everyone deserves to be free. Everyone deserves their own opinion, and I do believe that the world needs a lot more understanding and a lot more tolerance and peace between all.”
