Concerned People Telling the World about Falun Gong and the Persecution in China: Clear Wisdom [Monday, September 12, 2005 ]

(Clearwisdom.net) In order to allow Hu Jintao and his retinue to see and hear overseas Falun Gong practitioners' appeal for the end to the persecution, on September 10, 2005, Toronto practitioners hung huge banners on a highway bridge that Hu's motorcade passed by on its way to Niagara Falls.

As soon as practitioners hung the banners, an Ontario Provincial Police van came over and a forty year-old officer told practitioners, "You can't hang the banner along the highway. It is illegal."

Practitioners told the officer that the Chinese President would pass by and we hoped that he could see our appeal for the end to the persecution. The officer came out the van and said, "If the banner just hangs from the edge of the bridge, then, no problem for that. You don't have to remove it."

A practitioner handed him a truth-clarification flyer and introduced another practitioner to him. The practitioner's mother was imprisoned in China simply because she wrote to the authorities and appealed on behalf of Falun Gong. She was tortured so badly that she was unable to walk or speak normally and she lost most of her memory. Upon listening to this, the officer was quite astonished and patted the practitioner and said, "Keep going."

At this point, another police van came. The officer got out of the vehicle and the first officer explained the situation to him. Practitioners also handed him truth-clarifying materials and explained the facts to him. When the second officer was about to leave, he said to practitioners, "Good luck!"

Shortly after, a third police officer came. He was the boss of the first officer, who greeted him and told him why the practitioners were there, and explained about the persecution suffered by the practitioner's mother. Practitioners also told him how Jiang Zemin has been sued in many countries for committing genocide and other crimes, and that he is now afraid of going abroad. Practitioners also told him that Bo Xilai was afraid to try to enter Canada, fearing arrest for his crimes in the persecution. The officer was very happy upon learning that and said a few words and left.

The first officer stayed with the practitioners until Hu's motorcade passed by.

AP Photo: Hu Visits Mexico; Falun Gong Practitioners Appeal

(Clearwisdom.net) Associated Press reported on September 11, practitioners meditated in front of a Mexico City hotel where Hu resided. Practitioners said that tens of thousands practitioners have been persecuted by the Chinese Communist party.

Falun Gong practitioners meditate in front of the hotel where Hu stays in Mexico City

Falun Gong practitioners displayed banners in front of the hotel where Hu stays in Mexico City

Canada: Practitioners Appeal on Hu Jingtao's Route to Niagara Falls (Photo)

(Clearwisdom.net) On the afternoon of September 10, Canadian practitioners appealed on Hu's route to Niagara Falls, calling for an end to the persecution. Practitioner Helen Peng said that the practitioners' message to Hu Jintao is simple--the persecution must be stopped.

Practitioners appealed on Hu's route to Niagara Falls

Mississauga News reported that practitioners gathered along the Queen Elizabeth Way highway at Winston Churchill Blvd. to send Hu the message that the persecution of Falun Gong must be ended.

According to the Mississauga News, practitioners lined up along the fence, which they covered with banners, to do the Falun Gong exercises. On the highway all the way to Niagara Falls, practitioners could be seen in groups, waiting for the visiting Hu to urge him to stop the persecution.

When Hu's motorcade sped by, practitioner Helen Peng said that they only have one simple message, "The persecution must stop. (Prime Minister) Paul Martin already presented the issue of human rights (to Hu), including Falun Gong, and we appreciate that."

Practitioners have been appealing at many of Hu's events in the country, including outside the hotel in Ottawa where he was staying.

Ottawa: Photo Reports on "Anti-Torture" Exhibit (2)

(Clearwisdom.net) Canadian Falun Gong practitioners continued to re-enact the torture methods used on fellow practitioners in China in front of the Parliament Hill to expose the Chinese Communist Party's ruthless persecution of Falun Gong.

Canadian media interviewing Ottawa Falun Gong practitioners

Tourists from Europe watching Falun Dafa banners

An elderly lady put the collected petition letters in order after the anti-torture exhibit concluded each day.

Falun Gong practitioners collect petitioner signatures under the hot sun everyday. It is a process to clarify the truth

On the day when Hu visited Ottawa, Falun Gong practitioners sent forth righteous thoughts as a group on the grass in front of the Parliament Hill.

In the dark night and chilly wind, practitioners unfurl a banner and tried to awaken Hu Jintao's conscience.

Northern California: Falun Gong Practitioners Call for an End to the Persecution during Hu's Visit to North America (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) During Hu Jintao's visit to North America, Falun Gong practitioners from San Francisco conducted a live re-enactment of the torture methods used on fellow practitioners in China on September 10 at the Union Square in San Francisco.

Practitioners also held a truth-clarification photo exhibit and collected signatures to call on Hu to end the persecution of Falun Gong and release American citizen Charles Li, who is still imprisoned in China. Practitioners also called upon international society to reach out their helping hands to rescue children who have been orphaned in the persecution of Falun Gong.

Photo exhibit exposing the brutal persecution

Passersby stop to watch the live re-enactment of the torture methods used on practitioners in China

Learning about the facts

Live re-enactment of the torture methods

People are moved by the exhibit

Falun Gong practitioner Sherry Zhang said that Hu Jintao has taken the post as the Chinese President for more than three years. Unfortunately, the ruthless suppression against Falun Gong, which was initiated by Jiang Zemin and the Chinese Communist Party, is still going on. The current situation looks peaceful on the surface, but the persecution has in fact been escalating. From minghui.ca

United Kingdom: Holding a Benefit Performance and Petitioning to Rescue Falun Gong Orphans in the City of Oxford (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) On Saturday the 27th of August 2005, at Gloucester Green Square in the historic city of Oxford, Falun Gong practitioners held activities calling for help to rescue orphans of practitioners persecuted to death, which included a benefit performance and signature collection.

Truth-clarifying photo exhibit

On one side of the square, practitioners hung up many banners: some of which exposed the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that Falun Gong practitioners are still enduring; some showed pictures of children who have lost their mothers, fathers or even both parents because of the atrocious persecution by the CCP. Practitioners appealed to people to help rescue these unfortunate children. They also set up two tables of Falun Gong leaflets and other material, as well as petition forms, so that people could get to know the truth and sign the petitions.

There were also benefit performances which were designed by the practitioners themselves. They included the Lotus Dance, the Fan Dance, singing and the playing of musical instruments. In between, practitioners also demonstrated the five sets of Falun Gong exercises.

Signing the petition to support Falun Gong

Among the passers-by, apart from local people, there were also lots of tourists from all over the world who came to Oxford for sightseeing. They were all attracted to the graceful music from the rescue benefit performance and the peaceful, pure field from Falun Gong practitioners. They either slowed down their pace or stopped to watch. When they learned that the theme of this performance was to rescue Falun Gong orphans, many people asked practitioners for more information. There were also quite a lot of people who already knew about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, and they just walked directly to the petition table and signed their names to support us.

A practitioner, who had been holding petition boards alongside the square to collect signatures, said that although it was not very busy on the square that day, what moved her most was the fact that nearly everyone whom she asked signed the petition. There were tourists from Japan, Thailand, India, the U.S., Italy and the Philippines. They said they had heard about Falun Gong and the persecution in China, so they were willing to sign the petition to show their support for Falun Gong practitioners. There was also a young English couple. The young man said to the practitioner that he knew about Falun Gong and asked if he could sign on behalf of his family members. The practitioner replied, "Yes, please do". So, after he signed his name, he signed his family members' names as well. When his girlfriend finished signing her name, she also signed one of her family members' names.

Demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises

Benefit performance to rescue Falun Gong orphans

People are moved by the facts

The practitioner said that she could truly feel the support from mankind's compassionate and righteous heart. She really believes that as Falun Gong practitioners unrelentingly let people know about the situation, more and more people around the world will come to know the truth and the power of justice will grow. Then the CCP's lies and their crime of brutally persecuting good people will also be exposed completely, so that everyone in this world will come to see it.

Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200509/28740.html

Hawaii: Falun Gong Practitioners Call to Stop the Persecution in China (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) On September 8, 2005, Falun Gong practitioners held a peaceful appeal in front of the Hilton Hawaii. The practitioners displayed banners and signs to the visitors' motorcade and the welcoming crowd. Their banners read, "The world needs Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance" and "China must stop killing, torturing and raping Falun Gong practitioners."

Philadelphia: Practitioners Participate in Community Celebration of a Pennsylvania State Senator (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) "Gorgeous!" Viewers applauded when the Falun Gong practitioners' procession passed by the podium.

Practitioners' procession

Lion dancing

Practitioners' exercise demonstration

A spectator learns the second set of exercises

On Saturday, September 3, 2005, Anthony H. Williams, a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, held an annual good neighbor street celebration. It was the sixteenth this year. Practitioners from the greater Philadelphia area were invited to participate in the parade and stage performance. They performed lion dancing, fan dancing, waist drum and Falun Gong exercise demonstrations.

State Senator Williams from Senate District 8 said that the event was held to unite the whole community regardless of color, race or spiritual belief. Neighbors celebrated together the accomplishments of the community to motivate students in the new academic year and to leave good memories for families. In the event, there was a float, drum players, and honor guard. The Falun Gong practitioners were invited again as the only Chinese group to participate in the event. They brought traditional Chinese culture to Philadelphia and spread the grace of Dafa throughout the city.

A young practitioner distributes truth-clarification literature

State Legislator Ronald G. Waters poses for a group photo with practitioners

People sign to support the rescue of Falun Gong orphans

Many people came to the practitioners' booth to sign a petition calling for rescuing orphans of Falun Gong practitioners. Many practitioners in China were brutally persecuted by Chinese Communist Party, and their children live in extreme hardship. Ms. Tulweni Mbango was one of the people who signed. She said, "I understand very well those victims. I come from South Africa, where I lived in a refugee camp with my parents. At age 5, I was sent to East Germany, which was controlled by the Communist Party. I know well the suffering without freedom. I wish more people will be freed from the suffering. Let us fight for human rights!"

Senator Williams and State Legislator Waters saw the practitioners' performance three years ago in a community event and liked it very much. They have since invited the practitioners to participate in their community celebration.

A Touching Moment at the Minghui School

(Clearwisdom.net) The children's graduation ceremony took place some time ago. During the preparation for the event, there were some schedule changes. To provide enough space for everyone to rehearse, we moved the cookie-eating break time to a classroom on the second floor to leave space for the classroom on the first floor. However, there were not enough desks and chairs on the second floor. A few children coming late did not have chairs. As soon as I prepared to go downstairs to get more chairs, a few children in the middle and higher-class groups said that they had a good idea. They gave up their chairs to stand or kneel down to eat. Looking at them, I went downstairs right away, not to look for chairs but to get a camera to capture the touching moment.

Facts of the Persecution

Falun Gong Practitioners Suffer Persecution in Huanan County, Heilongjiang Province Between January and August of 2005

(Clearwisdom.net) Li Jun, head of the National Security Division at the Huanan County Police Station in Heilongjiang Province, and his subordinates Wang Jinfeng and Chen Yujun, among others, have been constantly and illegally arresting and sending Falun Gong practitioners to prisons and forced labor camps for several years.

With compassion, Dafa practitioners have repeatedly clarified the truth to them, and Li Jun himself nearly lost his life twice in car accidents. Those incidents were warnings of karmic retribution, and afterwards the police were not so vicious in their treatment of Dafa practitioners. Unfortunately, the recently appointed director, Liu Dequan, instituted a "hundred-day action" by the police department, and issued new quotas and guidelines for treating criminals and solving cases, resulting in Li Jun and his subordinates persecuting Falun Gong practitioners even more intensely. During January and August 2005, eleven Dafa practitioners and their family members were illegally arrested and subjected to extortion. Along with Li Jun, deputy director Lu Guang, who was primarily responsible for the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, defamed and slandered Dafa openly on TV and threatened to intensify the persecution.

On January 14, 2005, police officers Li Jun, Wang Jinfeng, Chen Yujun and Huang Xiaodong illegally broke into the home of Dafa practitioners Liu Shuxian and Zhang Youjin and ransacked it. They took every item related to Dafa and arrested the couple and their guest, Dafa practitioner Yan Xifa. The older mother, who is over eighty, was left without care. The practitioners were later released after being rescued by family members and fellow practitioners.

Dafa practitioner Li Cheng was arrested in June. Li Cheng was handicapped before he learned Falun Dafa, and he had brain tumors and a bleeding thalamus, with symptoms similar to those of cerebral thrombosis. He couldn't take care of himself and he was in coma for a while. A CT scan of his head at the Jia City Hospital revealed six brain tumors, and doctors predicted that he wouldn't live for more than a year and a half. After Li Chen learned Falun Dafa and began cultivating in 1996, he recovered his health and returned to a normal life.

One of the persecutors was ordered to pretend to be a Dafa practitioner, and acted as if he wanted to befriend Li Chen. After gaining Li's trust, he implemented the arrest. Li Chen was detained for almost three months. He was recently released. Li was originally sent to a forced labor camp in Jiamusi City, but was refused due to poor health.

During June and August, the criminal officials and police successively arrested Dafa practitioners Wang Zhen, Wang Hongyan, Liu Chunjing, Zuo Guijuan, Liu Guangyou and family members Liu Shuchi and Liu Yue.

Liu Shuchi is the wife of Wang Zhen, and she's not a practitioner. She was, however, arrested along with Wang Zhen and sentenced to imprisonment in a forced labor camp.

Wang Zhen was sent to a forced labor camp in Jiamusi, but he wasn't accepted due to poor health and was released.

Liu Yue is the daughter of Liu Guangyou, but she wasn't a practitioner. She operated a clinic in their home. Li Jun made up a reason and ransacked the house, claiming to look for bogus medicine, and found some Dafa books. To protect her loved ones from persecution, she claimed they were hers, and as a result she was arrested and sentenced to two years in a forced labor camp. The persecutors arrested her father Liu Guangyou again, and he's now detained in the Huanan County Detention Center.

Wang Hongyan is disabled and has a humpback. She said, "Before I learned Falun Dafa, I never experienced sleeping while lying flat, and it was terrible for me, trying to go to sleep every night." After Wang Hongyan learned Falun Dafa and took up cultivation, her health improved and she began to look younger. She heard that Dafa practitioner Li Dezhen's living conditions were poor, and she did as much as she could for the family, bringing them rice and noodles. She was followed by a persecutor, and was illegally arrested and sentenced to three years in a forced labor camp. Li Dezhen was illegally detained at Jiamusi. The 7.7 Mu (1/15 of a hectare, 7200 sq. ft.) of land that Li Dezhen worked on for a living was forcibly taken from him and sold by Huanan Town official Chen Yongbo and Happy Village Secretary Li Zhongyou, and Li Jun received 3000 yuan from the sale. Li Jun also got 2600 yuan that Li Dezhen had earned working in Beijing when the police illegally searched him.

Zuo Guijuan has been released and Liu Chunjing is still being held at the Huanan County Detention Center.

Police Station of Huanan County
Li Jun National Security Division 86-454-6239981, 86-13946435900 (Cell)
Wang Jinfeng National Security Division 86-454-6224708, 86-13836697678 (Cell)
Chen Yujun National Security Division 86-454-6224708, 86-454-6281715
Liu Dequan Director 86-454-6235990, 86-13224541111 (Cell)
Lu Guang Deputy Director 86-454-6235995
Dong Hui Deputy Director 86-454-6236659
Xu Zhixiang Deputy Director 86-454-6236559
Yu Hongjun Deputy Director 86-454-6223896
Wu Binjie Deputy Politics Secretary 86-454-6239935
Huang Yonghong National Security Division 86-454-6228109
Wang Zhanying Criminal Investigation Division 86-454-6225219

Four Older Dafa Practitioners Pass Away as a Result of Persecution

(Clearwisdom.net) Ms. Chen Songnan, 72, was a Dafa practitioner from Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. She was the widow of Song Shiyun, former Deputy President of the Southwest Finance and Economics University. Before learning Falun Dafa, she had many illnesses, and she weighed only 77 lbs. After cultivating in Falun Dafa, all of her diseases disappeared and her body weight increased to 110 lbs. In December 2003, she was illegally arrested by police from Guanghua Police Station in Chengdu City, and detained in a brainwashing class by the Qingyang District 610 Office. Since she persisted in cultivating Dafa and refused to compromise, she was persecuted to death. The detailed information cannot yet be verified.

Guanghua Police Station: 86-28-87370431, police officer Liu Jingtao: 86-13908079276 (Cell)

Ms. Gao Zhongqin, 73, was from Nongan County, Jilin Province. Before cultivating Dafa, she suffered from migraines, neuralgia, hepatitis, adnexitis, nephritis, and was subjected to the torment of these diseases for decades. In April 1998, she fortunately learned about Dafa, and threw herself into cultivation. During this period, Teacher purified her body. Afterwards, she experienced great health. Moreover, after she practiced the standing stance wheel-holding position for more than ten days, her deafness, which had lasted for years, was suddenly healed. She could even hear whispers. All of her family members and neighbors witnessed the miracle of Dafa. But the good times did not last long. After July 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin and his gang launched the persecution of Falun Gong. Out of fear, Gao Zhongqin didn't dare practice the exercises or listen to the Fa. As a result, all of her diseases came back. Especially when fellow practitioners nearby were persecuted by the evil, her fear grew. She passed away on December 20, 2002 after medical treatment proved to be insufficient.

Ms. Tu Aimei, 65, was a teacher in Wanping Primary School. She learned Falun Dafa in 1997. In the middle of May 2005, she passed away as a result of long-term persecution by Jiang's gang.

Mr. Anchen, 68, lived in Lunan District, Tangshan City, Hebei Province. After practicing Falun Dafa in 1998, he regained his health. After the persecution of Falun Gong started in 1999, seized with terror, he was hurt greatly both mentally and physically, resulting in the recurrence of his old diseases. He passed away in July 2003.

Six Falun Dafa Practitioners from Jilin, Liaoning and Sichuan Provinces Died as a Result of the Persecution

(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Jia Hongxin, sixty-six years old, was an officer of the Jilin Province Ganan County Art and Physical Education Department. He started practicing Falun Dafa in 1996. Before he obtained the Fa, Mr. Jia had suffered a stroke and a brain hemorrhage. He had internal bleeding of the cerebellum for two weeks due to a serious motorcycle accident, which left him mentally disoriented and without the full use of the right side of his body, but he quickly recovered after practicing Falun Dafa. He was even able to take part-time jobs after he retired. After the Chinese government started to persecute Falun Dafa on July 20, 1999, however, the police frequently went to Jia Hongxin's home and harassed him. They also repeatedly made illegal searches of his home several times a day, taking anything they wanted. In May 2000, Jia Hongxin went to the police department to apply for a retirement I.D. card. Instead, he was illegally detained for fifteen days after the police falsely accused him of having written the cover page of an anonymous letter in support of Falun Dafa. One July evening that year, Zhao Yanhai from the Administration and Security Section of the police department and four other police officers surrounded Mr. Jia's home and accused him of sending letters. Incidents of this nature began to occur regularly, but Jia Hongxin wouldn't cooperate with the police harassment, and he was forced to move out of his home to avoid persecution. In 2003, when Mr. Jian returned to sell his home, seven policemen, including Yang Xiufeng, were dispatched to search his home again. After being repeatedly threatened and hounded, Jia Hongxin suffered a relapse of his former illness, and he passed away on May 23, 2004.

Ms. Lin Yongqin was seventy-three years old, and she was a Falun Dafa practitioner from Jilin Province, Lishu County. After her daughter Dai Chunhua was tortured to death on March 9, 2002 at the Siping City Jail in Jilin Province, local policemen often went to Ms. Lin's home to harass her, which caused her illnesses to return. Ms. Lin Yongqin passed away in December 2004.

Ms. Cui Shufan was sixty-nine years old, and she was a Falun Dafa practitioner from Jilin Province, Lishu County. She started practicing Falun Dafa in October 1997, and she benefited both physically and emotionally. Many of her illness disappeared. After July 20, 1999, Ms. Cui was frequently harassed and mentally tortured by policemen from the local police department, and she was unable to study Dafa and practice the exercises regularly. Because of this, her old illnesses returned, and Ms. Cui passed away on April 22, 2004.

Mr. Yan Haihe was fifty-four years old, and he was an employee at Jilin Province, Lishu County Teacher's College. He and his wife learned about Falun Dafa together in 1996. His wife was illegally detained in a forced labor camp twice since 2001, for a total of four years, because she refused to give up Falun Dafa. Mr. Yan took care of their thirteen-year-old child, who is still in school, by himself. He was frequently harassed at his home by policemen and his employer, and he died on May 7, 2004.

Mr. Ding Yongtao was an eighty-four-year-old Falun Dafa practitioner from Liaoning Province, Dalian City. Before he started practicing Falun Dafa, he suffered from chronic atrophy of the cerebellum, hypertension, brain aneurysm, heart ischemia, mal-absorption in the stomach and intestines, and constipation. He relied on medication to keep him alive and was cared by family members. Mr. Ding started practicing Falun Dafa in 1998. After seven days, his digestive system became normal, he no longer needed his cane, and when he went to the hospital for a physical examination, every test indicated that his physical functions were within normal parameters. After July 20, 1999, Mr. Ding lost the environment to continue practicing Falun Dafa and his physical condition became worse and worse. He passed away on November 15, 2004.

Ms. Xiao Jizhen was eighty-one years old. She lived in Chuanxing Town of Xichang City, Sichuan Province. In March 2001, her eldest daughter went out to clarify the truth, and she was arrested and sent to jail. Knowing what had happened to her daughter put tremendous mental pressure on Xiao Xuizhen. In addition, national security officers went to her home and harassed her, and illegally sent her daughter to Zizhongnanmusi Forced Labor Camp, where she was tortured until she suffered a mental collapse. Personnel from the forced labor camp notified her family to take her back home when she was in critical condition. Xiao Jizhen was in extreme grief when she saw her daughter's condition. She tripped and fell at home on April 10, 2004, and passed way on April 14, 2002.

Open Forum

Song in Support of Children Orphaned by the Persecution: Soprano "Poor Little Rong Rong"

When little Rong Rong misses her parents, she will stand on a stool to reach the box on the table that contains her father's ashes and kiss the box.

(Clearwisdom.net)

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English Lyrics:

Little Rong Rong, do you have a home to return to now that it is getting dark?
The police sealed the door to your house. How can you possibly have a home?
The police broke into your home and arrested Mommy and Daddy.
Your parents follow the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance."
Why are the kindhearted people beaten and murdered?
Your Daddy has been murdered and your Mommy cannot return home.
Your parents are not with you. How do you survive the hunger and cold?
Mommy and daddy are not with little Rong Rong.
Please hurry to come help little Rong Rong.

The tragic story of little Rong Rong

Rong Rong was born in November 1999. Her father Zou Songtao died in police custody on November 3, 2000. He was only 28 years old. At the time of his death, Rong Rong was only 11 months old. Rong Rong's mother Zhang Yunhe was forced to leave home and go into hiding in May of 2001 after she was discovered while distributing truth-clarification material and faced impending arrest. There are reports that she has been detained at the Dashan Detention Center in Qingdao. But to this day, no one can verify her whereabouts or whether she is still alive or not. Rong Rong now lives with her grandparents. Her grandmother couldn't bear the pain of losing her son-in-law and the separation from her daughter. She died while in her 60s, in August 2001. Rong Rong lost three family members whom she loved most: her dad, her mom, and her grandma. When little Rong Rong misses her parents, she will stand on a stool to reach the box on the table that contains her father's ashes and kiss the box.

http://www.pureinsight.org/pi/articles/2005/9/5/3307p.html

Practitioners Exchange Experiences and Insights

Have Patience When Clarifying the Truth to Family and Friends

(Clearwisdom.net) In the past, when I clarified the truth to family and close friends, many of them would say: "You should not be against the government." Once they found out that my school knew that I believe in Falun Dafa, they became more against my practicing and clarifying the truth to other people. They thought that this would get me suspended from school.

My family even beat me in front of relatives and friends during the New Year celebration. They wanted me to promise not to practice. I did not comply. They did not give me any money for my studies, in the hopes that I would give up Dafa. Again I did not comply. My family caused interference for about three months. When I returned to school, they called frequently and used the withholding of money for my studies and the pressure of family relationships to interfere with me. I did not let this move me.

At the same time, I realized that I needed to make money myself. Money issues should not interfere with validating Dafa. I found a job near Tiananmen Square, and could send forth righteous thoughts at a close distance. I then found two concurrent jobs. I used this income to clarify the truth to family members and classmates, and help them renounce the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Most of them accepted and agreed to let me help them renounce the CCP on the website designated for this purpose.

My Cousin and His Wife

My cousin and his wife did not believe the facts when I explained it to them, and they tried to get me to change my thinking. But after they went to Hong Kong, their attitude changed, and they learned the truth about the persecution. I want to thank the practitioners who clarified the truth in Hong Kong, Macau, and other areas visited by tourists from Mainland China. Even though many people did not receive truth-clarification material, they still understood the truth. At least an impression was made in their minds, and then when someone else discusses these issues with them, it is easier for them to accept.

My cousin's wife really agreed with my analysis of the CCP. She said that after listening to me, she finally understood it after all these years. She told me that her father was a veteran CCP member. Because he was sleepy at a CCP meeting, he was forced to resign from his job. He became very bothered and depressed and eventually died of cancer. A couple days ago she saw her father in her dream, and he was lying down. In her dream she knew her father had died, but it seemed as if he had some serious disease and would deteriorate quickly. I said, "The Communist evil spirit has been controlling him. This evil spirit wants to pull people down."

Classmates

During the school year, classmate A always urged me not to practice Falun Gong. He wrote numerous letters from his viewpoint telling me not to practice. One day classmate A and classmate B came to Beijing on business and we met. Because classmate A saw the corruption of the CCP once he started working and did not believe in what the CCP said anymore (he believed it a lot in college), and after listening to me tell him what Master had said, and how to be a good person, he finally understood that Falun Dafa was really good. He said it was good that I had a strong belief and did not stop practicing. Classmate B said that he does not believe in the CCP either. Afterwards, classmate A and B agreed to let me help them renounce the Communist Youth League and Young Pioneers.

Grandmother and Grandfather

In spring of this year, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. After learning this, I went to see her. In the beginning of 1999, before the persecution of Falun Gong began, she read Dafa books and still had them at her house.

When I saw my grandmother, I sincerely shared my cultivation experience and told her about the power of Dafa and all the positive changes I experienced after cultivating. I said to her, "Counting my visit this time, Dafa has beckoned you three times. You must not give up this opportunity." She said, "Right, this is also a predestined relationship." My grandmother learned the practice with me. Now she can study the Fa and practice the exercises daily. She does not become carsick anymore (she used to have serious carsickness). This was another manifestation of the power of Dafa.

My grandfather said he believes in Communism. He had to apply for three years before he was allowed to join the wicked CCP. I told them about all the wicket things that the CCP does, and they agreed with me. I told them that Dafa is good, and they did not disagree. But when I told them that the crime of the CCP is so huge and only by renouncing it can they be saved from going down with it, they did not agree anymore. They thought I was getting involved in politics when I helped people to withdraw from the CCP. Attempting to help them understand, I first talked about myself and told them that I have no political interest at all.

The morning of the second day of my visit, my grandfather got up from bed and said his whole body was cold. I thought the Communist evil spirit must have caused this phenomenon. I sent forth righteous thoughts and later read Lunyu to him. My grandfather thought it was good and said, "I have read this part before. How come it did not seem as good as when you read it today?"

I handed the Dafa book to him, and he said he'd read it carefully. However, after reading for a while, he felt dizzy and stopped reading. He came out of the room to chat with me, so I continued to tell him and grandmother about the necessity of quitting the CCP. After some time, they again talked about my "involvement in politics." I was about to leave and yet they still did not understand. I could not help crying as I was talking. I said, "It is not easy for me to have an opportunity to take a train to visit you. If I leave without having you quit the CCP, you may not realize how dangerous it will be for you, but I know. So I must tell you. This wicked CCP has done so much evil that Heaven cannot tolerate it, and that's why I ask you to renounce it. Why do you always say that I am involved in politics?"

My grandfather went in another room for a while, and when he stepped out he said, "I agree to quit now. I had planned to quit after retirement, but now I will quit the CCP right away." My grandmother and I looked at each other and smiled.

Before that, my uncle, uncle's wife and their daughter also withdrew from the CCP, the Youth League and the Young Pioneers. My uncle's daughter also helped two of her classmates quit the Young Pioneers.

Other Family Members

During the Chinese New Year celebration, my family members refused to give me money, so I could not go to school, nor would they let me come home, all in order to stop me from practicing Falun Gong. Now they ask me if I have enough money and when am I going to come home. The attitude of my relatives in my hometown has also changed. They ask me if I have been living well and when I will come home.

I remember once while talking to my aunt's husband, I told him about how I was treated by the rest of my family during the Chinese New Year, and asked if it was because I had done something wrong. He replied, "No, but your family is afraid that something could happen to you." I said, "Since I didn't do anything wrong, then they are wrong for pressuring me like that. If anything should happen to me [that is, if the authorities were to arrest the author because of practicing Falun Dafa], you should blame this wicked CCP, since that's the real culprit!"

When I came home, my relatives apologized profusely for following my parents in pressuring me during the New Year period. After I asked them to withdraw from the CCP and the Youth League, almost all of them agreed to do so. My second aunt also told me, "I know Falun Dafa is good, but the government has banned it. Whenever it is allowed again, I will practice it also!"

My Aunt and a Fellow Practitioner

One day two or three months ago, I had a dream in which an aunt I rarely saw (she also practiced Falun Gong before, but had signed a statement pledging not to practice and did not write a solemn statement to nullify it afterwards) was at my house. The scene was like a New Year celebration. There were many people and plenty of delicious food, but no one sat down to eat. I asked her, "Why don't you come and eat?" At the time her face was very pale and streaked with tears. The bowl she held in her hands was empty. She said nothing and could only look at me.

After I woke up, I decided to talk to her when I went back home and help her get back to cultivation. Since she has no computer and I don't have a printer, I hand-copied some of Master's new articles for her. She told me she knew a fellow practitioner who could access the Internet, but her fellow practitioner has not been able to get Master's new articles of the past several years either. I went to that practitioner's home and showed her how to use Dynaweb to break through the CCP's Internet blockade. I told them of the Three Things Master has told disciples to do and with their approval, I helped them send out their solemn statements to resume cultivation. After that, our fellow practitioner learned to access the overseas website, and she immediately sent out a statement quitting the Youth League and the Young Pioneers. On that day, it was my first contact with these fellow practitioners in the past few years. I was very happy. I said to the fellow practitioner that from then on, she should be responsible for truth clarification and people's futures of her region.

I have gone through a relatively difficult path. I realize that no matter what people say and how seriously they say it, it may not be their true thoughts. Master said in "Explaining the Fa During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference,"

"Actually, let me tell you, you shouldn't give too much weight to what ordinary people say, because lots of ordinary people aren't rational. Human beings, you know, are affected by many concepts in the ordinary society, and they're constantly forming different concepts, which severely affect their original nature and true thoughts. So the things some people say seem right but are actually wrong, are insincere, or are poorly thought-out. Don't think that ordinary people are as rational as you are. Lots and lots of people are pretty irrational right now, and actually, you were like that too at the beginning. (Audience laughs) You only became more rational after you matured and bad things were removed. When an ordinary person comes to understand things, or decides whether something is good or bad, it's done at a very shallow level. Even what he says to his family and to people who've done a lot for him seems right but is actually wrong, it's insincere, he doesn't make good on promises, and he avoids responsibility for any consequences. So don't think it's significant. If you want to save him then you need to help him become rational."

In clarifying the truth, we meet many friends and family members who don't understand the truth. We cannot give up on them just because they don't understand at the time, for that does not mean that they won't understand in the future.

Not One Person with a Predestined Relationship Will Be Left Behind

(Clearwisdom.net) My husband had remained strongly influenced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) these past few years, even though I had consistently clarified the truth about Falun Dafa to him. His understanding sometimes seemed good, but not always. I became resigned to the idea that since I had tried my best, using all possible means, he simply could not be saved.

After viewing the VCD of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, I was hesitant to let him watch it because I was afraid that he would be opposed to it and say something slandering Master and Falun Dafa. After some time, however, I finally decided to show it to him. I kept sending forth righteous thoughts while the VCD played. Unexpectedly, before he had even finished watching it, his attitude significantly changed. By the end of the VCD, he couldn't help saying, "Right. All right, this is the truth." Since he is in his fifties, he has experienced everything that the CCP has done since the Cultural Revolution. He has also heard from his parents about the way things were prior to the Cultural Revolution.

After watching the Nine Commentaries, he said, "From now on, we should never say that this or that individual does not have a conscience, nor should we blame them for what they have done, because it is the Chinese Communist Party that has confused them. It is the CCP that does not allow people to have morality or conscience, thus causing them to become this way. Mao launched the Cultural Revolution and that caused people to fight with one another. I fight you, you fight me. Husband and wife, father and son have all become enemies due to the influence of the CCP. Today I clearly and completely understand the situation, and I agree to resign from my membership in the CCP."

Hearing this made me sincerely happy for him. Through this experience, I also realize that we should never give up trying to save a single sentient being in this world. Regardless of whether they have ever accepted the truth-clarification materials in the past, we should still extend them the opportunity to know about the Nine Commentaries because of its incredible power to assist in saving sentient beings. The Nine Commentaries is like a sharp, divine sword with the ability to break the solid shell that the spirit of the CCP has formed around people, and to publicly expose the genuine face of that malevolent spirit. People will then oppose that force and in the end be saved.

While Suffering a Tribulation, One Needs Even More Help from Fellow Practitioners

(Clearwisdom.net) In most cases, a practitioner knows he should look inward to find the problem and cultivate his xinxing whenever he encounters a tribulation. Sometimes, however, it is difficult for one to know where the root of the problem is. Therefore, some practitioners have been hindered for a long time.

After encountering some personal problems, I learned some hard lessons that I want to share with fellow practitioners. If anything inappropriate is found, please point it out with compassion.

One day, I suddenly had a back pain, a very serious pain, which made it very difficult for me to sit down, stand up, or lie down. If not very careful, I would feel intense pain, just as though my back was being broken. At six o'clock the next morning, when I sent forth righteous thoughts, I felt a sudden relaxation and the pain abated noticeably. I then thought that I must get rid of all my attachments through cultivation, giving the evil no chance to interfere with me so that my back pain would quickly disappear. Unexpectedly, the pain became more severe on the third day. This time I really couldn't be steady. What on earth was the matter with me? At a time when there is such urgency to save sentient beings, why had I been obstructed in this way? Some of my attachments must have been hiding somewhere. I searched my conscience: Why did the evil interfere with me? Why could it successfully interfere with me? Having racked my brain, I still didn't find the root of the problem.

I told my fellow practitioners about my situation, without holding anything back, and asked them to help me find the root of the problem. A fellow practitioner told me without thinking, "You always like to lie down for a while, even after you finish the sitting meditation. I told you before but you didn't pay attention. When you read The Minghui Weekly, you sometimes lie down. Articles written by fellow practitioners should be respected." My fellow practitioner's words were quite right. I had also noticed this, but I didn't consider it a big issue and thought that it didn't matter much. I didn't think it through very carefully.

Then I looked back at the progress of my back pain. The pain was severe the first day and alleviated the second day, but was back again the third day. The root cause was my attachment to avoiding suffering and looking for comfort. On the second day, I had gotten up after four o'clock to do the sitting meditation for 90 minutes and then sent forth righteous thoughts. Then the pain was suddenly eased. On the third day, I also had gotten up after four o'clock to do the sitting meditation, but I felt uncomfortable from head to toe. After sitting for less than 60 minutes, I lay down. Although I also sent forth righteous thoughts at six o'clock and even finished the other four sets of movements, the pain became worse. My fellow practitioner's words made me suddenly see the light. No wonder I had sudden back pain. Is it just to seek temporary comfort that I always like lying down for a while? Is it my failure to get rid of my attachment to seeking comfort? Until that day I had not realized it. Is this a trivial attachment? Doing things this way, can I make my every single word and action in line with the Fa? I felt quite ashamed. I knew I should go back to the righteous way and assimilate myself, without any condition, into the higher requirement of the Fa. After I found the loophole and rectified my attachment, my back pain was relieved the next day, and I recovered within two days.

This was a profound lesson and made me understand the power of Dafa, the compassion of Teacher, and the important role that fellow practitioners play in our cultivation. From this lesson, two profound realizations motivated me to write this experience-sharing article.

First, the Fa's requirements for us are becoming stricter and stricter. When the mighty current of Fa-rectification arrives in the human world, we cannot bring to our future any regrets just because we have not gotten rid of the bad things in our cultivation. Teacher has emphasized in many lectures recently that we should cultivate ourselves well. Therefore, within the little time remaining for our cultivation, we should never be lazy or shirk our responsibilities and duties. Wasting a single minute, even a second, is a loss. We must meet the requirements of various levels of the Fa. If all of our Dafa disciples complete their cultivation successfully, the unlimited power of the Fa will demonstrate itself to human society. Also, it can help more ordinary people be saved.

Secondly, our fellow practitioners not only have the same Teacher and cultivate themselves by the same Dafa, but they are also capable helpers in our cultivation. Whenever we stumble, Teacher will arrange for fellow practitioners to help us up. Whenever we get lost, Teacher will arrange for fellow practitioners to hold our hand so that we can go home together. Especially in the current process of validating the Fa, we can never ignore our fellow practitioners at any time. Whenever we have a tribulation or hardship that is hard to get through, we should, besides studying the Fa more and better, earnestly ask them for help. There is a saying among ordinary people, "Complete sincerity can affect even metal and stone." Maybe our fellow practitioners can point out our mistakes with just a single sentence. Maybe Teacher will guide us through words spoken by our fellow practitioners. At ordinary times, we should cherish fellow practitioners' critical comments and get down from our high horse to listen to our fellow practitioners' criticism. Honest advice and truthful words might offend the ear but they can help us improve step by step. We should modestly ask our fellow practitioners to point out our shortcomings. If we remind each other, urge and encourage each other, we can avoid detours and suffer fewer losses. We should treasure the predestined relationships among our fellow practitioners even more. Whenever we encounter a tribulation on our way home, let us unselfishly reach out to help each other and make solid progress together.

My Experience Participating in a Fine Art Exhibit in Philadelphia

(Clearwisdom.net) After the International Fa Conference in Washington, DC, I went to Philadelphia to serve as one of the Chinese- and English-speaking docents for two excellent art exhibits: "Uncompromising Spirit" and "Famous Artists' Original Works Collected by the Dai Family." Dafa disciples in Philadelphia spent several months preparing for these art exhibits.

Philadelphia was only one stop in these exhibits' tour around the world, which has included Australia, Taiwan, New York, and San Francisco.

Being a docent was a new challenge for me, because I knew nothing about traditional Chinese painting and I was going to have to talk about the ideas, the spirit, and the painting skills of these traditional Chinese paintings to Americans. But in order to offer salvation to all sentient beings, this challenge was no reason to feel intimidated or to walk away. Moreover, I believed that the wisdom gained from Dafa would allow me to fulfill this responsibility.

This was the first time in my life that I had ever seen original paintings by renowned painters from China. As an ordinary Chinese person, it is actually very difficult for us to have the opportunity to see these original works by well-known painters. Even though I have visited a Chinese museum in Taipei, I did not have the good fortune to see such works.

Why do Tony Dai and his mother travel all over the world to show this exhibition of original works in city after city, and, with hearts of great compassion, not seek any return for sharing their invaluable and precious collections with the public?

It is because Tony Dai's mother regained her life after practicing Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa also completely changed her values. She said, "Our Teacher teaches us to be a good person with 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.' I think that the only thing I can do is to take out these works, collected by several generations of our family, and share them with the public to spread and promote Chinese traditional culture spanning over five thousand years. While promoting this exchange between Eastern and Western cultures through this painting exhibition, I also hope to appeal to all the kind-hearted people around the world to pay attention to Qi Bingshu, the granddaughter of renowned painter Qi Baishi. Ms. Qi Bingshu continues to be persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party because of her persistence in practicing Falun Gong."

This was what I said in my introduction to each group of visitors I guided. I wanted each visitor to understand that this precious opportunity came from a selfless offer by Dafa disciples, who have a sincere wish to appeal to the world to help end the brutal persecution against Falun Gong practitioners.

During the first day of the art exhibit, I carefully listened to the explanations given by Dafa disciples who were once professional docents. One of them told me that, during the art exhibition in Taiwan, her unique, original and profound analysis and explanation of the paintings easily convinced the visitors. She was very surprised at how smoothly and fluently her thoughts were translated into the most effective words and at how the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" manifested themselves in her explanation. She said to me with conviction, "I knew that I was not the source of the narration, rather, it was Teacher's wisdom that helped me do the narration." Her words really affected me! It is indeed the case that whatever Dafa disciples do, we cannot deviate from the guidance of the Fa principles. I read Teacher's lecture "Teaching the Fa at the Discussion on Creating Fine Art" again and again during the week-long art exhibit. Because I was also viewing these paintings by renowned painters over and over very closely, I gradually developed some knowledge of traditional Chinese paintings with regard to painting skill, angles and composition, use of materials, and so on. I also had a much deeper understanding of the characteristics of Chinese painting such as "the resemblance of a godly nature instead of the resemblance of physical forms" and the idea that "another painting exists beyond the painting and that poems are embedded in the paintings."

It is exactly as Teacher has said,

"From the very beginning of its inheriting process, the Chinese arts were established from a semi-divine culture. In other words, half of the emphasis was not on the human surface but on the spirit of the subject, its allure, and the inner meanings. That's why the manifestations of all aspects of the Chinese culture had that characteristic, especially in fine art, where they don't really pay attention to depicting the details on the surface, they focus on expressing the ideas, or the spirit of it, and the inner meanings." ("Teaching the Fa at the Discussion on Creating Fine Art")

These principles cleared up my confusion and lack of clarity. In the scenery, flowers, birds and characters presented on each painting, I could point out the profound thinking, sentiments, and rich connotations within these renowned artists' paintings.

The main theme of China's traditional culture and art has been the level and states of cultivation practice that focused on showing respect and awe to Buddhas and Taos, worshipping nature, and yearning for the holistic integration of the universe and humanity. These characteristics have been realized and presented in the paintings of these modern artists. At the same time, the noble and moral characters of these renowned artists touched me deeply. It is precisely because they valued their virtue so greatly and cultivated their minds so earnestly that their artistic works were able to manifest such high level states. Many artists were tortured and persecuted by the Chinese Communists during the Cultural Revolution, yet they still did not change their original character or attitudes. Li Keran was jailed in a cowshed during the Cultural Revolution, but he playfully referred to that cowshed as Shi Niutang, a place to learn from the cow, in his painting of a shepherd boy to encourage himself to learn the cow's ability to endure humiliation and undertake heavy assignments.

The brushwork on the hawk in Pan Tianshou's painting is strong and powerful. By portraying the unruly character of the hawk, the painter suggested his distain for authority as well as his unyielding character and integrity. This really impressed the spectators. I told them that, during the more than 50 years of oppressive Chinese Communist Party rule, the CCP has destroyed the Chinese characters that depicted awe of heaven and earth and respect for living beings, both of which originated in Buddhist and Taoist cultures in ancient China. I told them how the CCP has abused the spirits and bodies of intellectuals, how it ruthlessly killed a large number of well-educated intellectuals, and how it has enslaved the Chinese people for several decades. All of these connotations are directly and indirectly reflected in the painter's work.

Respecting and worshipping Buddhas and Taos has been the main theme of Chinese culture, and it was also an important part of this art exhibition. The first painting depicted the dignified and compassionate Buddha image of Boddhidarma, who stood on a reed stalk and drifted across the river. I told viewers that what makes this painting different from the others is the material used in the painting. The material was made by mixing gold powder with pure rubber from the rubber plant. The techniques of spot drawing and line drawing from traditional Chinese painting were used to create Boddhidarma's vivid and lifelike facial expression.

Another painting portraying Buddha's image was Zhang Daqian's "Bodhisattva Guanyin with Fish Basket." The girl selling fish is in fact the incarnation of Bodhisattva Guanyin. The source of this painting comes from a well-known folktale.

Oftentimes, characterizing the mountains, water, rivers and scenery in nature is a major theme in traditional Chinese paintings. This theme also reveals the inherently serious nature of traditional Chinese paintings. Namely, it is built upon the respect for nature and the pursuit of the integration of heaven and the human in Chinese traditional culture. In addition, artists also often expressed in their paintings their levels and attitudes towards life, that is, for practicing cultivation and returning to one's true self. I mentioned that the value and level of a painting is a reflection of the moral standard of the painter, and that the painters expressed in their works their lighthearted attitude towards both fame and fortune in the mundane world. Isn't this the level and attitude toward life of a practitioner? Both Tao Yuanming's ease of "Picking Chrysanthemums under the Eastern Fence, Calmly and Quietly Watching the Southern Mountains" and his liberation and freedom that "he did not bend and bow to trade five buckets of rice" are a prototype of a practitioner influenced by Chinese traditional culture.

From these original paintings we see that they are, in fact, telling us that China's traditional culture is a culture of cultivation practice. Through explaining and analyzing these original paintings, I have delivered this explicit information to each viewer.

As to the second part of the "Uncompromising Spirit" art exhibition, I applied and blended into the explanation my own understanding of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" as a practitioner. So when attendees enjoyed viewing the paintings, they could feel and appreciate Dafa's wonder and auspiciousness, and thus the strong contrast between Dafa and the brutality and irrationality of the persecution could be revealed.

There were many touching events and moments every day. An elegantly dressed Chinese lady very attentively listened to my nearly one hour explanation. Before she left, she bought a Qi Baishi notebook to give to me. An American couple came to learn more about the mysterious curative and healthy effects of Falun Dafa. The wife had just come out of the hospital, and she had read about the art exhibition. She was hoping to speak with Ms. Dai. After the explanation, she listened to my suggestion and bought a copy of Zhuan Falun to read at home.

Through my participation in this art exhibit, I also enlightened to more in-depth and deeper principles of Dafa and realized that all cultures in history came here for Dafa.

We Should Not Understand the Fa Out of Context

(Clearwisdom.net)

During Fa-rectification cultivation, xinxing levels and cultivation states differ among practitioners. The Fa principles that we have enlightened to are different, as well. This is normal.

However, it does not mean that it's okay to understand the Fa in whatever way we like, nor does it mean that whatever we have "enlightened" to is always correct. When we have conflicts or arguments among us, some fellow practitioners simply quote Teacher's words in order to justify their ideas or actions and to prove others wrong. It is not right to do this. Besides, this is not respectful to the Fa. Since anything that practitioners encounter is not accidental, we should first look inside to dig out our shortcomings. Even when others make mistakes and are wrong, we should not use this as a reason not to correct ourselves and remove our attachments first.

Quoting the Fa out of context is wrong. We tend to do so when we are not willing to give up our attachments. In fact, when our heart is not righteous, anything, even the Fa, can be distorted in our minds.

For example, when some practitioner saw the sentence "Different Levels Have Different Fa" (Zhuan Falun), he understood it as "Fa principles can be understood in whatever way possible." When he read Teacher's article "Perfect Harmony" (Essentials for Further Advancement) and the articles where Teacher talked about killing, he said, "A Fa principle can be understood by its opposite meanings." When he saw Teacher's articles "Huge Exposure" (Essentials for Further Advancement) and "My Version of a "Stick Wake-up," he said, "It was Teacher that told the evil to start the persecution."

Another practitioner read, "If I were to disclose the truth, I would be teaching an evil practice..." ("Further Elimination of Attachments" from Essentials for Further Advancement), "You cannot always rely on me to bring you up to a higher level while you, yourself do not move. Only after the Fa is explicitly stated do you make a move. If it is not taught clearly, you do not move, or move backward. I cannot recognize such behavior as cultivation practice." ("Digging Out the Roots" from Essentials for Further Advancement) and "But in fact when something really needs to get done, I may not explicitly tell you that that is the new situation." (Teaching the Fa at the Western U.S. International Fa Conference) He explained these Fa principles as, "There is no use doing the things that Teacher explicitly asked us to do." All these kinds of degenerate notions caused confusion among those practitioners and had a negative impact on their cultivation because they were not doing the three things that Teacher asked us to do.

There can be many reasons for this. The major one is that those practitioners have some strong attachments such as the show off mentality, fear, being attached to themselves, not giving up their fundamental attachments, and so forth. This led them to understand the Fa out of context. They won't be able to break through all those ordinary people's thoughts unless they let go of their attachments.

Understanding the Fa out of context is similar to how Zen Buddhists explain, "No Law is absolute." It is not respectful to Teacher if we understand the Fa incorrectly. This is a serious issue. Besides, we won't be able to actively do those three things that Teacher asked us to do if we don't have a correct and clear understanding of the Fa. Some practitioners even "enlightened" along an evil path because of this.

Of course, Dafa is so profound that nobody can clearly understand all of its meanings. However, at this point, no matter how different our understandings are on the Fa, there is one understanding that should be the same. That is, we need to actively do the three things that Teacher asked us to do. The Fa-rectification of the whole cosmos has never happened before. It's urgent for us to save sentient beings. No matter how we understand the Fa, we should agree that it is wrong not to try to save sentient beings when they are in danger.

The above is my personal understanding. Please correct me if my words are inappropriate.

A Discussion on Marriage (Part 1)

(Clearwisdom.net)

Following the Predestined Relationship and Strengthening Propriety

Ancient people believed that marriage was predestined. There is a Chinese saying, "It takes a hundred reincarnations to bring two persons to ride in the same boat; it takes a thousand years to bring two persons to share the same pillow." It demonstrates how precious the predestined relationship between husband and wife is. In a vast human world, two persons who do not know each other originally are able to join together through their predestined relationship.

Mr. Li Hongzhi said in Falun Buddha Fa (Lectures in the United States):

In the previous life one person did a favor for another person and that person couldn't repay it--perhaps he was a low-ranking official or was very poor in that life. He benefited greatly from that favor, so he wanted to repay it. Then this might result in a predestined relationship between husband and wife. It could also be that in the previous life someone loved someone else or they both loved each other, but they didn't have that predestined relationship and couldn't form a family; then it could result in a predestined relationship of husband and wife for the next life.

The simplest interpretation of love is "love between man and woman." Actually, the word "love" as popularly understood is a modern notion. Nowadays, human society stresses "personality" and putting "self" as the highest priority in any occasion: loving others and requiring others to love oneself, our concept of "love" emerges.

In ancient times, complete rules of etiquette and higher morality and ethics restricted the feelings between man and woman. The so-called "love" was based on marriage. In that way, love was orderly, stable, and rational, and could also be recognized and highly praised by the whole society and government. All "love" and "affection" outside of marriage was prohibited and considered improper.

Marriage is a great commitment in life and not a childish game. Since the "Six Rites" (i.e. the proposal with an accompanying gift; the inquiries about the bride's name; the intimation of the approving divination; the request to set the marriage day; the protocol of the groom going to meet the bride at the bride's home and escorting her to the groom's home) were established in the Zhou Dynasty, and they have become a custom followed by people in wedding rites for thousands of years. Ancient people worshiped divine beings, respected people who followed the will of heaven and valued filial duty. Therefore, in the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom would pay their respect to heaven and earth, to have their marriage acknowledged, and would pay their respects to their parents to gain their recognition, as well.

Media Coverage

Media Reports on Hu Jintao's Visit to Canada and Falun Gong Practitioners' Calling for an End to the Persecution (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net, September 9, 2005) Hu Jintao arrived at Ottawa, Canada on Thursday morning. At locations where Hu showed up or passed by, practitioners appealed for end to the persecution of Falun Gong.

Member of Parliament gives speech to urge Prime Minister Martin to ask Hu Jintao to stop the persecution of Falun Gong (photo by the Central News Agency)

Canada's 24 Hours Vancouver reported on September 8, "Falun Gong protesters rallied yesterday in advance of Chinese President Hu Jintao's arrival in Ontario."

The report stated, "About 150 movement supporters were at Queen's Park where Premier Dalton McGuinty will be hosting a lunch for the Chinese leader this coming Saturday."

The report further stated, "Falun Gong spokes-person Joel Chipkar said they want McGuinty to urge the federal government to speak out against human rights abuses in China."

AP reported on September 7, "Chinese President Hu Jintao arrives in Canada on Thursday for his first state visit, celebrating 35 years of diplomatic ties and rapidly
expanding trade and energy agreements with the North American nation, while being shielded from protesters condemning Beijing's grim human rights record."

AP stated, "Hu is likely to be met by protesters in each Canadian city, condemning China's lack of democratic elections among its 1.3 billion people and the Communist Party government that jails pro-democracy, Christian and Tibetan activists. Among the protesters will be followers of Falun Gong. Thousands of practitioners of the spiritual meditation have been jailed."

"The Falun Dafa Association of Canada delivered a petition with 80,000 signatures to Martin's office last week, saying he must not shy away from raising human rights for fear of jeopardizing business opportunities with the world's most populous nation."

AP further stated, "'When Canada remains silent or just brushes over China's human rights issue in a closed-door meeting, it tells the Chinese communist regime that the Canadian people condone crimes against humanity and it further seals the fate of the Chinese people who are suffering,' said Falun Dafa spokesman Joel Chipkar."

Canada.com News: Alberta News Roundup: Falun Gong Protests Human Rights Abuse

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Falun Gong practitioners staged a mock torture in Edmonton Saturday to highlight human rights abuses in China as the country's president visits Canada.

Among the demonstrators outside the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market was Wenyu Liu, who spent nearly three years in a Chinese jail.

Liu, who now studies mechanical engineering at the University of Calgary, says the mental torture he endured was worse than the physical abuse.

He says at one point he spent eight months in solitary confinement, deprived of all human contact.

News from China

166 People Declare that their Words and Deeds Under Forced Brainwashing are Null and Void
A Total of 287551 Declarations Have Been Published To Date

(Clearwisdom.net) A "solemn declaration" is a person's public statement declaring to the world that whatever he or she has done or said under duress or deception that was against Falun Dafa is null and void. Most of these statements have come from Falun Dafa practitioners in China who wished to express regret that, in the face of physical torture and brainwashing, they had signed documents renouncing Dafa and guaranteeing not to practice again. Also, as more and more people in China learn the truth about how they have been deceived and lied to by the Jiang regime, many non-practitioners are also submitting "solemn declarations."

Here are some examples of the Solemn Declarations:

Dafa Practitioners' Solemn Statements [5/31/2005]
Solemn Declarations By People Who Have Awakened to the Truth about Falun Gong [6/2/2005]
Solemn Declarations by Young Dafa Practitioners [5/22/2005]

Please click here for more Solemn Declarations.

Summary of Other Articles and News - August 18, 2005

(Clearwisdom.net)

Facts of the Persecution

1. Practitioners in Dehui City Resist Persecution in Court

On August 16, 2005, the Dehui City Court of Jilin Province started the trial against Falun Dafa practitioners Ms. Ma Chunli and Mr. Zhu Guoyou. Ms. Ma Chunli was on a hunger strike to protest the persecution and endured long-term cruel torture. She is on life-sustaining medication. The court officials ignored her critical condition and had her carried to the courthouse to sentence her. When Mr. Zhu Guoyou and Ms. Ma Chunli shouted, "Falun Dafa is good!" the court session was called to a close.

http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/8/18/108649.html

2. Cases of Practitioners Being Abused in Hong'an County, Hubei Province

The Hong'an County State Security Office Head Yao Xuejun (male) and his collaborators cruelly tortures Falun Dafa practitioners. Mr. Yang Caiyin, an excellent teacher, was dismissed from his job due to his steadfast faith. He was arrested multiple times, tortured in detention centers, and forced to serve in the forced labor camp. He died after suffering five years of brutal abuse.

Practitioner Ms. Xiong Guimei's home was ransacked. She was arrested, threatened and had money extorted from her. She does not have a stable environment in which she can practice Falun Gong. She has been bedridden four years, cannot tend to her daily needs, and her life is in danger.

http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/8/18/108682.html

3. Practitioner Ms. Deng Yi from the Haizhu District in Guangzhou City Arrested and Taken to Brainwashing Center; Family Denied Visits

Practitioner Ms. Deng Yi from the Haizhu District walked out of a brainwashing session in mid-July of 2004. Less than half a year later, she was arrested again on January 7, 2005 by officials from the Haizhu District 610 Office, the Jiangnanzhong Street Neighborhood Administration, and the police station. They imprisoned her in a brainwashing center called the "Guangzhou City Legal Education School" located in the Chatou Area. Ms. Deng has been on hunger strikes many times. Starting in mid-June of 2005, the authorities have strictly prevented her family from visiting her.

http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/8/18/108642.html

4. Tongliang City Government Employee Ms. Yang Qin Arrested

On the morning of August 7, 2005, practitioner Ms. Yang Qin, an employee of the Tongliang City Government, was reported for passing out truth clarifying materials in the Tongliang City Education Department and was arrested by the city 610 Office. Ms. Yang had been arrested and detained three times previously. Before practicing Falun Dafa in 1996, she used to have chronic headaches, toothaches and a bone spur. Her entire body became swollen and she experienced muscle hardening. Falun Dafa gave her a new life.

http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/8/18/108651.html

Summary of Other Articles and News - September 7, 2005

(Clearwisdom.net)

Facts of the Persecution

Dafa Practitioners Ms. Ding Shumei and Ms. Liu Yuanling Tortured at the Gaoyang Forced Labor Camp in Hebei Province

Dafa practitioner Ding Shumei, a 44-year-old elementary school teacher from Zhazishi Street, Xuanhua District, Zhangjiakou City went to Beijing to appeal for justice for Dafa on March 2, 2000. She was illegally detained for one month. In October 2001 she was sentenced to three years of forced labor and sent to the Kaiping Forced Labor Camp in Tangshan City. On August 10, 2005, the persecutors tried to send her to a labor camp, but many labor camps refused to take her. After arriving in Baoding City, Hebei Province, the local police paid a large amount of money to the Gaoyang Forced Labor Camp officials so that they would take Ding Shumei. She has been on hunger strike for more than 10 days and her life is in danger.

Since August 1, Shi Jiangxia, head of Division 2 (a division that holds only Falun Gong practitioners) and political head Li Yanji at the Gaoyang Forced Labor Camp tortured Falun Gong practitioner Liu Yuanling. They didn't allow her to eat, stripped her naked, cut her hair, shocked her with electric batons, beat and kicked her, and otherwise insulted her. They also took Liu Yuanling's clothes and quilts. On the morning of August 7, perpetrators Li Yanji, Tian Zhili, Fan Miaolu and Yan Yurong beat Liu Yuanling. On the morning of August 10, Li Xuejun, the political head of Division 2, dragged Liu Yuanling out and forced her to run, in the name of "running" and "training." Liu Yuanling refused to follow Li Xuejun's orders. The perpetrators told Yan Yurong to ferociously kick Liu Yuanling's back and stomp on her feet. Liu Yuanling was tortured for more than ten days, yet she still remained determined in her Dafa practice.

http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/9/7/109934.html

Lawless Police in Xuyong County and Gulin County in Sichuan Province

On August 18 and August 19, police cars parked at a thoroughfare on their way from Gulin County to Xuyong County.

A group of police officers broke into Falun Gong practitioner Wan Mingjun's home, ignoring the fact that a member of Wan Mingjun's family was critically ill and bedridden. They ransacked the home, illegally arrested Wan Mingjun, and took a computer and some Falun Gong materials to the Xuyong Police Department. On August 19, the police arrested Wan Mingjun's daughter, who is not a Falun Gong practitioner. On August 22, Wan Mingjun's wife passed away. Gulin County police officials reluctantly let Wan Mingjun go home for ten days to take care of the funeral, but first they extorted a 5,000 yuan "deposit" from Wan Mingjun's adult children and forced them to write a guarantee statement. During the funeral, the police constantly monitored Wan Mingjun.

At around 9:00 p.m. on August 23 two police cars from Xuyong County and Gulin County drove to the family dormitory, which is affiliated with the Xuyong County Agriculture Bureau. They ransacked the home of Falun Gong practitioner Zhu Xiangling, took her to the police department and interrogated her for about one hour.

http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/9/7/109926.html

Concerned People Telling the World about Falun Gong and the Persecution in China

Monday, September 12, 2005

Clear Wisdom [Monday, September 12, 2005 ]

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