I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. Maybe you've heard about the persecution of Falun Dafa (or Falun Gong) practitioners in China. Over the past five years, many people have been committed to mental institutions, tortured, detained, imprisoned, and even killed, simply for refusing to give up this practice. Unfortunately, most Americans don't know about this situation, or they've been given a negative impression, and so the persecution goes on. My intention is to give my impression of Falun Dafa, and hopefully, bring an awareness of this situation to the people of this country--a country that was founded on the basis of religious and spiritual freedom.
All of my life, I have been searching for answers to all of life's most fundamental questions: Why am I here? What is the purpose of life? Why do bad things happen to good people? Who is God? Why does He allow all of this?
As a child and again as a teenager, I searched for the answers in Christianity, and even though I sensed wisdom and truth in the teachings of Jesus--being honest, loving thy neighbor, turning the other cheek--there seemed to be something missing. Maybe something got lost in the translation.
I didn't have a problem with not understanding everything about God's actions--I mean He is God after all, and so how can I expect to understand Him? However, I did feel that I had some legitimate questions about justice. For instance, why do really bad things happen to seemingly good people? Why are babies born with deformities? How could this person's life of ninety years be equal to that person's life of 25 years? If all you have to do to go to heaven is believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, then what kind of a place would heaven be? I mean, I know a lot of people who believe that, and I'm not really sure that heaven would be better than earth if that were the case. Also, what happens to people who have never been exposed to Christianity or believe in some other god or religion? Obviously, I had a lot of questions that could not be answered within the framework of contemporary Christian religions. Consequently, I gave up the search--at least for the time being.
When I was twenty-three years old, I became ill. Over the next few years, I became unable to work, and I was eventually diagnosed with lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and vasculitis.
I had problems with every joint in my body; I couldn't stand, sit, or use my hands for any length of time; I had no stamina and slept for about twelve hours every day; I often had acute pain that came and went for apparently no reason and chronic pain that could last for hours; I often could not get comfortable enough to go to sleep; because of the amount and kind of medication that I took, I developed a lot of digestive problems; and I often ran a low-grade fever for days, and sometimes, weeks at a time.
Over the last two years, the vasculitis had become quite bad. I would often break out in large hives all over my body, and would get large spontaneous 'bruises' on my legs and arms that were not the result of any trauma and which took an unusual length of time to heal. I knew that this could not go on indefinitely, and so I had come to accept the fact that the length of my life was severely limited.
I thought that I would just try to live what was left of my life the best that I could, but I still longed for the answers to those age-old questions. Even though I believed I would receive the answers when I died, I decided that I would ask for them while I still lived. So, one day, I imagined myself crying out to the universe for help.
I remembered reading in a book that if you ever have a question, you should go to the library. Even if they don't have the answer, they can probably help you find it or where to go to get it. So, I went to the library to look for the answer.
In the foyer, there is a bulletin board with flyers, announcements, etc., and shelves beneath. I looked all over the bulletin board, all over the shelves, and on the bottom shelf, underneath something else, there was a brochure: a bright blue brochure with oriental characters on it. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the answer. It was a Falun Dafa pamphlet, and inside was a contact name and number. That was February 6th of 2000.
I started practicing Falun Dafa within days. Within weeks, I was able to stop taking all of my medication, I became free of my illnesses, and I was eventually able to go back to work. These things were really just fringe benefits to me--after all, I was just looking for answers, not healing--but I became well just the same!
The practice of Falun Dafa is very simple. It consists of five exercises--four standing, and one sitting meditation--and a set of three principles, which we believe to be the nature of the universe: Zhen (True), Shan (Good), and Ren (Endure).
The exercises are gentle and relaxing, as well as energizing. The practice of implementing the principles-to be True, Good, and Endure--is simple, and yet amazingly powerful. You may notice that they are the same basic principles that Jesus taught, as well. At the very base level, Falun Dafa is learning how to be a better person in every aspect of life: at home, at work, and socially. At a higher level, the goal is the same as other practices: wisdom and enlightenment. Falun Dafa is not a religion: we don't worship any particular God, although we do recognize the existence of great enlightened beings throughout history such as Jesus, Sakyamuni, Lao Zi, Amitabha, etc.; we don't have temples; we don't have any type of administration; we don't have any rituals; there are no requirements; there is no membership; and we absolutely do not involve ourselves with money. If you want to learn about Falun Dafa, any practitioner can and will teach you the exercises for free, all the books can be downloaded from the internet for free, and we do not even accept donations. It's a pace-yourself kind of course--you practice when you want to, how often you want to, and for how long you want to. It is completely up to you whether you practice or not.
Falun Dafa may very well be the largest spiritual movement in the history of the world. Right now, there are an estimated 100 million practitioners world-wide, with practitioners in over 50 countries, including the United States and China. All we want is to be good people and be able to practice our beliefs--our cultivation--without persecution.
Speaking of those answers: I did find them, as well. I also found a peace of mind and a sense of being that I never could have imagined. My goal is still to live my life the best that I can, but I also want to share what I have found with others who may be able to benefit as well. I would also like to inform those who believe that we all have a basic human right to practice our beliefs without being persecuted about the situation for millions of Falun Dafa practitioners in China.
For more information, please see the following websites:
faluninfo.net (for information about the persecution/to sign an electronic appeal)
faluninfo.net (for information about the practice itself)
Please see my webpage for biographical information at: faluninfo.net
town car ride to ohare Bethalto .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWelcome to the GOD 1.0 Tech Support Page. GOD 1.0... Read More
For some of us, EVERY DAY IS HALLOWEEN!!! If you... Read More
I thought for sometime that I was hard done bye... Read More
Looking for some ways to feed your soul in the... Read More
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ... Read More
Is your hope in God? Or, is it in people?I... Read More
Aristotle referred to happiness as the most we can achieve.... Read More
Connor, a man in his late 40's, has achieved everything... Read More
The question of life after death is one that continues... Read More
Some may ask what is the true will of God... Read More
It happens to us all from time to time, especially... Read More
Prior to the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United... Read More
There's nothing new about "the new age" except the attitude... Read More
Let's say that you have discovered your purpose but you... Read More
1. Raphael means "God heals." Raphael heals physical, emotional and... Read More
Make no mistake about it, change is challenging whether it... Read More
You know that the Bible tells us a lot about... Read More
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the... Read More
There is a chronology of events from creation to the... Read More
The Apocalypse, or unveilling, is the name given to the... Read More
People engaged in kissing experience information and energy transfer, although... Read More
The practice of meditating on loving-kindness may be over two... Read More
With another year full of family events coming upon us,... Read More
Paul's encouragement to the Philippians is also our encouragement. Consider... Read More
Tarot card reading delves into an individual's psyche and thus... Read More
Gurnee Lincoln Stretch rentals ..In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the... Read More
There are no better people to be around than those... Read More
I often ask myself this question. Not in the times... Read More
Shamanism is an ancient form of mysticism. Although... Read More
Now, I will recount in full what happened to me... Read More
There are many different and interchangeable terms that are used... Read More
Imagine for a moment. It's Tuesday night about 7pm. You... Read More
I thought I would draw this article up as a... Read More
In the interest of mankind the Angels are delivering messages... Read More
You can think of your Animal Totems as imaginary guides... Read More
Five verses specify that we are to live by faith.... Read More
Ever wonder what happened to the family dinner hour? Or... Read More
Lectio divina is a very useful and practical discipline for... Read More
Spirit - All Around Us, All of Us, Every One... Read More
Do you ever feel that what you read in some... Read More
Rose Ann Schwab is an internationally and world renowned professional... Read More
Angels are making their presence felt everywhere. Once I started... Read More
The time we spend on earth is very short when... Read More
On Shamans and Shamanism ... Shaman, a Tungus (Siberian) word,... Read More
You can't help but feel a sense of electricity in... Read More
Anyone who has invested time, energy and effort into finding... Read More
I had visions of my daughter for about five years... Read More
I cringed lower into the seat of my grey metal... Read More
The world's idea of justice and freedom fall short of... Read More
In the early 90's I had a spontaneous Kundalini Awakening... Read More
Spirituality |