Also known as Falun Gong, Falun Dafa (法輪大法) is a Chinese spiritual practice of the Buddhist tradition. Founded by Master Li Hongzhi in 1992, the qigong discipline enjoyed great popularity throughout China prior to July 20, 1999, the day the country’s communist leadership launched a nationwide campaign to destroy Falun Gong. Though little-reported, the persecution of Falun Gong, now in its 26th year, has inflicted untold suffering upon millions and continues to this day. The following are the observations by a new Falun Gong practitioner of an annual event by adherents of the practice to raise awareness of and help bring an end to the persecution.
I had never heard of Falun Dafa until a few years ago. Having just recently started practicing and wanting to explore the practices more, I was invited to the Rally and Parade to End the Persecution of Faun Dafa and attended partly out of curiosity. What I experienced at the National Mall changed everything I knew about human resilience and spirituality.
As I approached the field, I was shocked by the sheer size of the gathering. More than a thousand people had arrived, and the glow of their yellow shirts could be seen a mile away. Unlike the atmospheres at many other gatherings, there was no anger, no shouting, just a simple message — Truth, Compassion, Forbearance.
At noon, the rally begins with speakers at the stage. This was the 26th anniversary marking the start of what the participants called “the persecution.” On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a brutal campaign against Falun Dafa practitioners in China. Simply for their practice of serene meditation exercises and study of books by Falun Dafa’s founder, millions were abducted, imprisoned, tortured, and murdered.
The statistics are unbelievable, and it’s hard to accept until you dig deeper into it. To think that some people see Falun Dafa as a “cult” is baffling, but according to the speakers, the CCP has systematically engaged in disinformation, bot farms, propaganda, bribery, impersonation, home invasions, theft, and even death threats since 1999 in a massive scheme against Falun Dafa practitioners and their families. Why? Apparently, because the CCP’s multi-billion dollar organ harvesting industry benefits from it.
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I was only just getting acquainted with my surroundings until I was invited to help hold one of the banners for the parade. The thought of my first time being in a parade had me nervous, but all my anxieties vanished very quickly. I was wholeheartedly greeted by both the young and old with nods of respect and welcoming smiles. What struck me the most was the health and brightness in everyone’s faces and gladness in their eyes, despite many of them having seen the worst in humanity.
The summer heat was almost too hot to bear, with only the wind and occasional cloud covering offering brief moments of respite. But it looked like nothing was going to stop everyone else lined up and holding banners in the parade, so I powered through too. At around 1:30 p.m, music filled the air and the Falun Dafa parade commenced, and the streets of D.C. were filled with messages of peace in bright colors carried by people with a profound sense of purpose and peaceful determination. As I looked behind me, the endless lines of banners filled me with a sense of pride, like I was a part of something much greater, even if it was just for an hour.
A light of hope, a story of courage
It was an honor to be a witness to a panel discussion in one of the most prestigious institutions in the United States. At 4:00 p.m., esteemed speakers such as senators Ted Cruz, Steve Lance, Scott Perry, Sam Brownback, Robert Destro, Erping Zhang, and many others joined in the Capitol Congressional Auditorium to discuss “CCP Transnational Repression and United States Countermeasures,” referring to Beijing’s attempts to export its anti-Falun Gong campaign abroad.
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Peiming Cheng, the first known survivor of organ harvesting crimes perpetrated by the CCP, appeared to describe the horrendous offenses against human rights which he has endured and witnessed happening to others. While unjustly detained in a Chinese prison, a segment of his liver and portion of his lung were stolen from him.
He showed a massive surgical scar running across the side of his torso as proof to the whole room. “Because of my faith in Falun Gong,” Cheng says, “I was sentenced to 8 years [in prison]”. Since his escape and newfound freedom in the United States, others have helped him spread his message and it’s acting as a story of courage to many others unjustly persecuted by the CCP both here and in their home country.
Additionally, several members of the panel were awarded for their courage and bravery to quit the CCP altogether. Hopefully, with enough support, the president will sign a bill to outlaw all forms of transnational repression against Falun Dafa practitioners.
The energy is real
Falun Gong isn’t a religion in the way most people think of one. It’s more like a cultivation practice, a way of growing yourself spiritually while also improving your physical health through exercise, energy movement, and meditation. At about 6:00 p.m., I joined the array of practitioners who stood perfectly-aligned on the grass field to demonstrate the five movements. The practitioners ranged in age from children to seniors; on my right was a teenager from China, on my left was a father from Pakistan.
Throughout the grassy stage, we all represented diverse ethnic backgrounds and had come to join the solemn stand against persecution. One man from Maine told me he’d been practicing Falun Gong for over 25 years.
I’ve always been able to feel positive energy, but this event just blew me away. After a few minutes into the exercise, I was overcome with an amazing wave of warmth, serenity, and clarity which lasted for hours, even after the day ended. Since starting to do the Falun Gong exercises, nearly everything in my life has improved to some extent. Going for walks is more enjoyable. Sights, sounds, and flavors are more pleasant. My thoughts are in order, my stress has reduced, and my overall physical health is showing visible signs of improvement. I’m kinder to others and others are kinder to me too. I regained a zest for life, and inspiration comes more naturally.
After the meditation, a candlelight vigil was held to honor those who lost their lives to the ruthless persecution by the CCP.
Hundreds of candles, like fireflies on a warm summer night, flickered together to symbolize the spirits of those who still live on. As the day came to a close, I realized how everyone had been so kind to me, that it felt like home despite such a diverse community of people. It was late and dark, so another practitioner from Virginia gave me a ride home.
Everything I saw at this event truly embodied Falun Dafa’s principles of Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance. While my outlook on life in general has changed for the better, I have become aware of an urgent need for change. I will continue my support of Falun Gong and its followers until the persecution against them is over for good.
