Audiences in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada Deeply Moved By Shen Yun’s Mastery of the Arts (Photos)

(Minghui.org) Shen Yun Performing Arts gave two sold-out shows in the city Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, at the Center In The Square theater, on January 10-11, 2013.

MP Returns to Shen Yun for Sights, Sounds, and Happy Endings

MP Stephen Woodworth said he is so impressed by the talent and discipline of Shen Yun’s dancers that he returns each year. (Photo courtesy of The Epoch Times)

Member of Parliament Stephen Woodworth said that he has seen Shen Yun every time that it has come to his city, and he enjoys it each time, too. He says understanding the show as he does, adds to the depths of the performance and his enjoyment of it.

“I’m always so impressed with the talent and the discipline of the dancers. Everything all works together—the costumes, the music, the movements. It’s really a work of great artistry in my opinion,” he explained.

Shen Yun was founded in 2006 with the mission of reviving 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture, a heritage nearly lost after 60 years of Chinese Communist rule.

Mr. Woodworth said that he was very appreciative of that effort.

“I think that there’s been a great richness and a great vibrancy in Chinese culture for many thousands of years, so it’s well worth preserving.”

Noting the grand scale of the production, he said, “I think it’s obvious the amount of work that’s gone into this [show].

“When I look at the young men doing their back flips … it’s almost magical. It’s the closest we will ever get to unaided human flight. They almost seem to move in slow motion sometimes, I don’t know how they do it. So I admire that dedication. I know how much training and effort it takes.”

The MP talked a little about the dance involving the meditation practice, Falun Dafa, which is persecuted in China today.

“It reminds us that whatever difficulties we face in this life, we always have hope. Mahatma Gandhi once said that although tyrants and murderers will always arise, they will pass away—love and truthfulness will endure forever. So that’s always another nice part of this show, that it does have that happy ending and hope for the future,” he said.

“The physical performance is a metaphor for the spiritual performance. When we watch those dancers almost float across the scene, it is a metaphor for the human spirit, floating across the face of the Earth, but I still enjoy watching how they do that physically … I’m very impressed by them.”

He also appreciated the amount of thought and care that went into the many details of the performance.

“It really speaks to a lot of training and discipline and hard work. It’s just a very enjoyable performance visually and musically—it’s a delight to watch and to listen to.

Shen Yun’s Traditional Instruments Sound “Delicious,” Says Flamenco Guitarist

Accomplished guitarist Cuneyt Yetkiner, seen with his girlfriend Amanda Wendell, said Shen Yun’s musicians showed phenomenal talent at the opening night performance Jan. 10, at Centre In The Square theatre in Kitchener-Waterloo. (Photo courtesy of The Epoch Times)

Audience member, Cuneyt Yetkiner, became an instant fan of Shen Yun after listening to its live orchestra.

“It’s lovely,” he enthused, “Especially the erhu [two stringed violin]—it definitely sounds delicious, sounds really good. I love it!”

Being a celebrated Turkish-born flamenco guitarist, Mr. Yetkiner said that Shen Yun’s orchestra and traditional Chinese instruments have inspired his future song writing.

“I definitely got a lot [of inspiration] for sure.”

Mr. Yetkiner, aka Juneyt, has been playing flamenco guitar for over 13 years. Known for his unique Nuevo Flamenco style and incredible finger work, he has played alongside many well-known musicians in Europe and performed on more than 15 albums.

Mr. Yetkiner commented on Shen Yun’s musical talent, saying it was extraordinary.

“I think they’re phenomenal, they’re very good, everything is very well organized,” he said.

Mr. Yetkiner especially liked the dancers’ athleticism and the choreography.

“It was extremely well done,” he said. “Very, very enjoyable—it’s very good.”

The musician marveled at the split-second coordination between the dancers and the live orchestra, saying it was exceptional.

“Especially the motion, with the certain sounds, it just matches perfectly,” he said. “It obviously requires a lot of practice.”

Author-Speaker Says Shen Yun Left Her with Deep Thoughts

Rachelle Hunt-McPhail and Tommy Hiller enjoyed Shen Yun’s sold-out performance on Jan. 11 at Centre In The Square theatre in Kitchener-Waterloo. (Courtesy of NTD Television)

Also enjoying the show was Richelle Hunt-McPhail, who was accompanied by her friend Tom Hiller, who works at Waterloo-based Research In Motion.

Ms. Hunt-McPhail is an author, educator, and speaker, most known for authoring the book, Life After Jamie, the story of triumph in regaining her life after the death of her beloved husband.

Ms. Hunt-McPhail said that the show moved her and left her with deep thoughts.

“I found myself smiling, I found myself teary, it’s wonderful, and this is my first show.”

She added, “It’s wonderful. I’ve enjoyed every piece of the show.”

She said that some of her co-workers are Chinese, which made the performance even more special for her.

“I was so impressed … there’s just so much to China and Chinese culture,” she noted. “I’ve had [Chinese] colleagues and I love them to death but I’ve never thought about China in the same way. This is a wonderful night.”

She referred to the show as an evening of elegance and divinity.

“Every single part moved me in some way,” Ms. Hunt-McPhail said. “The beauty of the country, the beauty of the dance, the elegance.”

She thought the dance set, Sand Monk Is Blessed, was particularly fun and insightful, as it touched upon the evolution of Chinese culture. It’s a comical piece about a monk’s adventures on a pilgrimage to seek Buddhist scriptures, based on the beloved Chinese classic Journey to the West.

In the end, Shen Yun left her with “big thoughts [about] reincarnation, and the luck of being human, and hope, and beauty,” she said.

Baritone Enjoys All the Music of Shen Yun

Baritone singer and actor Tim Clarke praised the musical direction of Shen Yun after seeing the show Friday, Jan. 11, at the Centre In The Square theatre. (Photo courtesy of The Epoch Times)

Tim Clarke, an actor and singer in musical theater, was totally delighted with the world renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts show at Centre In The Square.

“I really enjoyed it. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” said Mr. Clarke, who has performed in such iconic musicals as Les Misérables and Oliver! with Triple Threat Theatre in southern Ontario.

Mr. Clarke especially praised soprano Geng Haolan, but was quick to note that he “enjoyed all the singers.”

“[She] was fantastic,” he said, adding that her voice was “very resonant, extremely resonant—I could hear her voice vibrating in my ear.”

Mr. Clarke thought the orchestra was “beautiful,” saying that he “liked the combination of Chinese instruments and brass and violin, the strings.”

“I really enjoyed all the music. The percussion was also excellent,” he said, adding that he very much liked the sound of the erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument with only two strings that has been called the “Chinese violin.”

Overall, “I think the musical direction was excellent. It sounded great, and I appreciate that it’s all played live,” Mr. Clarke said.

With a background in singing, acting, and dancing, Mr. Clarke is very familiar with the production of theatrical and musical performances that combine acting, dance, music, and the technical elements of entertainment.

That is, in part, why he especially liked the dance set, Sand Monk Is Blessed.

“I really enjoyed the sea ogre,” he said, referring to the character who was redeemed in the story and became known thereafter as the Sand Monk.

He also mentioned another favorite dance set of his, An Early Spring, in which graceful dancers twirl colorful handkerchiefs evoking the annual change of seasons.

“I really liked An Early Spring, as soon as they started twirling their handkerchiefs. It was just thrilling to watch the handkerchiefs fly,” he said.

He concluded, “I think it’s fantastic that they put together a brand new show every year.”

Chinese Immigrants Admire and Praise Shen Yun’s Exquisite Performance

After watching Shen Yun with her husband, Jenny was very excited, “I don’t think there is any other performance anywhere in the world that is on the same level as Shen Yun. Every program thrilled me from deep inside, like every cell in my body was excited by it.

“My body and mind were immersed in God’s grace. I could feel that gods and Buddhas were protecting me. I couldn’t hold back my tears.”

Ms. Wang, who is from Dalian City, Liaoning Province, said that she and her daughter drove from Milton to see the performance.

She exclaimed, “It’s a full house today! Although this show represents traditional Chinese culture, it is so popular in the Western society. We Chinese can’t miss it.

“Chinese people nowadays lack spiritual beliefs; they do not believe in God. Through art, dance, music, and singing, Shen Yun brings China’s divinely inspired culture back to life. That is of great significance, very outstanding.”

Ms. Wang continued, “The older generations in China have a strong belief in gods and Buddhas because it is deeply rooted in their culture. I also believe that gods must exist and Shen Yun absolutely convinced me of that.

“Without a Creator, where would everything, including us humans and the universe, come from? Shen Yun got me thinking where people come from and where they will eventually return to.”

Ms. Wang especially identified with the lyrics in one of the songs sung by a soprano, “Atheism is a lie and evolution is a sham.”

“This is so true!” exclaimed Ms. Wang, “Look at China today. The degeneration of morality comes from the emptiness of spiritual belief. For dozens of years, the Chinese Communist Party has ruined the essence of authentic Chinese culture. It brainwashes the Chinese people with atheism, lies to them, and then presents itself as the ultimate authority. It manipulates people’s minds and fools the people. It’s just evil!”

Mr. Wang, a student from China, has watched Shen Yun for three years in a row. It’s a way for him and his girlfriend to celebrate the New Year in the United States.

He said that although he is Chinese, his understanding of traditional Chinese culture is very limited. To him, watching Shen Yun is like attending a history class, because it enables him to know more about Chinese traditional values and his cultural heritage.

Mr. Wang found every program “amazing,” saying it “demonstrated China’s history, divine stories, and legends.”

He said that he is familiar with the stories in Shen Yun and felt very close to the characters on stage.

“Shen Yun is an arts feast that has greatly contributed to the promotion and revival of traditional Chinese culture.”

Mr. Wang concluded, “I respect the artists’ enthusiasm, professionalism, and their goal of reviving the Chinese traditional arts. I thank them very much!”

Sources:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/mp-returns-to-shen-yun-for-sights-sounds-and-happy-endings-334931.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/shen-yuns-traditional-instruments-sound-delicious-says-flamenco-guitarist-334845.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/author-speaker-left-with-big-thoughts-from-shen-yun-335194.html
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/shen-yun-on-tour/baritone-enjoys-all-the-music-of-shen-yun-335208.html
http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2013/1/15/267843.html

CATEGORY: Shen Yun Performing Arts

Fushun City Police Ransack Practitioners’ Homes, Confiscate Their Personal Belongings and Extort Money from Them

January 19, 2013 | By Wuxing, a Minghui correspondent in Liaoning Province, China

(Minghui.org) Peng Yue from the first division of the Fushun City Police Department ordered officers from the local criminal police team and police stations to arrest more than a dozen practitioners in Xinbin County on April 15, 2012. They ransacked their homes and confiscated their personal belongings.

Officers from the Fushun and Xinbin County Domestic Security Divisions arrested Mr. Zhao Jiwei and Ms. Hu Shaolie at their home at around 7 a.m. and ransacked it. They confiscated 10,000 yuan in cash and a digital camera worth over 3,000 yuan. They also took Mr. Zhao’s car. When Mr. Zhao’s family went to the first division of the Fushun Police Department to ask for Mr. Zhao’s car back, they were forced to pay 400 yuan for a so-called parking fee before the car would be returned to them. When they asked the police where the other belongings were, they were told that they did not know.

Ms. Shang Liping was also arrested while she was visiting Mr. Zhao Jiwei. The police then forced her to lead them to her home, where they confiscated her Dafa books, three laptops, six cell phones and other personal belongings.

Over ten officers from Fushun Domestic Security Division arrested Mr. Mu Guodong and Ms. Yu Haiyan at around 6 a.m.. Their home was ransacked and the police confiscated their computer, a cell phone, 8,000 yuan in cash and a bank savings book with a ledger of 30,000 yuan.

More than 20 officers from Fushun Police Department broke into Ms. Zhao Shuqing’s home at around 7 a.m.. They held Ms. Zhao Shuqing’s daughter hostage and ransacked the home. They confiscated 6,800 yuan in cash, two laptops, a printer, ink and paper, truth clarification materials and other personal belongings. They also took Ms. Zhao Shuqin’s daughter’s car. When Ms. Zhao’s family went to the first division of the Fushun Police Department to ask for the car back, they were forced to pay 7,000 yuan before the car would be returned.

The director of Xinfu District Police Department, with the surname Jin, and another 6 to 7 officers from Xinbin Town Police Station burst into Ms. Tong Yanbing’s shop at 6 a.m.. They then searched her house without showing any legal documents. They confiscated four cell phones, four bank credit cards, a digital camera, computer and other personal belongings.

Ms. Chi Xiuhua, 44, from Xinbin County was arrested at her home by officers from the Fushun and Xinbin County Domestic Security Divisions on the morning of April 15. Her home was ransacked. Her Dafa books, a computer, two laptops, DVD player, four printers, approximately 8,000 yuan in cash and other personal items were confiscated.

Mr. Sun Haifeng from Xinbin County was arrested at around 7 a.m.. His Dafa books, truth clarification materials, DVDs and other items were confiscated. The police then put a black cloth over his head and took him away.

Around 8 plainclothes police arrested Ms. Huang Yaguang at around 7 a.m., while she and her husband were on their way to the grave of Ms. Huang’s mother-in-law in Yonglingjiahe Village. The police covered Ms. Huang’s head with a black cloth, then pushed her into a car and drove her back to Xinbin County. They then ransacked Ms. Huang’s home and confiscated her Dafa books, a picture of the founder of Falun Gong, truth clarification DVDs and other personal belongings. Ms. Huang was held at Fushun Nangou Detention Center and was later sentenced to one year in the Masanjia Forced Labor Camp in Liaoning Province.

Wang Xu from Jianshe Police Station in Wanghua District, Fushun, led over 10 officers to the home of Ms. Zhang Deyan at around 6:30 a.m.. They burst in to her home and ransacked it. They took photographs and videoed her property before they confiscated her Dafa books, a computer, DVD player, several cell phones, a picture of the founder of Falun Gong and other items.

Chinese version available

CATEGORY: Accounts of Persecution

One Year Later, after Mass Arrests in Harbin City

January 20, 2013 | By a Minghui correspondent from Heilongjiang Province, China

(Minghui.org) During the last two months of 2011, a great number of Falun Gong practitioners were arrested in Harbin City. The large-scale arrest of Falun Gong practitioners has resulted in tremendous losses for their families. One year has now passed. Friends and relatives of these practitioners miss them and continue to worry about their safety.

The Large-scale Arrests

On December 31, 2011, at about 5 a.m., under the command of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the Harbin Municipal Public Security Bureau, District Public Security Bureau, and local police departments launched a massive arrest of Falun Gong practitioners who were “on the list.” The arrest was premeditated by the CCP, and it was called the “Year-end Action.”

Without showing any identification, police officers from the above authorities used a multi-master key to open practitioners’ doors and start arresting them. Practitioners who were arrested included: Qi Yaru, Zhang Baoquan, Guo Yulan, Zhang Shengguo, Hou Yinghua, Li Xiubai, Xiao Chunyan, He Jianmin, Li Wenchun, Liu Shumei, Xiao Yang, Xiao Kun, Zhao Xidong, Zeng Shuling, Niu Jiahui, Liu Yanbo, Hao Lianqin, Wang Chuanxi, Liu Jingzhou, Wang Meifang, Gong Wenyi, Li Xiuhong, Liu Qingsheng, Li Xuejun, Xu Haibo, Wu Yi, Li Chunguang, Cai Ning, Cao Shuzhen, Song Guanghua, Xiao Xiao, Ding Xiaomei, Wang Yanwen, Xiang Guilan, Kang Min, Diao Junhua, and Xiao Yunfang.

During the period before and after the large-scale arrest, many other practitioners were also arrested, including: Liu Bocai, Zhang Qingsheng, Yang Xiuying, Liu Wanjun, Wang Yan, Jia Liqing, Yu Huazhi, Wang Hui, Ju Zhiyuan, Xiang Xiaoyan, Liu Shouxin, Guo Shuhui, Tian Qingling, Hua Fengxia, Zhang Dongmei, Liu Jianmin, Wang Xinyu, Mao Weijun, and others.

The Persecution Continues; Many Practitioners Were Either Sent to Labor Camps or Sentenced to Prison

After the arrests, practitioners were subjected to severe persecution for their steadfast faith in Falun Gong, and their lives were seriously endangered. Regardless of age or health condition, the police didn’t spare anyone, and they sent practitioners to labor camps or prisons where they were subjected to continuous persecution.

1. 40-year-old practitioner Ms. Zeng Shuling was abducted by the National Security Brigade and detained in the Yaziquan Detention Center. As a result of the persecution she suffered, she couldn’t eat anything, and her blood pressure became so abnormal that it was undetectable by the sphygmomanometer. Even under such conditions, she was sent to serve two years in the Qianjin Labor Camp.

2. 56-year-old practitioner Ms. Guo Yulan’s blood pressure reached 240 mmHg, and her life was seriously endangered. Despite her condition, she was ruthlessly tried and sentenced by the Court of Xiangfang.

3. 60-year-old Mr. Gong Wenyi appeared to have heart disease after he was arrested. The police attempted to put him in a labor camp five times, but because of his serious condition, the labor camp refused to take him.

4. 79-year-old Mr. Li Wenchun was arrested by Wang Dianbin, a police officer from the Public Security Bureau of Xiangfang, and sent to the Yaziquan Detention Center where he was held for 18 days. He was later tried and sentenced by the court.

5. Practitioner Ms. Yu Huazhi’s blood pressure reached 200 mmHg due to the persecution. She also suffered from heart disease, and became blind. She couldn’t take care of herself, and needed someone to carry her to the trial.

Practitioners that we know of who have been sent to forced labor include: Zeng Shuling, Liu Yan, Tian Qingling, Liu Yanbo, Xiang Guilan, Liu Jingzhou, Wu Yi, Xu Haibo, Niu Jiahui, and Liu Jianmin.

Practitioners who have been sentenced to prison include: Zhang Baoquan (4 years), Guo Yulan (3.5 years), Qi Yaru (4 years), Xiao Kun (7 years), Xiao Yang (7 years), Zhang Shengguo (9 years), Hou Yinghua (9 years), Zhao Xidong (4 years), Li Wenchun (5 years), Hao Lianqin (7 years), Wang Zhuyun (8 years), Ju Zhiyuan (3 years), Li Xiuhong (3 years), Jia Liqing (8 years), Yu Huazhi (4 years), Liu Qingsheng, Xiang Xiaoyan and Li Xuejun.

Abused and Tortured in Detention

While detained in the prison or labor camp, practitioners underwent torture from the police, resulting in tremendous physical and mental suffering:

1. Ms. Zeng Shuling was forced to write the so-called “Three Letters” (to renounce Falun Gong), shocked with electrical batons, and drenched in cold water by Wang Min, captain of the first battalion in the Qianjin Prison Camp, and Wang Fang, a prisoner team-leader. As a result, Ms. Zeng began vomiting blood. Just when she started to recover her health, she was forced to do slave labor, even though she couldn’t handle it. After she was transferred to the Second Battalion, she was forced to sit on a small bench all day long (for not being able to perform any work.)

2. Ms. Tian Qingling became paralyzed in her lower limbs just a few months after she was sent to the Qianjin Labor Camp. Ms. Tian couldn’t walk and had to be carried by someone from the cell when her family came to visit her. In July, Ms. Tian had surgery to remove a tumor. At present, she is still being held in the labor camp.

3. Ms. Wang Hui became mentally disoriented after she was detained in the Qianjin Labor Camp for three months. She couldn’t take care of herself, and didn’t know how to take a shower or use the bathroom. She urinated on the floor of her cell, and didn’t know how to change her sanitary pad. Often, she kept staring at one place for a long period of time. She didn’t eat or sleep much. She was emaciated and looked like a bag of bones. The police thought she was pretending to be insane. Police officer Fu Min hit her with a police baton. Prisoner team-leader Wang Fang slapped her mouth and punched her. Wang Xiaowei, captain of the prison, always made things more difficult for Ms. Wang Hui, forcing her to perform slave labor, cursing at her, and pushing her around. Under such pressure, Ms. Wang Hui’s condition worsened. One day, she screamed, “I practice Falun Gong, and I am a good person. Why do good people have to suffer so much?”

4. Liu Jingzhou was hung up and shocked with electric batons by Shi Jian and other police officers from the Suihua Labor Camp. As a result, Liu Jingzhou’s lip and face were swollen, and one hand couldn’t function normally.

5. Ms. Qi Yaru was detained in the Women’s Prison of Heilongjiang. Along with other practitioners, she was deprived of sleep, and suffered from abuse, insults, and beatings. The police tried to force practitioners to “transform” and give up their belief. They didn’t allow practitioners’ families to visit them for three months. At present, Ms. Qi can’t keep her back straight when she walks, and needs someone to hold her up.

6. Ms. Li Xuejun, 68, was sentenced to the Women’s Prison of Heilongjiang. Because of poor health, she was held on the 8^th Floor of the Prison Administration Center Hospital. She lost consciousness and was in a coma due to the persecution. At present, she is still being detained in the hospital.

Practitioners Remain Uncompromising in Their Faith

Falun Gong practitioners have lost their normal livelihoods just because they believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. They have been arrested and persecuted by the police, and experienced life and death situations. Yet, they remain uncompromising in their faith, because they have obtained truly meaningful lives through cultivating in the Buddha Fa.

1. Mr. Zhao Xidong used to work in the Russian-language Editing Center of the Heilongjiang Television Station. He served as a translator, editor, reporter, host, photographer, and dubbing expert. He was well known for his wit. Before practicing Falun Gong, he often pondered the question, “What is the end to pursuing material things?” He couldn’t find the answer. Feeling lost and frustrated, he became addicted to alcohol. Although his wife tried to persuade him to quit drinking, he never listened to her. Their relationship was very tense. His wife threatened to divorce him many times. However, after Mr. Zhao started practicing Falun Gong, he took fame and money lightly, and was always willing to help others. For example, he used to clean the hallway and other public places at his residential area. He also quit drinking altogether. Because of this, he attained unprecedented peace of mind and harmony within his family.

2. Ms. Hao Lianqin was disease-stricken and hospitalized when she was young. She couldn’t take care of herself at all. After she began practicing Falun Gong, she underwent a complete change. Not only did all her illnesses disappear, but also her personality improved drastically. She has become a happier person and always puts others before herself. She was always willing to help her colleagues, friends and relatives whenever they needed her. She took care of all her household chores and her husband. Because of this, her husband always had a smile on his face. Ms. Hao’s mother-in-law was so delighted to have her as her daughter-in-law. During holidays or weekends, Ms. Hao would go to visit her mother-in-law and cook her delicious food. It would have been impossible for her to do all this before she took up cultivation practice in Falun Gong. Ms. Hao’s mother-in-law has always told people, “Whoever says that Falun Gong is not good, I don’t believe them, because my daughter-in-law is a Falun Gong practitioner.”

3. Ms. Qi Yaru had very poor health when she was young. She had red spots all over her legs which caused her a lot of pain. She was very weak and bed-ridden for years. Even the hospital didn’t know what kind of disease she had. Later, she was infected with a serious case of Hepatitis B, and couldn’t work. She spent a lot of money on medicine and hospital treatment. After she began practicing Falun Gong, all her diseases disappeared. Not only did she become a healthy person, but she was also open-minded and kind. She had an elderly father-in-law who was deaf and blind and couldn’t take care of himself. Ms. Qi was always patiently helping him.

Sentient Beings Are Gradually Awakening

During this wicked persecution, on one side, while showing steadfastness in their faith, Falun Gong practitioners continue to expose the evil and clarify the facts to save sentient beings, despite difficult circumstances. On the other side, the CCP has attempted to destroy a righteous faith, and the means they resort to are extremely vicious and brutal. Through this persecution, the world sees who is really good and who is evil. Falun Gong practitioners’ family members have changed their attitudes from fear and misunderstanding to resistance of the persecution. Many are now openly supporting their loved ones by airing their grievances.

1. Since the CCP started persecuting Falun Gong in July 1999, Mr. Zhang Baoquan has been arrested five times and suffered both physically and mentally. The CCP has extorted 40,000 yuan from his family, and inflicted great harm to them. At present, faced with the arrest of her husband, Mr. Zhang’s wife has repeatedly gone to the police station and the Public Security Bureau to demand his release. Without any fear, she boldly told the police the benefits of practicing Falun Gong, the changes her husband has undergone as a practitioner, and how Falun Gong has brought her family happiness and blessings.

2. After Ms. Jia was arrested and detained in the Yazi Detention Center, her family has repeatedly requested to see her, but their requests were denied. Ms. Jia’s younger brother and husband decided to hire a lawyer to defend Ms. Jia. With much difficulty, they have gone from one legal firm to another to seek assistance, but were told that no legal firms in Harbin City were allowed to represent Falun Gong practitioners (as mandated by the CCP). Nevertheless, they didn’t give up. Finally, they hired a lawyer from Beijing to defend Ms. Jia.

3. Because Ms. Xiang Xiaoyan practices Falun Gong, she was arrested. Her husband, who also works with her in the same company, faces a lot of pressures from the company leadership. Because of this, his work environment has also undergone some changes, but he doesn’t care. He knows that he can’t abandon his wife. He goes to the detention center to see his wife every week, brings her things, and comforts her.

Although many Falun Gong practitioners have experienced severe persecution, most of their relatives and friends have hired lawyers to defend them. During the trials, faced with the prosecutors’ false charges, the lawyers maintain that Falun Gong practitioners are innocent, based on the constitution. As a result, the judges and prosecutors are speechless, and forced to call for a dismissal. They also try to obstruct the lawyers from defending practitioners. Every defense is an act of justice that frightens the evil and wakes up the world’s people. As a non-practitioner who viewed one of these trials once said, “Even if Falun Gong practitioners are sentenced, everyone knows it is against one’s conscience.”

Another year has gone by. How much do people know about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners? Those who follow the CCP will have to pay back their blood debts. Although Falun Gong practitioners have suffered numerous tribulations, more and more people are awakening and becoming more aware of the truth. And that is just what Falun Gong practitioners are sincerely looking forward to seeing.

Chinese version available

CATEGORY: Accounts of Persecution

Without Falun Dafa My Life Would Never Be So Blessed

January 20, 2013 | By a practitioner in China

(Minghui.org) Shortly after I began cultivating Falun Dafa in June 1995, all of my illnesses disappeared. In addition, my boss consistently praised me for always considering others first and not fighting with others for personal gain.

Then, the unthinkable happened. My mentally-retarded son fully recovered! He is now a completely normal child. Thank you Master! Without Falun Dafa, my life would never be so blessed!

One day in 1995, I noticed the book, Zhuan Falun at my colleague’s house. When I picked it up and flipped through it, I came across Master’s picture. As I gazed at Master’s face, I felt for certain that I had known him before.

I left after asking my colleague to lend me the book. When I arrived home, I opened up the book and started reading. I suddenly felt a strong energy field around me, as if an electric current was passing through my hands and arms. When Master mentioned that his goal was to save sentient beings, I realized that I, too, have always wanted to help save human beings.

After reading more of the book, I decided that I wanted to become a better person and one day return to my true home! When I finished Zhuan Falun, I noticed that all of the symptoms of a nasty cold that I had were gone. Shortly after, I was surprised to find that my cervical spondylosis, chronic nervous headache, arthritis, gynaopathy, and heart disease, had all disappeared as well.

Before I started practicing Falun Dafa, I was too weak to even take a stroll around my neighborhood. I now walk very quickly, and many of my friends can hardly keep up with me!

At my work unit, I conducted myself according to the Fa, and always volunteered to do the dirtiest and hardest jobs. My boss was very impressed with me and often said aloud, “If every employee became a Falun Dafa practitioner like her, I would have nothing to worry about! If everyone voluntarily did the things that they were supposed to do, our whole society would improve!”

Once, while biking home at night, I was hit by a fast moving motorcycle. Although the impact caused my bicycle to spin almost 90 degree clockwise, with me still sitting on the seat, I nonetheless was able to ride my bicycle home! I knew that Master had saved my life!

When my mentally-retarded child was three years old, he had an IQ score of 23 and could neither walk nor speak. Even our neighbors were very concerned for him, saying, “How is he going to cope in society when he grows up?” Our entire family felt that the situation was hopeless and we all worried for him. A short time after I began practicing Dafa, he started getting better and better, and really liked listening to Dafa music. Gradually, his eyes turned bright, and he was able to speak a few words here and there. He can now understand what we talk about and has even given us some good advice. Today, he can run as fast as a normal child.

We know of a twenty-year-old boy who exhibited the same mental condition as our child, however he has never even partially recovered. He has been looked after by his family since he was very young, which has greatly burdened everyone around him.

It is really true that when a person practices Falun Gong, the entire family benefits! I recall one time when my boy fell down a full flight of stairs, yet, he was perfectly fine.

I hope that people wake up and stop believing the Chinese Communist Party’s slander and lies about Falun Dafa. This practice is very scientific, and anyone who believes from their heart that “Falun Dafa is good” and “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,” will enjoy a bright future!

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CATEGORY: Health benefits