Fri, 1 June 2001
Subject: A new Spiritual Movement
From: Hui Jiang <huijiang@yahoo.com>
To: san@beck.org
Dear Dr. Sanderson Beck,
I came by your website by chance. I am very amazed by the knowledge and the spirituality presented at your website in all broadness, depth, and social involvement aspects around the world.
As a Falun Gong practitioner, who has been benefited tremendously myself, I would also like to invite you to take a look at a new spiritual movement: Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa. It is an ancient Chinese cultivation system made public in May 1992 by Master Li Hongzhi in China. Its practice focuses on fulfilling the spirit of Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance in all aspects of life as well as physically practicing 5 sets of meditating exercises. Due to its simplicity and effectiveness in both physical and spiritual health, its popularity has reached 100 million in 40 countries worldwide in 9 years.
However, the popularity it gains also brings panic in an atheist government. After a peaceful group appeal in accordance with Chinese law by 10,000 practitioners requesting the release of 45 illegally arrested practitioners, the communist government prepared the ban. On July 20, 1999, Falun Gong practitioners were arrested across the nation. It was defined as a cult thereafter. In October 1999, anti-cult laws were set up and the practitioners arrested previously and thereafter were put in prison accordingly. Falun Gong is disallowed in its origin country.
Practitioners of Falun Gong continue to go to Beijing to appeal. They describe the disappearance of their illnesses after the practice. They describe their spiritual inspiration after they cultivate their belief. But they were arrested right at the appeal office, sometimes right after they introduced themselves as Falun Gong practitioners.
Practitioners of Falun Gong continue to go to Beijing. They appeal in the spirit of what they believe and what they whole-heartedly practice: Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance. Unable to be heard at the Appeal Office, they went to Tiananmen Square to declare their belief in the crowd. Some demonstrated the meditating exercises - just as they used to practice daily in parks across the country. Some unfolded banners with signs saying "Falun Dafa is good." They were arrested and put in custody within minutes.
Tactics were set up to prevent the in-flow of practitioners to Beijing. In cities, towns, and villages across the country, practitioners were being monitored, fined, and threatened. Police held tight transportation control. Arrested practitioners were heavily fined, beaten, injected with mental drugs, raped, and tortured. To this date (7/20/1999 - 5/22/2001) 209 practitioners have been tortured to death because of their belief. Over half of them died in the last 6 months - a sign of rising severity. The victims include men and women, a baby (8-month-old, who died with his mother, who also practices Falun Gong) and elders.
I wish for the coverage of Falun Gong at your website as well. It is a live example of Struggle under Persecution of a Growing Spiritual Movement.
The teaching of Falun Gong can be found at
and the related human rights news can be found at
All Falun Gong teaching and activities are free-of-charge, open-to-the public, and it accepts no donations.
Thank you very much for you attention. May God bless you!
Hui Jiang.