Falun Gong introduced itself in the [the town of] Kemi's Culture Centre on Saturday. Everyone who was interested could try the exercises of Falun Gong, which were practised slowly and peacefully in accordance with Chinese music. The exercises open and cleanse the body's energy channels. Ms. Ritva Heinonen, who tried the exercises, praised the practice and said it felt good. The powerful exercises even made her body sweat.
Practising Falun Gong together with her husband, Mrs. Anja Pekkarinen talked about the positive effects of the practice and also about the brutal persecution that practitioners in China have been suffering from.
"As a Falun Gong practitioner I cannot accept any kind of persecution. As we tour around Finland, we also tell people about other groups that are being persecuted," Anja Pekkarinen
Mr. Janne Rautiainen and Ms. Aila-Kaarina När from the City of Kemi and Anja Pekkarinen and her husband Veijo were at the culture centre in the town of Kemi on Saturday, telling people about Falun Gong, which is also known as Falun Dafa.
Anja and Veijo Pekkarinen got interested in Falun Dafa approximately 2 years ago, when Anja read from newspaper about youths who were practising the exercises of Falun Dafa in one park in the city of Oulu. She decided to go try the practice.
"Different changes occurred in me soon. I became more tolerant and different ailments started to heal. My husband also got interested in Falun Gong when he discovered its effects," tells Anja Pekkarinen.
Mr. Janne Rautiainen found information about Falun Gong from the Internet.
"I've always been interested in things related to the east and about a year ago I started to look for information about qigong. I then found out that in Falun Dafa there were many views that corresponded to my own views. I feel that with Falun Dafa my mental burden has removed. I feel better inwardly and material things feel less interesting," Janne Rautiainen says.
Physical Exercise and Cultivating the Mind
Falun Dafa is an ancient Chinese qigong practice, which has been founded by Mr. Li Hongzhi. He brought his practice to the public in 1992 and ever since it has attracted millions of practitioners worldwide.
Qigong is a cultivation practice of mind and body which is practised through different physical exercises and meditation. Everyone might have an image of Chinese people who practise qigong in parks on early morning. Falun Dafa is different from other qigong practices because as well as the physical exercises, it stresses the improvement of morality of a person in everyday life.
"We strive to live according to the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance," says Mrs. Anja Pekkarinen.
There is also related literature to Falun Dafa by the founder Li Hongzhi, like the books, Zhuan Falun and Falun Gong, which deepen the principles of Falun Dafa. People can first try the exercises without getting to know about the literature itself.
The Exercises Made Sweat Run
On Saturday, any people who were interested could come and try the exercises of Falun Dafa. There are five gentle exercises that purify and relax the body. These include different stretching, slow vertical movements and meditation. Surprisingly breathing techniques do not have any importance while practising the movements.
"The mind should be clear, and one should not think about anything," Anja Pekkarinen advises.
Ms. Irja Saloranta and Ms. Ritva Hentonen showed up to try the effect of the Falun Dafa exercises.
"The movements felt very nice. I don't know whether it the energy or what, but my feet became all wet while practising," Ms. Heinonen smiles
Mr. Veijo Pekkarinen affirms that sweating is normal, and also a feeling of becoming bigger is common. The music that is playing in the background helps concentration and it is better to perform the movements in a group.
Anja ja Veijo Pekkarinen has learned Falun Dafa by watching the videotapes. Also all the other material is very easily available from the internet and one can contact other practitioners of Falun Dafa in the internet too.
Practitioners of Falun Dafa want to emphasise that cultivation practice is not a religion or sect. Practitioners don't need to give up their personal life or freedom and all the activities are also free. Practitioners of Falun Dafa also don't worship the founder of the practice, Li Hongzhi, even though he is very well respected.
"We live just normal life and go to work. The most significant change is how we meet with other people. We consider other people and care for them. I cannot talk badly to anyone anymore, without apologising," Anja Pekkarinen comments.
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