Wednesday, March 10th 2004
Ming Ten-Schwägerl Campaigns to End the Persecution of the Meditation Practice Falun Gong. Mounts a Photo Exhibition in Cham
The exhibition shows pictures of people in deep meditation, eyes closed and sitting in the lotus position. There are individuals, groups up to or over many hundreds, children, adults, Asians, Europeans or Americans, doing stretching exercises in the park. But we also see demonstration rallies, as well as harrowing torture pictures.
Millions of Believers
The exhibition is called, “Falun Gong – A Peaceful Way,” and is open until March 31st at Cham’s Adult Education Centre. Many pictures and supporting display texts explain the Chinese mediation practice that has many millions of believers worldwide. But one can also see pictures of the brutal persecution that people suffer in the country of its origin.
Ming Teng-Schwägerl, who is of Chinese decent, made Cham her home almost two years ago. She practises Falun Gong, which has been confirmed scientifically to have positive effects on health and inner harmony. This young woman is in charge of an exercise group that meets Sunday afternoons at VHS. Ming Teng-Schwägerl not only teaches others this method, but is also active in promoting the meditation practice as well as dispelling prejudices against it, as it often is mistakenly publicised as a sect or an esoteric movement. She is committed to exposing the brutal persecution that Falun Gong adherents have had to bear since 1999, when it was outlawed by the Chinese communist regime. She collects signatures, takes part in protests, and helps arrange exhibitions, just like the one she has brought to Cham.
She told us, “Since November last year alone, sixty-four Falun Gong practitioners have been tortured to death. These were all innocent people.” One of the reasons for the brutal persecution in the People’s Republic is the jealousy of the communist leader, as the meditation movement attracted many millions of believers in a short period of time, and grew to a number that exceeded the communist party membership.
The Chinese regime became rather uneasy, given the increasing popularity of this movement. They took severe action against practitioners and blocked all information about Falun Gong immediately.
Ming Teng-Schwägerl told us that she did not hear of Falun Gong in her homeland. She learned about the meditation movement and the truth about the persecution in Germany. Because the Chinese information blockade keeps many secrets from its own Chinese citizens, including the bloody Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, which caused worldwide consternation and protest, she did not learn of such events until ten years later during her first visit to Germany.
Ming Teng-Schwägerl wishes nothing more than to travel to China and to tell the truth to her countrymen/women. Unfortunately, she also understands deeply today’s realities and what dangers she would have to face if she were to travel to China.
What is Falun Gong?
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice of meditation and exercises that brings harmony and wisdom. This practice is of the Chinese Qigong School. Essential to the to the practice are the five exercises, four standing exercises and one seated meditation. Traditional Chinese medicine sees the body and mind as one entity, one integral being. Thus, inherent in this practice are profound teachings that transcend everyday gymnastics and that will bring the person towards living by the principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance.” The exercises are known to release blockages, restlessness and stress and thus cohesion of body and mind are re-established.
Falun Gong has spread in China since 1992. Qigong schools became a vital part of daily life for many Asians: Every morning at daybreak, hundreds of people of all ages and all societal levels met on plazas or in parks, to practise together. Also in the West, this form of collective practice has spread widely and Falun Gong is being practised worldwide in about sixty countries.
In the country of its origins, Falun Gong has been outlawed and its believers are systematically persecuted. Practitioners are arrested and tortured.
Other than the Chinese propaganda insinuates, Falun Gong is not a sect. This movement is neither tightly controlled, structured as an authoritarian system, nor hierarchical.
The photo exhibition “Falun Gong, a Peaceful Way,” will be open until March 31st. The street address is Pfaffer-Seidl-Street 1, Entrance 2. This exhibition will inform authoritatively about the meditation practice and at the same time opens a glimpse into a far eastern culture. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday's opening hours are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cham has also its own Falun Gong exercise group. They meet every Sunday between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the VHS Cham, Entrance 3, Mirror Room 2. Participation is free. Information available at (09971) 2008.
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