Interviewing new Falun Gong practitioners: What was it that told you, “Hey, this is good!?”

The practitioners in the Swedish city of Karlstad are relatively new ones. We were watching Mr. Li Hongzhi’s [founder of Falun Gong] lecture session on video when I came up with the idea of interviewing them.

How did you come to know Falun Gong and what was it that told you, “Hey, this is good !?” The following answers were given by the new practitioners:

”My first impression was that it was very serious. And the fact that it was free of charge. I had heard a little about it before. I must say that I was somewhat confused after reading the book for the first time. But after coming back home from the practice I felt very relaxed.”

”I just slipped in. One reason was that it was for free. And the energy. I could feel that finally I was on my way home.”

”Everything else was of an intellectual nature. Falun Gong was a complete entity – body and mind. I encountered Falun Gong at a health fair. They suggested that I try the exercises. It was cold and windy, but that disappeared whilst I was practicing. It took it to the core. And it was for free. It was a natural kind of energy. That the Chinese regime has banned it, I think depends on its mighty nature. Why else kill practitioners? You don’t kill for nothing. I have made many mistakes in my life, but now I have the strength to do it right. I feel complete.”

“When I read the book it was like I’ve known this earlier, it was already there.”

”My body… heart responded to it right away.”

“The regime is afraid of spirituality.”

“You just accept it. Simple, pure, somehow good. Obvious things you haven’t thought of.”

“What was in the book spoke to ME. Even if no one watches me, I know how to behave myself. It went straight to my heart; nobody needs to tell me what to do. For 55 years I have been searching – nothing. Now – in an instant.”

“Someone came to visit me, she said, ’I now practice Falun Gong. The next time you come along!’ I know choose my words more carefully. You think twice before doing something.”

“I had been practicing a couple of times before, it felt good, but there was a strong resistance at the same time. Later on, at a healing congress in Gothenburg that I visited, I was rather disappointed [with the congress], until four Falun Gong-practitioners entered. They demonstrated the exercises and everything became so beautiful. I felt something in my stomach and I was thinking, ‘This is what I am doing.”

Reported by a Swedish practitioner

02-24-2002