Despite the benefits the practice was bringing to the nation, in July 1999 the Chinese regime completely reversed its earlier position of support and initiated a brutal crackdown designed to crush Falun Gong. President Jiang Zemin simply feared that the phenomenal rise of the movement would become a threat to his power base; something the authorities guarded ruthlessly as demonstrated during the Tiananmen Square student massacre in 1989. On another level, the principles Falun Gong represented were everything that an aging totalitarian state was not. The unprecedented paranoia from the secular government led the regime to declare war on Falun Gong27.
During the first 30 days the official newspaper ‘The People' Daily’ alone published 347 articles defaming Falun Gong28. In Maoist-like fashion, citizens throughout the country were forced by their local governments and workplaces to watch propaganda programs that framed practitioners as suicidal or crazy murderers29. And the use of force has been shockingly brutal. Taken from their homes and workplaces or because of peaceful appeals in Tiananmen Square, over 100,000 practitioners have been jailed, detained or sent to mental institutions and labour camps. As of March 2002, human rights groups have documented 371 deaths in custody due to severe torture and abuse, while inside sources from the government estimate the real death toll at over 160030.
But their attempts to incite a nation’s hatred towards innocent millions, especially their own people who embody Truth-Compassion-Forbearance, have not come without consequences. Over the last 3 years, the true cost of this senseless war in terms of lost productivity and actual funds directed to the campaign could easily be in the order of hundreds of billions of dollars31. Hundreds of thousands of police and civil servants throughout the country have been assigned to monitoring, capturing and ‘re-educating’ practitioners. With the resources of the entire state at the Party’s disposal, foreign investors have now begun to reassess their business interests as they come to terms with just how self-destructive the persecution has become.
Zhen Shan Ren Prevails
The tragedy of the relentless persecution only tells part of the story however. Never before in China’s turbulent history have we seen millions of people react to this type of injustice using completely non-violent means. Specifically, this response based on principles rather than force is what the totalitarian regime fears the most. Any other form of resistance could be easily crushed but what completely disarms propaganda and the life force of state-run terrorism is, by definition, the Truth. With their resolve strengthened, practitioners see the validation of their teachings as perhaps the last hope China has of fulfilling its promise. Somehow they know that a China without Zhen, or Truth, is a nation full of lies… a China without Shan, or Compassion, is a nation full of selfishness…and a China without Ren, or Forbearance, is a nation full of hatred and vengeance.
No longer a “China issue”
Outside of the mainland, thousands of practitioners from over 50 countries are working tirelessly to call upon the international community to help stop the escalating tragedy. From sending millions of messages through the Internet, extended vigils to SOS! walks across the country, all possible avenues have been used to clarify the Truth regarding the evil persecution. The Falun Gong issue is no longer just a China one – the practice has become a worldwide movement that can only intensify as the persecution continues.
Significantly, and also for the first time in China’s history, approximately 100 foreigners from over 14 western countries risked their lives during the last few months by taking their peaceful appeal to China itself32. Though some were heavily beaten during their deportation, it was still a moral victory as the world’s media brought attention to their cause and the principles they selflessly defended. Of note, the demonstrators who were banned from re-entry into China were only banned for 5 years. Perhaps this is a sign that even the officials know that the persecution cannot last indefinitely. Desperate for international recognition, the public relations fiasco of dealing with mass demonstrations by foreigners during the 2008 Beijing Olympics could prove too daunting even for the Chinese government33.
But the problems the authorities face may be more immediate than the Olympics. They know only too well that in Taiwan alone there are approximately 100,000 practitioners who could complicate matters unimaginably if they decided to go the mainland to appeal. This is especially so given the Taiwanese government’s very vocal support of Falun Gong. For the time being however, practitioners have decided against playing out such a scenario probably for fear of erupting the “Dangerous Straits” of Taiwan. If the persecution were to last much longer though, the situation could be very different. Still, there is little doubt that the persecution has become an important factor in the reunification process of Taiwan with China.34
So without any appreciation for the inner strength of a spiritual movement, the decision to crack down on Falun Gong is beginning to backfire on the atheist regime. For the first time since the beginning of the persecution, the information blockade within China was finally broken in a significant way. Through worldwide efforts, on the 5th March 2002, 8 channels on Changchun’s cable TV network began broadcasting Falun Gong truth-clarifying programs – the incident was broadcast to hundreds of thousands of viewers and sent shockwaves throughout the country. As the perpetrators are beginning to fear, in today’s interconnected world of instant communication, how can the lies and atrocities go unexposed?
If history is any indication, then the act of persecuting a genuine spiritual practice only serves to spread its influence, and at the same time undermines the persecutors' legitimacy. Communist regimes have come and gone over the last century but spiritual movements like Falun Gong tend to live on for Ages. At some point, the more enlightened leaders of China will realize they have everything to lose by opposing this spiritual practice and everything to gain from supporting it. When this happens, the voices of dissent from within the Party should mark the beginning of the end to the violent suppression. From there, the rise of Falun Gong will not only be inevitable but far stronger than ever before.
The Age Of Wisdom
Ever since September 11th, we have often heard that the world has changed forever. The fear now is of biological or nuclear strikes by rogue terrorists. For the first time, in this century we are reminded of the truth that while technological advances have created much wealth and prosperity, this same technology could result in disaster for humanity. Perhaps, then, the most powerful technology we should be exploring is the language and practices that instill peace in our societies.
History has shown us that when righteous principles meet persecution…Principle will prevail. For how can we destroy principles or the laws of nature? After the Truth is revealed and the persecution ceases, a whole nation of 1.3 billion people will embrace a new story - a story of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance that will guide and provide inspiration for generations to come. Similar to the way Europe entered its Renaissance; the overwhelming forces of technological and spiritual change will also eventually liberate China. Ultimately, a new way of life will be celebrated, ushering in The Age of Wisdom.
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REFERENCES
1. The World Economic Forum, based in Geneva, Switzerland, is an independent organization committed to improving the state of the world. Funded by the contributions of 1,000 of the world' foremost corporations, the Forum acts in the spirit of entrepreneurship in the global public interest to further economic growth and social progress. See: www.weforum.org
2. Overholt, W.H. (1993) CHINA: The Next Economic Superpower. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. However, in recent times, the truth behind China’s economic "miracle" is gradually revealed -
THE STRAIGHT TIMES (March 1, 2002) GDP GROWTH China may lower "false" estimates http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/money/story/0,1870,105467,00.html
3. China Brief Volume 1, Issue 8 (October 25, 2001) China’s Critical Moment by Gordon Chang
http://china.jamestown.org/pubs/view/cwe_001_008_003.htm Also by Chang: his book Coming Collapse of China 2001
4. Produce include rice, wheat, corn and cotton amongst others…IHT INSIGHT (December 18, 2001) As China Rises, Some Ask: Will It Stumble? by Thomas Crampton.
5. CIA 2001 World Fact book: China http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html#Intro
6. Far Eastern Economic Review (June 21, 2001) CHINA People' Republic Of Cheats By Bruce Gilley
7. China Brief Volume 1, Issue 8 (October 25, 2001) What if Chang is right? by June Teufel Dreyer
http://china.jamestown.org/pubs/view/cwe_001_008_001.htm
8. Far Eastern Economic Review (January 31, 2002) China' Bankers: Rotten to the Top by Bruce Gilley
www.feer.com/articles/2002/0201_31/p030china.html
9. The Wall Street Journal (January 14, 2002) Foreign Investment Not a Panacea in China by Karby Leggett
10. China Brief Volume 2, Issue 3 (January 31, 2002) The Collapse of China Act 1 by Gordon Chang
11. Pro-Life E-News (September 3, 2001) A Fight For China' Miracle Baby By Calum Macleod http://www.lifeissues.net/life/news/010910-16.html
12. Li, H. (2000). Zhuan Falun. New York: Universe Publishing Company. Zhuan Falun is Falun Gong’s main text. This can book can be freely downloaded along with other works by Mr. Li Hongzhi at www.falundafa.org
13. For a comprehensive list of awards and recognition please see http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/scandinavia/01/30/nobel.nominations/ and
http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/special_column/recognition.html
14. http://www.learner.org/exhibitis/renaissance
15. http://www.clearwisdom.net/eng/report/award_china.html
16. China Union Medical University (October 23, 1998) Falun Gong Health Effect Survey of Ten-thousand Cases in Beijing by Lin Dan et al
17. US News World Report (February 22, 1999) An opiate of the masses? Millions of Chinese embrace a mystical exercise movement by Bay Fang
18. Economic theory of "Abundance" (wealth creation through technological advances) made famous by authors such as Paul Zane Pilzer, Adjunct Professor of New York University, author of Unlimited Wealth: The Theory and Practice of Economic Alchemy(1991 Crown Pub). Mr. Li Hongzhi also mentions specifically how while the introduction of new technologies have raised living standards, declining morals have brought about social decay – see ‘clear and clean mind’ p 358 Ch9 Zhuan Falun
19. Edward de Bono is one of the leading experts on creativity. A prolific writer (holds a number of Ph.Ds including one from Cambridge) some of his books include Six thinking hats, I am Right you are Wrong – From this to the New Renaissance: from Rock Logic to Water Logic, Serious Creativity, Lateral Thinking for Management. Brian David Josephson, a Nobel Laureates in Physics and a professor at Cambridge is also an advocate of meditation as a means of realizing the hidden potential of the mind.
20. See Mind Intent, (p345 – 354 Ch9) from Zhuan Falun by Mr. Li Hongzhi
21. Recommended reading include Leadership and the New Science: learning about organization from an orderly universe by Margaret J. Wheatley (San Francisco: Berret-Koehler 1992) and The Fifth Discipline The art & practice of the Learning Organisation by Peter M. Senge (UK: Century Business 1992)
22. Davidson, J.D., Rees-Mogg, W. (1997) The Sovereign Individual: The coming economic Revolution. How to survive and prosper in it. New York: Simon & Schuster. This book describes the far-reaching impact of technological change, predicting a new revolution which will liberate individuals at the expense of the 20th century nation state.
23 Dryden, G., Vos, J. (1999) The Learning Revolution Torrance: The Learning Web. This book sold 9 million copies in under 9 months in China. Tells the story of the learning revolution that is needed to match the revolution in communications and technology. One of the most comprehensive overviews of learning and education discoveries available. See also Rose, C., Nicholl, M.J. (1997) Accelerated Learning for the 21st Century New York: Dell
24. As the calendar years read 1998 and 1999, the Nasdaq soared to unheard of figures: 3000, 4000, and eventually, with an 88 percent expansion over just six months, 5132 on March 10, 2000. That' when the bubble burst…today, Mar 2002 it is around 1800, or a 65% drop in under 2 years.
25. www.newfieldaus.com.au ‘Language in Action’ Workshops & Observing Differently Newsletter issue no.14 The invisible and Deep Technology That Drives Organisations by Alan Sieler.
26. See Wealth with Virtue (January 27 1995) from Essentials for Further Advancement by Mr. Li Hongzhi
27. For an in depth discussion of why the Communist Party chose to persecute Falun Gong, please see http://www.faluninfo.net/devstories/why/index.asp Danny Schechter has also written a book on Falun Gong and its conflict with the government called Falun Gong’s Challenge to China (New York: Akashic Books, 2000).
28. FGM TV (September 2001) Peaceful Journey of Falun Dafa http://fgmtv.net/dafa.htm
29. The real story behind the alleged "self immolation" incident is discussed in detail here: http://www.clearwisdom.ca/eng/weekly_category/immolation.html
30. For a comprehensive overview of the persecution of Falun Gong please see: http://www.faluninfo.net/ (Also includes a video analyzing the ‘self immolation’ incident)
31. The Persecution of Falun Gong Brings Huge Financial Loss to China by Longyan http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/2/21/19088.html Over a 3 year period, lost healthcare savings could be anywhere between $US 6-20 billion depending on assumptions. The cost of employing hundreds of thousands of people, the continued propaganda costs are also in the billions of dollars. But the lost productivity of 100+ million people directly and indirectly affected by the persecution is where the biggest losses are estimated to lie. With a GDP of 4 trillion US a year, even a small loss in productivity translates to hundreds of billions of dollars over a 3 year period.
32. The first incident occurred in November 2001 where 36 western practitioners from 14 countries took their appeal to China. They unfolded a golden banner with the words Truth Compassion Forbearance and sat in their distinctive meditation pose. Since then, another 70 or so foreigners have ventured to China to bring their peaceful appeal to the people of China. For more information: http://www.faluninfo.net/DisplayAnArticle.asp?ID=5308
33. UK Parliament held a seminar on February 27, 2002 to discuss the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Lord Moyne’s speech best summaries the predicament the government faces if the persecution is still occurring by the time the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games comes around. http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/3/4/19452.html
34. If it wasn’t for the direct intervention by Mr. Li Hongzhi himself, the Dangerous Straits of Taiwan could well have erupted. For more information http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/2/24/19181.html. Also, the Taiwanese president has been very supportive – saying one of the first things he would say to President Jiang is why he is in fact persecuting Falun Gong given that in Taiwan, they are model citizens. One could even say that if China embraces Falun Gong, the process of reunification would occur much quicker and without the prospect of violence.
Source: Full article can be found at http://www.pureinsight.org/sci/sci/eng/newscontent.asp?ID=14376
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