1992-2002: The Introduction of Falun Dafa Leads to a Magnificent and Splendid Decade

by a Falun Gong Practitioner

May 13, 2002 is World Falun Dafa Day and also the tenth anniversary of the introduction of Falun Dafa to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi. Such a seemingly ordinary date has not only been quietly marked in history, but will, I believe, also become a significant day of celebration in the future.
In the endless flow of history, human lives are as fleeting as a flower's bloom. In the boundless firmament of the universe, human wisdom is as insignificant as a tiny mustard seed. How many wise sages have searched arduously, to find the everlasting, true meaning of life?

1. Falun Dafa is Introduced to the World

Ten years ago on May 13, 1992, during the height of the Qigong's nationwide popularity in China, Mr. Li Hongzhi held the first series of lectures on Falun Gong in the city of Changchun. He introduced to the public a set of beautiful and gentle exercises - Falun Gong. In his lectures, Mr. Li Hongzhi for the first time spelled out clearly that in order to really change for the better, practitioners must cultivate their minds and hearts. They must also upgrade their moral standard by following the principle of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance."

Because of its clear principles, easy-to-learn exercises, and the fact that it is good for both young and old, Falun Gong spread quickly and became enjoyed by many. China's Qigong Science and Research Institute acknowledged the principles, the practice, and the positive effect of Falun Gong, making it one of the schools directly affiliated with the Institute. It also offered help and support to promote the spreading and teaching of Falun Gong. Since then, more and more people have come to understand it's meaning and have found true purpose and better health in their lives.

Between May 1992 and July 1999 a lot happened. Mr. Li lectured to tens of thousands, and the main book, Zhuan Falun was issued by the China Broadcasting and TV Publishing House. In the auditorium of Beijing Public Security University a ceremony was held honouring the publication and since it was published, the demand for it continually exceeded the supply. In 1996, it was listed by Beijing Youth Daily as one of the ten most popular books in Beijing In March and May 1995, Mr. Li Hongzhi was invited to go to France and Sweden respectively to lecture on the practice. He also caused the people of the world to admire China's brilliant wisdom and civilization winning great international prestige for China. In the seven years from May 1992 to July 1999, Falun Gong, just by word of mouth, had spread throughout China and to 30 countries overseas, enjoyed by one hundred million people.

2. The Persecution

However, because of his hunger for power and dictatorship, Jiang Zemin acted wilfully. On July 21, 1998, the First Bureau of the Public Security Department issued regulations in violation of the Constitution. A "Notice to Investigate Falun Gong" was issued by the Department to "…find Falun Gong guilty first and then make the investigation." On June 10, 1999, the Central Government the 610 Office was set up to specialize in coordinating and implementing the persecution. July 20 of the same year saw the nationwide systematic and large-scale arrest of practitioners. In the afternoon of July 22, CCTV broadcast the decision made by the Civil Administration Department to ban the Falun Dafa Research Society. Further, the Public Security Department announced the "Six Prohibitions," and China Central Party Committee (CCPC) announced that Party members were not allowed to practice Falun Dafa. The brutality thus began in earnest, with the declared aim "to defame (Falun Gong) in reputation, to cut them off economically and to eradicate them physically."

According to incomplete statistics, within the past three years beginning on July 20, 1999, more than 410 practitioners have been verified tortured to death in over 30 provinces. However, according to the government's official internal statistics, the actual number of practitioners who died after arrest had reached 1,600 by the end of 2001.

In addition, there are at least 6,000 Falun Gong practitioners who have been illegally sentenced to prison. Over 100,000 practitioners have been sentenced to forced labour camps. Thousands of practitioners have been forcibly sent to psychiatric hospitals to be tortured with injections damaging to the central nervous system. Large groups of Falun Gong practitioners have been sent to local brainwashing classes, where they have been subjected to both physical and mental torture.

Large numbers of Falun Gong practitioners are beaten to death, injured, and their families broken up. They have to leave home and go from place to place because of the persecution. Millions of Falun Gong practitioners' families, relatives, friends and colleagues are also arbitrarily implicated and brainwashed to varying degrees.

3. Peaceful Protest

Just as the Falun Gong practitioners solemnly announced at the beginning of the persecution, this wicked persecution was destined to fail, during the last three years, instead of being suppressed and destroyed, Falun Gong has spread further, faster and gained more support around the world with its consistent peacefulness and rationality.

In the midst of tribulations, "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" is shining ever more brilliantly.

Source
http://clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2002/5/17/22178.html

Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2002/5/13/30107.html