A Western Practitioner's Letter to A Church

April 4, 2001

Dear Kind People of the Church,

I am writing today in hopes of appealing to your kind hearts, and the hearts of all your congregation. It is my wish that you would support practitioners of Falun Gong, who are enduring unlawful persecution for their belief.

I am a practitioner of Falun Gong in Victoria. Please allow me to share my experience. When I discovered Falun Gong by accident, and I tried the exercises, and I was amazed. I found the movements simple and peaceful, but the practice was actually quite difficult to do, because it at once demanded that I work on my heart. When I began to read Zhuan Falun, Falun Gong's most essential and complete teaching, I felt that I had truly discovered something very precious. I found that the level of this teaching has provided understanding to life's most elusive questions, and the boundless inner meaning continues to reveal itself to me as I continue to practice. The main thing that I have learned is how to be a good person. To put down bad things, like jealousy, anger, competition, personal gain, and lust. I work hard to improve my heart, with Truth-Compassion-Tolerance as my guide and teacher. My own beautiful and innocent nature and personality is quickly emerging out the pain, grief, and confusion that was characteristic of my life before learning this teaching. Close to 100 million people have also experienced similar inner peace. It is only my intention to share a little bit about what Falun Dafa is, so that you can come to understand better.

Falun Dafa was only introduced by Teacher, Li Hongzhi, in 1992, and since then it has spread from a small town in northeastern China to over 40 countries around the world largely through word of mouth, and heart to heart. I believe that the widely documented benefits in way of physical and mental health, as well as happiness and well being, can begin to attest to Falun Dafa's validity. As well, our teacher promotes morality, and goodness, without any deviation. Mr. Li Hongzhi, has never asked for any money from us, nor does he pursue personal fame or self interest. Neither is Falun Dafa considered a religion, as we observe no membership, ritual, or worship. Our teacher is truly benevolent. He offers us a way that we can follow to improve our hearts and minds, in a society that is already encountering tremendous difficulties in all areas of life.

Actually many religious people have come to practice Falun Gong, finding a deeper understanding within Zhuan Falun that enhances one's belief. The principles of Truth-Compassion-Tolerance are consistent with any upright and orthodox teaching, and represent truly good values that all of humanity should cherish. This is the boundless, and all encompassing truth of the universe.

The persecution of Falun Gong, and the principles of Truth-Compassion-Tolerance in China, is an inexpressibly extreme injustice. Breaking all laws of civil human conduct, the government of Jiang Zemin and his associates, have corrupted and employed all levels of society, in order to carry out their evil will. Even elementary school children are forced to sign a petition slandering Falun Gong, and supporting the persecution, or face expulsion from school. This campaign gives no regard to women, even pregnant mothers and children. It doesn't spare the elderly, and in fact has destroyed many families. Many Falun Gong practitioners have been forced from their homes to avoid imprisonment. Each day practitioners risk their lives to distribute flyers, or raise banners declaring Falun Dafa's innocence, thereby revealing the truth to the Chinese populace, who are otherwise subject to the control of state propaganda, which exclusively runs fabricated stories that attempt to defame our practice. Here in the west, practitioners have calmly and rationally clarified these baseless charges to the world's media, as well as individuals and groups, by simply clarifying the truth.

Throughout the continuing severity of torture in labor camps, "re-education" prisons, mental hospitals, and surveillance abuse, practitioners of Falun Gong have remained consistent to the principles of our belief, exhibiting great Tolerance and Compassion. While refusing to cooperate willingly with such unjust treatment, practitioners have never resorted to violence. Instead practitioners appeal to the hearts of those around them. They continue to practice while in detention, enduring unimaginable tortures, and oftentimes transforming the hearts of criminals and prison guards with their calmly radiating faith and determination. They ask those who torture them to stop doing bad things, and appeal for everyone's kindhearted support in helping to bring this persecution to an end. Numerous government officials, civic leaders, organizations, and individuals have extended both honors of recognition and support, as well as concern and condemnation, of China's inhumane treatment of Falun Gong in China. We must continue to take notice!

If Jiang Zemin did not launch his selfish and shameless campaign of suppression 19 months ago, practitioners would still be practicing peacefully in parks, and improving our hearts at work and home, thus clarifying our certain lack of political interest. Undeniably this is what we continue to do, but as well this situation has called us to step forward with peaceful appeals. Certainly, we cannot do nothing.

Presently in Geneva, the UN is holding a conference on Human Rights, and Falun Gong is there to continue clarifying the truth, and shut out the evil attempts by China's "500 member delegation" who want to further damage the integrity of humanity's moral standing. In the last two weeks they have used many underhanded tactics to interfere and disturb law- abiding practitioners in Geneva, while continuing to tout propaganda that openly displays their crimes before the world's delegations. The regime under Jiang Zemin's order in China, have already made fools of themselves worldwide with their irrational and obsessive nature, yet they are allowed to relentlessly continue to commit irrefutable crimes against humanity without strong international measures being taken to stop them.

Besides Falun Gong, Jiang Zemin's regime is persecuting other religious groups as well. We would like to see justice served on all these matters, therefore an important task undertaken by practitioiners is compilation of evidence of the countless crimes committed behind the closed- door policy of China's internal affairs, by using the Internet to post our stories. The evidence of their crimes prove that Jiang Zemin and his associates have little conscience, as they refrain from nothing. They are tearing at the fabric of virtue, and abusing the rights of all humankind!

Today I am writing not only to bring these things to your respected attention, but also in hope that you will present a petition during your meetings, and allow your group members the opportunity to support their fellow humanity, suffering in China. I truly believe that with each heart that offers their support in the way of goodness, regardless of form, the suffering lessons, and the path to freedom becomes clearer.

For more information about the practice of Falun Gong, please see www.falundafa.org

For more information about the persecution, please see www.faluninfo.net

Please feel free to phone me with any comments or questions. I would appreciate your response as well so that I can improve in the future.

Sincerely,