Saturday, August 25, 2018

Lucky Brit woman lives 4 decades with kidney from mom, but in China, it’s a different story

The Brit woman was fortunate that her over 100-year-old transplanted kidney is “still going strong.” But sadly, in China, innocent citizens are being killed for their organs to fuel its multi-billion dollar organ transplant industry.
Sue Westhead’s transplanted organ was said to be the world’s oldest.
Westhead, 70, of Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, a worker with the Nazareth Trust Christian charity group, was diagnosed with kidney disease in 1973 when she was 25.
Fortunately, she was given a new lease of life after receiving a successful kidney transplant at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary in the same year.
©Facebook | The Kidney Foundation of Canada La Fondation canadienne du rein
The kidney was donated by her mother, Ann Metcalfe, then 57.
Miraculously, Westhead’s transplanted kidney from her mom—now over 100-year-old—lasts more than four decades, and it’s “still going strong,” BBC reported.
It has defied medical odds and astounded doctors as “the average life-span of a transplanted kidney is twelve years for a deceased donor kidney, and about 15 years for a living related transplant,” National Kidney Federation states.
©Facebook | Clinic “Trust” Barnaul (Доверие)
“I am absolutely stunned and amazed – I only expected my kidney to last about five years,” said Westhead, according to The Herald.
“My mom literally gave me life because I wouldn’t have lived much longer – I could hardly walk, I was a different color, I was yellow and all of a sudden I had a rosy glow.”
©Epoch Times | Omid Ghoreishi
Westhead was lucky to be given the gift of life, but sadly, in China, innocent citizens are being killed for their organs to fuel its lucrative organ transplant industry.
On June 30, 2016, Edmonton resident Jay Brauneisen spoke at a rally, calling for the release of his mother-in-law, Huixia Chen, who has been unlawfully detained in China for her belief in Falun Dafa, an ancient cultivation practice based on the values—Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance.
Flashback to Jul. 20, 1999, Jiang Zemin—former leader of the Chinese Communist Party—launched a brutal persecution to eradicate Falun Gong, out of his personal jealousy and fearing the 70 – 100 million Falun Gong adherents would pose a threat to his party’s authoritarian rule, even though the practice improves people’s health and uplifts their morality.
Since then, ten of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained in prisons, detention centers, mental hospitals, and labor camps without trial, facing inhumane torture and forced removal of organs.
Huixia Chen’s whereabouts was unknown, and her daughter, Hongyan Lu’s biggest concern was her “becoming a target of organ harvesting.”
Former Canadian Secretary of State David Kilgour and prominent Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas revealed that China is harvesting organs from involuntarily living prisoners of conscience—chiefly practitioners of Falun Gong, as well as a smaller number of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and House Christians—on a mass scale to sell for profit.
Kilgour and Matas, along with American investigative journalist and author Ethan Gutmann, released an updated report on forced organ harvesting in 2016, stating “the number of transplants carried out in China since 2000 is between 60,000 and 100,000 per year.”
“The latest update from David Kilgour, David Matas, and Ethan Gutmann reveals how much more brutal this practice is than we first thought,” Hongyan Lu told Epoch Times.
David Kilgour (L) with David Matas (C) and Ethan Gutmann, authors of “Bloody Harvest/The Slaughter: An Update.” (Simon Gross/Epoch Times)
Hongyan Lu, a Canadian citizen, has the freedom to speak up against the brutalities, however, many Chinese are deprived of such rights, such was the case for the husband of He Xiuling—a Falun Gong practitioner from Shandong Province, China.
As per Minghui.org, a clearinghouse for information about the persecution of Falun Gong, He Xiuling was illegally detained at the Nanjiao Detention Center in Yantai City, where she suffered severe torture. She died mysteriously around 7:00 a.m. on March 11, 2004, in the Yuhuangding Hospital, also known as Zhuangqu Hospital.
When He Xiuling’s husband saw her body at the morgue, he noticed a bandage wrapped around her lower back. The doctor said they performed a lumbar puncture on her, but strangely, she didn’t have problems with her lower back and chest.
©Illustration by Jens Almroth | Epoch Times
According to KidneyLink, the average waiting time for a kidney transplant is three to five years, depending on blood type.
Yet, a nurse at a hospital in Tianjin City, northeastern China, told reporters from South Korean cable network TV Chosun that “a matching organ can be found within weeks,” and “if the patient’s family is willing to donate additional money to the hospital’s charity, the waiting period can be sped up.”
The reporters went undercover to investigate organ harvesting. They traveled to the hospital under the pretense that they were asking about a transplant for a patient with kidney disease. Their interaction with the nurse was secretly filmed and aired in South Korea on Nov. 15, 2017, in a program called “Investigative Report 7.”
The Korean-speaking nurse at Tianjin First Central Hospital, shown in the documentary. (Screenshot via YouTube)
Is there a likelihood of a live organ bank with prisoners of conscience being killed on order for transplant surgery?
Clearly, something sinister is going on in China.

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WATCH Harvested alive -10 years investigation of Force Organ Harvesting

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Why Jiang Zemin and CCP Persecute Falun Gong?

[VIDEO] Why Jiang Zemin and CCP Persecute Falun Gong?

多少活人被中共当作死人处理

多少活人被中共当作死人处理(1)

【大纪元2018年08月12日讯】2005年10月25日,河南济源。一伙警察将原胜军的藏身之处团团包围,当场将其绑架,开车拉往火葬场。
2004年8月18日,湖南某地火葬场。雷井雄的“尸体”将要被火化时,他的身体轻微动了一下。一位女警说:“他还没有死,不能火化。”在场的几个男警察说:“人都这样子了,已经到了火葬场,烧掉算了。”
黑龙江省法轮功学员程学善的长子在《回忆我的父亲》一文中写道:“父亲躺在冰柜里,鼻子左侧皮肤破裂。我用右胳膊把父亲脑袋抱起来。刚抱起脑袋,父亲双眼慢慢睁开一半,又合上了。我们看到了。我说:爹没死,爹没死啊!”
原胜军、雷井雄、程学善,是三位大陆法轮功学员。明慧网报导,他们在活着时,就被拉往火葬场或殡仪馆。中共迫害法轮功19年来,多少活人被其当作死人处理?

原物资局局长在送火葬场路上被活活打死

2000年11月,原胜军作为一名修炼法轮功身心受益者,给江泽民写了一封公开信,讲述法轮功的真实情况。在此一年前,江泽民以法轮功传统价值原则与共产党意识形态不同、修炼人数超过共产党员等为理由,下令全面镇压。
原胜军,大学毕业,原河南景弘集团公司总经理助理、纪检书记、三分厂厂长、书记、济源市物资局局长。
1997年,原胜军开始修炼法轮功。修炼后,困扰多年的心脏病、高血压很快痊愈。他按照“真、善、忍”标准要求自己,待人善良有礼,工作兢兢业业,一身正气,不贪不腐。人们评价说:“像原胜军这样的干部现在太少见了。”
原胜军(明慧网)
但是,因这封给江泽民的公开信,原胜军被中共非法拘捕,诬判3年。期间遭受毒打、电击、洗脑等折磨。后被开除公职。
2005年10月7日,原胜军再次被非法判刑6年。10月25日,原胜军绝食反迫害数天后,趁警察不备,从济源市人民医院智慧走脱,逃到济源市承留镇南桃村一村民家,但被追捕的警察当场绑架。
警察还强迫南桃村干部,在原胜军活着的情况下,签字、证明其死亡;当场将原胜军拉往火葬场。途中,原胜军被警察活活打死。
知情人讲述,原胜军离世后两天眼睛未闭,嘴巴大张,一只手和胳膊及指甲是黑的,脸上伤痕累累,背上全部呈黑紫色,一条腿呈青紫色。
济源市当局(后来)下发文件,24小时内必须火化遗体;如原胜军家人不同意,就强行火化。当时,他们把原胜军遗体冷冻在殡仪馆,写的名字是:“无名氏”。

黑龙江省程学善被迫害致死

黑龙江同江市看守所。程学善被带上48斤重的铁镣和手铐,上下连着直不起腰,带此刑具58天。
佳木斯劳教所。程学善被关了7天禁闭。那个寒冷的冬天,他躺在冰冷的水泥地上,冻得没有知觉了;除了脸部,全身浮肿、溃烂,长满了脓血疥疮。劳教所不敢再留,2003年5月,程学善被释放回家。
程学善,男,黑龙江省同江市金川乡金川村居民,沂水师范学校毕业。1996年修炼法轮功。修炼前,常感叹人生苦累;修炼后,身心健康,家庭和睦。1999年中共迫害法轮功后,多次被非法关押,曾被佳木斯劳教所非法劳教1年。
程学善(明慧网)
2003年5月从佳木斯劳教所释放回家后,程学善通过炼功学法,身体很快恢复正常。法轮功以宇宙最高特性“真、善、忍”为原则,包括五套功法动作,祛病健身效果神奇。
2005年4月5日,程学善出门发放法轮功真相资料,再次被非法绑架;时隔仅7天,4月12日,被迫害致死 。
4月12日,程学善的妻子和长子接到死讯后赶往抚远。在太平间,程学善被放在冰柜里,只给露了上半身。
程学善的长子在《回忆我的父亲》一文中回忆了这段经历。他看到了父亲眼睛睁开了一半,又合上了,大叫父亲还活着,但是,“不到两分钟时间,我们就被拖开拉走了,不让看!我挣扎著不走,要陪父亲。四五个警察把我拖走。当时(再)要打开冰柜,检查身体都不可能。”

湖南雷井雄差点被火葬场活活烧死

2000年,湖南省嘉禾高考舞弊案震惊全中国。当时,只有一人堂堂正正应试,他正是青年法轮功学员雷井雄(又名雷兰)。
2000年,雷井雄入读长沙湖南师范大学,学校推荐了三名学生到北京中央美术学院,雷井雄便是其中一个。
但是,中共容不下这样的好学生。读大学返家期间,雷井雄被嘉禾“610”(中共专职迫害法轮功的非法组织)、公安绑架。在嘉禾县看守所迫害29天,并被勒索了一万多元人民币才释放。
雷井雄(明慧网)
2004年,雷井雄再次被湖南长沙天心公安分局绑架,遭酷刑几乎致死。送到火葬场时,发现尚有呼吸,被一尚有良知的女警拦下。
那位女警当时说:“人还未死,不能烧。将来追查责任,谁负责?”
于是,雷井雄被送到长沙市中心医院。在医院,雷井雄继续遭警察殴打,牙齿全部被打松,下巴骨打碎,一只眼睛被打得突出来,一只耳朵被打聋,整个脸被打得严重变形,上面贴著破烂的皮。
雷井雄的父亲对医生说:我的儿子是好人,他没有犯罪,你们要把他治好。这样医院才用铁夹子把雷井雄的脸固定了40多天。
母亲见他这样,伤心欲绝,号啕大哭。雷井雄安慰她,微笑说:不要哭,我这不是很好吗?
2009年6月28日,雷井雄前往亲属介绍的工作地点途中,在机场再次遭中共警察绑架。2010年,被非法判刑8年,关押在贵州都匀监狱。

正道沧桑 作恶者难逃法网

在贵州都匀监狱,雷井雄被迫害至生命垂危,后被“保外就医”释放。雷井雄的父亲雷沅俊,就儿子遭严刑逼供致严重残疾,一直坚持向中共各级部门申诉,要求国家赔偿,希望将迫害者绳之以法。
河南省济源市原胜军被迫害致死后,2015年7月7日,其母亲张玉平,向最高检察院邮寄诉状,控告迫害法轮功的元凶江泽民。
对黑龙江法轮功学员程学善超期关押一年并送佳木斯劳教所迫害的同江市政法委副书记、“610”头目张凤翔,现瘫痪在床,生活不能自理。同江市市委书记王毓华,一同参与迫害程学善;2003年,王送两名大法弟子去哈市劳教所,回途中遭遇车祸死亡。

多少活人被中共当作死人处理(2)

图左为江锡清(男),中为江锡清的妻子,右为王华君。(明慧网/大纪元合成)

【大纪元2018年08月15日讯】2001年4月,湖北省麻城白果镇金桥广场。躺在地上的王华君,被身上点着的火苗惊起。她的身体动了一下,挣扎着想起来……
2000年3月30日,江苏淮安第一人民医院。四五十名公安人员,突然涌入,对医院走廊、病房实施了戒严。正在探望张正刚的妻子和母亲,被叫出了病房。数名公安闯入病房,推开其他家属,劫持走尚有心跳和呼吸的张正刚,送往火葬场。
2009年1月28日,重庆某殡仪馆。江锡清的女婿辛尧斌被带进冷库。他摸了一下从冰柜里推出来的丈人的遗体,大吃一惊:“那时候身体都是热的,脉搏也在。”
王华君、江锡清、张正刚,是三位被中共迫害致死的法轮功学员。他们在活着时,或被点火烧死,或被直接送往火葬场、殡仪馆。中共迫害法轮功19年来,多少活人被其当作死人处理?

王华君被浇上汽油 活活烧死

王华君被烧死10年后,麻城市白果镇冯家山的一位七旬老人说出了10年来隐藏在心里的秘密。
明慧网2011年8月21日报导,这位老人回忆说,2001年4月的一天,他们几个村民去收王华君的遗体(王华君是冯家山人),发现王华君的脖子上有刀子捅的洞,衣服的前身被烧焦,背面的衣服都是好好的。周围都是警察和当官的。他们几个村民心中很害怕,不敢说话,一眼就能看出王华君是被害后仰面躺在地上被烧的,她绝对不是自焚的。
王华君被淋上汽油,活活烧死。(明慧网)
王华君,女,湖北省麻城白果镇居民、法轮功学员。
2001年4月18日早晨,王华君在麻城市区向人讲述法轮功无辜受迫害真相时,被警察绑架。法轮功是以“真、善、忍”为原则的佛家功法,但是被中共禁止。
当天,王华君被毒打至深夜11时左右,奄奄一息之际,被拖到市政府附近的金桥广场。
4月19日凌晨1时许,她被淋上汽油。被点燃时,备受酷刑折磨的王华君已无力气起身,当场被活活烧死……
事后,白果镇公安人员宣称,王华君自焚。
“北美法轮大法信息中心”发布的一份新闻稿中指出,白果镇公安人员事后宣称这是一起自焚事件,意图栽赃,与2001年的“天安门自焚事件”如出一辙。
2001年1月23日,大年三十,天安门广场发生震惊世界的5人“自焚”案。中共喉舌媒体第一时间报导此案,诬陷法轮功,但是漏洞百出。十几年来,此案一直被国际社会认为是中共制造的一场世纪骗局。
“法轮大法信息中心”表示,中央电视台自己的录影带在慢速播映时显示,死者刘春玲其实是被不明硬物击中的。

重庆江锡清尚有体温脉搏 被推入殡仪馆冷库

2009年1月28日晚10点左右,重庆某殡仪馆冷库。
江锡清被西山坪劳教所宣称“去世”7个多小时后,子女们发现:老人的人中、胸部、腹部、腿部还都是热的,惊呼道:“我爸没死,还是活的!”“快救救我爸爸,快救救我爸爸,我爸爸没死!”
家人想为老人做人工呼吸,被在场的劳教所警察等20多人强行拖出殡仪馆的冻库大门。
江锡清,66岁,重庆江津市地税局退休职工、法轮功学员。他修炼法轮功后,辛勤工作,关心他人,乐于助人,身体健康。2008年奥运前几天,他被劫持到重庆西山坪劳教所七大队。
重庆市66岁的江锡清(左)尚有体温和脉搏,被推入殡仪馆冰柜。(明慧网)
2009年1月27日(大年初二)下 午,家人去劳教所见他时,人还好好的。不到24小时,2009年1月28日,家人突然接到劳教所电话,声称人已去世。
1月29日,家人被直接带到殡仪馆。江锡清的女儿江莉当时看到父亲的表情很痛苦,牙齿紧紧地咬住下嘴唇。“我们摸一下父亲的身体,是热的,当时比我们的手温还高。”
健康的父亲,为什么在一天之内突然死亡?为什么还有体温就被送进冰柜?
尸检报告显示:江锡清身体左边三根肋骨折断,肋间有出血,急性肺瘀血、水肿……
当局还强行火化江锡清的遗体,强摘了他的器官。
在家人持续的追问下,重庆市检察院第一分院监所处副处长周柏林说:“ 现在遗体都火化了的,保存的是他的脏器,就是说我们把他的内脏作为标本保存下来了。”
当时,江莉的大姐江宏、哥哥江宏斌、小姐姐江蘋还有另外三位亲戚都在场。他们悄悄录下一段1小时59分钟的录音。

36岁工商银行职员被从医院病床拉往火葬场

张正刚,男,36岁,大专文化,淮安工商银行职员、法轮功学员,曾担任江苏淮安法轮功义务辅导站站长。
江苏淮安张正刚(后排左)在有呼吸、心跳时,被送往火葬场强行火化。(明慧网)
2000年3月2日,张正刚被绑架,关押在淮安看守所,遭毒打。
3月25日,遭毒打致头部重伤、处于昏迷状态的张正刚,被淮安公安部门送进淮安市第一人民医院急救。医生做开颅手术,取出了瘀血,手术后又进行了接氧挂水医治。
当天,张正刚的妻子张照云(谐音)赶到医院。一位医生给她看了一条浸满血的头部绷带。医生说,其丈夫已处于昏迷状态,但是因为他血压稳定,所以还有希望。
3月30日傍晚6点30分左右,医生做了心电图,张正刚心跳微弱,有呼吸。
这时,突然来了四五十个公安人员。
张妻被叫出与一个警察谈话。警察对她说,张正刚已死亡。她不同意,挣扎着要离开房间回到她丈夫病床边。警察拦住了她。
在张妻被叫走的同时,几名警察强令医生拔掉张正刚的氧气和挂水,并给张正刚注射了一针药物。然后数名警察一拥而上,将病床上的张正刚劫持,直接送往火葬场,强行火化。
遗体被强行火化后,公安命令,不准张正刚的亲戚朋友吊唁,不准送花圈,不准家人亲属上访上告。

善恶有报 正义终会来临

中共对法轮功的迫害持续19年至今。与此同时,参与迫害的各级官员纷纷厄运随行。现举数例:
占泽贵,原湖北麻城市政法委书记,麻城迫害法轮功的主犯之一。其任期内,发生“王华君被自焚”、“摩托车拖活人”等惨案。中共迫害最疯狂的时候,法轮功学员冒着生命危险,到他家讲真相劝善,但他一意孤行。占泽贵后来中风多年,卧床不起;老伴也中风偏瘫,坐轮椅。
张家国,原湖北麻城市委书记,在任期间多次亲自组织和指挥迫害法轮功。2001年,成为植物人;2008年2月12日死亡,终年53岁。
花原春(音),原江苏淮安楚州区公安局副局长,参与迫害法轮功学员张正刚一案。后被判刑。
辛立忠,原江苏淮安市宣传部长,因贪污受贿被判刑7年。
此外,重庆市检察院第一分院监所处副处长周柏林,证实法轮功学员江锡清被摘除器官的话,被江锡清家属录音。
这段近2个小时的录音,被江锡清的女儿江莉,带到了美国,作为调查父亲死因的证据保存。她表示,父亲的死因终会揭晓,冤情终会大白于天下。#
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观看: 殺了才能活(記者冒險到中國實地調查強摘器官)

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1305121921312100【九评之五】评江泽民与中共相互利用迫害法轮功

[VIDEO] 连环画音像片:评江泽民与中共相互利用迫害法轮功

Saturday, August 11, 2018

How I overcame chronic illness and miscarriage and found path to hope and confidence in life


My friend could not believe what she saw.
It was the summer of 2005. In less than four months, I had lost 12 pounds from what was already an underweight frame. I was so thin that I had stopped menstruating. I walked very slowly as I approached my friend, because I was very weak.
The dramatic weight loss was the result of following a strict diet that a chiropractor had prescribed after seeing that I was not able to digest fat and carbohydrates well.
That treatment was just one among numerous treatments I had sought out at the time, hoping to improve my health so that I could have a viable pregnancy.
Two years earlier, I had experienced a painful miscarriage that left my husband and me questioning whether we could even have children. I had been suffering from multiple health problems for several years and this pregnancy had finally given us some hope. But it was not meant to be.
With all of the sadness and frustration a tragedy like that brings, I looked for help from every source I could think of to restore my health and get pregnant again. I really wanted to be a mom.
I visited various doctors and other health care professionals and tried many alternative therapies, but none of them worked very well.
“Two years earlier I had experienced a painful miscarriage.”
As my health continued to decline on what amounted to a starvation diet with the chiropractor, my mood deteriorated and my dreams for children and good health appeared elusive.
The good news is that I managed to reclaim my health in that same year, owing to having run into my old friend that day.
When she saw me and my frail body, she teared up, as I reminded her of another of her friends who had eventually succumbed to cancer. We spent a few minutes catching up. After that chance meeting, I realized how ridiculous I had been, chasing after health and fulfillment and, in the process, putting my health at significant risk. I was doing just the opposite of what I had intended!
I was also reminded of a path I had been on shortly before my miscarriage, one that would have allowed me to genuinely care for myself had I not been so caught up in curing my health problems and getting a quick fix to have a happy life.
My health and well-being gradually improved after I rediscovered that path, and I have gotten steadily better ever since. I share my story here so that you can better understand my situation and how a traditional practice for improving one’s character helped me get back on my feet and has helped many other people as well.

Multiple Health Issues Since Childhood

The author (middle) with her older brother and sister when she was 3 years old, in 1972.
I had suffered from numerous physical problems since I was a child.
When I was 3 and a half, I came down with pneumonia and coughed so much that I pulled a muscle in my back. I remember getting sharp pains in my chest if I lay down too quickly on my back.
I would always try to lie down on my side first so I would not feel the pain. I remember saying to my mother when I was about 8 or 9, “Mom, I feel as if I’ve been shot.” She would look at me curiously and chuckle awkwardly.
No one at the time knew what to make of it. It was not until many years later that a doctor told me this was probably trapped gas. Looking back, I realize that I could never take in a full breath, which over time contributed to so many medical issues, such as fatigue and digestive problems.
At age 10, I was involved in a bike accident that resulted in temporary blindness and various cognitive problems.
The author at a birthday party with her mother, at age 10 in 1979.
Before the accident, I had been a very good speller and reader and was able to get good grades without putting in much effort. But after that incident, I went from getting straight A’s without having to work very hard to getting B’s and C’s and struggling. I had notable problems with concentration and memory.
This triggered in me a strong outbreak of resentment and jealousy of those who were not struggling as I was. Anytime one of my family members or peers did well at something and received praise and recognition, I would instantly be full of hate, feeling that I was falling behind everyone else. I felt completely trapped and hopeless.
The author (middle) at her high school graduation with her mother (left) and her older sisters, at age 18 in 1987.
When I was 21, I started suffering from severe headaches. Two years later, a neurologist discovered that I was born with a congenital brain condition and had two large cysts at the back of my brain. I had surgery to remove what they could of the cysts just before I turned 25.
My symptoms did not subside, however, but worsened. I not only was having constant headaches, digestive difficulties, and fatigue, but was also experiencing gynecological symptoms, thyroid issues, and diabetic symptoms.

Becoming a Psychologist

Despite my health issues, I made my best effort to pursue my career goal of becoming a psychologist.
Psychology seemed to be a natural career choice for me. As the youngest of three children, I often felt I did not have a voice, or at least a voice with as much strength and intelligence as that of my siblings. This experience of inferiority worsened with my father’s remarriage, which resulted in three more children, also all older than me, coming into our home.
Feeling unseen and unheard, I became very shy and quiet. I spent a lot of time observing others and longed for someone I could talk with who would not judge me but rather help me feel supported and encouraged.
I wanted to be that someone who could help others who were struggling, who could help them find their voice and tackle many of the challenges that I myself had to deal with in my own life.
The author obtained her doctoral degree in psychology in 2001, at age 32.
At college, I completed a combined undergraduate degree program in psychology and art studies, and upon graduation did various forms of counselling before accepting a position as a psychiatric technician at a local hospital in Philadelphia working with the elderly.
After two years in this position, I went to graduate school to obtain a doctorate degree in psychology. I finished in 2001, at age 32, and became a clinical psychologist.

Searching for Healing

Since many of the conventional medical treatments did not help me, during graduate school I tried a host of alternative therapies, including chiropractic, bio cranial therapy, nutrition therapy, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy and neurocranial restructuring. They seemed to help, but the effects were short-lived.
The author suffered from numerous health problems and tried many different treatments in hopes of finding relief.
When I returned to Philadelphia to complete my postdoctoral internship, I was introduced to a traditional Chinese spiritual practice for the mind and body called Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong. It would later change my life completely, but not until I started to truly understand its principles and realize that I would gain nothing by looking outside of myself to solve my problems.

Character Improvement Vs. Pursuit of Health

The person who introduced me to Falun Dafa, a resident in the Psychiatry program, told me that many people had experienced significant improvements in their health after taking up the practice, so I was immediately interested and wanted to know more.
I learned that Falun Dafa consists of moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance, which are explained in the primary text of the cultivation system Zhuan Falun, as well as gentle exercises that include four standing exercises and a sitting meditation.
The English version of Zhuan Falun (left), the main book of teachings of Falun Dafa, which has been translated into over 40 languages from its original version in Chinese (right).
Even though it is a spiritual path, Falun Dafa has no religious formalities like most religions in the Western world. Instead, in traditional Chinese terminology it is called a “cultivation practice,” which refers to the cultivation, or improvement, of one’s moral character on the path to spiritual enlightenment.
My fellow resident taught me the exercises and I was eager to learn. But my main motivation for starting the practice was to use it to cure my illnesses. I did not have a clear understanding of the principles, which emphasize improving one’s character by assimilating to truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. As a result, my health never improved.

Finding My Way Back

The author and her husband, John, were married in 2002.
I married in 2002 and a year later suffered the miscarriage I described earlier. In my depression and desperate wish to have a baby, I shifted my focus back to alternative health treatments and stopped practicing Falun Dafa altogether.
When I ran into that old friend that day I was so weak and feeble, I was reminded of the teachings of Falun Dafa and suddenly realized it was time for me to find my way back and truly become a genuine follower of this cultivation practice.
I let go of my desperation for relief and just did my best to abide by Falun Dafa’s principles of being a good person.
Every day I read Zhuan Falun and did the full two hours of the Falun Dafa exercises. I stopped taking the supplements the chiropractor had prescribed, which had not helped me anyway, and started eating whatever I wanted.
The author doing one of the Falun Dafa exercises.
I had two more sessions with the chiropractor. At the first session, he noticed my improvements right away and said I was becoming stronger and looked healthier. He exclaimed with great pride and enthusiasm, “The treatment is finally working!” At the second session, he remarked that he was amazed at my progress. It was then that I told him my recovery was due to practicing Falun Dafa and that I had in fact stopped taking the supplements and adhering to the strict diet.

Reclaiming My Health, Purifying My Heart

Many of my symptoms reduced dramatically after I started practicing Falun Dafa again, and I was able to manage them much better. I even gained some weight! Although I did not experience a full recovery, my overall health improved gradually and became more and more stable.
In particular, as my resentment and jealousy decreased, my physical symptoms improved. Falun Dafa was instrumental in helping me change my mindset and adjust my approach to taking care of my health.
I understand now that the way to better health and peace of mind comes from purifying one’s heart and mind, not looking outside for the answers. I know that by striving to uplift my own moral character, correct my thoughts, and be mindful of how I treat others, I will be able to eventually return to my true nature and reclaim my true self, which is truthful, compassionate and tolerant.
How could I have expected to feel well when I was so full of anger and resentment? I’ve learned to understand that our thoughts have a tremendous power to impact our motivation, our health, and our happiness. Falun Dafa’s principles taught me how to truly rise above all of the toxic thoughts and feelings that were sickening my physical body and weakening my spirit.

Helping Myself, Helping Others

I have been practicing Falun Dafa diligently for more than 15 years now, and I can say that it has truly changed my life for the better.
The author (left) and a friend enjoying the Asian American Heritage Month celebration in Philadelphia.
I run a private practice in Philadelphia, where I treat children and adults with a variety of conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma and adjustment disorders. In my patients, I see many of the same emotional trials and tribulations that used to keep me from living the life I wanted to live.
As Falun Dafa continues to brighten my life, it is helping me help others as a psychologist as well.
I encourage you to believe in yourself and trust that at the center of your being you have the answer, no matter what issue or difficulty you might be facing in your life. I also hope that you will have an opportunity to learn more about Falun Dafa and experience its benefits for yourself.
Jessica Russo is a clinical psychologist living in Philadelphia.
Editor’s Note:
Falun Dafa is a cultivation practice of mind and body that teaches truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance as a way to improve health and moral character and attain spiritual wisdom.
For more information about the practice, visit www.falundafa.org. All books, exercise music, resources, and instructions are available free of charge.

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WATCH: Joy and peacefulness revealing on these kids who practiced Falun Gong

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