Please understand the truth about Falun Gong and the brutal persecution of Falun Gong in China. Please do not believe the Chinese Communist Party's lies. Falun Dafa is Good. Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) teaches 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance', it teaches us to be a GOOD person, and it makes us HEALTHY.
And it is embraced in over 100 nations!
请了解法轮功和中共残酷迫害法轮功的真相。法轮大法（法轮功）好，114个国家都热爱她，请不要被中共的谎言欺骗。（http://falundafa.org）
Every morning on the Promenade beach in Pondicherry, India, an ethereal music plays along with the natural music of waves crashing on the shore. As the sun rises, turning the dark sea into surreal and shimmering golden hues, a middle-aged woman daily sits meditating.
Six years ago while randomly strolling on the beach one morning, Venus Upadhayaya, a media professional and a fellow of National School of Leadership, joined her in meditation, and soon it became an integral part of her life.
Pondicherry beach is unparalleled in its beauty and serenity, and everyone who visits its shore experiences this. There are many in Pondicherry who come looking for the meaning of life as the place itself is very ancient and houses old schools of spiritual enhancement and cultivation (yoga or sadhana).
Venus recalls that she arrived in Pondicherry for working on a community media project. Since her home was not far away from the beach, she could come to the beach every morning for jogging.
One day, Venus saw a woman meditating and was attracted by her. She waited for around 30 minutes but she didn’t get up—her eyes were closed and her face looked calm and indrawn.
“I planned to come again and talk to her. The next day I again saw her meditating but I kept waiting. Finally, I talked to her and decided to join her and start meditating with her next day morning,” Venus told NTD.tv.
“Since then I have never stopped practicing Falun Dafa, an ancient system for cultivating body and mind that I got introduced to through her.”
Venus shares that Falun Dafa introduced her to living her life with Truthfulness, Tolerance, and Compassion.
“This is easier said than done. We generally don’t like to hear truth, we like to hear what pleases us and truth is not always easy,” she says. “Our general tendency is to escape from accepting it and we thus keep holding others and outer circumstances responsible for our life.”
Venus shares: “But Falun Dafa taught me to look within and be compassionate to others. I didn’t find this easy. But by practicing it I became more capable of empathizing with others. I learned to appreciate those who sacrifice their personal comforts for the good of others.
“I realized it’s easy to dream about doing good things in life but it’s difficult to achieve them because any good endeavor requires one to sacrifice a lot of one’s personal notions and comforts.
“To work without the desire to reward, to help others without seeking appreciation, to compassionately understand others when faced with criticism and ridicule is what I slowly started to practice because of Falun Dafa,” she adds.
Venus is a journalist and a community media worker, and she has been traveling around various states in India since many years. She shares how she eventually realized that practicing compassion had actually helped her become more sincere and sensitive to her profession.
“Professionalism is about developing effective work relationships. And relationships are about sensitive conduct and positive attitude,” she says.
“It’s not that I don’t make mistakes. I do. But when faced with them I have become capable of accepting them and taking responsibility for them rather than blaming others and expecting things from others.
“In a way my daily practice of Falun Dafa has made me a humbler and a simpler human being. I aspire to become better as a person with each passing day and now I have a path!” she says.
Venus Upadhayaya can be contacted at venusupadhayaya@gmail.com
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) is a self-improvement meditation system based on the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. It was introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in 1992 in China. It is currently practiced by over 100 million people in 114 countries. But this peaceful meditation system is being brutally persecuted in China since 1999. For more info, please visit: www.FalunDafa.org and www.FalunInfo.org.
This is the story of Pham Duc Duy, 29, and his recovery from a life of drug addiction and misery.
“What I want most is to be able to help other young people who are suffering from addictions that have no way out, like I once was.” (Courtesy of Pham Duc Duy)
I was the spoiled only child of a hardworking family in Ha Long City in Vietnam. From a young age, I did not pay attention at school and ignored my studies. I was a disobedient child and my parents had to chase after me day and night to make me behave. They tried all kinds of methods, from sweet talk to scolding and even beatings. My mother shed many tears at night, and I could tell my father’s heart was broken, but back then I didn’t care.
My drug addiction started with the light stuff at first, but quickly escalated to heavy drugs. By grade 10, I was already addicted to heroin. It was around then that I started hanging out with criminal gangs and dropped out of school.
I began using crack cocaine, a white solid powder that can be smoked. When I was on crack, it put me in a state of paranoia, and I could go days without eating. When the effect wore off, I felt devastated and exhausted.
I don’t know how much money I was spending on drugs in those days, but it was a lot.
“I began to focus more on the exercises, and gradually I started to eat and sleep better. My health improved quickly and remarkably, and I was no longer always tired. I even started to regain weight.” (Courtesy of Pham Duc Duy)
I borrowed from relatives and neighbors, and when I was older I pawned valuables to get money, such as my motorcycle and items stolen from my parents. My family always came up with the money to pay back the lender, though it was a struggle. My parents owned a cafe, working hard day and night. My mother got up early in the morning every day to prepare the store, working herself to the bone. Raising a drug-addict son meant that my parents couldn’t afford to take even a day off.
That all happened before my eyes, but I never gave it a second thought. The old me—that filthy guy with broad shoulders and a constant scowl—was happy to burn through money that his mother earned through blood and sweat. I only realized this when I looked back after finding my way out.
The Dead End
My inner demons emerged whenever I ran out of money and could not get drugs. Thoughts of robbery and pickpocketing crossed my mind many times, even though I never followed through. Fortunately, I never physically or verbally abused my parents to force them to give me money.
People may think addicts are dead inside and turn into cold-blooded killers when they crave drugs. But in reality, drug addicts, like I once was, are miserable. This is because they can see no way out but only the sad reality that their life is a dead end.
“Within a very short time, I no longer needed to take any medication. For over a year now, I have been healthy, and I have even gained 15 kilograms. This was beyond my or my families’ dreams.” (Courtesy of Pham Duc Duy)
My parents devoted themselves to saving their only child, but none of their methods were successful in helping me quit my addiction. Then, with a glimmer of hope that raising a family may put me back on a straight path, my parents had me married.
Yet I continued my ways even after I became the father of a beautiful little girl. It is heartbreaking to think of the number of times I hurt my wife and daughter.
After having tearfully begged me to change my ways countless times, my wife finally gave up hope and left me. She went back to live with her parents, taking our daughter with her.
My parents were overwhelmed with distress over our broken family. But even then, I did not have the will to change. I was so hooked on crack that I couldn’t feel my family’s pain. My days were spent getting high and hallucinating.
By then, years of drug abuse had taken its toll on my body. My skin was yellow, my eyes were sunken and hollow, and I was frail and sick. I suffered from insomnia and hepatitis B and C, and could not even taste food. I needed to spend large sums of money on medication that had to be shipped from Hanoi. Completely exhausted and desperate, I began to lose hope in life.
Then, that all changed when I found my way back.
The Path Back
It was a meditation practice that helped me regain control of my life. The practice not only healed my illnesses but also changed my whole family’s destiny.
“The more I read ‘Zhuan Falun,’ the more fascinated I was.” (Courtesy of Pham Duc Duy)
My friend Toan, a former drug addict who had suffered from kidney disease and depression, told me about a book called “Zhuan Falun” that explains the principles of Falun Gong, a meditation and qigong discipline from China.
His wife was practicing the Falun Gong exercises and introduced it to Toan. They started to practice together and it gradually helped Toan quit drugs, cure his illnesses, and steer him toward goodness.
Toan became a completely different person as a result. He was no longer the yellow-skinned, emaciated drug addict who injected heroin all day. Remarkably, he turned into a rosy-cheeked, smiling healthy man. And he seemed peaceful and stable—a far cry from the twitchy, paranoid addict I had known for years.
Toan’s wife deeply understood the suffering and pain of drug addicts and their families. She also knew from experience that Falun Gong could help people address their problems fundamentally. Without hesitation, she walked a long distance in the cold every day in the early morning to pick me up to go to the practice site.
I was lazy at first because my body was very weak, but seeing her waiting for me patiently outside while it was still dark was very touching. I tried hard to overcome all obstacles so that I could go to the practice site on time. I saw that Falun Gong practitioners are truly good; they selflessly think of others first.
The more I read “Zhuan Falun,” the more fascinated I was. The book teaches people that true happiness comes from thinking of others and following the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. It gave me perspective on my actions, and I deeply regretted that I had committed so many sins and hurt so many people. For the first time, my heart was moved and filled with sadness when I recalled how my mother labored so hard every day. And it was unbearable to recall the anguish and grief on my father’s weathered face.
By reading the book, I understood why it’s necessary to be a good person, and that selfishness is the root cause of suffering in life. I felt I was awakened from a long sleep, and I promised myself I would change. I didn’t want to go on living the same as before, and I didn’t want to hurt or disappoint anyone ever again.
After I started reading and practicing the Falun Gong exercises regularly, I felt my body being cleaned out. In the first week I began the practice, I had blood in my stool, sometimes blood clots and sometimes fresh blood. Strangely, I had no pain in my abdomen, nor did I experience any abnormal feelings. I was nervous, but I came to understand that I was just ejecting all the filthy things from my body. The symptoms went away naturally soon after.
I began to focus more on the exercises, and gradually I started to eat and sleep better. My health improved quickly and remarkably, and I was no longer always tired. I even started to regain weight.
I often felt tired when I began doing the exercises, but I found that if I persevered, then I would feel very comfortable and refreshed every time I finished. My skin became bright and pinkish.
Within a very short time, I no longer needed to take any medication. For over a year now, I have been healthy, and I have even gained 15 kilograms. This was beyond my or my family’s dreams.
I became well enough to help my family with chores, and I began helping my mother with physical work—something that I never thought would be possible. Seeing the change in me, my mother said, “This cultivation way [Falun Gong] is very good, my son has truly changed.”
I apologized to my in-laws and my wife and asked them to give me another chance. My wife saw the tremendous change in me and agreed to return. I was very thankful for her forgiveness; our family was together again, happy and warm.
Regaining Hope
“It was a meditation practice that helped me regain control of my life.” (Courtesy of Pham Duc Duy)
As a practitioner of Falun Gong, I do my best to apply the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance whenever I come across conflicts. This has created harmony in my family and a stable environment for my daughter.
I am always striving to improve my character and become a better person, and this has brought great happiness to my parents and the whole family. I have regained hope and belief in life’s potential.
Before I started practicing Falun Gong, my addictions were like glue sticking to my life and penetrating my mind. Even when I was very sick and bedridden, I still had to at least smoke, as I could not go on without it. The more bored I was, the more attached I was to my addictions. It was not until I began practicing Falun Gong that I was able to successfully let go of my bad habits and addiction to drugs.
I began to wake up. I knew my destructive attachments had to be removed, and I came to better understand the relationship between cause and effect. In the past, I had tried to quit a few times but failed each time. I needed many other drugs while abstaining from crack, but still my efforts were in vain. But as I read the book more, I started to feel stronger and lighter, and no longer craved crack. With a new perspective, I was able to transcend the ordeal.
I was surprised by how easily I was able to recover from addiction, and my tears poured down in gratitude. At first, even though I had quit heroin, I still smoked cigarettes. After reading “Zhuan Falun” a second time, I decided to stop smoking completely. From then on, I was no longer dependent on any substance.
“What I want most is to be able to help other young people who are suffering from addictions that have no way out, like I once was.” (Courtesy of Pham Duc Duy)
I have also elevated my moral character. For example, customers regularly make payment mistakes at my parents’ store and give me too much money. Or they might forget their cellphones, including expensive models like the iPhone. In the past, I would have taken the money or kept the phone for myself. Now, as soon as I realize the money error or find the phone they left behind, I call them and return what rightfully belongs to them.
In the past, if my mother wasn’t looking, I would even take extra money from the till. But now, I understand this is wrong, because Falun Gong practitioners should be good people anytime and anywhere—even if no one is watching.
What I want most is to be able to help other young people who are suffering from addictions and have no way out, like I once was. I know that there are many young people who have fallen like I did and are helpless, with no hope. When I see them, it truly breaks my heart. I know how much pain they are in, and I just hope they can be fortunate and have a new life like me.
More than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners subject to detention, harassment in China this year
Hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners march in Washington, D.C. to call for an end to the persecution of practitioners in China, on July 20, 2017. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)
Yang Guanren, a regional president for a major corporation headquartered in Beijing, was on a business trip. While on a cab from Guangzhou City to Shenzhen City on May 15, 2017, Yang talked to the driver about the ongoing persecution of the Falun Gong spiritual practice in China.
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient self-improvement that involves meditation and living according to the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. The practice’s benefits to physical and mental health led to its widespread popularity, with more than 70 million adherents in China by 1999, according to a state survey. Practitioners say their numbers reached more than 100 million.
The Chinese regime perceived Falun Gong’s presence as a threat to its authoritarian rule and began a campaign to eradicate the practice in July 1999. The official press office for Falun Gong, the Falun Dafa Information Center, estimates that millions of Falun Gong adherents have been arrested and detained since the persecution started, often enduring torture and abuse while imprisoned. The regime also launched mass propaganda campaigns in an effort to turn public opinion against Falun Gong practitioners.
Yang is the latest victim of the persecution.
After hearing Yang talk, the driver proceeded to drive to the local Yuehai Police Station, and ratted Yang out to police as a Falun Gong practitioner. The authorities arrested Yang.
Yang Guanren. (Courtesy of Minghui.org)
Yang’s family was notified by police that he will be released 30 days later upon paying bail. But when the 30th day arrived and Yang’s family went to the Nanshan District Detention Center where Yang was being held, the center refused to release him or grant the family a visit.
When the family sought an explanation from the police station, officers refused to see them. One officer threatened that they would be arrested if they went to the police station again.
The family has hired an attorney to assist them, but has been unable to secure Yang’s release, despite appealing to the local Procuratorate office, according to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that tracks the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
Yang’s family also told the website that domestic security forces went to Yang’s hometown and ransacked his parents’ home, both of whom are over 80 years old. Yang’s mother was in such great distress that she was bedridden for many days, the family said.
The persecution still continues to affect thousands of practitioners across China. From January to June 2017, at least 3,659 Falun Gong practitioners have been taken away by authorities and detained, while 7,209 have been subject to authorities’ harassment, according to Minghui.org’s latest estimates. Because of the tight control on information in China, these estimates may be much lower than the actual numbers.
Detention and harassment happened across the country, with reports from 30 provinces, autonomous regions, and centrally governed municipalities.
The detentions were concentrated in four provinces, with Shandong, Liaoning, Hebei, and Jilin with the highest number of detained practitioners.
Shandong, Liaoning, and Sichuan provinces saw the most practitioners harassed by authorities. In addition, at least 1,174 practitioners have had their homes ransacked. The total amount of cash and assets taken away by authorities amount to more than 1.9 million yuan (about US$288,000).
The Ministry of Public Security, the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and the extralegal 610 Office—created in 1999 as a Gestapo-like body to specifically target Falun Gong practitioners—remain the primary authorities tasked with carrying out the persecution.
