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The Courier: County residents get familiar with Falun Gong By: Erika E. Durham, Courier staff September 01, 2002 The recent opportunity for Montgomery County residents to peacefully practice an ancient Asian
meditation may be the envy of millions around the world, some of whom face death for the same
freedom. The Montgomery County Library in The Woodlands opened its doors Saturday afternoon to
residents who wished to practice Falun Gong, an Asian exercise of the mind and body, that translates
in English to "great law of energy." Since 1999, residents of China are being tortured and even killed for practicing the exercise of
five steps that resembles yoga. The leader of China, Jiang Zemin, has overseen the killing of several men, women and children
because the practice attracts several million people in the name of truth, compassion and tolerance,
according to Jason Wang, a Ph.D from the University of Houston. A small but growing group of county residents joined on Saturday to participate in the series of
meditations and slow stretching movements that are geared to clear the mind, relax the body and
generate positive energy. Falun Gong was brought to Montgomery County by resident Ealy Lim. "I was introduced to Falun Gong through my family. I had an uncle who was dying of
pancreatic cancer, and once he began to practice it made a world of difference," she said. So much difference that Lim says her uncle's cancer is now in remission. "We couldn't believe it, but of course now he is a devout practitioner and the cancer has
not resurfaced." Lim, a self-proclaimed skeptic, said she had to try the series of exercises and mediations for
herself before she was sold on the idea of its healing powers. "Once I started doing it, I was totally convinced and am trying to share it with as many
people as I can," she said. Lim was successful in having a workshop taught at the South location of the Montgomery County
library on Saturday and has already planned two sessions for September. The lessons are taught by
residents of the southwest side of Houston, where the practice is very common. Wang, who helped Lim
bring the workshop to the area and who has been practicing for about four years, defines Falun Gong
as a "cultivating practice." Wang says it is about cultivating all parts of the human body and spirit. Spring resident Leon Lemmons, who has history of hip pain and injury, said his wife, who is of
Chinese descent, was the reason he started practicing, "and I haven't stopped since," he
said. Lemmons said of all the lessons that come with the practices, he has most learned to evaluate
himself as the source of problems or feelings instead of pushing the problems on to someone else. "Before I started practicing, I used to come home from being in traffic and I was always
upset and frustrated," he said. I am a lot less anxious and have additional patience in certain
situations." The exercises are known for providing physical, mental and emotional healing to people around the
world. For more information on the exercises of Falun Gong, log on to www.falundafa.org,
or for information on those being persecuted for practicing, log on to www.faluninfo.net. [...] http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=5223472&BRD=1569&PAG=461&dept_id=237940&rfi=8 Posting date: 9/2/2002 |