The Standard-Times (New Bedford, Massachusetts): Falun Gong offers path to improve body, mind, spirit

By LINDA ANDRADE RODRIGUES, Standard-Times staff writer

Practitioners of the spiritual discipline of Falun Gong will this week celebrate the 11th anniversary of its introduction to the public. Founded in China by Li Hongzhi, a two-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee (Note: Mr. Li has been nominated for Nobel Peace Prize four times since 2000), Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, is practiced by more than 100 million people in 40 countries.

A spiritual discipline that includes exercise and meditation, Falun Gong is based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. According to the practice, these virtues are the sole standard for judging good from bad and right from wrong.

Those who follow this holistic system of mind/body cultivation find it brings better health, reduced stress, inner peace and deepened morals.

Yet, unlike most religions, there are no devotional activities or worship, nor any set doctrine or canon. There is also no membership, organization or hierarchy.

"For more than 30 years I have been very interested in spiritual things," James DeArruda of Dighton, a copy editor for The Standard-Times, said. "These included improving my mind and moral character through various different paths."

Two years ago, Mr. DeArruda came to meet Falun Gong practitioner Lei Wang at UMass Dartmouth, who introduced him to the practice, made up of five slow-moving, relaxing exercises, similar to an ancient Chinese exercise form known as qigong (pronounced chee-gong). Consequently, he began doing the exercises daily and reading Mr. Li's book of lectures, "Zhuan Falun."

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Falun Gong practitioners believe that positive thoughts will have a positive influence on all life. Accordingly, millions around the world will clear their minds and "send forth righteous thoughts" four times daily at set times.

"The more we act in righteous ways, the more we can change things and become better people," he added.

This is important, he said, because the Falun Gong practitioners in China are currently under a government-sponsored persecution that has seen hundreds tortured to death and tens of thousands imprisoned, contrary to the nation's own laws.

"The more kind-hearted people who know the truth about how good people are treated in China, the sooner the persecution will end," he said.

For more information about Falun Gong, visit the Web site www.falundafa.org, and for information about the persecution, visit www.faluninfo.net.


This story appeared on Page C3 of The Standard-Times on May 10, 2003

http://www.s-t.com/daily/05-03/05-10-03/c03li106.htm

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