By practitioners in Taoyuan, Taiwan

(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong is practiced by people in over 70 countries and regions in the world, and has been well received by governments and people wherever it has been. Falun Gong has been honored with over 1,300 awards and proclamations and millions of people are practicing it. People can learn free of charge and practitioners do not accept donations. Across Taiwan, there are about 1,000 practice sites. Still, such a popular and beneficial cultivation practice has only suffered brutal persecution in Mainland China, where the Communist party rules.

July 20, the anniversary of the persecution, has come again, and people all over the world are calling for putting an end to the persecution of Falun Gong. Falun Gong practitioners in the Taoyuan Area gathered in "No.9 Park" in downtown Chongli to hold a candlelight vigil for Falun Gong practitioners who have lost their lives in the persecution.

At 4:00 p.m., as a prelude to the candlelight vigil, the "Falun Gong Truth Clarification Photography Exhibit" opened. Many people who came to the park to do exercises saw the photos of practitioners who are suffering persecution. They said, "Too cruel!" Some children simply sat in front of the photos and watched attentively. An older man whose original family home is in Mainland China saw the photos depicting Falun Gong's wide spread around the world, and felt puzzled. He asked, "If Falun Gong is really so good, why does the CCP suppress it?" After the guides' explanation, he understood that it is because of the CCP's nature of falsehood, violence and fighting--it opposes Falun Gong practitioners who cultivate "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance."

Children look at the photo exhibit attentively

Children look at the photo exhibit attentively

A person reads explanation on the photo display board attentively

People who enjoy the cool of the night come to view the photo exhibit and learn the truth about Falun Gong

Another older man asked politely, "Where is Teacher Li's hometown?" A practitioner answered, "Changchun City, Jilin Province." The older man said happily, "I'm also from the Northeast!" Then he told the practitioner that he was a serviceman, and fought with the CCP from the northeast to the south. When he was a student, the CCP ordered them to line up to see people being criticized, and he also witnessed five people being shot to death. A student whose family circumstances were the best was the first to have his home ransacked. His parents were driven out of their home. "The CCP is so bad!" The older man also said, "Last year when I returned to Mainland China, I asked some officials, 'Why do you persecute Falun Gong? Why shouldn't people have freedom of belief?'" The older man said nobody answered his questions.

Many people learned to practice the five sets of exercises on the spot, and took introductory and truth clarification materials. They suggested that practitioners set up an evening practice site in the park, making it easier for them to come to practice.

Westerners also come to learn the truth about Falun Gong

Many people learn the exercises on the spot

Many people learn the exercises on the spot

At 6:10 p.m., the practitioners gathered on the lawn to practice the meditation. The peaceful and harmonious scene attracted many people's attention. Some people who were doing other exercises stopped and followed the practitioners. At 7:10 p.m., the candlelight vigil began. Two practitioners read a eulogy, and then everyone lit candles and mourned in silence for five minutes. Young Falun Gong practitioners read from Hong Yin. Finally, the activity concluded amidst the singing of a chorus composed of Falun Gong practitioners.

Practicing the fifth exercise

Practicing the second exercise

Candlelight vigil

Posting date: 7/26/2005
Original article date: 7/25/2005
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide
Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/7/22/106754.html

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