The precise way in which the practice of Falun Dafa works to heal illness is not fully understood by modern science, but its effects can be measured through scientific study. 　　A Chinese government census taken in 1998 indicated hat 70 to 100 million people were practicing Falun Dafa in China alone. This made Falun Dafa by far the most popular qigong practice in China's history.　Many practitioners testified from their personal experience that Falun Dafa had powerful healing properties. In 1998, the first major health survey was conducted on Falun Dafa practitioners in Beijing. 　　According to the survey, out of 12,731 participants, 93.4% initially had conditions of illness, and 49.8% had suffered from at least three diseases before they began practicing Falun Dafa. Through learning and practicing Falun Dafa, the practitioners' health improved in various degrees. The effectiveness rate of cases reached 99.1%, and among these, the rate of complete recovery was 58.5%. Comparing practitioners' health before and after practicing Falun Dafa, 80.3% of the participants reported improvements. Among these people, the percentage of people reporting that they felt “very energetic” increased from 3.5% before practicing o 55.3% after practicing. These numbers demonstrate that Falun Dafa is remarkably effective in curing diseases, increasing　energy and improving one's overall sense of well being. Being healthy includes having both a healthy body and a healthy mind. The survey demonstrated that 12,287 people, or 96.5% of the participants, felt healthier psychologically after practicing Falun Dafa. 　　The Beijing survey indicated that the number of people practicing Falun Dafa increased every year, with the growth rate also becoming more rapid. The fact that Falun Dafa attracted such a great number of practitioners in such a short time provides further evidence that Falun Dafa is indeed effective in healing illnesses and improving health. 　　According to the survey, Falun Dafa　practitioners saved 3,270 yuan of medical expenses per person per year for the state. (Yuan is Chinese currency. The average worker in Chinese cities　makes around 500 yuan per month.) Multiplying this figure by the millions of people practicing, one can easily see that Falun Dafa saved China a tremendous amount of money in medical costs and resources. This is one of the reasons why Falun Dafa has been widely regarded as being beneficial, not just for individuals, but also for society as a whole. 　　A survey was also conducted in Taiwan. Out of 1,182 participants, 72% of Falun Dafa practitioners used only one health insurance card, which allows the recipient 6 visits to health care providers, per year, a reduction in usage of almost 50% compared to the general population. The report also pointed out that Falun Dafa has a remarkable effect on eliminating unhealthy habits and addictions. The study showed an 81% success rate for quitting smoking, 77% for abstaining from alcohol, and 85% for quitting gambling. 　　The Persecution in China:　 　　“Ruin their reputations, bankrupt them financially, and destroy them physically.” Because of the amazing benefits offered by the practice of Falun Dafa, it quickly became the most popular form of qigong in China. At one point, the number of practitioners exceeded the total number of Communist Party members. Its immense popularity drew the attention of Jiang Zemin, then Chairman, Communist Party General Secretary, and Head of the Military Commission in China. As the powerful head of the Communist Party, which has stamped out any diversity of thought since its inception, Jiang ordered the police to curtail Falun Dafa activities and the state-run media to reverse course and publish defamatory stories about Falun Dafa. 　　In response to a set of such articles, a group of practitioners went to the newspaper agency in the city of Tianjin to clarify some facts about Falun Dafa, hoping to resolve any misunderstandings that may have taken place. To their surprise, their peaceful discussions were interrupted when over 300 riot police descended upon them, physically assaulting them and arresting 45 of them. When questioned, the Tianjin authorities directed the practitioners to appeal their case to Beijing, stating that the arrests were made at the directive of the Central Government. 　　On April 25, 1999, about 10,000 Falun Dafa practitioners went to the State Council's Appeals Bureau near Zhongnanhai to lodge an appeal. Then-Premier Zhu Rongji met with these practitioners, and at the end of the day ordered the Tianjin police to release the wrongfully arrested practitioners and repeated the government's policy of not interfering with people's freedom to practice. 　　Although the　incident　was　peacefully　resolved, Jiang Zemin saw this as an opportunity to consolidate his power within the Central Government while at the same time wiping out a perceived threat. Jiang then issued the infamous directive which created the genocidal nature of this persecution:　“ruin　their　reputations,　bankrupt　them financially, and destroy them physically.” On July 20, 1999, Jiang launched the full-blown persecution with mass arrests, beatings, and unlawful detention of tens of thousands of Falun Dafa practitioners. The police burned Falun Dafa books and ransacked practitioners' homes, and the media saturated the country with propaganda to defame Falun Dafa. 　　After five years of intense, nationwide persecution, millions of practitioners have been arrested, detained or sent to forced labor camps without trial. Thousands have been sent to mental hospitals to be injected with psychotropic drugs, and women have been sexually abused in　police custody. Some have even been forced to have abortions against their will. As of this writing, 1128 practitioners are verified to have died in police custody, most as a result of torture. The actual figure is believed to be much higher. Meanwhile, Falun Dafa has flourished around the rest of the world. The practice has spread to more than 50 countries, receiving more than 1100 awards and other forms of recognition from local governments and civic organizations. In the meantime, in spite of the brutality that the practitioners in China have been subjected to, there has not been a single case of retaliation or violence on the part of the practitioners. The last five years are a powerful testament to the universal appeal of “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance” and the firm resolve of the people that live according to These principles.

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