(Clearwisdom.net) Hope Africa, a newspaper that circulates in Europe and Africa, published an interview with a Falun Gong practitioner in its fifth issue in 2005. The article is entitled, "What is Falun Gong?" Below is the content of the interview.

What is Falun Gong?

Hope Africa: We sought to answer this question when we conducted an interview with Yonas Biru, a Nurnberg based practitioner. We wanted to know from him among other things, if it is a religion and why the Chinese government is after them. Excerpts:

Hope Africa: Could you tell our readers a little about yourself?

Biru: My name is Yonas Taddess Biru. I'm 37 years old and was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 1989 I came to Prague, Czechoslovakia to study. I have been living for 15 years in Germany. I'm married and have one daughter. Right now I'm on the way to establishing my own business.

Hope Africa: Briefly, what is Falun Gong about?

Biru: Falun Gong is an ancient Chinese cultivation practice based on the three principles "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance" and it has five gentle and smooth easy to learn exercises. First introduced in 1992 in China, it has since been taken up by over 100 million people in 60 different countries.

Hope Africa: What are the basic teachings?

Biru: The basic teachings are on how to become a better person. These teachings, known in traditional Chinese culture as the Tao or Law, are set forth in the book, Zhuan Falun. While the teachings are vast and profound, at their core are the three simple principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. Students of Falun Gong consider these virtues to be the nature of the universe, and it is these that they strive to perfect in themselves.

Hope Africa: We have gone through testimonies of some practitioners who claim to have been healed from their sick bed, tell our readers, is it a religion? What do Falun Gong practitioners believe in?

Biru: Falun Gong is not a religion. It is a self-cultivation method, rooted in ancient Chinese culture. Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance - these three principles are what we take to be the universe's most fundamental, most basic nature. We understand that this nature resides in every life, every object, and every element throughout the earth and cosmos. It is the sole standard for judging good and bad, right and wrong.

To practice Falun Gong is to cultivate according to these principles, to strive to live according to them at all times - in every situation, in every circumstance. In doing this, amazing things happen. We gradually learn to put others first and discard selfish attachments. We find that negative thoughts and desires just seem to fade away and lose their power. And we even come to enjoy incredible health and great energy in our daily lives. The world becomes a different place. This is the power of living in tune with the nature of the cosmos - the power of returning to one's original, true self.

Hope Africa: If it is not a religion, is it possible for people of other faiths to practice it? Say Christians or Moslems, since you say it is for everyone.

Biru: Yes, people from other faith can practice it - whoever they are.

Hope Africa: Being a new organization (introduced in 1992), what influence does it derive from similar groups in existence before it and how does it relate to some of them?

Biru: Do you mean from other Qigong practice? Falun Gong is not influenced by other Qigong practices. Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, has developed the practice on his own to enable the today's people practice this high-level cultivation method in a flexible way, without any restriction of time, place, age, social class or culture. Falun Gong is free of charge and open to everyone.

Hope Africa: The hostility towards the group in China, where it was born, has attracted a lot of publicity. Why do you think the government there is very hostile towards your group?

Biru: The former leader of China, Jiang Zemin, banned the practice in July 1999 and mounted a brutal persecution against innocent people that has gone on for more than six years.

The high moral standard of Falun Gong practitioners, resonating with kindness in the hearts of the public, embarrasses the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Falun Gong is a mirror of righteousness, which by its very nature reveals all the unrighteousness of the CCP. Falun Gong teaches "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance", and the Chinese Communist Party stand for the very opposite of those ideals. Jiang Zemin and the CCP were extremely jealous of the way Falun Gong was spreading so quickly.

I would like to refer to you a new publication Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, published by the Epoch Times (theepochtimes.com), analyzing the CCP.

Hope Africa: To the best of your knowledge, do you sometimes get the same hostile attitude in other places in the West and Africa?

Biru: There is a big interest for learning Falun Gong in numerous countries around the world. But the Chinese government is trying with different methods to fight it, for example using the embassies to put pressure on governments abroad. Governments and international media have been filled up with defaming propaganda. A huge amount of spies are working in Europe and America.

Hope Africa: How can Africans in particular, both abroad and back home, benefit from the teachings of your group?

Biru: Everyone who truly practices Falun Gong will experience great health improvements, a harmonious and peaceful environment and will be able to handle conflicts in a peaceful way.

My fellow Africans, according to my personal positive experience, I recommend that you take a close look at this very beautiful cultivation way and benefit from it.

Also, please say no to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Your help will change a tragic fate of countless people, and your kindness will stop the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners. Your stepping forward is not only for the people of China, but also to protect the principles of human decency and goodness that our very existence relies upon, and in this way encourage the establishment of true and lasting peace.

Hope Africa: Thanks for your time.

Biru: Thank you.