The Vast Spread of Falun Dafa in Taiwan: Yilan (Photos)

(Clearwisdom.net) Yilan County is located at the northeast corner of Taiwan. To the east, it faces the pacific ocean, to the south it connects to the central mountains, and the Snow Mountains are to the west and north. All this forms a closure backed with mountains that faces the ocean. Although the closure blocks transportation, it didn't stop the ancestors' reclamation steps. Yilan used to be called "Gemalan", named after the "Gemalan" nation that was originally there. Ever since the Chief Judge of Gemalan during the Qing Dynasty Wu Zhufang selected "Eight Delighted Sceneries in Lanyang" in Yilan, descendants started to nickname it Lanyang. Since its plain is alluvial, the Yilan Plain is also called Lanyang Plain. As the saying goes: "Kind people enjoy mountains, while wise people love the waters." The Lanyang area is guarded by the mountains and moistened by the rivers, and the people who live there love the mountains and rivers. So in Taiwan, Yilan is a well-known place with rich culture, well-preserved environment and developed communications.

Landmark of Yilan: Turtle Hill island, "one of the eight delighted sceneries in Lanyang"

Well-known scenery in Taiwan: Luodung Sports Park

Falun Gong First Came into Taiwan in 1995

The first volunteer instructor of Falun Gong in Taiwan, Ms. He Laiqin, who lives in Yilan, recalled: "Migraine headeaches bothered me for over twenty years, but none of the famous doctors in Taiwan could do anything at all. I took the suggestion from my relatives in Mainland China and went to Jinan on June 21, 1994 to take part in Master Li Hongzhi's nine-day lecture series. My migraines were then cured with no medication." After she came back to Taiwan, she set up the first practice site of Taiwan on Yangming Mountain. Because of the significant effects in improving mental and physical health, it spread from one to ten, and from ten to hundred, and so on. Falun Gong has been spread in Taiwan for over ten years.

On December 25, 2005, over four thousand practitioners formed a Falun Emblem in front of Chungcheng Memorial Hall Square in Taipei

People can see practitioners doing the exercises and introducing the practice all over Taiwan

So far there are about two hundred practitioners in Yilan County from all professions, including professors, government officials, registered medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses, engineers, teachers and students in elementary and high schools, college students and housewives. Dr. Chen who opened a dental clinic in Luodung said that he used to rely on medication to have good sleep, but after a while of practicing Falun Gong, the insomnia healed with no medication and his temper dramatically improved. Another medical doctor, Miss Li, also stated that her improved job performance proved Falun Dafa's great effects in improving people's health in mind and body.

Early in the morning on February 6, 2006, all practitioners from Yilan County gathered at Sports Park for group book study and group exercises.

Ms. Lin from Wujie Township and her son and daughter have practiced for many years. She said that since learning the practice, her children behave themselves better and improve their minds according to the content of the book Zhuan Falun, so they are top level students at school and have been elected as role models many times. Another practitioner heard a staff member of the Township office praise Ms. Lin, saying that ever since she started the practice, she always thinks for others, is kind to her parents-in-law and takes very good care of the family, so her neighbors all think well of her.

The following are the details of the spread of Falun Gong in Yilan:

1. "Teachers' Study Camp" and Falun Gong Clubs in schools

In the past six years, practitioners from Yilan County frequently hosted a "Teachers' Study Camp of Falun Dafa" during winter or summer breaks. They invited practitioners from different professions to introduce Falun Gong to teachers and staff members of elementary and middle schools. These events helped many teachers to apply the principle "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" into their daily teaching. The program is thus highly encouraged by the Education Administration Bureau, principals and teachers, so the "study camp" counts towards their routine training points. Many principals superintendents, directors and teachers joined the practice this way.

On July 4, 2004, a Falun Dafa Study Camp was held at both Yilan High School and Su-Ao Marine & Fishery High School at the same time

Hueydeng Middle School hosted the "Yilan County Teachers' Falun Dafa Study Camp" on January 26 and 27, 2005

Many teachers benefitted a lot from practice, they founded Falun Dafa Clubs in their schools, and led many others to join. Fo Guang (Buddha's Aurora) University, National Luodung Industrial High School, National Yilan Advanced Commercial School and Hueydeng High School all have Falun Gong Clubs. In Luodung Industrial High School there are four teachers that have been practicing for many years, and two of them led their whole family to practice. In Yilan Advanced Commercial School, the Falun Gong Club was set up in February 2003 with 95 students registered. They held seven events in one semester, and they did the exercises after their lunch and before the lunch break was over.

The Falun Dafa Club members in Yilan Advanced Commercial School greeted the new students on September 7, 2005	Students from Yilan Advanced Commercial School signed to support the anti-persecution petition while the Falun Gong Photo Exhibition was held there from September 6 to 14, 2005

2. Introducing Falun Dafa at Folk Art Festivals, Local Events and at Scenic Spots

To allow more people to learn about Falun Dafa, practitioners from Yilan often domonstrate the exercises at the International Toy Art Fest, Su-Ao Cold Spring Grand Celebration, Green Expo and other holiday events, or do the exercises at scenic spots (such as Luotung Sports Park, Tungshan River Chingsui Park, etc.). A group of practitioners of different ages move slowly to the peaceful music next to the posters. Practitioners' exercise demonstration became one of most popular performances at local celebrations, folk art festivals and school events.

Exercise demonstration at the 2001 Toy Art Fest	Doing the exercises and introducing the facts at the 2004 International Toy Art Fest
Practitioners were invited to do the exercises demonstration at the Annual Celebration of the Su-Ao Veteran's Hospital on May 9, 2004	Doing the exercises and introducing Falun Dafa at the 2004 Yilan Green Expo

3. Introducing Falun Dafa at Tri-Stars Prison

Since December 2000, practitioners from Yilan started to introduce Dafa every day at the Tri-Stars Prison in the county. Practitioners from all over Taiwan started to introduce Dafa into each detention center, rehab center and prison, and offered opportunities of learning the guiding principle of "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" to inmates. The profound principle touched and undusted the benevolent nature of the inmates. The practice has been well received by the inmates and acknowledged by the authorities. Changhua Juvenile Prison, Yilan Tri-Stars Prison, Tainan Prison, Chiayi Prison, Pingdung Prison and Green Island Prison and others consecutively selected Falun Gong as one of their courses for mind improvement and rehabilitation. This has become a mirror reflecting that: on the other side of the strait, in Mainland China, the Chinese Communist regime forbids people to practice Falun Gong, uncountable practitioners are held in forced labor camps, are forced to undergo brainwashed and are tortured, and even persecuted to death. What an enormous difference!

Prisoners doing the Exercise 5 - the sitting meditation	Appreciation Certificate from Taichong Detention Center

One thing worth mentioning is that a practitioner who participated in the Introducing Falun Dafa to Prison was recently elected as model farmer of the Tri-Star Township in the year 2005. A beautiful flower that he cultivated and nurtured won a competition in Singapore and won the Extraordinary Prize in the All Taiwan Competition. He grows plants with boundless compassion and patience, just like he treats people.

4. Exposing the facts of the Chinese Communist regime's persecution

Practitioners from Yilan often work together with practitioners from other counties and cities or even other countries, hosting all kinds of picture, painting and photo exhibitions to thoroughly clarify the truth to heads of counties and townships, members of legislative committee and congressional members. They expose the facts of the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong in China and help local people learn about the truth.

A medical doctor practitioner said that many practitioners from Yilan County had illnesses before, such as Ms. Zheng and Miss Yu who had migraines, Mr. Chen who had a heart problem, Teacher Huang who had tracheitis, Miss Zhuo who had neck and shoulder pain, another Mr. Chen who had poor vision, etc. After practicing, all of them experienced significant improvement. Having benefitted so much from the practice, many practitioners started to take part in the Falun Dafa introduction events to allow others to benefit as well.

The SOS Walk Around the Island for Urgent Rescue in October 2001	Collecting signatures for showing concern over the South Africa shooting incident in July 2004
Exposing the facts at the International Toy Art Fest in August, 2004	Falun Dafa Photo Exhibition held at Jiaoxi Township in October 2005

5. Introducing Falun Dafa Abroad and Clarifying the Truth in Mannhattan and Hong Kong

Doctor Chen said that many practitioners consider others first at all times and this has made their family harmonized and improved their job performance. They often use their vacations and their own money to go abroad to introduce Falun Dafa. There are two practitioners from Su-Ao that have gone to Hong Kong over ten times.

Practitioners from Yilan participating in group exercises in October, 2001 in Brisbane, Australia	Practitioners from Yilan in the grand parade of anti-persecution in Washington DC on July 21, 2005

Retired tailor Mr. Lin is 70 years old. He has participated in overseas events many times. Once, I saw him at the entrance of a subway station in Mannhattan distributing flyers alone. He smiled and said that he didn't know English, but now he can take a bus and switch to the subway to Mannhattan from Brooklyn on his own. Seeing his fast and steady walk, I was so happy for him.

Tourists from mainland China viewing the posters about the persecution in China

Practitioners peacefully protesting in front of the Chinese Consulate in New York

Practitioner Miss Li, who works for a Legislative Committee, said that so far there are over one thousand exercise sites and everyone can find a practice site near their home or workplace. Miss Zhuo, Master's degree holder from Taiwan University in public health, stated that Falun Gong is getting more and more popular in Yilan and many people have benefitted from it throughout Taiwan. However, on the other side of the strait, practitioners who believe in "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" are brutally tortured and persecuted, and so many Chinese people have been cheated by the Communist Party's propaganda. Practitioners from Yilan expressed that they will keep introducing Falun Gong and the facts of the persecution. They hope more and more people of conscience will work together to end the persecution.