Part 1 is available here: http://en.minghui.org/html/articles/2012/6/3/133770.html
(Minghui.org) Dear Minghui editors:
Greetings! I know that a lot of Dafa disciples are following the Chen Guangcheng story closely. However, the stories that truly deserve everyone's attention are actually their own.
Very respectfully,
Haishi (pen name) a Chinese practitioner in the U.S.
* * * * * * *
The “Walking Between the Stormy Heaven and Earth” Realm of Falun Gong Practitioners
Based on my observations of religious groups and individuals, the only ones who are in the realm of “sacrificing one's life for righteousness” are Falun Gong practitioners. The overall impression they leave on people is that they are kind people and kind among the kind. In Mainland China, the CCP regime has used the entire national apparatus to persecute them in the name of a nation. However, what they have done is help people quit the CCP for people's safety and distribute free truth clarification materials amidst danger. As for the contents, I have seen some of the DVDs produced by Falun Gong practitioners, such as “Walking Between the Stormy Heaven and Earth,” “False Fire,” “Plum Blossom Poem,” and so on.
They don't fear any political regime and aren't used by any of them either. They aren't used by the United Nations or the United States. Their firm faith cannot be shaken by the CCP's scoundrel regime. They come from different walks of life. Outside of China, they have established many web sites. They have assimilated to the western mainstream society, and have broader aspirations beyond money and personal interests. I think it's very precious.
For Chinese outside of China, when you, your fathers' and older generations were persecuted by the CCP during different struggles, did you ever dare to resist? Generation after generation, Chinese were enslaved by the CCP. When they come abroad, they merely settle for a degree, U.S. Citizenship, a house and a family. They avoid seeing the tragedy inside China. They use the excuse of “politics” to avoid facing the issues Chinese face. The traditional Chinese values of loyalty and justice from thousands of years is nowhere to be seen in these Chinese.
Confucius Institutes - are they teaching the essence of Chinese culture? No, they teach things without the inner meanings of Chinese traditions. If you don't believe me, go check the backgrounds of the teaching staff. Every one of them has been given “political tasks” and asked to firm up their “political stance.” Do they have freedom? No, they don't. Then, not to mention academic or mental freedom, how are they qualified to promote Chinese traditional culture to foreigners? Those who attend Confucius Institutes, aren't they learning from a bad source? How can a righteous Chinese person ignore this?
Falun Gong practitioners are being persecuted by the communist regime. However, they respond with lofty behavior. Almost no Falun Gong practitioner who truly follows the teachings of Mr. Li Hongzhi was deceived by the CCP or deterred by the evil. They call for justice with compassion and awaken people's conscience. They choose to expose the evil persecution with tremendous courage. They go to the United Nations and Congress in Washington, DC. They launch lawsuits against the former CCP head.
Are they doing this to show the ugliness of our nation to the world? No. After serious pondering, I realized that they are doing it to stop the destruction of human nature. They are doing it to preserve the Chinese spirit. They have no complaints even when their lives and families are on the line. They have sacrificed so much by enduring discrimination, persecution, and betrayal for more than a decade. They endured when western governments, media and big corporations remained silent about the persecution for monetary interest. They persisted in their belief. To label their outstanding excellence and nobility as “getting involved with politics” is to defame sages with one's own dirty perspective.
I once saw a story on the Internet. A father was persecuted because of his belief in Falun Gong. He had an innocent and cute daughter. The little girl didn't want to lose her father. She asked him: “Daddy, daddy, do you choose Falun Gong or me?” How did her father respond? He said: “I of course choose Falun Gong.” The little girl didn't understand. The father continued: “Falun Gong teaches people to be truthful, compassionate and forbearing. Isn't it my daughter's blessing that she has a truthful, compassionate and forbearing father?” I was very much touched by the story. I admired the wisdom of this father and his righteousness.
There's a saying in the “Family Education Aphorism” of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty: “For people who would like to practice filial piety and please their parents, it is not about providing clothes and food to their parents. Those who are truly filial to their parents remain kind and please their parents with behavior that fit the principles.”
Is there a clearer illustration of filial piety than this? If every son and daughter does this, then wouldn't the world be wonderful? Providing food and shelter to parents is a basic requirement, however if people can pay special attention to the cultivation of their own character and virtue, isn't this the best? Parents all hope their children will be safe. However, if the food or shelter provided to parents is obtained through harming others, then how can parents be at ease?
At the beginning of the persecution, many Chinese, especially in Mainland China, acted as sheep or even slandered Falun Gong. It is still happening today. In fact, if we listen to what our fellow Chinese Falun Gong practitioners say and observe what they do, then isn't it easy to tell who's righteous and who's evil? Some Chinese have to use the CCP's “getting involved with politics” label to slander Falun Gong. As for Mr. Chen, he was closer to the U.S. government than Falun Gong. Nobody said that he “got involved with politics.” How come Falun Gong has been labeled with “getting involved with politics?”
In addition, comparing to what Mr. Chen has gone through, the persecution Falun Gong experienced is more large-scale. The number of people and social strata involved is huge. It has already taken the Chinese people a big step back in building its future, on aspects such as financial, human resources and foreign affairs.
I often feel very sad about why the Chinese people don't have a conscience. Why do they believe in the CCP so easily? They simply follow the CCP's persecution and jump on the bandwagon to criticize Falun Gong. On the contrary, Falun Gong didn't collapse. It demonstrates the most precious spirit that the current Chinese society lacks. How can we overseas Chinese not be proud of our Falun Gong friends? Aren't we U.S. citizens? How did we answer the questions in the qualifying exam?
Several years ago, former President Bill Clinton went to North Korea and rescued two female reporters. All the U.S. newspapers reported it on the front page. However, the persecution that female Falun Gong practitioners have experienced is much more severe than this. Many were raped or tortured to insanity, not to mention those beaten to death, injured, disabled or injected with poisonous chemicals. Why is the international community silent about the tortures? Why does nobody give it in-depth coverage?
I don't mean to exaggerate. But I think in Mainland China, many Falun Gong practitioners have shared the same experience as Mr. Chen's. They have been monitored, surrounded, separated, fined, and their homes have been ransacked. And, they have been forced to lose their jobs or leave their schools. The eradication policy of the former head of the CCP is to ruin Falun Gong practitioners' reputations, their finances and their physical bodies. The persecution different Falun Gong practitioners have gone through may be more severe than Mr. Chen's. Therefore, doesn't it deserve our attention and the attention of the international community?
When Falun Gong practitioners were persecuted by the tyrannical CCP, they didn't resist the persecution with violence. What they have done is to act according to their principles and simply expose the truth. Their compassion, loyalty, wisdom and courage are unprecedented.
Think about it: What Jesus and Shakyamuni and their disciples endured in history, how is it different than what Falun Gong practitioners endure today? What's different is that the persecution Falun Gong practitioners are experiencing is the combination of both! Today, the noble and kind Falun Gong practitioners can be considered sages. Their noble sacrifice and practice of the moral ideals of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance qualify them as the true hope for our future. I hope everyone can think about it.
Conclusion
I am an average citizen. I am not interested in the CCP regime or the roles in the CCP regime. I cannot analyze international situations, global affairs or political and economic news. I live in a normal society in the United States. My days are quite ordinary. What I want to express is just my voice. My conscience prompted me to write this.
I believe that Falun Gong will become the biggest and longest-lasting legend in human history. I recently saw the movie “Joan of Arc” with Ingrid Bergman. The kind and righteous will definitely defeat the evil. It will be the same for attorney Gao Zhisheng and Mr. Chen Guangcheng, as long as they remain on a righteous path.
May 3, 2012 in the United States