To understand and appreciate the significance of Falun Dafa one has to make a paradigm shift in one’s conventional thinking. On the surface it is easy to understand the value attached to the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance that form the backbone of Falun Dafa’s philosophy. But when one becomes a genuine practitioner of Falun Dafa one aspires to live by these virtues in daily life, striving to achieve, over time, a state of kindness, selflessness, and inner balance.
The self-examination that is inherent to Falun Dafa enables a person to naturally give up addictions, desires and selfish emotions. Comprehension of the principles increases awareness and causes gradual changes, helping people have happy and peaceful minds, which eliminates the primary cause of illness.
The universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance as taught by Falun Dafa transcend the boundaries of time and space and have forged a bond in the hearts of people from both East and West. Falun Dafa awakens the benevolent, innate essence of the human race, enabling people to understand the true meaning of life.
Falun Dafa practitioners have upheld principles of non-violence and peaceful resistance since the Chinese regime began persecuting it on July 20, 1999. They are unswerving in believing in and living out Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. The persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China has not only strengthened their resolve but tested their fortitude and increased their resilience.
That Falun Dafa practitioners in China enjoy better health and use healthcare services much less than average is common knowledge. Most governments would be falling over themselves to promote a system that encouraged harmonious, lawful behavior in tens of millions of its citizens and saved money in the national budget. But too many people doing something over which the Chinese Communist Party could not directly exert its authoritarian control made it leaders nervous, even though the regime had earlier presented awards to Falun Dafa.
You can feel the strength of Falun Dafa when faced with the senseless campaign of persecution: ordinary people become extraordinary. Falun Dafa practitioners have demonstrated unyielding courage and peaceful resistance to persecution and the denial of their freedom of belief. In striving for freedom of belief, they have also brought to the Chinese people a revival of human morality and of hope for China; a group of ordinary people are creating a miracle for the world.
It’s worth mentioning that Mark Palmer, vice chair of Freedom House, stated that “Falun Gong is the movement which will define our time, at the beginning of the 21st century.”
On this World Falun Dafa Day, everyone is encouraged to embrace the
theme of ‘The world needs Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance.’ A good future awaits the kind-hearted people and organizations who have shown their support and expressed their good wishes.
Suren Rao is a Falun Gong practitioner living in Mumbai, India.
