San Diego's world famous Balboa Park, established in 1868, has been the setting for thousands of memorable cultural events in its long and venerable history, but perhaps none of those celebrations have held quite as much significance as Sunday's bittersweet "World Falun Dafa Day."
Hosted by the U.S. West Falun Dafa Association, the event featured Falun Dafa, also know as Falun Gong, an ancient traditional Chinese spiritual discipline for mind and body, introduced to the public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi.
According to the group's international website, falundafa.org, "The practice involves some slow, gentle movements and meditation. It is easy to learn, enjoyable to practice, and free of charge. Its principles are based on Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance."
The practice began in China in 1992 and quickly spread by word of mouth throughout China and then beyond. Falun Dafa is practiced by over 100 million people in 80 countries. The main works of Falun Dafa are available in over 30 languages.
The event was an exposition of the practice of Falun Dafa, as well as an informational event intended to expose the persecution of Falun Dafa by the communist government in China, now in its eighth year.
"On the one hand, today is the most joyful and memorable day in my life, because I became a Dafa practitioner 13 years ago," said Dr. Jason Liu. "On the other hand, I have in mind the practitioners in Mainland China who are still suffering the cruel persecution. Many people still don't know the truth about Falun Dafa, which is very sad."
More than fifty San Diego practitioners participated in the event. Included in the activities were several demonstrations of the Falun Dafa exercises, Chinese and Western cultural performances, and an art exhibition that graphically illustrated the peaceful nature of the practice and the brutality of the persecution.
After practicing the Falun Dafa exercises in the morning, many of the practitioners spoke of their experiences and the health benefits of Falun Dafa.
Julio Coronado said he'd practiced Buddhism for twelve years before learning Falun Dafa two years ago. He spoke of how he'd suffered depression, arthritis, and acid reflux disease and how practicing Falun Dafa had improved his health. "I haven't taken any medication in the last two years."
Coronado's experiences were typical of the group. Some participants said they'd recovered from even more dangerous diseases through the practice, including cancer, without the use of medicine.
Another local practitioner, Herald Werner, said, "The most important change in my life that Falun Dafa has given me is an awareness of my responsibility to help others."
In the afternoon the Falun Dafa practitioners set up an art and photo display on the Prada Walk. Despite the disturbing nature of some of the material, which depicts the torture Falun Dafa practitioners are subjected to in China, members of the public were unanimous in their support.
One passerby said, "The art is sad, truthful and hopeful. The hope is the most beautiful part. It shows the inner faith that the victims have to the last. As for the photos, they are shocking, but it's more than just emotion, it's truth."
Those sentiments were echoed by Lynn Butler of San Diego, "This awesome presentation is heart wrenching and should be seen all over the world. Something must be done to stop the torture."
Despite the horrific persecution, the overwhelming message of the display was one of hope, moving another observer to say, "A sense of peacefulness pervades through the heat and storm of conflict. It gives great encouragement that the intimate source of wisdom and peace can live, even after enduring great sorrow and pain."
San Diego practitioner Beth Lambert summed up the feelings of many practitioners, saying, "Falun Dafa Day is the day we remember the founding of the practice. The day is used to spread awareness about what Falun Dafa and cultivation are."
"A second but also important topic that very often comes up is what is happening to practitioners in China today, but the greater focus for me is on the practice itself," continued Lambert. "With so many days to talk about what's wrong on the outside, it's appropriate to have a day that focuses on what's right inside the practice."
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