“I believe that there is a very powerful message [that’s] very unique. First of all, today, we have too many negative forces around us everywhere. From Hollywood to all the media. Everything is negative — jealously, hate, and anger. But from this, I saw [that this] is pure substance of kindness, and goodness, and faith.

 

“However, as good as the human spirit is, we need content. And today the music [and] the dance were the content. And it was like a vessel putting all the good things inside, and [it allows you to] obtain and benefit from the spiritual message.”

 

“The dancers were phenomenal. ... It is a craft that blends in all the good things of music and dance together.” 

 

“I think the most important thing I learned from this is harmony — how the team works. There’s got to be a connection between every performer that can perform something like this to this state.”

 

“[The Shen Yun Performing Arts Orchestra] really brings out the best of both [Eastern and Western] music, and I see that not only the Chinese music is great, but also the blending of it which is really a craft.”

 

“If today people listen to a sermon, or [read] a poem, or read a newspaper, the message may be the same, but it’s very different when you package it like this, because it makes it very appetizing. ... The attractiveness of it allows people to be willing and be interested [and] be in tune with it. And so I think the medium is very, very powerful. It’s very good.”

 

“[The music] peers [into] the soul. It opens up the spiritual heart because the message is so powerful. Because, with the singing, we can tell there is a spiritual song from a human being’s heart that was touched by the divine.”

 

“I can take pride in my culture. Here’s a renewal of my pride because otherwise there’s so much Western influence everywhere, anywhere. But today I can see the Chinese culture is being exemplified by the content I heard today.”

 

“I took one more step — a giant step — towards opening my heart and connecting with the divine. With this modern age we are very, very densely covered with many material things. Today is almost like there is a clean sweep and opening allowing me to see the mirror and see myself and see my own soul.”

 

“One of my professions is that I am a professional interpreter for immigration courts. And I also work with many, many lawyers, and I focus on political asylums for many Falun Gong faith-keepers. And I have always been touched by them.”