Ms. Brewer, America's Heroes of Freedom [AHOF] president and founder. (NTDTV)
Divine Performing Arts
News and Events Around the World
Accounts of Persecution
Practitioners Exchange Insights and Experiences
People's Hearts Determine Their Future
(Clearwisdom.net) At an exclusive debut of Divine Performing Arts (DPA) in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, Washington's elite responded with high praise after viewing the "invitation only" performance. Ms. Brewer, America's Heroes of Freedom [AHOF] president and founder, and her colleague Ms. Mauer more than appreciated DPA "beautiful" debut at the Kennedy Center Opera House on Feb. 10, especially since the show was given in honor of U.S Veterans, a cause dear to her heart.
"I have to tell you, it was healing," she expressed. AHOF has a mission to honor, heal, and give aid to those who serve to protect the freedom of America, such as the armed services, civil servants, emergency services and volunteers.
Ms. Brewer, America's Heroes of Freedom [AHOF] president and founder. (NTDTV)
"I am so glad that we had our wounded military here tonight. What a beautiful expression to show our wounded military the peace and tranquility we all experienced tonight. It was beautiful... [The show] was very, very healing. It will be good for them."
The mission of Divine Performing Arts is to rediscover and renew the true ancient heritage of China, lost to the ravages of communist rule. Inspired by the ancient legends and long-held values of traditional Chinese culture, the show features highly acclaimed performers, gorgeous costumes, spectacular backdrops and a live orchestra.
"I love the excellence of the dance and the cultural arts, and I loved the message," Mrs. Brewer said. "... the message of peace I thought was very tranquil. I left with a deep sense of spiritual understanding and just ... the excellence that was done. The costumes were magnificent."
She continued, "I love the cultural arts, obviously. This was magnificent, I enjoyed it...It was a beautiful display of performance and excellence. I loved that it was showing unity and that when there is unity, there is power; when there is forgiveness, there is grace and mercy. I believe that it showed that in the most beautiful way."
One segment, Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution, which bespeaks of a longstanding Chinese belief that good is rewarded and evil punished, particularly touched her. This performance depicts the tragic reality unfolding in China today, of an innocent family's suffering when the father is persecuted for practicing Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline banned in China.
"We're all mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and I think that every one of us strives for that peace, and that's what I loved. I loved that message."
"I believe that it's a culture reaching out to all the other cultures. It showed the purity and the traditions of many, many years ago. And I believe that it was very similar to what I believe in God and a higher power," Mrs. Brewer emphasized.
Ms. Mauer, director of a non profit organization for wounded military, felt that the "absolute elegance" of the performers was "just incredible" and that the show was "very tender, very touching."
"There is a tranquility about this performance. There is a spirit of excellence in what the performers do. I think that's what was conveyed to the audience tonight, that absolute feeling of--you know, I watched people around me and just everyone seemed to be very calm and very peaceful, so I believe it has a great message."
Ms. Mauer said that DPA's show contained some poignant reminders of her personal experiences of living under communism. "I've lived in Europe when it was under communist control, when it was East and West Europe. There was much stress, much anxiety. It feels to me that we're in that time again. This (performance) shows the sides of good and evil. I believe that good always prevails. Our hearts go out to anyone who lives under Communism.
"I've traveled and lived all over the world. I think we're all searching for what we saw here tonight.
This is a message of peace to me. I felt like it was something that I could see again," she concluded.
Ms. Rosen joined the packed audience at the John F. Kennedy Center Opera House, and was highly impressed by the DPA performances. "It was overwhelming! It was enthralling and colorful!" she exclaimed. She particularly enjoyed the positive message of Divine Performing Arts. "I think that in our society, people are overwhelmed by negativity. And we come to something like this, and it's enlightening, and it's light, and it's beautiful."
Ms. Rosen with a friend (The Epoch Times)
Ms. Rosen, a counselor from Pennsylvania, went on to add that more people needed to see DPA shows. "We need things like this in our society," she said. "People sit in front of the TV, and they watch negativity, and they watch people being hurt, and it's just overwhelming."
Reflecting on the performances that told the story of the resilience of Falun Gong in the face of persecution, Ms. Rosen said, "They have a belief in something more powerful than themselves."
Dr. Dutt, a physicist, joined the exclusive opening-night audience, in a long, standing ovation for DPA. He expressed his admiration for DPA's ability to present China's cultural history. "They really capture the essence of China and its history, and then bring it to life across the world! And they are able to take on tough political issues, where they stood up to say, it's a dictatorship, or communist form of dictatorship, yet [we] are able to challenge that, and say that we have a culture. And that's what they brought to life, culture!"
Dr. Dutt (L) with a friend at the Kennedy Center (The Epoch Times)
Dr. Dutt went on to add that he was profoundly moved by many aspects of the show. "One was the opera singers, I thought that the words they were translating really touched me. And then the one where the woman is in prison [Dignity and Compassion], and the man has a dream, and he has enlightenment because of the dream, that is really victory of good over evil!"
The piece, Dignity and Compassion, is set in a prison in China, where a Falun Dafa prisoner of conscience is cruelly tortured to the brink of death. One of her tormentors, a policeman, falls into a deep sleep, and is visited by an other-worldly vision of guardian deities seeking to claim his life in retribution for his terrible acts. The persecuted practitioner appears as a Bodhisattva, and is moved by compassion to spare the man's life. Upon awakening, the policeman is filled with remorse, and immediately sets the practitioner free, asking for her forgiveness.
"Ultimately there is hope, and good wins over evil!" concluded Dr. Dutt.
(Clearwisdom.net) On The afternoon of February 11, 2009, Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company staged its first show in the Hitomi Memorial Auditorium of Tokyo Showa Women's University, Tokyo. The auditorium was full. This is the third year for DPA to perform in Japan.
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Japanese Member of Parliament: Astonishing art performance
Member of Parliament Jin Matsubara watched the first show in Tokyo and was astonished by the performance. He said, "I can see that the backdrop uses high tech methods. The show is a very astonishing art event. Watching DPA show can bring you out of your busy daily life to an art world."
MP Matsubara was impressed with the programs and the costumes of the performers. He gave examples of The Monkey King Triumphs and Poet Li Bai and said he enjoyed reading the novel Journey to west when he was young. He said, "I like the poet Li Bai's poems and read them. I did not know about the poem after he was drunk. I learned a lot."
Tokyo City Council Member: It is precious that DPA is reviving traditional Chinese culture
Tokyo City Council Member Mr. Tsuchiya and another member of the City Council watched the DPA show together. Mr. Tsuchiya said, "Japanese culture and Chinese culture have similarities. Actually, we admit that Chinese traditional culture is the elder brother of Japanese culture. It is regretful that such culture does not exist in current China. In places without freedom of thought and expression, culture is just a superficial form with no inner connotation."
He said, "The DPA show redefines the inner meaning of Chinese culture. It is precious and valuable."
Another City Council member watched the show for the third year in a row. He and his wife saw the show on February 11. He said, "Today I am moved again to see the show."
He said, "The current financial crisis is actually a spiritual crisis. After seeing the show, people should ponder what is the real crisis? Today's show leads people to think about why they are here. What is one's mission and what role one should play? It is a show to consider! The economic crisis is severe. But the show leads us to see that the bigger crisis is spiritual crisis."
Former First Lady of Indonesia: DPA Dancers Are Like 'dancing butterflies'
On February 11, the former First Lady of Indonesia, Dewi Soekarno, enjoyed the DPA show at Hitomi Memorial Auditorium in Tokyo.
Ms. Soekarno is a prominent figure in the Japanese film industry and the third of nine wives of the first president of Indonesia, Soekarno (1901-1970). In the late 1950's Ms. Soekarno met the 57-year-old Sukarno when she was 19, when the ex-president was on a state visit to Japan.
Former First Lady of Indonesia, Dewi Soekarno, enjoyed the DPA show
After seeing the DPA performance, Ms. Soekarno said, "It was really elegant, graceful. The movements were very difficult yet harmonious. The male dancers displayed very high-level technique. The backdrops were also high tech; it was very fantastic," she said.
"I was also stunned by the second dance's costumes; the color was white and the waist bands were pink. It really looked like a white water lily. I could just imagine the white flower while watching the dance. It was really beautiful."
Ms. Soekarno was referring to The Udumbara's Bloom, a dance based on the legendary Udumbara flower, a flower that only blooms every three thousand years. It is believed in Buddhism that every time it blossoms, it marks the arrival of a great sage or enlightened being.
"The costumes are made with lots of ideas and with rich and beautiful Chinese silk. When the dancers wave their sleeves, the way it flutters shows that [the costume] really used good and authentic silk, very beautiful and noble costumes."
She also was very impressed with the costumes in The Mystical Phoenix.
"I talked about the white water lily flower-like costumes. Beside that, I also liked another dance, where the costumes had flitting sleeves, just like dancing butterflies, really, really wonderful.
"Those dancers have long legs and delicate faces, they moved together harmoniously. It was extremely beautiful. Also, the shoulder movements and the way they walk--their steps did not make any sound--very soft and smooth. These things are rarely seen in Japan and it's evident that this is the real Chinese culture."
Ms. Soekarno now resides in Tokyo, yet she has lived in many other countries around the world upon her husband's death, including France, Switzerland, and United States. She now has her own jewelry and cosmetic businesses and once in a while appears on various TV shows. She also has served as judge for beauty contests, including the 2005 Miss International Pageant held in Tokyo.
She felt that the night was unique and wanted to say a few words to the people of this culture: "You should be very proud of being Chinese as you have a wonderful culture. You can even keep your pride while living overseas, because your country has the finest culture in the world."
Okinawa Ambassador Sees Show Twice in One Day
Michiko Nakada, the Okinawa Ambassador of Tourism, a dancer and singer, watched DPA show twice on Feb. 11 at Hitomi Memorial Auditorium in Tokyo, a popular public destination for the Japanese imperial family.
Michiko Nakada, Okinawa Ambassador of Tourism, and a dancer and singer
"My tears were pouring out throughout the whole matinee. Since I missed the opening piece, I bought tickets to the evening show as well. It would be such a pity to miss one number in such a perfect performance. I'm glad that I didn't miss this opportunity," said Ms. Nakada at the evening show.
The opening program that Ms. Nakada was thrilled about is called The Five Millennia Begin. It tells a story of divine beings meeting in heaven and descending to Earth. They bring the gift of culture and launch 5,000 years of Chinese history.
"The overall coordination is very intricate--the backdrops displayed the numerous deities descending to the mundane world--the backdrops and the dancers formed one body. I have never seen such a scene."
Ms. Nakada said that the performance made her feel refreshed and revitalized. "I think ancient people and gods co-existed. People did not commit bad deeds because if they did that, the sky would darken. The performance depicted this kind of world."
As a professional folk dancer, Ms. Nakada was enthralled by the Chinese classical dance in the show, a dance system passed down along with the history of China.
"The performance moved me to tears. The Chinese civilization is the oldest of all. I've always wanted to see the miraculous ... dance of ancient China. I've always hoped to see the non-Westernized Chinese culture."
Although she often goes to shows, she said this is one of a kind. "The songs have many messages from above. They tell people not to commit wrongdoings. This kind of message should be given to mankind often. Being upright and virtuous is the most beautiful way of living for human beings."
(Clearwisdom.net) Seoul, KOREA - Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company completed its tour in Korea on February 8, 2009 after doing its last show at the Universal Art Center in Seoul. The eleven Chinese New Year Spectacular shows received high praise from the audience.
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| The DPA's last Spectacular in Korea enjoyed a full house and was highly praised by the audience |
Mainland Chinese: The Artists Are Marvelous
Ms. Liu from China has been in Korea for two years. This was her first time see a DPA performance. "The artists are marvelous performers," said Ms. Liu.
She was also impressed by dance drama "Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution." She saw a happy family torn apart because of their belief in Truth-Compassion-Forbearance. "It was grievous and I couldn't help but cry," said Ms. Liu.
She continued to say, "The five thousand years of civilization of China is magnificent and the divine beings who made it happen is even more so. I am proud of the culture and the DPA artists. I am proud for the Chinese people."
"I Worry About Those Who Do Not Know the Truth"
Tenor Mr. Guan Guimin was a well-known singer back in China. Mr. Xu liked Mr. Guan's singing in "Let Me Not Regret." Mr. Xu said emotionally, "I worry about those who don't know the truth, especially my relatives and friends."
Mr. Xu worked for two years in Tibet and had a strong feeling when he saw "Dance of the Snow-Capped Mountain," where young men in Tibetan dress expressed their respect and joy for the divine. "The dance was terrific, so energetic," said Mr. Xu
The DPA will travel to Japan next in its tour. Their first show will be in the Hitomi Memorial Auditorium of Showa Women's University in Tokyo. Later shows will be in Nagoya, Hiroshima and Osaka. The following is the performance schedule.
Tokyo on February 11, 2009, at 13:00 and 18:00.
For tickets call 03-6380-6131
Nagoya on February 13, 2009, at 19:00.
For tickets call 050-3768-3878
Hiroshima on February 15, 2009, at 13:00 and 18:00.
For tickets call 0120-3215-93 (Hiroshima), 0120-1515-43 (east Hiroshima)
Osaka on February 18, 2009, at 14:00 and 19:00.
For tickets call 06-6353-8289
Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell at the premier of the Divine Performing Arts show in Kennedy Center Opera House. (The Epoch Times)
(Clearwisdom.net) WASHINGTON--Internationally renowned violinist Joshua Bell was so moved by the Divine Performing Arts (DPA) that he would like to adapt some of the DPA music to the violin, so that he, too, may play it.
Mr. Bell, who plays a 300-year-old Stradivarius violin, saw the show at the Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington D.C. on February 10.
"I liked it very much. It was very powerful, very emotional. I had a great time," he said.
Mr. Bell, who has studied under renowned violinist and pedagogue Josef Gingold, said he was surprised at the depth of the emotion in the DPA music.
Winner of the 2007 Avery Fisher Prize, Mr. Bell made his first recording with his 300 year old Stradivarius violin, known as the Gibson ex Huberman, in 2003, entitled Romance of the Violin. It sold more than 5,000,000 copies and remained at the top of classical music charts for 54 weeks.
His recent CD is entitled, Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, and was released near the end of summer in 2008.
Mr. Bell said he was particularly taken with the traditional two-stringed Chinese violin, the erhu.
"That was one of my favorite things, I thought it was very beautiful. Her sound is very emotional. If we don't understand Chinese culture, we sometimes characterized them in a way as being so hard working and we think of the efficiency of the Chinese people and we don't always remember how they feel things very deeply," he said.
The erhu had parallels with the violin which were intriguing, he said. "It is very expressive because it is only on two strings. So, it is very vocal, like the violin. That's why they are very similar, there are no frets like the keyboard, it's all fluid like the human voice so I see a lot of similarities."
Mr. Bell said the erhu, combined with the original scores had inspired him to pursue the music further.
"In fact I want to get a hold of the music for it because I was thinking of making an arrangement of it for violin because I think it would work very good for violin," he said.
DPA also features a live orchestra that uses a combination of Chinese and Western instruments.
"The use of the pentatonic scale in Chinese is interesting to hear," he said of the orchestra.
"It is an odd combination, but it works. It is nice to hear the Chinese instruments."
Although the award-winning violinist was particularly appreciative of the music, it wasn't the only thing that impressed him about the show. The DPA gave him a great sense of joy and vitality, he said. "I think it is very pleasing for all the senses, visually all the beautiful colors and the ensembles. It is a spectacle in a way, like a Broadway show, it tells a story and it's uplifting."
He also appreciated the incorporation of traditional culture in the performances. "I thought it was a nice touch to the show. I think it makes you feel good. You feel good about being alive and you feel sort of connected, you see their connection to a very old culture which is kind of grounding."
Mr. Bell said that he had missed the first half of the show as he was in rehearsals for his own concert at the Ford Theater the following night, but was grateful to have seen what he did of the show.
"They are reopening the Ford Theater which is why I am in town, so I swung by after that and caught the second half. I thought it was very beautiful and moving."
The Divine Performing Arts will be holding six more performances at the Kennedy Center Opera House until Sunday February 15.
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/11862/
(Clearwisdom.net) Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company and Divine Performing Arts Orchestra performed at the Robinson Center Music Hall in Little Rock, Arkansas on Monday, February 9, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The world-class presentation received rave reviews from the audience.
Helen Benes-Kaiser, a professor at the Medical School of the University of Arkansas (left)
"It Is Very Beautiful. I Am Very Impressed, Beautiful Dancing!"
Helen Benes-Kaiser, a professor at the Medical School of the University of Arkansas was very impressed with the quality of the show.
"It is very beautiful. I am very impressed. Beautiful dancing! I especially liked the women dancing, and also the quality of the dancing. I have been to many dance performances and I know a lot about ballet. So I am impressed with the quality," she said.
"Very Beautiful, Very Nicely Done"
She commented about her two favourite dances. "I liked one of the last performances the most, 'Welcoming Spring,' and I also liked the 'Dance of the Yi.' Yes, both of those I thought were very beautiful, very nicely done."
When the reporter asked her what else she liked about the show, she replied, "The design, the display, the different things they did with the fans, and the colors."
"This Show Is Definitely Very High Quality!"
Professor Benes-Kaiser said that she had attended many shows in many different parts of the world. She said that Divine Performing Arts delivered a world-class performance. "I have seen Russian dance and I have travelled in Europe a lot. I have seen classical ballet and Western classical ballet. I have seen African dancing. And I can tell you that this show is definitely very high quality!" she said.
"It Was Great--Really Enjoyed It!
Rusty Hardy, a former stage manager attended the show with his daughter, son-in-law, and his 7-year-old granddaughter.
Rusty Hardy, a former stage manager
When asked to comment on the show, he said, "It was great--really enjoyed it! The costumes, dancing, singing, all of it, and the choreography--all of it was just great. My seven-year-old granddaughter was sitting there on the edge of her seat--all night long--she really enjoyed it."
"I Really Enjoyed the Drums"
When the reporter asked Mr. Hardy what his favorite performance was, he replied, "My favorite one was the 'Welcoming Spring' dance and 'The Udumbara's Bloom' ... and the fan dance. I think it was just that the fans ... it looked just like a field of flowers blooming--it was just beautiful, just really beautiful. Yes, all these dances and the drums, I really enjoyed the drums."
He continued, "And the colors ... that's what my granddaughter said, the colors just seemed like they really came to life. It was really an enjoyable show."
"Until You See It, You Can't Imagine How Good a Show It Is"
Mr. Hardy said that he had been looking forward to the show ever since it was announced. "Until you see it, you can't imagine how good a show it is--it's just really a good show."
He continued, "My granddaughter, daughter, and son-in-law came to see it tonight. They all really enjoyed it. My granddaughter especially, she comes to a lot of shows and with a lot of them she is bored--by intermission she's bored--but she wasn't bored tonight. She was looking forward to the second-half. She really enjoyed it."
The reporter asked him what he would tell his family and friends about the show, to which he replied, "I'll tell them that they should have come to see the show and if the DPA comes back, they certainly should come to see it."
He said he was looking forward to the DPA's return next year. "I hope the show comes back, I sure hope they come back. It was really a great show."
(Clearwisdom.net) On February 11, 2009, Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company staged its first show at Hitomi Memorial Auditorium of Showa Woman's University in Tokyo. Art circle celebrities attended the world-class show and gave high commendations.
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Among the audience at the full-house show was Ryou Shouji, a respected and renowned lyricist and member of Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC), founded as a non-profit in 1939, the largest musical copyright administration society in Japan.
Ryou Shouji, a respected and renowned lyricist and member of Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, said he was touched by the songs by tenor Guimin Guan and alto Jiansheng Yang.
He said that from what he has witnessed in his 30 years of experience in the musical field, DPA vocalists, tenor Guimin Guan and alto Jiansheng Yang, are top-notch.
"Today's whole performance is extremely wonderful. As a lyricist, the most moving parts for me were the songs and lyrics. Especially Guimin Guan and Jiansheng Yang. They were absolutely touching. Another vocalist who came with me and both of us think that their voices are incomparable. I don't speak the Chinese language, but that's not important, because their songs were conveyed to the deepest part of my heart. I don't need any translation. I am already deeply moved."
Mr. Guan was one of the most celebrated tenors in China from 1970's to 80's, until he immigrated to America. Ms. Jiansheng Yang is a graduate of China's prominent Central Conservatory of Music, and later went on to study under renowned Italian opera masters.
Mr. Shouji said that he would like to write lyrics for the two DPA soloists. In his years, he has written over 4,000 songs, and is prominent in entertainment circles in Japan. Many of his songs have won prestigious awards in Japan and dominated the hit charts for weeks.
"I really hope to write lyrics for these two artists. For me, a good artist is not judged based on the number of albums released under his or her name, but whether I can dedicate myself to write for him or her. Unquestionably, these two artists are beyond my imagination.
"If possible, please pass on a message to Ms. Yang. I am currently working with NHK composers, creating a list of classical music pieces that have greatly influenced Japan's musical world throughout the past century. We can also write for Ms. Yang. I also want to invite her to NHK's vocal competition next year."
NHK International Inc., Japan's public broadcaster, has produced a total of 57,000 programs supplied to 129 countries and regions.
Japanese Writer: Only by knowing the facts can one have a wider path
Tomoyose Sadamaru, a well-known Japanese writer studying Yunan minority ethnics, attended the DPA show on February 11 and complemented the performance. He said emotionally that "The DPA show delivers the message that knowing the facts is the hope to be saved. Only by knowing the facts can one have a wider path."
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Tomoyose Sadamaru, a well-known Japanese writer studying Yunan minority ethnics, attended the DPA show on February 11 and acclaimed it. |
He said, "The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) often defames Falun Gong. After watching the show, I'd like most to tell the CCP regime that no one else can produce such a touching art performance."
Mr. Sadamaru commended the high-level performance as being highly-skilled, which was clearly unmatched by the Beijing Olympic opening ceremony.
He loves Chinese culture and studied Chinese language in China. He knows well Chinese culture and social problems. He wrote many books on Yunan minority ethnics.
Mr. Sadamaru said, "What I liked most is the 'Dance of the Yi' and 'The Mystical Phoenix', which remind me of the dancing of Tai ethnic people."
He continued emotionally, "I wish that Chinese people in China could see the show. As a Japanese, I wish that Chinese people could know of the efforts of Falun Gong practitioners, who are being persecuted. They can present such rich programs. I hope that some day the Chinese people can watch the show freely."
Chinese Writer: I agree with the principle "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance"
Chinese writer Mr. Qiu watched the show in Tokyo and said, "The DPA show presented dancing and songs, which are very good. The show presented history and legends very well."
When he learned that DPA has three touring companies, he said with surprise, "Great. I thought it was great at the beginning."
He said, "I agree with the principle of Falun Gong, 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance'. Along with the social development, the cultures become diversified. It is impossible to restrict people with one thought. So many people believe in Falun Gong. It must be right. You cannot eliminate it with class struggle, or by making it the enemy."
He said that the nature of the CCP's opposition to moral values, people, and society should be widely exposed.
He continued, "The biggest difference between religion and the CCP is that religion defines the basic questions of life and death, where people come from and where they go. But the CCP asks people to contribute their lives to the party. Religion has nothing to do with science. We see that China has so many problems. Why did they happen? Why imprison Falun Gong practitioners? Why persecute Falun Gong in China? Is there any law in China? Everyone should think it over."
Magazine Editor: "The show is far beyond my expectation"
The editor of a Japanese magazine was touched by the show in Tokyo, "Today's show is far beyond my expectation. The costumes are beautiful and colorful. I am shocked. Though I saw some photos of the DPA show before I came, I didn't expect that watching on the spot would be so astonishing. I have never seen such a good show. The backdrop design is novel and the performers seem to walk out and into the backdrop very naturally."
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Japanese magazine editor and his family attended the DPA show |
He initially thought that his son would not understand the show, "He was very quiet today and watched attentively." Then he asked his son, "Which program do you like?" His son answered, "I wish the program 'The Monkey King Triumphs' was a little longer. I also liked the programs with drum playing."
(Clearwisdom.net) On February 4, 2009, Divine Performing Arts (DPA) presented its last of three performances at the Eisemann Center in the Greater Dallas/Fort Worth Metro Area. Audience members were greatly impressed by this spectacular Chinese classical performing arts show.
The DPA show transcends time and space, bridges diverse cultures, stands undisturbed by chaotic world affairs, and provides the audience with a wonderful evening. At the end of the show, audience members gave the performers a standing ovation. Some expressed their appreciation by bowing and showing Zen hand gestures. Many were reluctant to leave, and talked and shared their joy and excitement.
Many of the spectators came from business and arts circles. They had high praise for the DPA's outstanding artistic achievement.
Former Russian Ballerina: Chinese classical dance tells stories and imparts philosophy
Russian Ballerina Nina Belogorskaya (first from right)
Former Russian ballerina Nina Belogorskaya said, "The DPA show is very beautiful and spectacular. From the beginning to the end, I loved every second of it. My daughter and granddaughter also loved it very much."
Speaking from her rich experience as a ballerina, Ms. Belogorskaya had only good things to say about the Chinese classical dances. She felt that the sophisticated movements not only demonstrated very advanced techniques, but also the beauty and elegance of Chinese culture. "The movements were smooth and unbroken and the artistry was clever. The whole show was very Chinese. It was a good illustration of the Chinese spirit."
Ms. Belogorskaya was surprised by the expressive nature of the colorful dances. She felt that the stories and the characters were very alive. More importantly, in her opinion the cultural connotations and the philosophy behind the stories were incredible. "It is hard to imagine that a simple move or several movements could so wonderfully portray the deep emotion and meanings behind the story. The thinking behind these movements must be very profound and full of philosophy."
From the Chinese dances, Ms. Belogorskaya could see the true nature of the Chinese people, "They are not only beautiful, dignified and elegant, but also compassionate, gentle and resilient."
Former Department Store Manger: I felt comfortable and happy
Bob, a former manager of a large department store, and his wife wished they had a larger vocabulary to describe their love of the show: "Wonderful, outstanding, perfect, splendid, fantastic."
Bob said, "Tonight was an experience full of joy. I felt so comfortable during the show. The DPA show brings happiness and beauty to life."
He lived in Taiwan for ten years and loves the Chinese culture. He felt that the DPA presented authentic Chinese culture.
Bob's wife said that she could not adequately describe her feelings about the show. "The Chinese classical dances were so graceful and expressive. The color, the light, especially the costumes were simply the best."
Both Bob and his wife also appreciated the show's message. They thought the message was very real and important.
Technology Company Consultant: I was so excited to see the show
Business consultant Mike Baez (first from right)
Mr. Mike Baez is a business consultant at a global technology company. Recently, he traveled to Dallas from New York on business and bought tickets for the DPA show. He and his wife Margret were both very delighted with the show.
Mr. Baez said, "This was a fantastic show. It presented a very ancient history and culture. The show also contained some beautiful messages. It was indeed very exciting."
He thought the colors used in the show were simply gorgeous and breathtaking, and the musical presentations very elegant and appealing. Asked about the "beautiful messages" he mentioned, he cited the pieces about good people being unfairly persecuted for their spiritual belief and said that this was an important message in the show.
Mr. Baez said that he was not familiar with the facts of the persecution, but he would definitely pay more attention to it now. He said that the principle of "good people will be rewarded and bad people will see retribution" was a significant teaching that he would remember forever. "To good people this is wonderful news," he said. "The show has accomplished a lot--my time spent here was so pleasant."
Texas State Representative's Chief of Staff: Everything was so amazingly harmonious
State Representative Allen Vaught's chief of staff Frederick Lopez and his fiancé, Dr. Aimee Garza
Texas House District 107 Representative Allen Walter's chief of staff, Frederick Lopez, and his fiancée, Dr. Aimee Garza, attended the final DPA show in Dallas on February 4. They had not seen Chinese classical dance before, but were mesmerized by the storytelling and the historical background of the show.
Dr. Garza said with a big smile, "The show was simply so beautiful." She said she always liked dances, but today's show deeply touched her heart.
Mr. Lopez said, "The DPA show gave me an opportunity to learn about the Chinese culture, the tradition of the New Year, and related stories. The costumes, the color, the program production, and everything else was so amazingly harmonious. Especially the dance 'Welcoming Spring.' It makes people feel like spring is coming." Dr. Garza's favorite piece was "Drummers of the Tang Court."
Both of them thought that the hosts did a good job introducing the programs. The audience gained a better understanding, not only of the show, but also about Chinese culture.
Telecommunication Company Senior Manager: The show is absolutely five star
Ms. Elena Ivarra and her husband sat in the front row near the orchestra pit. At the end of each program, they always gave long applause. Ms. Ivarra is a senior manager in the biggest telecommunication company in the US. She has served in the company for more than thirty years. Her responsibilities include feasibility studies of new customer services and standards setting.
According to Ms. Ivarra, this was the first time she had attended a show like this, but she felt absolutely sure that the show was a "five star" performance. She said, "The ideas and the various emotions expressed in the show are very rich. The colorful costumes and backdrops, together with the drumming sound--everything is so exciting and delightful."
She was also impressed by the expressive power of the dances. "They are just extraordinary." said Ms Ivarra.
Senior Stock Market Analyst Praises the DPA
Senior stock market analyst and investment advisor Carl (first from right)
Senior stock market analyst and investment advisor Carl told the reporter that the show was very spectacular and beautiful, and that it conveyed good messages. He found the show exciting and uplifting. He also said that he thought every program reflected a unique perspective, which was especially impressive. For example, he had a special liking for the "Drummers of Tang Court" and thought that the dance successfully portrayed the manly spirit and dignity of the Chinese men, which he found very uplifting.
Using poetic language, Carl said, "The DPA is a ray of sunlight. It gives us power and direction. It's a fresh stream that cleanses our troubled souls and gives us serenity and peace. During the current economic crisis, we especially need a sunny, peaceful, and optimistic state of mind."
Carl's friend Keshet is a beauty consultant. She also enjoyed the show's beauty and positive messages. She liked every program, and thought that the entire DPA show conveyed a bright, magnificent spirit. She said the girls were like fairies and angels, that their smiles were so pure and clean. "That kind of beauty is not something we could create using cosmetics. Their beauty was a radiating spirit, a complete unity of body and mind." Keshet said that she could feel that their dance movements reflected their inner peace, delight, compassion, and harmony.
(Clearwisdom.net) Divine Performing Arts International Company staged two shows in Daegu, South Korea, on January 31. The pure and beautiful shows touched the hearts of the theatergoers and moved them to tears. Movie stars, MPs, and those from the arts and business sectors all praised DPA with admiration, saying the show was very beautiful and very colorful, that the contents were easy to understand, and that it would elevate the level of art appreciation.
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Beautiful backdrops, dazzling costumes, moving dances, and serene music moved the people in Daegu to tears. They cheered and applauded the performances.
Korean national movie star: The performance is excellent--the performers are outstanding
Kang Shin-Yeong, the most famous Korean actor in the 1960s and 70s, said, "The show is absolutely beautiful, the colors are dazzling, and the performances are permeated with Chinese characteristics. The Korean national tradition is very beautiful, but the Chinese traditional culture is even more colorful, and this makes the performances outstanding. They are all very easy to understand. Time flew by so quickly. I feel very grateful." He said the performances were nicely linked together, and the chief director must have worked very hard [to produce such a wonderful show].
Kang Shin-Yeong had sent a congratulatory message to Divine Performing Arts prior to the show. Afterwards he could not stop singing its praises.
Kang Shin-Yeong believes in Buddhism and said, "Some of the content of the program are from Buddhist legends and are very easy to understand. There is a performance called 'The Monkey King Triumphs.' Our children loved it. The content is clear, simple, and very interesting. The whole show is beautiful, very beautiful."
He started his career in the movies in 1960, playing the lead male actor in over 500 films. Some of his accomplishments include the Blue Dragon Award (the most prestigious award in the Korean movie sector) and the best male actor award at the 10th and 28th MBC Film Awards. He also won best male actor in the 25th Asian Film Festival.
Kang Shin-Yeong is now the director of the Korean Film Association, a film director, and a producer. He was elected as a MP in 2000, and has become rather influential in the political and arts sectors.
District Councilor: Divine Performing Arts can raise people's level of arts appreciation
Mr. Qin, a District Councilor in Suseong of Daegu, has always committed himself to the development of culture. He saw the show last year and was full of praise after seeing the show this year. He said, "I have a complete new feeling again this year.
"Divine Performing Arts has proven to be the top performing company in the world. The beautiful landscape of the central plains shown on the backdrop and their wonderful performances are extremely entertaining."
Mr. Qin is very grateful to Divine Performing Arts for staging such a wonderful performance for the people in Daegu.
Mr. Qin said, "People in Daegu don't have many opportunities to enjoy shows by companies like Divine Performing Arts. We are very grateful to DPA for bringing us such a wonderful show, and I'm particularly happy that the show is staged at Suseong Artpia Theatre. This will greatly improve the arts appreciation level of the people."
Mr. Qin not only supports arts activities, but also cares a great deal about human rights issues. He particularly mentioned that he was very saddened by the fact that Falun Gong practitioners are being persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime. He said he felt admiration for Falun Gong practitioners who, even though suffering physically, remain eternally spiritual as shown through the form of art. He said he knew that many renowned figures in South Korea highly respect Falun Gong, and he believes that one day Falun Gong will be respected throughout the world.
Mr. Qin's father was an outstanding fine artist and an educator. He introduced Western paintings to Korea in the early years of the 20th century and enjoyed extremely high prestige in arts circles in Daegu. As the next generation, Mr. Qin is totally devoted to the promotion of culture and arts.
Head of the Secretariat: A world-class performance, and it makes people feel very proud
Head of the Secretariat in Yeongju City Mr. Kang said, "Before I saw the show, my understanding of Chinese arts was limited to the acrobatics I watched when traveling in China. Divine Performing Arts has enabled me to have a brand new understanding and a precious experience. I'm deeply grateful."
Mr. Kang said, "The Chinese colors in my mind are a series of basic colors. This is the first time I have seen such colors displayed by DPA. They are incomparably gorgeous, very beautiful and touching." "Everything is excellent. The dancers' movements are very beautiful and well coordinated, and their body language opened my memory and I felt s if my inner world had been awakened."
In the end he said, "The fact that we can enjoy such a world-class show in a regional city in itself makes us feel very proud."
Gentleman from China: Very touching, the feelings are beyond words
Thirty nine year-old Mr. Jin came to Korea to visit his family five months ago. He said, "When the first program, 'The Five Millennia Begin,' started, the moment the curtains opened, I was deeply touched. The feeling is very subtle, beyond words. If I have to put it in words, then it was a feeling of yearning for the realm of the Divine."
He also admired the high-tech backdrops, noting that they are very vivid and make people feel they are personally on the scene. "From the loud applause alone, one can imagine how popular Divine Performing Arts is around the world."
He said that although China advocates atheism in recent years, there are many members in his family who believe in Gods and Buddhas, and naturally he has been influenced as well. He reveres Gods and Buddhas.
Artist from China: Divine Performing Arts is very pure, very unique
One lady from China, who did not want to reveal her real name, works in the arts in China. She said with admiration, "The programs presented by Divine Performing Arts are indeed very pure, and the choreographers have shown great ingenuity. The dances reflect internal strength--soft externally and strong internally. They are fascinating, especially dances such as 'Dance of the Yi' and 'Dance of the Snow-Capped Mountain.' The have depicted the cultural charm of ethnic nationalities. Very touching."
Student from China: I hope I'll have a brand new understanding of the Chinese people
Luo Ying, a student who has been studying in Korea for three years, said that last year he came to the show at his friend's suggestion. He found it unexpectedly wonderful, so he came again this year. He said he could feel the profundity of the ancient Chinese culture. "The first and the last programs in particular tell people that only by being kind and doing good things can one break away from the wrong path and keep righteous beliefs." He said he felt very proud of being Chinese.
Mr. Luo was very impressed with the way DPA depicts ancient Chinese civilization, and said, "I like it very much. That is why I have come to see it again. I'm rather disgusted with the [Chinese Communist Party] Spring Festival Evening. I really don't like it, because it is full of political motivations. Anyone who has a little bit of sense of politics can feel that it has very clear political intentions. Nobody likes it."
After the show, Luo Ying said he felt very proud of being Chinese. At the same time he hopes everyone will see the show, because that way people will have a new understanding of the Chinese people. "This is my hope," he emphasized.
A brand new feeling, very deep inner meanings
Li De (assumed name) has been studying in Korea for three years. After the show he said that every program was very touching, especially the last one. It gave him a completely new feeling and had very deep inner meanings.
Mr. Li was very touched by the program "Monk Ji Gong Abducts the Bride," saying, "All those people who have been saved should thank Monk Ji Gong. From this we should also learn a lesson: Better safe than sorry."
(Clearwisdom.net) The night on February 7, 2009 was the fifth show of Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company at the Universal Arts Center in Seoul. The audience was filled with admiration of the superb show, the gorgeous costumes, the far-reaching artistic backdrops, the animated content and the meanings of the programs.
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Attentive audience at DPA's fifth show in Seoul.
Sculptor: Like Listening to the Teachings of the Buddha
Mr. Choi Byung Soo, a famous Korean sculptor and painter, enjoyed the show on February 7. He pleasantly said after the show, "It is as if I were listening to the teachings of the Buddha"
Mr. Choi Byung Soo, the famous Korean environmental activist, sculptor and painter
"I was impressed by every performance. The entire production was wonderful. The lyrics are great. The costumes are gorgeous and vibrant. The design of the backdrops was novel. This is the first time I have seen these kinds of backdrops." He said, "During the first half, 'Dance of the Snow-capped Mountain' demonstrates the young men's strength and the ladies elegance; the dance drama 'Monk Ji Gong Abducts the Bride' depicts Ji Gong, who foretold the future and saves the villagers with his compassion and wisdom. It was very educational."
The subject matter of Mr. Choi Byung Soo's paintings are mainly on social and environmental issues. The content mainly exposes the dark side of society. After he saw the show for the first time today, he felt he should paint more beautiful scenes from now on.
He said, "The show makes me feel a sense of true happiness and true teachings. During the show, I was seriously thinking: Are we lives from heaven? At last, when I saw the Buddha appear in the backdrop, at that moment, I felt a great sense of awe. I truly listened to the teachings of the Buddha."
Dance Group Head: Feeling the Influence of Chinese Dance
Ms. Kim, head of a dance group named "Show," enjoyed the fifth DPA show in Seoul. She said after the performance, that the influence of Chinese dance left a deep impression on her.
That night, Ms. Kim watched the show with several of her dance students. She felt that the most impressive aspect of the show was the perfect combination of the performance of the dancers and the backdrop designs. "The dancers' facial expression as well as their skills impressed me, and especially the young men's dance moved me deeply," she said.
Ms. Kim stated that the performance and the backdrop design are so harmonizing and in unity, making the show all the more enjoyable. The costumes and lighting was also beyond human imagination, she said. The story-based legends reflected many current social issues, "It was a very meaningful performance. In 'The Poet's Vision,' the stage setting and the backdrop blended so well together. I think young people must watch this kind of show."
"In this theater, I have learned a lot." Ms. Kim said, "I would also like to try [to create] similar programs based on DPA's inspiration."
Dr. Choi: A Magnificent Production
Dr. Choi, Chairman of the Korean Regional Development Foundation and a Doctor of Science, watched the show and said, "Overall, this show is a magnificent production. The technology of combining backdrops with the stage setting is very unique. It also closely links the present affairs with history. Preparing for this show must have taken quite some effort."
Dr. Choi said he saw the show last year as well. However, he was not able to enjoy the entire show due to some meeting conflicts, "This time I came again."
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Dr. Choi, Chairman of the Korean Regional Development Foundation, and a Doctor of Science: "This is such a grand show. I hope more young people will come to see it."
Dr. Choi said, "All of the dancers worked really hard. The singers sang great lyrics. I think they are all high-caliber artists. Soprano Yao Jiansheng's voice was very unique. When she started singing, I was astonished. She has a great voice. I felt great listening to the song."
Dr. Choi suggested, "This is such a grand show. I hope more young people will come to watch this show. But very few young people are here today. They should see this kind of show and understand the traditional culture."
Dr. Choi said, "No human being can control what happens in this world. Therefore, we should not forget the presence of the divine. We should be respectful and listen to the words of Gods."
Property Successor of the Korean XV "Lions Games": Magnificent Scenes beyond Our Imagination
Mr. Lee, successor of the Korean XV "Lions Games" came to the show and said excitedly, "The magnificent scenes are beyond our imagination. It was so refreshing. The trip was well worth it to see the show."
Mr. Lee thought DPA's costumes are so different from Korean clothing. He found the costumes to be very elegant, clean and simple. At the same time, he felt that "the backdrops are so special. Overall, it was wonderful. For example, when the actors appear on the backdrops and then disappeared. It deeply impressed the audience."
He thought that every dancer worked very hard and performed outstandingly. He said he would tell his students, "I hope the 'Lions Game' participants work as hard as the DPA performers so we can continue to grow and develop."
Member of Parliament: Chinese Culture is the Origin of Korean Culture
Mr. Choi, a Member of Parliament, said after the show, "Five thousand years of traditional Chinese culture has a deep relevance to the Korean culture. In the current society, there are very few opportunities to watch this kind of performance."
He said, "The theme of traditional dance is very moving. Koreans can also understand the connotations of the DPA show. It felt very peaceful and inviting. Through today's performance, I could feel the origin of our traditional culture. This is very meaningful for us." He said that in terms of rhythm and themes, the traditional Chinese culture is the origin of traditional Korean culture.
Korean's Last Emperor's Great-Great-Grandson: People in South Korea Should Learn More about China
Mr. Lee, South Korean's last Emperor's Great-Great-Grandson, President of the Republic of the Korean Cultural Foundation, was deeply moved by the show. He said, "It appears that we should learn more about China."
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Mr. Lee, South Korean's last Emperor's Great-Great-Grandson, President of the Republic of the Korea Cultural Foundation, was deeply moved by the show.
"I think the dance, 'The Poet's Vision' as well as the drama dance 'The Monkey King Triumphs' are very interesting." Mr. Lee thought that the DPA show was very refreshing and exciting. He said, "Normally, it is not easy to stay connected with Chinese culture. I am really touched by the DPA show. I feel I should develop more cultural exchanges with Chinese culture and I should watch more of these kinds of shows."
Mr. Lee used to be a well-known singer. He was impressed by the vocalists' lyrics and performance, "In those songs, it kept mentioning about the reincarnation of lives, which gives people much to ponder and makes a deep impression."
The DPA show made Mr. Lee feel that we should make it a priority to preserve traditional culture. He said, "If the traditional culture disappears, the country will be gone too. We should preserve the traditional culture to revive the nation's spirit."
Head of an Association of North Koreans: A Very Beautiful, Pure and Sincere Performance
Mr. Han is the head of an association of North Koreans: 28 groups including the Christian Social Responsibility, North Korean Christians United Association and Salvation of the North Korea Policy Institute. After the show, he said, "This is my first time watching the DPA show. This is a very beautiful, pure and sincere performance. It is astonishing to see the difficult Chinese classic dances based on five thousand years of profound Chinese culture."
Mr. Han, head of an association of North Koreans: the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) should stop the persecution of the spiritual movement and its despicable behavior towards the Chinese people.
In particular, he liked the dance "The Poet's Vision." Mr. Han said that he heard many stories of poet Li Bai when he was in North Korea. Therefore, the dance "The Poet's Vision" gave him a deep impression about the poet. Other dances were also beautiful and were very touching to him.
As for the story of Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted to death by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Mr. Han can completely relate to his own experience in North Korea, which is ruled by the North Korean Communist Regime. He said, "The CCP should stop the persecution of the spiritual movement. It needs to stop its despicable behavior towards the Chinese people."
(Clearwisdom.net) Kim Ji Hee, Director of the Museum of Natural Dye Arts, Chairperson of International Women Artists and Honorary Professor at Catholic University of Daegu watched the Chinese New Year Spectacular presented by Divine Performing Arts on January 31, 2009. She wholeheartedly recommended the show to everyone, saying, "DPA brims with artistic perfection. Please don't miss this stunning feast!" This is the second year that Kim Ji Hee has seen the show.
 Kim Ji Hee, Director of the Museum of Natural Dye Arts, Chairperson of International Women Artists and Honorary Professor of Catholic University of Daegu |
Professor Kim noted that this year's Spectacular uses basic but lively colors to tell the story; the scenes are not only magnificent but also very natural and full of life. "The entire performance exudes artistic charm," she said. "In Welcoming Spring, fans were used to form flowers, and their intricate, poetic footwork draws one into the exhilarating and refreshing world on stage; the last number, Flowing Sleeves was ineffably beautiful. Although we have similar dances in our country, DPA is exemplary and much more dazzling in terms of technique. I have learned lots of lessons from them, which I can apply in the field of natural dye."
"When Mulan in Mulan Joins the Battle puts down her handiwork and took her father's sword, the backdrop scene which displayed the breathtaking countryside was so invigorating and relaxing, which really helped drive the message home [filial piety and patriotism]. The Mongolian Chopsticks dance was vigorous and ravishing."
Professor Kim praised Divine Performing Arts, saying, "The lines expressed throughout the dances were smooth and graceful, the colors were more than the eyes could digest at any given time; it really was virtuosity beyond words." She said modern women have somewhat lost their femininity due to the competitiveness of contemporary society, and it was such a treat to watch the portrayal of women's delicacy and elegance as they once were.
To Kim, DPA's incredible appeal lies not only in its consummate loveliness but also its depiction of diverse cultures. "The costumes are ever changing and always gorgeous, and people are exposed to not only the arts but also the values and characteristics of different ethnic groups."
Kim said that DPA presented an impeccable combination of classic and modern art, and everyone can identify with one or more of the number in the show. This is why DPA has garnered such widespread popularity within such a short period of time. Kim continued, "All of DPA's music, drama and dance contain profound meanings, such as Mulan Joins the Battle and The Legend of the Brush. It is much more than stage art and rhythmic dance. It reconnects us with the deep roots in ancient legends which are highly educational for children."
Kim Ji Hee says that modern education overemphasizes financial and technical aspects and lacks philosophical and moral implications. She hopes that traditional values such as filial piety, integrity and compassion will be preserved and taught in schools along with math and science.
Professor Kim drafted a letter of congratulations to Divine Performing Arts before they arrived in South Korea. In it she said, "Good music, art and performance can purify the soul and assist one in finding his good nature. As an artist who loves classical arts, I pray this show will lead people in finding the traditional culture that was imparted to them by the divine. I sincerely welcome Divine Performing Arts and hope this performance will always stay in Daegu people's memory as a cherished experience."
(Clearwisdom.net) The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, opened its doors to a world-class show by Divine Performing Arts (DPA) Company and Divine Performing Arts Orchestra on Tuesday, February 10, 2009. The exclusive preview performance was an "invitation only event," with nearly sold-out public performances scheduled throughout the week.
Ms. Bynum, a public relations professional, designer, and owner of a fashion accessories company, had longed to see the DPA show for years.
Having been involved in many different performing arts disciplines, she was able to enjoy the DPA from a myriad of levels.
"I was a music major at one time, so I know voices. It was such a touching program, it really was. From the dance, to the music ... You could [feel the energy from] the performers, the orchestra, the singers--I was so impressed with the singers, their voices were magnificent."
Ms. Bynum enjoyed how each performance was masterfully presented, saying, "The costumes were amazing, the colors--great colors together--the pinks, the greens, the fucias, and the oranges. It was such a magnificent presentation! Whoever put this together, the choreography and everything, did an amazing job."
In an excited voice she shared, "The generosity, the spiritual aspect of the performance. I expected that it was going to be beautiful with dancers--I didn't expect that I was going to be touched in my heart. That was really amazing--it was an amazing performance."
She continued, "The richness of the instruments and the richness of the voices--of the singers--I really wasn't prepared for that!"
Public Relations Specialist: "It Was a Very Powerful Evening"
Ms. DuPlain, a public relations specialist, excitedly said, "It was spectacular! It was one of the great, great performances that I have seen here at the Kennedy Center, and I have been coming here for the last almost 40 years ... It was so dramatic, and profound ... really the caliber of the performers was spectacular, and the backdrop, and the music, and the precision of their acting and performances, was just amazing. I'm thrilled. I'm going to tell everybody to come!"
She felt that the performances had an element of spirituality in them--an ethereal essence that made the show much more than meets the eye.
"To see this level of expression of dance so beautifully portrayed, and it also felt very spiritual, and I think that this element ... was coming from love, and this element had a higher calling than just a dance per se," she said.
Ms. DuPlain concluded the interview by saying, "It was a very powerful evening, and I was very touched by this group of performers."
Publicist: "I Love the Colors, I Love the Music'
Ms. Deng, a publicist from Sudan with a degree in theater, enjoyed the opening night with several of her close friends.
"I thought the show was fantastic. I love the colors, I love the music, and I love the dance and choreography," she said.
She especially liked the aesthetic quality of the visual effects, saying, "The colors, the fluid movements, and the way the different fabrics hit the light; it was definitely something."
Ms. Deng was intrigued with the performance, "Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution" saying that she will "definitely find out more ... about Falun Gong and the people who are persecuted in China."
Ms. Deng was impressed with the human rights topics touched upon in the show.
"I think it was great because it was understated [without] being so in your face," she said. She noted that the audience was able to understand the message "without [the performers] even having to say words." She added that dance was the best translation of the message.
Ms. Deng walked away from the show with the heartfelt feeling that if "you acted a proper way, you will be rewarded later."
Source: http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/11800/
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/11803/
http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/11802/
NEW YORK - Chinese security forces' severe torture and disappearance of leading human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Gao Zhisheng highlights the life-threatening danger facing Falun Gong adherents and those who come to their defense in China and must prompt a strong international response, the Falun Dafa Information Center said Thursday.
"Gao Zhisheng has repeatedly risked his life to stand up against injustice. He has been abducted and tortured largely for defending Falun Gong adherents publicly, exposing the atrocities they have suffered and calling upon the regime's leadership to end its campaign against this large group of ordinary Chinese seeking to practice their faith in peace," says Falun Dafa Information Center spokesman Erping Zhang.
"His horrific treatment for doing so should be a wake-up call to the international community of the Chinese regime's disregard for human rights and the rule of law. Gao's case shows clearly that absent international pressure with teeth, China's leaders cannot be depended upon to uphold the basic dignity and rights of their own people."
Gao Zhisheng, a Chinese rights lawyer featured on the front page of the New York Times in 2005 and listed among the top three candidates for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize, relayed the brutal torture he suffered in police custody in 2007 in a statement released on his behalf on Monday and published by the China Aid Association and Human Rights in China. (statement)
Several days before the letter was made public, on Feb. 4, Gao was again abducted by Chinese authorities. His current whereabouts remain unknown and he is at severe risk of torture.
Torture Account
In the statement released Monday, Gao describes the treatment at the hands of Chinese security agents after he was abducted on September 21, 2007 for writing a letter to the U.S. Congress detailing abuses surrounding preparation for the Olympic games.
Gao describes in great detail being stripped naked, thrown to a concrete floor where several officials beat him and shocked him with electric batons all over his body, including on his genitals and in his mouth. On other occasions, Gao was pinned down while torturers pierced his genitals with sharp objects. During the abuse, his torturers repeatedly linked his treatment to that of Falun Gong, whose persecution he is known for publicly condemning:
"The 12 courses [of torture techniques] we're going to give to you were practiced on the Falun Gong," Gao recounts one torturer named Wang saying. "We can torture you to death without your body being found."
The torture lasted for 50 days. Gao says he was threatened that if he were to reveal the torture he had suffered, he would be abducted again and tortured in front of his wife and small children.
Gao was eventually moved to a regular prison cell where several officials suggested that he write articles attacking Falun Gong and praising the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and that he could "charge whatever you want," implying the government would pay him large sums of money to do so. Gao refused.
International Appeal
Gao's letter closes with a few thoughts directed at foreign governments and his fellow citizens: "Finally, I want to say a few words which won't be liked by some folks. I want to remind those so-called global 'good friends', 'good partners' called by the CCP that the increasing degree of brutality and coldness against the Chinese people by the CCP is the direct result of appeasement by both you and us (our own Chinese people)."
China watchers frequently point to economic and political relationships with the Chinese regime and suggest that taking a strong stance on cases such as Gao's or Falun Gong may damage the advancement of interests in other areas such as the economy, energy and the war on terror.
Zhang, however, says such views are shortsighted. "Free countries have never really benefited from appeasing nations ruled by tyranny," says Zhang. "In the end, it always comes back to haunt us, and often in the worst of ways. The best partner for the international community would be a China in which decent, courageous individuals like Gao Zhisheng are honored, not tortured."
"The decision to detain and torture such a high-profile figure could only originate near the top on the Chinese regime's hierarchy. The Chinese leadership clearly evaluated the pluses and minuses of doing this to Gao and determined they could take these actions with relative impunity. It is time for the international community to tilt the balance of that cost-benefit analysis with a strong response."
The Falun Dafa Information Center calls for:
Additional background on Gao Zhisheng:
Beginning in 2004, Gao, a devout Christian, was the first of China's high-profile human rights attorneys to speak publicly against the persecution of Falun Gong. Gao also authored several open letters to Chinese leaders (letter 1 / letter 2 / letter 3) as well as the U.S. Congress (letter) detailing his own investigation into atrocities against Falun Gong. In 2007, Gao published a book, A China More Just, detailing his life and work defending a gamut of China's vulnerable groups.
Founded in 1999, the Falun Dafa Information Center is a New York-based organization that documents the rights violations of adherents of Falun Gong (or "Falun Dafa") taking place in the People's Republic of China. In July of 1999 China's autocratic Communist Party launched an unlawful campaign of arrests, violence, and propaganda with the intent of "eradicating" the apolitical practice; it is believed certain leaders feared the influence of the practice' 100 million adherents. The campaign has since grown in violence and scope, with millions having been detained or sent to forced labor camps. The Center has verified details of over 3,000 deaths and over 63,000 cases of torture in custody (reports / sources). Falun Gong is a traditional-style Buddhist "qigong" practice, with roots in the Chinese heritage of cultivating the mind/body for health and spiritual growth.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE FALUN DAFA INFORMATION CENTER
Contacts: Gail Rachlin (+1 917-757-9780), Levi Browde (+1 646-415-0998), Erping Zhang (+1 646-533-6147), or Joel Chipkar (+1 416-709-8678)
Fax: 646-792-3916 Email: contact@faluninfo.net, Website: http://www.faluninfo.net/
(Clearwisdom.net) On February 8, 2009, Falun Gong practitioners in the San Francisco Bay Area were invited to take part in the annual Vietnamese New Year parade and present the beauty of Falun Dafa to San Jose residents. The enthusiastic audience gave practitioners warm rounds of applause and cheers.
Falun Gong practitioners hold banners reading "Falun Dafa" and "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance" in Vietnamese
Falun Gong procession passes the rostrum
Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Gong exercises
The Divine Land Marching Band captivates the audience
The parade proceeded through the main streets of San Jose. The Divine Land Marching Band composed of Falun Gong practitioners performed music including "Falun Dafa Is Good," "Fa Rectifies Heaven and Earth," and "Deliver the Treasures." Practitioners demonstrated exercises and were applauded warmly.
Ms. Hoa, who was watching the Vietnamese New Year parade for the first time, applauded nonstop as the Divine Land Marching Band passed by. She said that the band's performance was very good. The band members dressed in traditional clothing, which was unique. She said she was brought up in Vietnam and knew very well that people in Communist countries have no freedom.
The parade organizer, Terasa Hung, said, "The Divine Land Marching Band and Falun Gong exercise demonstration were very welcome. Falun Gong practitioners' performance was brilliant, and we are proud that we invited them to join the parade. We are honored that they participate in the parade every year. I hope that Falun Gong practitioners in China can have freedom. The freedom of belief and expression should be protected. The persecution in China should be ended."
Ms. Xiong, who plays the bass trumpet in the band, told the reporter, "We participated in the parade today in order to bring the local residents the beauty of Falun Dafa. The Divine Land Marching Band was formed by Falun Gong practitioners from all walks of life. We participate in every community parade to let more people understand Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa practitioners are still being persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party in China, and we hope more and more people understand the facts and help to stop the persecution.
(Clearwisdom.net) My name is Huang Yanqing. On the afternoon of June 25, 2008, I was abducted by two policemen who forced me into a squad car and then took me to the Haikou Brainwashing Center in Haikou City, Hainan Province.
There I met the collaborators that I had known when I was in the forced labor camp the first time. They said that they had been looking for me for many years. The place was very dark and gloomy. The windows were all shut, incense was burning, and Buddhist songs were playing. As soon as I entered, they all gathered around me and called me names. They badmouthed Dafa and Teacher, and my practicing Falun Gong. One person was muttering things next to me and had a strange expression when I turned around to look at her. Because my own righteous thoughts were not strong enough, I immediately heard things roaring in my ears and my head felt like I was wearing a hat. They said that it was animal possession, and they had to get rid of it for me. Some of them hit my back violently. I knew they were playing tricks on me.
I had been "transformed" against my will when I was previously in the forced labor camp and under the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution. I did not want to be "transformed" again. To try and force me to give up my cultivation, they burned incense that filled the room with dark smoke, they yelled in my ear through a megaphone, and they hit my head with Dafa books. They asked a "transformed" person from my hometown to try and persuade me to renounce Dafa. The person said that I would not be able to get out if I did not give up my belief, and that they would beat me to death and I had no chance of winning the fight.
I privately told the fellow that he should not practice the false Buddhist stuff there and should give it up as soon as possible. "They do not let you sleep and they beat you every day and bruise your whole body. They hit you when they ask you questions and beat you whether you respond to them or not. It is extremely evil. How can this be the true Buddhism. Could true Buddhism be like this?"
Besides this pressure, I was handcuffed to the window in the restroom overnight many times. The worst thing was that after 10:00 p.m. when I got tired, they would beat me as soon as I closed my eyes to stop me from falling asleep. They forced me to circle around the Buddha statue in the room, while also chanting "Ah_Mi_Tuo_Fo" ("Buddha Amitabha"), to try and force me to "transform". When I refused to comply, they called in a newly "transformed", thirty-year-old man to hit me. Several times he used his hands to choke me and hit my head against the wall. Sometimes I was forced to stand all night with my hands and legs stretched straight and I was not allowed to move. When I made the slightest move due to a mosquito bite, he would punch me on my body, head, or back.
They forced me to first stand straight, then with one hand holding the ear on the opposite side, I had to bend at the waist and have the other hand touch the ground on the opposite side. I then had to keep turning in circles while holding this position. It was unbearable -- as time went on, my hands and legs would get tired and they began to tremble. I would eventually fall when I was unable to hold the position any longer.
Because the persecution was too hard to stand, I thought I might as well be put in prison. I did not think of removing the evil substance behind the persecutors. They said that I had to be trained for a few days there. I wanted to go to the prison. That night, two forty-year-old men came in. They forced me to sit on a bench, and hit me on my head, ears, and eyes with Dafa books. They broke six to seven Dafa books while beating me, and left paper shredded all over the floor. My nose, eyes, and head all hurt. I lost my hearing and my head was dizzy. They violently hit the back of my hands and caused them to swell and hurt for many days. They also stepped on me while I was on the floor.
A couple of days later, five to six people surrounded me, some holding my head, some hitting my back, to force me to "transform". I was beaten so hard that I truly could not stand any more and I finally complied. This was how the CCP forced me to "transform". They also wrote articles defaming Dafa and Teacher, and held my head down to force me to read them. They forced me to copy the articles three times. When I finished copying them the second time, with my head being held, I had a headache. I enlightened that I should not have copied the articles, but I truly could not stand the beatings.
The next day, they said that I had "transformed" voluntarily, although I was forced to do so by the CCP. Because I could not stand their continued torture and persecution, I was forced to write the three statements. Afterwards, I was very angry with myself. At the lunch break I had a dream, in which I saw that I was holding a very pretty lotus flower, but I had broken it myself. When I woke up, I tore up the draft that I had written. When they found out, they tortured me for another week using all sorts of means, in order to force me to write another one. They deprived me of sleep for a week and forced me to badmouth Dafa and Teacher, and tore the pictures of Teacher from Dafa books to force me step on them. They often trampled on Teacher's pictures, and claimed that they were not afraid of karmic retribution. They all carried Buddhist talismans, and used quilts with Buddhist seals. On the wall next to the bed they hung Buddhist pictures. They said that they were not afraid to die.
They kept intensifying their persecution of me. They forced me to turn in circles in the room from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. and listen to Buddhist songs from a tape. They forced me to follow the tape and sing along while circling, and would hit me if I stopped singing or walking. After two days my feet were swollen and I could not walk any more. Some said that they wanted to drive me crazy. Some applied the torture methods that they learned in the past on me. They used all sorts of derogatory language. Every day, they would come to my room to recite incantations that made me uncomfortable. Both my ears and head were so painful that I could not bear it. My whole body was weak and I would collapse. I rushed to the hallway to ask Teacher to save me and cleanse my body. Were it not for our great Teacher, I would have died.
They also tempted me with all sorts of interests. They played unsightly DVDs to disturb me so that I would not succeed in my cultivation. I was persecuted by them for over two months this time. The last time I was tortured in the forced labor camp, they handcuffed me, used electric batons to shock me, and my health was severely damaged. This time they tortured me and injured me again. My injuries and hearing loss did not recover until long after I was released from the brainwashing center.
(Clearwisdom.net) Chen Lirong is a 40-year-old Falun Dafa practitioner from Fuzhoucheng Town, Wafangdian City, Liaoning Province. Officers from Fuzhou Township Police Station raided her home and illegally arrested her on August 1, 2007. She is currently suffering brutal persecution in the notorious Masanjia Forced Labor Camp. When her family visited Ms. Chen recently, they noticed her hands and arms were covered with scars, and they asked her what had happened. She told them that because she would not give up her belief, the guards tied her hands and hung her up, with her feet barely touching the floor. She was suspended like that for over 13 hours. The scars on her hands were caused by the rope.
In the middle of January 2009, her husband visited her, but he was not able to get close to her. She was wearing a hat and scarf, and several guards surrounded her. Because she was covered with layers of clothes, her husband was very concerned that she had been tortured again, so he asked her to remove the hat and scarf. Since there were so many guards nearby, she did not dare to.
Another practitioner, Li Deqing, age 60, was also arrested on August 1, 2007. He is from Antai Village, Fuzhoucheng Town. He is still being held in the Dalian Correction Center, where he has suffered brutal torture and was tied on a death bed for days. He was also tortured on a rack, which is made from a steel bar with handcuffs and shackles. When a person is secured in the rack, he cannot stand, lie down, or sit straight.
(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Dafa practitioner Zhang Qiuyun was arrested six months ago. The Taocheng District Court of Hengshui City, Hebei Province sentenced her to five years in prison on January 20, 2009. Zhang Qiuyun's family believes she is innocent, and is appealing for her.
On July 20, 2008 at around 7:00 a.m., Yang Shushan from the Security Bureau and four policemen used the excuse of checking residence cards to break into Zhang Qiuyun's home. They confiscated all of her personal belongings. The policemen, claiming that they had been following her for seventeen days, took her to the station and tortured her on a tiger bench.
At 9:00 a.m., the police handcuffed her hands behind her back and later moved them to the front. They forced her to do slave labor, and she had open wounds on her wrists for a long time due to abrasion. The guards ordered three people to "transform" Ms. Zhang from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The guards gave her a guarantee statement to sign three times, but she refused, so they took her to the Taocheng District Court.
Li Wenpo is the presiding judge of the court. Ms. Zhang's family went to Li and asked for her release, but he refused; the family clarified the truth about Falun Dafa numerous times to him, but he wouldn't listen.
Her family appealed to other judges including Zhang Ying and Li Jichuan, but they were very rude and unreasonable, and refused to release Zhang Qiuyun.
Taocheng District Court
Director: Geng Guojie, 86-318-2818601(office), 86-318-2123336 (home), 86-13903184837 (Cell)
Vice-Director: Li Jichuan, 86-318-2818606 (office), 86-318-7906016 (home), 86-13313089988 (Cell)
(Clearwisdom.net) In late 2008, the Police Department of Yushu City, Jilin Province reorganized their mid-level police system, appointing new police chiefs accordingly. They also issued arrest quotas to subordinate police stations. In order to fulfill the quotas, police stations and the National Security Group have been arresting and fining Falun Gong practitioners.
At 8:30 a.m. on January 17, 2009, police officer Li Jianfeng from the Zhanqian Police Station led five other officers, including National Security Group Leader Yan Chongjie, Chen Lihui and Qi Li, to ransack the home of Falun Gong practitioner Zheng Lijia. Police officer Qi Li slapped Mr. Zheng in the face, kicked him, confiscated his Falun Gong books and the picture of Falun Gong's Teacher, then detained Mr. Zheng at the National Security Group. They informed the victim's family that he would not be released until they paid a fine. Mr. Zheng was released five days later.
That same day, five or six officers from the Peiying Police Station and the National Security Group ransacked the home of 66-year-old Falun Gong practitioner Yu Donghui. They confiscated his Falun Gong articles and took him to the National Security Group for interrogation. Afterward, he was sent to a detention center and was held for five days.
On the morning of January 18, officers Fang Liang and Yang Liang from the Xiushui Police Station broke into the home of Falun Gong practitioner Zhang Xiufan in Shuangmiaozi Village, Xiushui Town and confiscated his Falun Gong articles. They then called the National Security Group. The chief of the National Security Group Fan Hongkai and Qi Li then arrested Mr. Zhang and detained him at the National Security Group. They interrogated him for his telephone number and claimed that he will not be released until he paid a 2,000 yuan fine. If he could not pay the fine, he would be detained for five days. However, even after five days, they still refused to release him. Seeing that Chinese New Year was approaching, his family reluctantly paid the 2,000 yuan.
On the morning of Chinese New Year's Eve of 2009, Dafa practitioner Ms. Liu Shuchun from Sihe Town, Yushu City was arrested by police from the Yujiaxiang Police Station of Yushu City. Ms. Liu's family had to spend the Chinese New Year without her.
People involved in the persecution:
National Security Group:
Fan Hongkai: 86-431-83618237 (Office), 86-431-83620111 (Home), 86-15904409088 (Cell)
Yan Chongjie: 86-431-83618237 (Office)
Zhanqian Police Station:
Li Jianfeng: 86-431-83644825 86-15904409344 (Cell)
Xiushui Police Station:
Fang Liang: 86-431-83652199, 86-15904409245 (Cell)
Yang Liang: 86-15904409246 (Cell)
(Clearwisdom.net) Today's News from China includes incidents of persecution that took place in 7 cities and counties in 5 provinces. In this report, 2 practitioners were subjected to mistreatment during their detention and at least 8 practitioners were illegally arrested.
1. [Beijing] Ms. Li Xiuqing Arrested--No Additional Information sI Available
Ms. Li Xiuqing, a practitioner from Beijing, was arrested before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Her relatives went to the police station to ask for her release but got no answer. No further information is currently available.
2. [Beijing] Ms. Jiang Arrested
Ms. Jiang, 67, is a practitioner from Beijing. On January 19, 2009, the police arrested her in a supermarket, where she was distributing "truth clarification" materials about the persecution of Falun Gong. She is currently being detained in Beijing's Changping Detention Center.
3. [Diaobingshan City, Liaoning Province] Ms. Bao Jinglin Arrested
About 10:00 p.m. on January 30, 2009, officers from Daming Police Station arrested Ms. Bao Jinglin, 53, a practitioner from Daming Town, Diaobingshan City, who was reported after telling people the facts about the persecution. She is now being held in Diaobingshan City Detention Center.
Liang Di, superintendent of Daming Police Station: 86-410-68902, 86-419-6890221
4. [Liaoning Province] Several Practitioners Detained in Prison
In late 2008, twelve practitioners were sent to Xihu Prison, Benxi City, where the guards used many forms of torture in an attempt to "transform" them. They poured cold water onto them, stuck bamboo under their fingernails, beat them with electric batons, deprived them of sleep, etc.
5. [Jidong County, Heilongjiang Province] Mr. Guo Jishu Sentenced to Prison Term
Around January 10, 2009, Jidong County Court held an open session and sentenced Ms. Guo Jishu to a three-year prison term. She is currently being detained in Jixi City No. 2 Detention Center.
6. [Hebei Province] Ms. Chen Man Arrested and Held in Detention Center
About 5:00 p.m. on January 30, 2009, the police arrested Ms. Chen Man, 69, a practitioner from Xuanhua District, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, while she was distributing flyers clarifying the truth of the persecution of Falun Gong in front of Nanguan Police Station in the Xuanhua District of Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. She was taken to the local detention center. On the afternoon of January 31, 2009, she returned home safely after being unconditionally released.
7. [Yuci City, Shanxi Province] Three Practitioners Arrested and Their Homes Ransacked
On January 25, 2009, officers from Yuci City Police Bureau arrested Ms. Wang Gedan, 56; Ms. Li Hainiu, in her fifties; and Ms. Zhou Gaiying, in her fifties, all practitioners from Zhangqing Village, Yuci City, in the central area of Shanxi Province, while they were on their way to distribute informational materials. Their homes were all ransacked. They are currently being held in Yuci Detention Center.
8. [Lezhi County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province] Ms. Wu Hongling and Her Son Arrested
On July 22, 2008, Ms. Wu Hongling, 38, a practitioner from Lezhi County, Ziyang, Sichuan Province, was reported to the police while she was distributing informational materials and copies of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party in Panlong Town, Lezhi County. Officers from the Lezhi Police Bureau arrested her and took her to Lezhi Detention Center. Her son, Mr. Huang Liji, 18 years old, was also arrested. He was later taken to the Ziyang Er'e Brainwashing Center.
On December 22, 2009, Ziyang Intermediate Court sentenced Ms. Wu Hongling to a four-year prison term. She is currently imprisoned in Jianyang Women's Prison.
(Clearwisdom.net) A "Solemn Declaration" is a person's public statement to the world that whatever he or she has done or said under duress or deception that was against Falun Dafa is null and void. These statements have come from Falun Dafa practitioners in China who wish to express regret that, in the face of physical torture and brainwashing, they signed documents renouncing Dafa and guaranteeing not to practice again. Now, they hereby declare their intention to resume practicing Falun Dafa.
Here are some examples of the Solemn Declarations:
Please click here for more Solemn Declarations
(Clearwisdom.net) I started practicing Falun Dafa in early 1999. Throughout the process of studying the Fa and cultivating "xinxing", I have stumbled, but always got up again. Teacher guides me on the principles of the Fa and gives me hints, enabling me to understand the real meaning of life, its great value, and my responsibility in this human society. I have benefited mentally and physically, and I am grateful to our great and compassionate Teacher.
Before becoming a practitioner, I was obsessed with watching television. When I returned home daily from work, the first thing I did was to grab the remote control and look for shows to watch. It was as if nothing else mattered.
When I was a new Dafa practitioner, this attachment kept interfering with me, preventing me from studying the Fa in tranquility. Even during group Fa study, I would fall asleep easily. I lacked concentration, and scenes from television kept appearing in my mind. At that time, I felt very strange and wondered why it was always like this whenever I studied the Fa. I didn't even realize it when I read the wrong words. When I read Lecture Six in Zhuan Falun about "Demonic Interference in Cultivation" I realized that this was a demon that was interfering with my Fa study.
Teacher said,
"If you do not practice qigong, the environment is quite peaceful, but once you begin the qigong practice, it is like this. Many of you have never thought about it further. What's really going on? You only find it odd and feel quite disappointed about being unable to practice qigong. This "oddness" will stop your practice. It is a demon interfering with you."
After I realized that this was a deliberate attempt to interfere with my cultivation, I became determined to suppress it during Fa study and practice. As soon as it appeared in my mind, I disintegrated it by sending forth righteous thoughts. Now this is no longer a problem for me.
Teacher provides hints for me during my sleep or meditation. I work about ten miles from home, so I normally have lunch in the cafeteria. Since lunch hour is rather long, our office manager usually gathers a few colleagues to play cards. Over time, the attachments of competition, seeking comfort, and playing games developed into interference with Fa study, meditation, and exercise practice. One time while sending forth righteous thoughts at 6:00 a.m., as I was cleansing my own space, I saw two images of me going out of my body--a white transparent body on the left and a black one on the right. I caught up with them instantly, wanting to go with them. The white, transparent one changed into a picture of the five of diamonds. (In Chinese, the words for five of diamonds, "pian wo", sounds like the words "deceiving me"). Isn't this Teacher's hint that I was not supposed to be doing that? I couldn't go with them--I was supposed to be sending forth righteous thoughts! With this thought, my main consciousness returned to my body. I became tranquil and disintegrated the two images in front of me by sending forth righteous thoughts. From that point on, I stopped playing cards during my lunch break. I later also realized that computer games could have the same effect of interfering with a practitioner's Fa study and exercises.
The purpose of this article is to warn fellow practitioners who might have similar indulgences, so that they will avoid this interference. We should always abide by the Fa, cultivate ourselves, look inward, and do the three things well to be true practitioners.
(Clearwisdom.net) A physical therapy center is located close to where I live. Most of the clients are middle-aged or elderly, including retired cadres, business people, those retired from the military, and people who don't have much to do. They are financially well-off and visit the center to get simple health care and treatment. My husband, who is retired, has already withdrawn from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He has some trouble with his back and legs. He recently started visiting the center after being introduced to it by his friends. My husband is not against my practicing Falun Dafa, but when I asked him to practice with me, he said that his mind was not quiet enough and it's enough that I practice it well.
In late 2008, I still had several Divine Performing Arts Chinese New Year 2008 DVDs at home. I thought I should give them to people soon. Seeing that my husband was visiting the physical therapy center frequently, I asked him to take one DVD and give it to someone at the center. At first, he was afraid and did not want to take it. When I persisted, he agreed that I could go with him but said I could only give the DVD to the one person who was from his village.
I went to the physical therapy center with my husband. There were over a dozen people there including the therapists. People were having treatments and carrying on lively conversations. My husband led me to his friend. Before I could say anything, he said to his friend, "My wife has a DVD of a Chinese New Year show. It is very good. Here it is. Take it home and watch it." People at the center are familiar with one another, so when they heard there was a good dancing and singing DVD, they all wanted to see it. The therapist said, "I could download it to my computer and put it on my cell phone. That way it would be easier to watch." I told them that they could take turns watching it.
After I left the center with my husband, I was a little worried. What if someone saw the Falun Gong programs and reported it to the police? I immediately realized that this thought was wrong as soon it popped up. I was following Teacher's requirements to save people. I was doing the most righteous and good thing. Teacher said,
"The old forces don't dare to oppose our clarifying the truth or saving sentient beings. What's key is to not let them take advantage of the gaps in your state of mind when you do things." ("Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Boston")
A few days later, my husband told me excitedly about the feedback he got. When he went to the physical therapy center that day, everyone was quietly talking about "Divine Performing Arts." Some said the celestial girls were beautiful, and so were the colors of their costumes. Some said that they couldn't see anything of such high quality inside China. The therapist was loud and clear in his praise of the tenor, Hong Ming. However, people were afraid to talk about the Falun Gong related programs. The therapist whispered to my husband, "There are Falun Gong programs in it, so it is not safe to pass it around." Surprisingly, an eighty-some year-old lady sitting next to the therapist shouted, "Falun Gong is indeed good!"
Everyone was a little shocked by the older lady's voice. They told her "not so loud," but the old lady paid no attention. She continue to say, "What is there to be afraid of! I read Zhuan Falun every day. The book is all about being a good person and having good health. If everyone could do what the book teaches, society would be stable and there wouldn't be any killing or theft. You are good, I am good, everyone is good. In Hong Kong and Macau, it is freely practiced. If anyone wants to read the book, I can help you get one."
As it turned out, the older lady's daughter lives in Hong Kong and is a practitioner of Falun Dafa. When one person practices it, the whole family benefits. The lady's true words swept away the fear in everyone. One by one, people started talking and agreeing with her. Even the therapist told everyone that he had read Zhuan Falun when he was in college and the book was indeed very good. He had a relative who was a professor at a university in Nanjing. Before the persecution started, this professor practiced Falun Gong and even led over a dozen of his relatives to practice with him. However, he and some of his relatives had stopped practicing after the persecution started.
Ever since my husband heard the older lady's words, there has been a big change in him. His prejudice and fear toward Dafa have disappeared. It seems as if some of the bad things in his mind have been removed. The lady's words also gave people courage. As Fa-rectification surges forward, there are fewer and fewer bad things. People are awakening and wishing to hear the truth.
(Clearwisdom.net) Editors' note: In both Western and Chinese cultures, the principle of karmic retribution, that is, being held ultimately accountable for one's own actions, is widely accepted. The fundamental teaching of Falun Gong is the characteristic of the universe, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The universe will reward acts that are in harmony with this principle, while doing things such as beating, torturing and murdering people will incur karmic retribution. Stated another way, good deeds will be rewarded with good, while evildoings will meet due retribution. Articles such as this one are meant as a compassionate reminder of this principle to those who would commit wrongdoing. While many of those who persecute Falun Gong are merely "following orders," the universal law requires that they, too, be held responsible for their actions, and that only by reversing their course of wrongdoing may they escape retribution.
Liu Shoulin, Deputy Chief of the Police Sub-Branch of Linghe District, Jingzhou City
On the evening of December 28, 2008, Liu Shoulin, the deputy chief of the Linghe District Police Sub-Branch in Jingzhou City, was hit by a car and killed instantly. The car was driven by the local tax bureau official. Liu was in his forties.
When Liu was appointed to his post, he closely followed the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) orders in persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. In 2008 alone, Liu was directly involved in the persecution of over thirty practitioners. Of these practitioners, some were heavily persecuted and some were sent to forced labor camps, forced to leave behind their spouses, children and elderly dependent family members. These practitioners were illegally detained and tortured in prisons and labor camps. Some were forced to pay large extortion fees in the form of illegal fines. During this period, Dafa practitioners from Jingzhou City and from overseas continuously made phone calls and sent letters to Liu, clarifying the truth about Falun Gong. Even though they persisted in trying to convince him to give up his wicked actions, Liu insisted on doing bad deeds and continued to persecute practitioners.
Deng Youliang, Director of the Comprehensive Administrative Office of Zhaobeikou Township, Anxin County, Hebei Province
Deng Youliang, from Guolikou Village of Anxin County, in his fifties, was the director of the Comprehensive Administrative Office of Chaobeikou Township. He was at one time just a movie projector operator. With his limited abilities, however, he became the director of the Comprehensive Administrative Office, after he made some under-the-table transactions with local officials. He also maintained an ongoing affair with a female staff member in the township. Since July 20, 1999, when the persecution of Falun Gong began, Deng fully fell for the CCP's lies and put full effort into persecuting Falun Gong practitioners. He often put up posters and slogans slandering Dafa. In January 2006, Deng received karmic retribution and died of cancer.
Shao Quanshan, Party Secretary of Zhaobeikou Township, Anxin County, Hebei Province
Shao Quanshan, in his fifties, was formerly the Chinese Communist Party secretary in Zhaobeikou Township of Anxin County. He was also the head of the Poultry, Fishing and Animal Husbandry Bureau in the county. While in office, Shao was essentially a despot. Whoever dared to have any complaints or differences with him would meet his bitter vengeance. Therefore, he was discredited by most of his former colleagues. Shao was also very dissolute and had maintained an affair with one of the female staff members in his work unit, causing friction and tension between both families. During his time as the party secretary of Zhaobeikou Township, he put in great effort to persecute Falun Gong practitioners and was involved in ransacking practitioner's homes. He also extorted money from many practitioners. Shao subsequently developed a number diseases including diabetes and hypertension, and requires large amounts of medication every day to stay alive.
January 20, 2009
(Clearwisdom.net) More and more people in China are awakening to the truth and realizing that they were deceived by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) into participating in the persecution of Falun Gong, either directly as government officials, police, labor camp guards, etc., or indirectly as practitioners' family members, who in many cases may have cursed Dafa, burned Dafa books, or interfered in various other ways to prevent practitioners from following their beliefs. As a result of this awakening, the Minghui/ Clearwisdom website is receiving increasing numbers of heartfelt messages from non-practitioners who wish to publicly express remorse for their wrongdoing and announce their intention to rectify their words and deeds in the future. The editors will periodically choose representative messages of this type and publish them as articles entitled, "Solemn Statements from Non-Practitioners."
Here are some examples of the Solemn Declarations:
Please click here for more Solemn Declarations.
