Pohjolan Sanomat (Finland): Cultivation of Mind and Body

Energy Channels open with Falun Gong

Falun Gong introduced itself in the culture centre of Kemi on Saturday. Everyone who was interested could try the exercises of Falun Gong, which were practiced slowly and peacefully in accordance with Chinese music. The exercises open and cleanse the body's energy channels. Ms. Ritva Heinonen, who tried the exercises, praised the practice and said it felt good. Powerful exercises even made the body sweat.

Practicing Falun Gong together with her husband, Mrs. Anja Pekkarinen told about the positive effects of the practice and also about the brutal persecution that practitioners in China have been suffering from.

"As a Falun Gong practitioner I cannot accept any kind of persecution. As we tour around Finland, we also tell about other groups that are being persecuted," Anja Pekkarinen

Mr. Janne Rautiainen and Ms. Aila-Kaarina N r?from the City of Kemi and Anja Pekkarinen and her husband Veijo were at Saturday at culture centre in the city of Kemi, telling about Falun Gong, which is also known as Falun Dafa.

Anja and Veijo Pekkarinen got interested in Falun Dafa approximately 2 years ago, when Anja read from newspaper about youths who were practicing the exercises of Falun Dafa in one park in the city of Oulu. She decided to go try the practice.

"Different changes occurred in me soon. I became more tolerant and different ailments started to heal. My husband also got interested in Falun Gong when he discovered its effects," tells Anja Pekkarinen.

Mr. Janne Rautiainen found information about Falun Gong from the Internet.

"I've always been interested in things related to the east and about a year ago I started to look for information about qigong. I then found out that in Falun Dafa there were many views that corresponded to my own views. I feel that with Falun Dafa my mental burden has removed. I feel better inwardly and material things feel less interesting," Janne Rautiainen says.

Physical Exercise and Cultivating the Mind

Falun Dafa is one form of the ancient Chinese qigong practice, which has been founded by Chinese Li Hongzhi. He brought his practice to the public in 1992 and ever since it has attracted millions of practitioners worldwide.

Qigong is cultivation practice of mind and body which is practiced through different physical exercises and meditation. Everyone might have an image of Chinese people who practice qigong early morning in parks. Falun Dafa is different from other qigong practices for apart from the physical exercises it stresses the improvement of morality of a person in everyday life.

"We strive to live according to principle: Truthfulness, Compassion, Tolerance," says Mrs. Anja Pekkarinen.

There is also related literature to Falun Dafa by the founder Li Hongzhi, like books, Zhuan Falun and Falun Gong, which deepen the principles of Falun Dafa. Many can first try the exercises without getting to know about the literature itself.

The Exercises Made Sweat Run

At Saturday all people who were interested could come try the exercises of Falun Dafa. There are five gentle exercises that purify and relax the body. It includes different stretching, slow vertical movements and meditation. Surprisingly breathing didn't have importance while practicing the movements.

"Thoughts need to be free, and one should not think about things," Anja Pekkarinen advises.

Ms. Irja Saloranta and Ms. Ritva Hentonen showed up to try the effect of the Falun Dafa exercises.

"Movements felt very nice. I don't know was it the energy or what, but my feet became all wet while practicing," Ms. Heinonen smiles

Mr. Veijo Pekkarinen affirms that sweating is normal, also a feeling of becoming bigger is common. The music that is playing on background helps in concentration and it helps performing the movements in a group.

Anja ja Veijo Pekkarinen has studied Falun Dafa watching the videotapes. Also all the other material is very easily available from the internet and one can contact other practitioners of Falun Dafa in the internet too.

Practitioners of Falun Dafa want to emphasize that cultivation practice is not a religion or sect. Practitioners don't need to give up their personal thinking or freedom, all the activities are also free. Practitioners of Falun Dafa also don't worship the founder of the practice, Li Hongzhi, even though he is well respected.

"We live just normal life and go to work. The most significant change is how we meet with other people. We consider other people and care for them. I cannot talk badly to anyone anymore, without apologizing," Anja Pekkarinen comments.