(Clearwisdom.net)
On March 22, 2005, Ukrainian practitioners held an art exhibit in Slavyansk, displaying the works of artists who practice Falun Gong. People who visited the exhibit learned what Falun Gong is and the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners happening in China. The Technical Insurance newspaper of Slavyansk City in Ukraine reported on the art exhibit.
According to the news report, artist Ms. Zhang Cuiying started practicing Falun Gong in March 1997. Two years later, China started a brutal persecution against Falun Gong and its practitioners. Ms. Zhang Cuiying firmly believed that this persecution was unfair. In order to tell people "Falun Gong is good," she went to China but was thrown into jail as a result and suffered inhumane torture and persecution.
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In the end her husband, Mr. Zhou, asked for help from the Australian Government, the Foreign Ministry and the media. Ms. Zhang Cuiying was released to Australia after suffering for eight months in jail and returned to Australia.
Ms. Zhang Cuiying once said, "When I began to practice Falun Gong, it was almost as if it gave me a second life. It enabled me to continue painting. I wanted to paint the beautiful world of Falun Gong in order to express my gratitude to the great Master. Practicing 'Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance' saved me. I will never forget Master's benevolence."
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Ms. Zhang Cuiying was born in 1962 into a poor family in Shanghai. She said, "Ever since I was a little child, I have never been interested in anything other than painting. Because there was no drawing paper at home, I would first soak ordinary paper in water then hang it in the air to dry it. When the paper was half-dry, I would start painting on it. The effects of such a painting would be almost the same as those on drawing paper. After seeing this, my teacher was very surprised. Later he entered my works into regional competitions and they won awards."
Ms. Zhang Cuiying's teacher soon discovered her artistic talent. This renowned Chinese calligrapher and painter, Teacher Shen, passed on to Ms. Zhang many techniques. She was very diligent and overcame many obstacles. In the end, she gained the reward that she had been working for.
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Later, many newspapers and magazines in China and all over the world reported on Zhang Cuiying's talent. In 1985, Zhang Cuiying married Mr. Zhou and moved to Australia. She also gave birth to a daughter named Bella.
Just like other immigrants in Australia, Ms. Zhang found a job, packing frozen vegetables. But unfortunately her health deteriorated, and soon her sickness turned into serious rheumatism. After having seen all the doctors for this kind of disease and spending thousands of pounds in medical expenses, she could not be cured. The condition became worse. In the end she could not even raise a tea cup and had to give up painting.
In 1992 a qigong practice that cultivates both character and longevity appeared in China. It cultivates according to the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance." It brought a new life to Zhang Cuiying. From cultivation, Ms. Zhang not only gained physical benefits but also found the real goal in her childhood dream, a land of purity.
Zhang Cuiying once said, "After I had listened to the first lecture of Falun Gong, my pain immediately stopped. I thought, why had the pain suddenly disappeared? How could Falun Gong be so miraculous? So I started practicing Falun Gong. I had read a lot of books in search of the true meaning of life. After practicing Falun Gong, my appearance first changed. I look very young but actually I am more than forty years old. From that day on, I have returned to youth. My body returned to a healthy state. I was also doing extremely well mentally. Finally I was relieved from the pain. That was a truly wonderful feeling."
Ms. Zhang preserved Chinese classical art and hopes to share her work and her love for China with people all over the world.
Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200504/25775.html
Category: April 25 Events
