(Clearwisdom.net)
Returning to the Rightful Place
April 7, 2007
A performance that the Chinese communist party does not want people to see has moved audiences to tears in Auckland.
Auckland composer Estelle Diana Protheroe Cook felt very emotional after seeing Divine Performing Arts' Global Spectacular show on Thursday.
"The candles for those who had followed their conscience and died for their conscience, that was really touching. It made me cry!" she said.
She said the sheer beauty of the show had inspired her to try and create some Chinese-style music.
"I have never seen anything like it in my life. If they come back I am definitely going!"
Auckland man Graeme Wilson said he had become more determined to come to the show after he heard that Chinese officials were trying to pressure people not to go.
"We partially came to see the show, and also partially too as a sign of support because we were appalled that the Chinese Government representatives in New Zealand were interfering. The reality of the 21st Century is people should be able to live their lives the way they choose to. Nobody should tell them how not to think."
He said his partner was Chinese and she was upset that the Chinese consulate was trying to push people in New Zealand around.
"She was really appalled the consulate and the embassy were trying to say what things we are entitled to do."
He said the performance was "extraordinary."
"It's been really great, but also it's very important that people in any country have the freedom to do what they want."
Lead dancer and Falun Gong practitioner Elly Shu said the show was particularly unnerving for the communist officials who have continuously tried to suppress Chinese people's longstanding beliefs in Buddhas, Taos, Gods and the idea of karmic retribution.
She said during the cultural revolution in the 1960s and 70s the spiritual beliefs that the Chinese people had held for 5000 years were all but destroyed.
Ms. Shu explained that the performance entitled Returning to the Rightful Place helped people better understand the nature of Falun Gong.
"In China we have thousands and thousands of practitioners who are persecuted and thousands of practitioners are killed," said Ms. Shu. "Because the Chinese government tries to cover up the truth not many media or people stand up to tell the truth of what is happening, for the Falun Gong practitioners there, they are just practicing Truth, Compassion, Forbearance, and there is no reason to be persecuted. So we have to tell the world the truth," she said. "At the same time, because people don't believe that when you do good things, good things come back to you and when you do bad things bad things come back to you, so we want people to see that your life may end but you will never be dead. Even if the flesh body is dead, the spirit or the real body will go back to the paradise."
China's state-controlled media was one of the most damaging tools used by the communists in their efforts to eradicate Falun Gong, and so many people do not know the truth, she said.
"After people see the show they realize what the real story is," said Ms. Shu.
In this performance a Falun Gong practitioner is peacefully doing her exercises when four policemen attack her, eventually strangling her with a red communist flag.
In the next scene the four policemen who are wearing red gloves to represent the blood on their hands are slain by Heaven and sent to hell, portraying the principle of karmic retribution.
Divine Performing Arts showcases ancient traditions and spiritual beliefs from China, Mongolia and Tibet.
Chinese officials went to great lengths attempting to block the success of Divine Performing Arts held at the Civic Theatre on Thursday. VIPs, politicians and the show's sponsors received phone calls from the Chinese consul general's office asking them not to attend the show and to withdraw their support. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) also attempted to pressure supporters and politicians in Australia.