Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) is an ancient form of Qigong, the practice of refining the body and mind th
rough specialexercises and meditation. Like Tai Chi, Qigong is a vital part of many people's lives in Asia; almost every Chinese park is brimming by the break of dawn with people practising these ancient arts.
(Please click on the photo for information about the Children of Falun Dafa)
Within the first eight years of its public dissemination, Falun Dafa grew to become the most popular form of Qigong in Chinese history [receiving over 600 awards world-wide], a length of time that some purport to be 7000 years. The major reason for this is that Falun Dafa distinguishes itself from other Qigong practices by emphasising not only physical cultivation, but also cultivation of one's moral character in daily life, according to the principles taught by Mr. Li Hongzhi [nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize], Falun Dafa's founder. For these reasons, Falun Dafa is considered a high level cultivation practice of the Buddha School.
Falun Dafa's effectiveness in improving health & clarity of mind quickly made the practice immensely popular throughout the entire world. Since being introduced to the general public in 1992, Falun Dafa has attracted tens of millions of people in over 80 countries. Most major cities and universities in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe have English-speaking Falun Dafa practice groups.
The people who practise Falun Dafa come from every imaginable walk of life, as Falun Dafa transcends cultural, social, economic, and national boundaries. The practice has spread largely by word of mouth, as those who learn it usually find the benefits simply too good to keep to themselves.
The Principles of the Practice
The practice is simple, yet profound and effective. It consists primarily of two components: self-improvement through studying Mr. Li's teachings, and performing Falun Dafa's five gentle exercises. The exercise can be practised anywhere at anytime. The teachings are articulated in two books, Falun Gong (Law Wheel Qigong) and Zhuan Falun (Turning the Law Wheel), which are available in over a dozen languages, and can be downloaded for free.
Falun Dafa is different from most other Qigong practices in that it goes beyond the pursuit of health and fitness to the goal of wisdom and enlightenment. At the heart of the practice are the principles of Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance.
Everyone is welcome to study Falun Dafa as it is apolitical, informal, and completely free of charge, obligation, and membership.
Between 1995 and 1999, the Chinese Communist Party openly promoted the study of Falun Dafa as a means to improve the health of the nation. It was only upon the discovery that during this period the number of people studying Falun Dafa had increased beyond the figure of ‘official’ CCP members. Being an atheist state, the Chinese Communist Party felt, unduly, undermined, and once again set about controlling the people of China in a typically brutal fashion.
Art
The following pieces of art (click on the images below to enlarge) were created by practitioners of Falun Dafa:
The Falun
The symbol of Falun Dafa is the Falun. The character in the centre ( 
) is the "wan" character, a symbol that has been used in many cultures for thousands of years to denote good fortune. Click here to learn more.
Links