Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) (pronounced Fah-lun Dah-fah or Fah-lun Gong) is a traditional Chinese self-cultivation practice that improves mental and physical wellness through a series of easy-to-learn exercises, meditation, and the development of one’s heart-mind-nature (xinxing – pronounced “shin shing”). The practice is based on the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance – also known as Zhen Shan Ren.

This ancient practice, originally taught in private only, was first introduced to the public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi in China. Since that time, tens of millions of practitioners have reported dramatic improvements in health and a deepened spiritual awakening.

Falun Dafa practitioners experience many benefits from performing the exercises and cultivating their hearts. In addition to relieving stress and anxiety, practicing Falun Dafa significantly increases energy and vitality while promoting spiritual growth and enlightenment.

Falun Dafa is freely practiced in over 100 countries throughout the world. All practice sites are organized by local volunteers.

Falun Dafa and its founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, have received hundreds of awards and proclamations from government officials throughout North America for the benefits Falun Dafa has brought to those who practice it and the communities in which they live. Additionally, Mr. Li Hongzhi has been nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Clarifying the Truth – The Persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners in China
In 1992, Mr. Li Hongzhi made public the teachings of Falun Gong, an ancient Chinese self-cultivation practice that improves mental and physical wellness through a series of easy-to-learn exercises, meditation, and the development of one’s heart-mind-nature (xinxing – pronounced “shin shing”). The practice is based on the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance – also known as Zhen Shan Ren.

Over the next seven years the practice spread rapidly across China. During that time, the Chinese government promoted and supported Falun Gong as a good practice. It is estimated that by 1999, between 70-100 million Chinese were practicing Falun Gong, a statistic that alarmed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and spurred an unprovoked violent oppression of innocent citizens, including large numbers of Party members and high-ranking government officials who engaged in the practice. Since then, like “underground” Christians and Tibetan Buddhists, millions of Falun Gong practitioners have been denied their basic right to peacefully practice their faith.

In the early morning hours of July 20, 1999 the Chinese armed police force, ushered on by China’s then-ruler Jiang Zemin, launched a nationwide blitz arrest of Falun Gong practitioners. To the CCP the persecution was meant to be a quick kill. Jiang himself, for example, had claimed, “I simply do not believe our Communist Party cannot conquer Falun Gong.” The CCP gave itself three months to “completely solve the Falun Gong question.”
The regime had every reason to be self-assured. They command the world’s most powerful machinery of repression: the largest army, armed police force, public security police force and detention center/labor camp system. The CCP even boldly trumpeted its new persecution abroad and even asked Interpol to apprehend and extradite the founder of Falun Gong, which Interpol flatly refused. Those in China who refused to yield to the political and social pressure were incarcerated, brainwashed and even tortured and killed. Millions of Falun Gong practitioners, from young children to pregnant women and the elderly, have been detained and abused with thousands being tortured to death. Countless others have simply disappeared.

According to investigations by Chinese human rights lawyers, Amnesty International and the United Nations, once in custody, Falun Gong practitioners face severe forms of torture, including electric baton shocks, psychiatric abuse and sexual mutilation.

In early 2006, allegations of an organ harvesting network to forcibly extract and sell the organs of Falun Gong practitioners came to light. An independent report by Canadian investigators found the claims to be true, noting that over six years, the origin of 41,500 organs used in transplants could not be traced to donors. Recently, two United Nations Special Rapporteurs reiterated their previous findings on the organ harvesting and requested that the Chinese government fully investigate the allegations. The report can be found at www.organharvestinvestigation.net

At the same time as the violent persecution was launched, the communist regime also carried on a far-reaching campaign of disinformation to demonize Falun Gong, to incite hatred and to put pressure on Falun Gong practitioners to denounce their beliefs. In the first few years of the persecution, the CCP was able to bring the weight of the entire society down upon Falun Gong practitioners. This July 20 marks the 10 year anniversary of the regime’s attempt to eradicate Falun Gong, and Falun Gong practitioners have remained completely peaceful throughout. Their tolerance and peacefulness have touched countless people, including the torturers.

While maintaining compassion towards those who have been influenced by the propaganda, lies and misinformation, Falun Gong practitioners have persisted in what the Chinese language describes as “truth clarification” – informing people of the facts about Falun Gong and awakening their consciences about the persecution