L O T U S

[PureInsight.org]

This collection of poetry and art is the result of joint efforts of individual Falun Dafa practitioners from countries all over the world including Europe, China, Canada, Australia and the United States. Most of the artists have never met each other, and are connected only by the thread of the meditation and cultivation practice Falun Dafa. Armed simply with the heart to express their understandings and experiences within this special practice, this international team was drawn together through the art form of poetry to create a book to share with the rest of the world.

The overall writing has no defined style or genre, some poems do not follow traditional rules of punctuation and grammar, and several pieces were translated from originals in Chinese. The poets are of all ages, social classes, ethnicities, nationalities and walks of life—directly reflecting the diverse fabric of Falun Dafa practitioners as a whole. However, you will not find the names of any authors alongside their work, reflecting the open-hearted spirit of sharing the truth about Falun Dafa that this book was conceived of and created in.

Many poems are also accompanied by brief summaries that were written solely for the purpose of providing background information on specific content—they are not intended as definition. You will also see both Falun Dafa—the practice's formal name, and Falun Gong—it's popularized name in mainstream society, used interchangeably to refer to the practice itself. The artwork that accents certain poems was also generously contributed to support the creation of this book. However, both the poems and the art in these pages represent but a small fraction of the large body of work that has been created over the last decade.
We truly hope that you enjoy the story this special book has to tell.

The ancient practice of Falun Gong was originally handed down through the generations for 5,000 years from master to disciple. In 1992, it was introduced to the public by the practice's teacher, Mr. Li Hongzhi, in Mainland China. Falun Gong was initially known to only a handful of people in a park in Northeast China, but has quickly grown to be an incredible global phenomenon reaching 100 million people. Today, Falun Gong is practiced in over 60 countries with its books translated into over 20 different languages. Li Hongzhi has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three years in a row since 2000, and Falun Gong has received over 900 proclamations and awards from all around the world.

The teachings and principles of Falun Gong are contained within the book Zhuan Falun*, written by the practice's founder, Li Hongzhi. Zhuan Falun contains very profound inner meanings, and genuine Falun Gong practitioners find that it literally guides them on their cultivation journey, as they gain new understandings no matter how many times they read it.
*All Falun Gong materials can be downloaded free of charge at www.falundafa.org

Falun Gong practitioners strive to enlighten to the truth in all situations and under all circumstances based on Falun Gong's teachings of Truth, Compassion and Tolerance. Practicing Falun Gong is simple – do the five exercises, read the book Zhuan Falun, and follow the three principles of Truth, Compassion and Tolerance. Each year, this deeply profound practice is celebrated worldwide on May 13^th, the anniversary of its introduction to the public in 1992.

The word "Dafa" translates from Chinese as "Great Law" and is commonly used by Falun Gong (Falun Dafa) practitioners to refer to the practice itself. Dafa teaches that true cultivation is practiced in a state of non-action or tranquility. Practitioners believe in following the course of nature with a calm heart and accepting what life brings. It is through this stillness, forbearance, or non-action that they find the inner strength to overcome and grow from complex and difficult life lessons.

Falun Gong practitioners believe in the fundamental principle of looking inward to find their inherent kindness and upright moral character. Such self-analysis allows practitioners to find the negative part of themselves that needs to be corrected, and to gradually cultivate into stronger, more tolerant and peaceful people. In a word, this is cultivation.

The parallel of the mountain is a classic Chinese cultural metaphor that connotes the way a cultivator takes: a steep, difficult path that leads to a high peak. Cultivators of Falun Gong often refer to the paradox of climbing a mountain with nowhere to go but up in the context of practicing cultivation. To reach their highest potential, cultivators must meet higher and higher standards and constantly acknowledge their own shortcomings, while guarding against slipping back into old ways or falling into complacency.

Falun Gong teaches that one should gradually, through the process of cultivation, remove all excessive thoughts and behaviors that go from one extreme to another. Practitioners learn how to make truly balanced steps on their cultivation path by keeping Zhen-Shan-Ren (Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance) close to their hearts.

Falun Gong is an advanced and ancient self-cultivation practice that refines one's mind and body, ultimately purifies the heart, and guides the return to one's true nature. Cultivation practice in Falun Gong is based on the universal principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and can lead one to improved morality, greater wisdom, and deep inner peace.

Outdoor Falun Gong exercise sites are often in parks and are always coordinated by a Falun Gong practitioner who volunteers his or her time to both demonstrate the exercises and provide a place for practitioners to gather together. To the volunteers, despite the sometimes harsh outdoor elements, just knowing that they have helped others compensates them more than money ever could.*
*All Falun Gong activities worldwide are always free of charge and open to the public.

On July 20, 1999, former Chinese Communist party head Jiang Zemin ordered the crackdown on Falun Gong and Falun Gong practitioners. Today thousands have been killed, tortured and imprisoned. All around the world, Falun Gong practitioners often gather to peacefully appeal to the world for an end to these atrocities, and to show their solidarity and support for those being violently persecuted in China.
*Please visit www.faluninfo.net to find out what you can do to help

Falun Gong practitioners will often hold experience-sharing conferences, both large and small, to exchange understandings of the "Fa" (translated from Chinese as the "Law" or "Guiding Principles") and share experiences as cultivators. In November of 1999, Falun Gong practitioners from 13 provinces of China, Australia, the US, Sweden and other countries gathered in Guangzhou, China to hold a special experience sharing conference. The poem above was adapted from an excerpt of an article read at this conference.

At 3am on November 25^th, the seventh day of the conference, a group of police officers broke into a place where 17 practitioners were staying, arresting them under the accusation that they did not have identification cards. A practitioner rushed to the tape-recorder to play the Falun Dafa music "Pu Du (saving all sentient beings)." Ding Yan from Shijiazhuang looked at the policemen and said smiling, "Before I am taken away, let me read my experience sharing article that I prepared to read on November 27th." The other practitioners gathered tightly around Ding Yan as she read the article, finally concluding with, "I feel unspeakable joy and solemnity. Only because I am assimilated to the Fa, my life has become meaningful. Let life be splendid in honoring the Fa." All of the other practitioners were in tears, and some police officers were also moved to tears. Ding Yan later became a victim of the persecution of Falun Gong and died for her belief.

*In Chinese, "Ying" here means "greeting, welcoming, receiving" and "Chun" here means"(the season of) spring." "YingChun" is here used as another name for winter plum blossoms. Written for the 36 western practitioners who went to Tiananmen Square to appeal for Falun Gong by unfolding a huge banner on the square.

An element of the slanderous campaign against Falun Gong utilizes television, radio, newspapers, town meetings, posters and flyers and so on to disseminate propaganda that slanders Falun Gong. Based on fear and confusion, many innocent Chinese people have been misled about the truth of Falun Gong. Practitioners from all over the world, including within China, have risked their personal safety to let the truth be told with banners in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Many are arrested, detained and imprisoned, but appeals continue to occur on a daily basis despite the risk.
*Please visit www.flgjustice.org and www.bjtj.org to learn more about the lawsuit against Jiang Zemin for his human rights crimes

Every human being has within their heart the nature to cultivate out of "muddy" everyday society, and rise up to reach their highest potential. The metaphor of a lotus flower is frequently used to describe the heart of a person who cultivates, because the Lotus grows out of filthy conditions like mud, yet blooms miraculously bright, clean and beautiful.

This poem was composed and written next to a drawing that was transported out of jail by being passed through many hands and overcoming many difficulties. It was carefully drawn by Falun Dafa practitioners in jail, using a blue ballpoint pen. The drawing is invaluable because its appearance in public is an embodiment of the wisdom and power of many practitioners.