Interviews with Artists Featured in the "Uncompromising Courage" Art Exhibit: Ms. Chen Zhuli

Starting to practice

My name is Chen Zhuli. I am a painter. Back when I was in China, I was already looking for Qigong systems, but did not find an ideal one. After I moved outside of China and began working, I began to read some books on Taoism. But the more I read, the more confused I became. At that moment, one of my colleagues said he had a set of books and they are very good. I asked what books they were, and he said it was Falun Dafa: Zhuan Falun and some other books. I asked him to bring them so that I could have a look. He brought 3 books and I read them all. When I finished reading the books, I knew that was what I had been looking for. Seeing I was so interested in reading those books, my colleague suggested my joining the group exercise in a park. So I did. That was in February 1999. In March 1999, I went to the New York Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference, and listened to Teacher's lecture in person. Later, I saw Teacher again in an Experience Sharing Conference in Canada. I have been practicing Falun Dafa since then.

I used to have problems with my back: I was unable to squat down, stand straight, or walk fast. All these problems are gone after [I started] the practice. I also used to have a bad temper, and it improved a lot after I began the practice. There are also many things that I used to consider as my personal strengths, but now they seem to be shortcomings for me—things that I need to get rid of through cultivation. Why did I say that? This practice requires us to improve xinxing, while I tend to be impatient. My impatience makes other people feel flustered and uneasy. Plus, I have a strong ego. I am very determined to carry out my own ideas and sometimes ignore others' feelings. Although my friends know that I have a good heart and I am simply very outspoken, sometimes I still unintentionally hurt their feelings. I have come to understand many things since I began the practice of Falun Gong, and it is hard to talk about all of them here. But as many people can see, I have changed a lot. I do know though that there are many things on me that still need to improve.

Introduction to "Beauty Coming from the West"

This painting was done with small Chinese paint brushes that capture fine details and involves the layering of a gentle blue and green over ink water colors, a relatively traditional style of Chinese painting. Its view is from high and afar, meaning that it moves from bottom to top and from outside to inside. A beautiful woman in Tang Dynasty attire is seen beside the path, a while rabbit and a bow by her feet. The rabbit symbolizes the fact that Falun Gong has been taught and disseminated by a sage figure who was born in the Year of the Rabbit. The lady holds a pipa, indicating that Falun Gong has used only peaceful means of protest.

Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2005/6/9/32652.html