(Minghui.org) Falun Gong, a meditation system based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, was once praised by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for its hugely positive effects on mind and body. In 1998, A survey by the China’s General Administration of Sport on 10,000 practitioners found that 97.9% experienced improved health as a result of the practice.
However, the CCP viewed Falun Gong’s great popularity as a threat. In April 1999, authorities arrested dozens of practitioners in Tianjin and on April 25, 1999, about 10,000 practitioners traveled to Beijing to appeal. Although the appeal was resolved, with the detained practitioners being released that same day, the CCP nonetheless launched a nationwide suppression three months later.
A recent Minghui article revealed that the CCP’s then-top leader Jiang Zemin had secretly mobilized soldiers dressed in police uniform in preparation for a massacre that day. Numerous senior officials within the Party tried to stop Jiang, proposing a meeting to resolve the issue, and warning that otherwise, there might be another slaughter similar to that on Tiananmen Square in 1989.
As I read this article, I felt a chill run down my spine. I remembered being there, and was impressed by the peaceful scene. There were so many practitioners gathered at the site, and everyone was quiet. I did not know a massacre had been planned behind the scenes.
Looking back on this incident, I believe it was the kindness and rationality of practitioners that day that prevented the massacre. Had the general public not been aware of the positive influence of Falun Gong, those senior officials would not have tried to stop Jiang. Moreover, if practitioners were not kind, peaceful, and self-disciplined, Jiang would have issued the order to kill, similar to what occurred in 1989.
The persecution nonetheless started months later in July 1999. Over the past 27 years, countless articles published on Minghui by practitioners have recalled the peaceful scene at the April 25 appeal. Yet, the secret plan of a massacre remained hidden from the public until a recent article brought it to light. This is not totally surprising. Having heard of or witnessed the CCP’s brutality in previous political campaigns, authors of many of these articles said they knew they might not be able to return home from the trip.
The senior CCP official who recently leaked the information revealed that Jiang’s decision to suppress Falun Gong was groundless, not based on any investigation or facts. Instead, it arose from his jealousy over Falun Gong’s popularity. This detail triggered more lingering fear: as General Secretary of the CCP and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Jiang could have initiated killing at any time that day.
The peaceful appeal on April 25, 1999, was special in several ways. Although appealing for justice at government compounds is common throughout Chinese history, doing so has been taboo since the CCP took power in 1949. To suppress independent voices, the CCP targeted millions of people during the Anti-Rightist Campaign (1957-1959) alone, simply because their remarks were inconsistent with the Party line. That is why it required courage to show up at the National Appeals Office in Beijing, even for an upright cause.
But Falun Gong practitioners came to Beijing anyway. Driven by neither personal interest nor political motives, their sole purpose was to tell government officials about their own experience of Falun Gong, and the positive benefits the practice has brought to society. For this appeal, there was no planning or instructions, let alone any rehearsal on what practitioners should do. Following Falun Gong’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, everyone simply acted according to their conscience. The genuine kindness from their hearts melted any hostility from the police officers on duty that day. At the end of the day, practitioners left the area spotless, even picking up cigarette butts discarded by the police. One officer on duty commented, “Look, this is true virtue.”
Such uprightness is rarely seen in modern society, especially in places ruled by the CCP’s brutality and moral decline. For Falun Gong practitioners however, this is second nature. Inspired by the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, they strive to be better citizens whether at work, at home, or out in society. This could be difficult for Jiang to understand, a CCP leader who solely wanted to control people at any cost. Yet, virtuous conduct is consistent with fundamental humanity and is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture.
Laozi, the renowned ancient Chinese sage, once wrote, “The utmost goodness is like water. Water benefits all things and does not compete.” This philosophy has shaped the Chinese civilization for thousands of years. After the CCP assumed power in 1949 and launched a series of political campaigns including the Cultural Revolution, society shifted. Increasingly, people began to prioritize personal gain, even at the expense of others.
After Falun Gong was introduced to the public in 1992, it quickly attracted thousands of people, drawn to the practice by reports of improvements in physical health and moral values. By early 1999, about 100 million were practicing Falun Gong, bringing hope to society.
I recall that when I joined the appeal on April 25, 1999, local practitioners in Beijing arrived first and took the lead in standing on the sidewalk. Practitioners from other regions then arrived and followed suit. Since practitioners always consider others first, the main road was kept clear and traffic was unaffected.
The premier was moved by the peaceful scene; he met with practitioners and then asked the Tianjin authorities to release the detained practitioners. Practitioners then left the area later in the day and returned home. Surprised by the quick resolution, Western media praised China for its openness and adherence to the rule of law.
However, this episode was doomed to be short-lived under the totalitarian rule of the CCP. Three months later, Jiang initiated the nationwide, systematic suppression of Falun Gong in July 1999. What followed were countless tragedies, including detention, imprisonment, torture, slave labor, death, and organ harvesting.
Over the years, Falun Gong practitioners have remained kind and rational, guided by their faith. Ultimately, the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance will prevail—an everlasting theme in our society.