Out of My Mind: The Human Spirit is immortal    
 The Human Spirit is immortal29 comments
picture21 Jan 2005 @ 22:22, by Bee

I have watched as the Peoples Republic of China has persecuted millions of members of the only organized Chinese religion - Fulan Gong. Practicionars of Fulan Gong celebrate the existence of body, mind, spirit. That is something the opaque communist government fears. Control this life - each life belongs to the State is their motto.

So they broke this man.

Chinese Show Off Repentant Falun Gong
By AUDRA ANG
Associated Press Writer

January 21, 2005, 3:12 PM
XINMI, China -- Three years ago, he was a die-hard Falun Gong follower, serving a life sentence for trying to set himself afire in the name of the spiritual movement banished by China as "evil."

Today, with his prison term drastically cut to 19 years for good behavior, Liu Yunfang is a convert of a different sort -- and one Beijing is eager to showcase as a successful "rehabilitation."

"I was wrong," Liu told reporters who made a government-organized visit to his prison in central Henan province this week. "I should be punished by law."

Liu is one of three men imprisoned for orchestrating a group self-immolation in Tiananmen Square in 2001. Liu doused himself with gasoline but was grabbed by police before he could ignite himself.

However, a mother and her 12-year-old daughter died, and images of their bodies engulfed in flames -- and later charred and blackened -- were aired on state television to underscore China's position the sect is a dangerous cult.

Liu was sentenced for producing pamphlets teaching that Falun Gong followers could reach spiritual fulfillment by burning themselves. Falun Gong members abroad have denied the group's teachings encourage suicide, saying instead its philosophy values life.

Since banning the group in 1999, Beijing regularly disseminates propaganda against it and justifies its ongoing crackdown by allowing reporters to interview converts in tightly controlled settings.

The persistence of that campaign illustrates the ruling Communist Party's continued perception that Falun Gong is a threat.

Falun Gong drew millions of followers in the 1990s with its mix of calisthenics and doctrines drawn from Buddhism, Taoism and the ideas of its founder, Li Hongzhi, a former government grain clerk. Until the 2001 self-immolations, followers staged near-daily protests of the government ban in Tiananmen Square, the spiritual and political heart of the Chinese capital.

Liu and two other converts, Wang Jindong and Xue Hongjun, wore matching blue-and-white striped uniforms and caps when they met reporters individually this week. In contrite tones, they renounced their faith in Falun Gong and its founder, and expressed their gratitude to the government for treating them well.

"These three criminals have deeply reflected upon themselves while in prison," warden Yu Xiaoming said. "Finally, they are clear about the nature of the Falun Gong cult."

Their sentences were reduced because they were "active in rehabilitation," Yu said. Wang's 15-year term was lessened by 2 1/2 years and Xue's by two.

Practitioners claim they have been abused, tortured and killed by the hundreds in Chinese prisons and labor camps. Chinese authorities deny mistreatment but have not disclosed how they rehabilitate Falun Gong members.

When reporters visited the prisoners in a government-organized trip in 2002, Liu was steadfast about his beliefs and even demonstrated the slow-moving exercises that Falun Gong followers practice.

Now, the former factory worker seems changed.

Shuffling into a fluorescent-lit meeting room, Liu mumbled incoherently at times to reporters, his voice shaking and eyes welling with tears as he spoke of his former life. Prison officials say he is ill, suffering from high blood pressure and other maladies.

Liu said he stopped believing in Falun Gong on Sept. 27, 2003.

"I was more addicted than (the rest) so I caused more harm to the country and the government," said Liu, 60, who sat hunched in his seat. "Last time when reporters came to me, I still wanted to uphold Falun Gong, but now I know I was wrong."

He was supported by prison officials on either side when he left.

Wang, 54, is the only one in prison who set fire to himself. His face, devoid of eyebrows, is mottled with scar tissue. Some fingers have been amputated.

"It is the government that has given me a second life," Wang said. "I have totally woken up and I think I should persuade people still addicted to Falun Gong to wake up, too.

"To Li Hongzhi, I have only one word in my heart -- hate -- because he killed so many of our beloved and our compatriots."

Wang placed a half-dozen photos on a table: his wife and his daughter smiling, himself as a handsome young man.

"I feel ashamed about believing in Falun Gong," Wang said. "It is Falun Gong and Li Hongzhi who have ruined me."

In Kaifeng, a bustling city northeast of the prison, Wang's wife and daughter -- both former Falun Gong members -- live with the daughter's husband and baby in a single room tucked in a maze of alleys. The room is filled with a bed, piles of comforters, suitcases and cupboards. A map of the world hangs on the wall.

"We feel so cheated to have our deep beliefs shattered after all these years," said Wang Juan, Wang's 26-year-old daughter. "My father's change is sincere. We are filled with hope for the future."

Minutes away, Hao Huijun, 51, and her daughter Chen Guo, 23, the most physically destroyed of the Tiananmen group, live in an airy welfare home.

Flames burned off their noses, lips, ears and hair, leaving their faces and skulls shiny with scars and grafted skin. Hao -- a former music teacher -- has only a patch of skin over her eye sockets, with a tiny slit allowing blurry vision out of her right eye. Her hands are stubs and she is partially deaf in her right ear.

"I realized that I made a lot of trouble for the government and society," Hao said, weeping as her daughter, ill with a fever, slept in the next room.

"We are thoroughly rehabilitated."


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29 comments

21 Jan 2005 @ 22:32 by jmarc : sure he is
I'd heard that many falun practitioners had been disappeared or tortured in prison. I guess if American soldiers were doing that to them there would be a big out cry, but instead we get mostly silence from the "caring folk." Recognizing that, i also question any movement, religion, or "therapy" that encourages self immolation,or any suicide, especially of woman and children, but really of anyone. Does Falun promote this, condone this, or do they distance themselves from it with silence, or do they actively speak out against it?  

21 Jan 2005 @ 23:49 by b : It is not a general practice
I guess he did it out of desperation because the totalitarian government of China has been raiding and arresting any members of Fulan Gong. They deny that it is a religion. I think that any group the acknowledges the existence of body, mind, spirt and assists in developing humans to higher levels of awareness could be considered a religion. But no, Al of the members are not into self immolation.  

22 Jan 2005 @ 02:00 by bushman : Hmm.
There does come a time for some people to snach victory away from thier enemy. A pressident for that, would be of the battle at Masada. What mankind won't do when cornered, with no choice but to surender all to the enemy. And really, who is the enemy? Why are there enemys? Why isnt there a place on this earth where a people who choose to live a certine way, can live thier way with out being told its wrong by someone, somewhere? Go ahead, own the world, if you can. Keep trying to make the whole world in your own image. You'll be garenteed enemys. Whoever they are, whereever they are. They will be there.  

22 Jan 2005 @ 02:09 by astrid : Horrible, horrible
Brainwash is Brainwash is Brainwash. MindControl is MindControl is MindControl.... which ever direction and by whomever! Torture is Torture is Tortúre. No reason (read: excuse) is better than the other! Usually a People's worst enemy is other people from ones' own People, not an outer enemy... They can and actually ARE very bad. But there is always an end to that evil.
When people are evil against their own people there usually is no end in sight!... Ask any woman anywhere on the Planet ( about the social/ culture/traditions and such that has e ruled her Life/Society/ Environnment the last ahh 5-6000 years, and you get what I mean.

From today on I will decree DIVINE JUSTICE to take hold of every inch of the world, every single human, to be put in the Balance and get what they have so hard worked to earn of cosmic Justice/Karma!
I will haste EVERY DAY from today on to be The Judgement Day, while all wait for the Final Judgement Day, the Planetary/Galactic/Universal one, planned for Dec 21 2012!
To use one's Free Will to hurt someone else is hereby NO MORE!!! The bumerang effect will become ever more immediate, ever faster and swifter with every passing day from now on.  

22 Jan 2005 @ 09:21 by jstarrs : Jm...
...Most governments/people keep their mouth shut about China's human rights abuses because of lucrative commercial ties with the country.
There has been genocide in Tibet but no-one lifts a finger there.
At least the chinese are not saying they are for liberty & freedom whilst abusing human rights.
They do have an awesome propaganda machine, though.  

22 Jan 2005 @ 12:49 by jmarc : jstarrs
yes, sort of like Saddam's Iraq.  

22 Jan 2005 @ 13:48 by jstarrs : Hmmm...
...and THAT makes you wonder why the US haven't invaded China, now doesn't it, jmarc?  

22 Jan 2005 @ 16:52 by jmarc : pragmatism
jstarrs. Pragmatism. {LINK:http://www.totse.com/en/ego/literary_genius/prgmtism.html|LINK}  

22 Jan 2005 @ 19:58 by astrid : US of A
has NEVER lifted a finger to help or support Tibet in any way!... They didn't do it in 1952 - or whenever it was that China invaded and Dalai Lama had to flee.He was 19 of age, if I remember correct.He pleaded for help to stop the chinese from invading. But at that time US itself was invading some other smaller, more peaceful countries, a la Tibet.... There's SO MUCH MORE Secrets to this "The west and China -connection, than we can't even begin to imagine!... Personally I have had this huch "forever" that the whole COLECTION from the Library of Alexandria is hidden in Tibet/Gobi desert, somewhere... and the chinese are the designated protectors of that.... etc.etc.etc.etc.etc. get it?  

23 Jan 2005 @ 03:30 by b : Thanks for the interest
It is true Jeff that PRC does abuse human rights. THey do have an awesome propaganda machine.

China has a totalitarian government that is not transparent. They seized Tibet and are working on doing that with Taiwan. General Maxwell Taylor wrote the US military maxim: "Never get involved in a war on the Asian land mass."

Nice link Jmarc.

It is a historical fact Astrid that the ancient library in Alexandria was burnt to the ground and that both Gais Julius Caesar and Queen Cleopatria were present along with hosts of other witnesses. Any thing that was removed before the fire would probably turn up first in the Vatican Library.

L Ron Hubbard stated:"Man is basicly good."  

23 Jan 2005 @ 03:53 by b : Bushman
Yep, and they are all us.  

23 Jan 2005 @ 16:05 by astrid : I don't doubt
that the BUILDING(s) burned down. But we also know it was SET ablaze. You know these people never do anything uncalculated; with an aganda, so to speak. And of course, a Library, with all the records, becoming evermore public, did not further their cause. You, yourself word it, I think, very accurately: "was burnt to the ground" indicating an intentional action as opposed to ie. "... burned to the ground" seewhaddiimeeaann,eh???
I'm sure you're right about the Vatican being ONE of the places for these records being kept, just like that library in London ( don't remember the name right now) but many serious reasearchers have suspisions, just like I, that both Tibet and Gobi Desert are other areas for The Very Hottest Stuff"... Do you have any hunches on this one?
LRH must have gotten that from me!... ; ) I insist that not only is Man "basically good" but BORN DIVINE/MADE IN HEAVEN, BY HEAVEN, FOR Heaven!...and meant to live a Life EVERLASTING!... and it is all so simple, but not very easy... We don't like to give up our crapp, that keeps our vibrations in a too low of an OCTAVE!... CHOISES as in PRIORITIES are the ONL thing standing in betwwen such a Reality and mortality, that we collectivley still choose/prefer before the OFFERED one!... the more Divine, so to speak. Yup!  

23 Jan 2005 @ 16:53 by jstarrs : Pragmatism?
Well, the site definitions of the word look more like self-cherishing to me.
But that would also fit.  

23 Jan 2005 @ 21:21 by b : Pragmatism
Jeff, I think Jmarc is implying that the poor guy in China did what he had to do to get his life right. Being locked up in some gulag probably is not pleasent nor is mind control in any form.

Astrid, you wouldn't happen to have the precise celestial coordinates for heaven would you? See the writings of the historian Josepus for a difinitive discription of the burning and destruction of the library in Alexandria from the perpective of some one who was alive at that time.  

23 Jan 2005 @ 21:42 by jmarc : actually
i was responding to his question about why we don't invade china as we did Iraq. Unwinnable. For now. Active support of dissidents is the more pragmatic solution to this, in my opinion, as stated in the Bush Doctrine.  

24 Jan 2005 @ 01:32 by astrid : historian Josepus....???
Is this given as a "viable source" by the "Establishment" ? This Q is simply a Yes -or No Q. Once I know this I will let you know what I think about Josepus testimony.

I am not 100 % sure I understand your Q here: "you wouldn't happen to have the precise celestial coordinates for heaven". IF you mean "The RoadMap", so to speak, I would say "YES" it's been in plain sight for 2000 years...all one needs to READ/interpret it correct, by listening to one's own Mental Faculties and Skills AND ACTUALLY start USING those Faculties! The PAth/Road is long and NARROW, because each person can only use their own Mental faculties to take one there from here.Luckily Human Psyche is ONE GIVEN: Each vibrational note is as distinctive as the notes on the Piano: C,D,E, F, G,A,H,C. Doesn't matter if YOU sing "Over the Rainbow" -or if I do; we have to follow the notes; the tune on the Nusic/al Sheet for "Over the Rainbow", for the song to be/remain "Over the Rainbow, eh?
The same way the vibrational fields of the Human Psyche follows very strict Sheet Music: The bully has ITS own "music" this is how you recognize a bully persoanlity (disorder) in ANY Person infected with/ by it ANYwhere on the Planet. This how you recognize a Genius, a Sage, a Saint etc.
Consciousness expands exponentially, just like Eartquakes, and the power that goes with that expansion as well.
What takes us to the starting line of OUR OWN (NARROW) Path??? you might ask. The answer /revelation is that the establishment is a joke, a BAD one at that, and DOES NOT have the Answers for YOU and YOUR Life. YOU have them INSIDE of YOU/YOUR DIVINE FACULTIES are ALL there to guide you!
Now, we are at the point where the Q "how do I know" comes -ususally- into play. Well. THIS is where the big CRUX comes along. The Truth and fact is that our priorities change! But MOST of us pushes these Priorites back into the "BackPack" waaayyy down to the bottom, because "one has to go and earn ones' Daily Bread daily!.... etc etc. Now Enlghtenment is "out of the Picture"(-frame of our Day-awareness). so nothung happens... CONSCIOUSNESS wice, exepth that we now start talking a lot Spiritualstuff, hoping to appeace Life/God with that!... But God doesn;t care one way or the other what we do!...It is to US it should matter!!!....to jump off the wagon that is heading towards absolute guaranteed destruction of all Life -as in ANNIHILATION of both Mankind and the Planet. The ones who did jump off that wagon and "took their Cross upon them" WILL escape!... the rest. NOPE. Thats all. well... of course, that not true... but...let's leave it at that. The ones who truly want to know ...If there's a Will, there's a Way.
2+2 still IS 4, eh?  

9 Feb 2005 @ 21:40 by Ben @169.229.11.204 : Falun Gong
Hello all,
i'm a Falun Gong practitioner and just wanted to clarify about this article--the self-immolation that happened on Tiananmen square that day was very likely not Falun Gong practitioners, but probably a government hoax. you can see in the video several problems, such as that the people there have incorrect hand positions and leg crossing, which indicates that they aren't a practitioner. not to mention that the teachings of Falun Gong strictly prohibit killing and suicide!

there's a documentary, called false fire, that details the suspicious aspects of the whole thing at: http://www.faluninfo.net/videosonline.asp

there's also an article about it at: http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/5-1-25/25850.html

thanks for your time--this article is another example of the influence of China's propaganda machine. it's really quite vicious. I'm quite happy that i came across the practice, as it's greatly benefited my life. those interested can read more about it at www.falundafa.org.

thanks again,
Ben Bendig  

19 Dec 2005 @ 19:05 by E. Parsons @64.238.1.242 : Self-Immolation Nonsense
Who can believe anything that the Chinese communist government says? It doesn't believe in God or religion and thus has no standards when it comes to even telling the basic truth. The CCP is just a legal Mafia.  

20 Dec 2005 @ 10:42 by b : PRC has
seperation of religion and state. Mafia are exclusively Italian organizations
Mafia meaning: Morte all Francia in Italia. Conceived as cell like organizations in the 1800's to combat the constant invasions of French soldiers looting, raiding, raping in Italy. The family like organization transfered with immigrants to USA and other countries and dealt in crime. I corelated with other immigrint crime organizations then emerged into busines with investments. In USA it invested heavily into insurance companies and even organizations like the Better Business Bureau which was founded in part by Al Capone of Chicago mafia infamey.
Peoples Republic of China bears no resemblence to a mafia organization.  

17 Sep 2006 @ 02:07 by kenn @216.114.218.19 : al capone and bbb
can you give some referrences on al capone being a founder of the bbb? I have heard this before and would like to see the sources.

Thanks  

1 Mar 2007 @ 06:10 by Akira Konya @71.72.153.168 : Al Capone and BBB
The BBB was founded in 1912 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Business_Bureau) and Al Capone was born in 1899 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Capone) Al Capone did not start the Better Business Bureau when he was 13 years old.  

2 Mar 2007 @ 20:11 by b : Akira san
"like the Better Business Bureau which was founded in part by Al Capone of Chicago "
founded in part...in Chicago where Al ruled and sqeezed business to pay protection...against him!  

18 May 2007 @ 02:04 by New Yorker @68.193.192.200 : Li Hongzhi is totally a swindler! Absolu
Li Hongzhi is totally a swindler! Absolutely!  

19 Jan 2008 @ 13:35 by Sigh @99.240.164.241 : Dear practioner, you are cheated!
[quote]9 Feb 2005 @ 21:40 by Ben @169.229.11.204 : Falun Gong
Hello all,
i'm a Falun Gong practitioner and just wanted to clarify about this article--the self-immolation that happened on Tiananmen square that day was very likely not Falun Gong practitioners, but probably a government hoax. you can see in the video several problems, such as that the people there have incorrect hand positions and leg crossing, which indicates that they aren't a practitioner. not to mention that the teachings of Falun Gong strictly prohibit killing and suicide!

there's a documentary, called false fire, that details the suspicious aspects of the whole thing at: [link]

there's also an article about it at: [link]

thanks for your time--this article is another example of the influence of China's propaganda machine. it's really quite vicious. I'm quite happy that i came across the practice, as it's greatly benefited my life. those interested can read more about it at www.falundafa.org.

thanks again,
Ben Bendig [/quote]

This proves the falungong is a better brainwashing machine than CCP. sigh ...  

19 Jan 2008 @ 13:53 by Sigh @99.240.164.241 : An Interesting Point
"21 Jan 2005 @ 23:49 by b : It is not a general practice
I guess he did it out of desperation because the totalitarian government of China has been raiding and arresting any members of Fulan Gong. They deny that it is a religion. I think that any group the acknowledges the existence of body, mind, spirt and assists in developing humans to higher levels of awareness could be considered a religion. But no, Al of the members are not into self immolation. "

Interesting enough, the Master of Falungong, Mr. Li Hong Zhi, a self-claimed "Highest God" who promises to protect his followers in any circumstances, denied the discipleship of these who immolated themselves in Tiananmen Square to show their faithulness to him, their "god". The post of Ben and the links he provided are good evidence of this denial (or lie?) of Falungong.

I found it hard to agree that a group lures its members into self-immolation and then denies their membership qualifies, in the slightest sense, as a group that "assists in developing humans to higher levels of awareness".  

24 Jan 2008 @ 21:01 by b : fulan gong is Tao
Tao in all of its Chan school variations is the real State religion of China. It is a shadow religion as it is persecuted by the committees of the PRC.  

9 Oct 2008 @ 08:23 by Ben @76.174.124.3 : contradiction
"I found it hard to agree that a group lures its members into self-immolation and then denies their membership qualifies, in the slightest sense, as a group that "assists in developing humans to higher levels of awareness". "

I think you've hit upon the contradiction--how you resolve it depends on who you want to give greater weight to their words.

If Falun Gong practitioners deny that they would do something such as the self-immolation, and if it is forbidden by the practice, why keep on insisting it was actually practitioners, and not look at it the other way around?

If there are anomalies on the video of the immolation (incorrect leg crossing and hand position), the fact that the act of self-immolation is regarded as a sin in the practice, AND that the Chinese regime has something to gain from an event like this (to provide momentum in the persecution, turn people against Falun Gong), why not think about it critically and see that the more likely story is that it is the Chinese regime is lying and has staged this. After all, we're dealing with a group that is responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people and is well known for its lies.

There are lots of people waking up to the facts about the Party within China, and more than 40 million people have quit the Party and its affiliated organizations. Please think about it for your own good. http://ninecommentaries.com/  

9 Oct 2008 @ 21:27 by b : Fulan Gong is a survival organization
Representing the Tao and at its essence is the concept of man as spirit no members advocate suicide or abortion for thet matter. The government of China, PRC, suppresses Tal the Chinese state religion that supports Fulan Gong.
Tao and all historical variations is kept as a shadow religion, suppressed as Fulan Gong yet dow is one of the unacknowleged great religions of Earth.  

18 Dec 2008 @ 21:26 by b : Tao
The shadow religion. sixth great religion of Earth and is the religion of China. zzzzzomv;ifrd s;; yjr zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzvjsn dvjpp; bstosyopmd smf limh gi/  

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