Clearwisdom: Welcome back!

Zenon: Thank you.

Clearwisdom: When I suddenly saw your photo on Tiananmen Square, and read your statement before your trip, my first thought was that I wanted to give you a big hug. My second thought was that I wanted to interview you ASAP. Can you answer some questions for the readers of Clearwisdom.net now?

Zenon: Sure.

Clearwisdom: How long have you been practicing Falun Gong? And what got you to started?

Zenon: I have been practicing Falun Gong for 3 years. In 1998 I found it on the Internet. After practicing Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and studying Chinese Medicine and I-Ching, I knew there was more to life, but I was restrained by my addictions. Once I found Falun Gong everything changed. All my unanswered questions were resolved and my life became clearer. I was going to give up on living in society and go to live in the mountains. Instead I decided to practice Falun Gong with all my heart. I transformed myself from someone who blamed society for my problems to someone who could benefit society. When my mother and friends saw my life change they also began to practice Falun Gong.

Clearwisdom: Why did you go to Tiananmen Square?

Zenon: I chose to go to Tiananmen Square so that I could speak to all of China. I wanted the Chinese people to have a chance to know the truth of the situation of Falun Gong around the world. In China people are not allowed to form their own opinions. Although some opinions may vary, all opinions are based on State controlled information that does not show the whole picture and is quite often lies. The Chinese people are told [by Jiang Zemin and his criminal associates] many lies about Falun Gong, one of which is that other nations persecute Falun Gong and that the world agrees with China's suppression of Falun Gong. This leads Chinese citizens to follow this persecution and coerces innocent people to aid the government in committing crimes against humanity. Many people from all levels of Chinese society have been deceived. I feel this is one of the most disgraceful things that has happened to such a beautiful culture. Not only has the 610 Office used all levels of government, judicial, academic, hospital, labour, and public security to attack Falun Gong in China, it has been trying to make the citizens take part in damaging the reputation of the world's oldest and richest culture. (The 610 office is an agency specifically created to persecute Falun Gong, with absolute power over each level of administration in the Party and all other political and judiciary systems.)

From practicing Falun Gong I have come to understand how deep and profound the Chinese culture is. I have also come to deeply respect the Chinese people. For those who can live up to such an admirable history, I truly respect them. This is why I went to China. I wanted people to know they were being deceived. I love China and its people and could not bear to watch this continue. I did not demand that the Chinese people believe me. I just told them the truth. They know information on certain issues is restricted. I asked them to ask themselves, "Why?" Each person has his or her own mind and heart. I respect that. This is part of the high level Fa [law and principles] manifested at the ordinary human level. I only asked them not to do bad things. Good is rewarded with good and evil is met with evil--all Chinese people know this. Do not think bad things about Falun Gong. Just wait! Wait and see for yourself. If I am right or wrong, just wait and you will see for yourself. When you are allowed to hear and see everything, you will see for yourself.

I have the deepest most heartfelt respect for all Chinese people who have their own minds and who love their nation as I do! Heshi.

Clearwisdom: What did your family and friends think of this Beijing trip?

Zenon: My family was very happy to see me come home and were also very supportive. My mother told one newspaper that she was very proud of me.

Clearwisdom: In China, some people said that the over 30 of you Westerners do not practice Falun Gong, but were paid to go to Tiananmen Square.

Zenon: We are all true cultivators. I ask you which cultivator in the history of your culture cared for money. Certainly monk Ji Gong never cared for money, neither did Zhang Guo Lao nor did Lu Dong Bin (Both Zhang Guo Lao and Lu Dong Bin are well known cultivators in China's history -- editor). We are all cultivators and such comments of taking money from the US government or anyone else are all quite laughable to me. Neither do we care for political matters. If we did, how could we practice true cultivation?

This is a blatant lie. All the police who monitored us watched us practice the exercises. They even said that they knew we were good people. They said, "If Falun Gong is good for you just practice it, but you don't understand China's laws, so don't come here." I firmly told them that they can't make up laws to persecute people. We reminded them that these "laws" go against their own constitution and the international treaties they have signed. They sat speechless. Their lies are simply empty words. Now the police who met us will see the true nature of those who slander Falun Gong when they read such [slanderous] reports. They will see all of their fellow countrymen being lied to. So I say again, "Don't do bad things, don't think bad things-- good is rewarded with good and evil with evil. Keep waiting, you will see for yourself."

Clearwisdom: Can you describe your experience on Tiananmen Square?

Zenon: I joined 35 fellow practitioners from 13 countries, many of whom I have known for years. We all knew what we were doing for China so we shared very few words. Everyone smiled and was dressed nicely. A young lady held a beautiful bouquet of white flowers in the front row to commemorate practitioners who have died in the persecution. It was a solemn moment. We took group photos, then sat in meditation. In the back row I helped hold a beautiful golden banner that read "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance."

Within 10 seconds police swarmed the area and circled us with police vans. The police tried to take our banner down but the practitioners remained courageous and strong.

When the banner was taken away from us, I was sitting in meditation. I felt peaceful and filled with very powerful energy. I was confused that nobody was approaching me. I opened my eyes to see police around me but nobody would come close. I decided to not just sit surrounded. I stood up and ran out from behind the vans and pulled out a banner from under my shirt that I had made. It read, "Falun Dafa is Good" in Chinese. I then shouted "Falun Dafa is good! The whole world knows that Falun Dafa is good! Europe knows, America knows, Canada knows. The whole world knows that Falun Dafa in good!" Three police then knocked me to the ground and took me back to the circle of vans, I told the police (in Chinese), very firmly, "You know Falun Dafa is good." I repeated this, until one big and strong man punched me in the face and fractured my nose. He continued to punch me in the head and the body to force me into the van. Another young man was punched in the face and knocked unconscious. While he lay there this big man stomped on him with his feet. Later I found out that he is from Sweden. A young lady from France was grabbed by the throat and choked. When I saw this I grabbed the policeman's hand off her neck. The big strong man who punched me became very angry and was going to beat me again, but a policewoman persuaded him not to. One other man from Australia was beaten worse than me. His hand was even broken.

Clearwisdom: What happened after you were detained?

Zenon: We were first detained in a room in the Tiananmen Square Police Station. After that they put us in a 6 by 15 foot prison cell. Some of us refused to go in and this made things difficult for the police. They then said they would take us out one by one to have a talk. We then all linked arms so they had to bring us all out together. I know that at least one young man from Israel who is studying in the USA was beaten in a small room by himself. They then took us to a hotel and split us into two groups. Each group had their own conference room. They brought us food and water, but this was only so they could film us being "treated humanely." We refused but said thank you. Although they tried to make it look like they treated us well, they threatened to not let us leave if we didn't sign the statements they had written in Chinese. Some were violently assaulted again and were punched in the face and stomped in the stomach for not signing. After about a 24 to 28 hour wait, we were all sent home.

Clearwisdom: According to a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry today, you had been treated "humanely." Do you have any comments on this?

Zenon: My comment is simple. They are lying. I am not surprised at all. We only need to remember the "Tiananmen Square Massacre," and the "Great Cultural Revolution" to see their notions of what is humane. Today, innocent people are tortured and killed to "maintain social stability." Jiang Zemin is trying to corrupt his nation with his twisted notions of power and control. Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, the 610 Office and those who follow them will be brought to justice. The Chinese history will glow again in the light of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. There are too many good people in China for this not to happen.

Clearwisdom: Why do you think China persecutes Falun Gong?

Zenon: Correctly speaking, let's make it clear who represent China. Chinese people doesn't persecute Falun Gong. They never have. In fact China has been persecuted by Jiang Zemin's criminal regime for embracing Falun Gong. Luo Gan's 610 Office has been given authority over all other levels of the Chinese government and has offices at every level of the Chinese government. The government and all other institutions in the entire society were used to persecute Falun Gong because people in all institutions and at all levels of society practiced Falun Gong.

This scared the president of China a great deal. Communism exists to "liberate the people." But Jiang Zemin used this as a cloak to cover his pursuit for fame and gain. He used this to serve himself, thus selling out his entire nation for himself.

Falun Gong taught liberation (enlightenment) for the people. But only those individual who could truly sacrifice, and endure the arduous path of cultivation can reach the ultimate freedom (liberation). To cultivate Truth- Compassion-Forbearance is not easy. It is because there were so many outstanding people in the Chinese society that over 100 million people could recognize the validity of Falun Dafa and take up this very serious practice.

Mr. Li Hongzhi has always been sacrificing for the people and giving to the people, and before the persecution this was common knowledge in China. How could Jiang Zemin, who used the people for himself, allow the popularity of Falun Dafa continue to flourish? Would this not reveal him as the corrupt leader that he was and is? So he established the 610 Office with the help of Luo Gan and has promoted this persecution for over two years. However, after this truth is exposed and this persecution is over, the depraved nature of Jiang Zemin will be common knowledge.

They have not been able to wipe out Falun Gong because the Dafa is truly grand and powerful, and because those people who can recognize this are strong enough and clear enough to preserve something so precious.

The world has never seen such a profound teaching spread so fast throughout the whole world, giving to the people and asking nothing in return. When this teaching revitalizes the elderly, guides the youth, advances science, faces persecution with compassion while taking a firm stand for truth, people will see it, want it and learn it. This has already happened on a wide scale and the respect is growing around the world. I am happy for those who can recognize it, sad for those who have been deceived, and I weep for those who will miss the chance.

Clearwisdom: Qi Gong had been very popular in China. Many different types of Qi Gong are practiced in China. Why do you think they call Falun Gong an 'XX' in particular?

Zenon: When I used to practice, Kung Fu, Qi Gong, and Tai Chi etc., I was told by my teachers not to teach my friends for free (even though I did). Although they speak of the Tao or the Fa, or some low-level principles of Qi Gong, they do it to obtain fame and or gain. They don't seem to really think of others first. However, when something pure does come to the surface, it threatens their very existence. This is especially so for those in China, as there are many who can recognize the true Tao or Law and want to practice genuine cultivation. So rather than remembering their original purpose for wanting to cultivate and taking up genuine cultivation, they instead try to preserve their personal interest. They attack and slander Falun Gong. In principle it is no different than Jiang Zemin-- it is just that they have very little power.

Clearwisdom: You are back from Beijing. Do you have anything to say to people in China now?

Zenon: I am a free young man who can think and do as I like. I am lucky. In one sense you (Chinese people) are even luckier than I, as you were able to be born into the land of China. However, it is a much more complicated environment for you, as you well know. For those who can hear me, I am happy for you and would like to smile into your eyes. For those who do not believe, this is your right and I respect that, as you have your own minds and your own hearts. But I do want to say to you, that while you are making up your minds, don't do bad things, don't have bad thoughts. Good is rewarded with good and evil is met with evil. Be patient, wait, and you will see for yourselves.