7. Recognition, Awards and Support from the Society
In "Lecture on the Fa at the U.S. Midwest Conference" (June 1999, Chicago), Master Li mentioned that cultivators have long given up the worldly desires of fame and self-interest. Winning awards does not mean much to him at all. However, for the sake of Falun Dafa, the meaning behind awards is profound, for it represents society's righteous support and recognition of Falun Dafa.
Indeed, in recognition of his tremendous contribution to humanity and society, more than 600 governmental and non-governmental organizations have awarded proclamations to Master Li Hongzhi. More than 500 distinguished professors and governmental officials from 14 different countries nominated Master Li for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. Moreover, for several subsequent years, Master Li appeared on the final nomination list for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2001, more than 28 European Union members of parliament also nominated Master Li for the Sakharov Prize.
The Taiwanese people's widespread support of Falun Gong has led the Taiwanese government and numerous Taiwanese political parties to affirm Falun Gong's incredible health benefits and the spiritual growth that it brings to its practitioners. Many notable Taiwanese figures, including Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien, Premier Hsieh Chang-ting, President Legislative Yuan Wang Jin-Pyng, National Party President Lien Chan, Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-Jeou, as well as many other city mayors, district officials and legislative committee members have all expressed their support of Falun Gong.
Support from President Chen and Vice President Lu
Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien have openly supported Falun Gong on at least ten occasions. President Chen's essay, "A Course on Democracy" was published in a French international telecommunications magazine in the special issue of "The World in 2002." The essay described President Chen as a constant supporter of human rights and values. He has always stressed the fundamental importance of human rights and freedom. In particular, he described the inhumane, brutal treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China as revealing the evil nature of the totalitarian CCP regime.
The full text of a special interview with President Chen Shuibian was published in the May 2005 issue of Time magazine. When President Chen was asked about what would be discussed if Jiang Zemin were to visit Taiwan, he replied, "First, we hope Mr. Jiang understands that Taiwan is a truly democratic regime. Our legislative organization, media and society are multi-faceted. Second, we expect Jiang Zemin to understand that most Taiwanese will not approve of the establishment of the "One Country, Two Systems" policy in Taiwan. Third, we'll make it clear to Jiang Zemin that Taiwan implements true freedom of religion. That Falun Gong is an issue in China has by no means created any questions for Falun Gong in Taiwan."
President's Proclamation to the 2001 Taiwan Falun Dafa Sharing Conference.
Vice President's Proclamation to the 2002 Taiwan Falun Dafa Sharing Conference.
Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien (Right) is learning Falun Gong Exercises.
In March 2002, Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien attended the Liberal International Conference and delivered a speech on the issue of a country's freedom and flexibility. In her speech, she declared, "While the leaders in Beijing are worrying over whether Falun Gong practitioners pose a threat to national security, the Taiwanese people, who enjoy freedom of belief, can freely choose their faith without any worries." She added that, "These things tell us that Falun Gong is innocent, while persecutors of human rights are the real culprits!"
On July 20, 2002, while in the Presidential Palace, Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien said in a speech representing all 23 million Taiwanese people's concerns and sincere well wishes for Falun Gong, "Two years ago in Taipei, when activities were held supporting the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners, as Vice President, I attended the event on behalf of Taiwan to express my concern."
On March 1, 2003, Ms. Lu Hsiu-lien, as head of the human rights advisory group of the presidential office, held a special news conference to protest strongly against the Hong Kong government's denial of entry of Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioners to Hong Kong, as well as the physical mistreatment that they received.
Support and Affirmation from Government Leaders
As early as 2001, Taiwanese governmental leaders expressed congratulations and issued proclamations at many Taiwan Falun Dafa Sharing Conferences. In the 2004 Taiwan Falun Dafa Experience Sharing Conference, more than 6000 Falun Dafa practitioners from all over Taiwan, and from more than 10 countries in Europe, North and South America, as well as the Asia Pacific region gathered together for a majestic celebration. Letters of support were received from Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian, Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien, the National Party President and Taiwan presidential candidate Lien Chan and Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-Jeou. Moreover, the Taiwan Solidarity Union leader Huang Chu-wen attended the conference in person to express his support and congratulations.
Premier of the Executive Yuan's Proclamation to the 2001 Taiwan Falun Dafa Sharing Conference
Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-Jeou's Proclamation to the 2002 Taiwan Falun Dafa Sharing Conference
National Taiwan University President Chen Wei-Chao's Proclamation to the 2002 Taiwan Falun Dafa Sharing Conference
The Taiwan Legislature Unanimously Passes Resolution Demanding that China Stop Persecuting Falun Gong and Release all Detained Practitioners
On June 8, 2004, 126 members of the Taiwan Legislative Yuan, across party lines, proposed a resolution demanding that the Chinese government immediately release all arrested and detained Falun Gong practitioners and end the persecution of Falun Gong. The resolution passed unanimously at 5:30 p.m. and was delivered to the Executive Yuan.
Councilor of Hualien County Assembly Congratulates Falun Dafa for its Tenth Anniversary
On May 12, 2002, on the eve of the tenth anniversary celebration of Falun Dafa's introduction to the public, on behalf of the people of Taiwan's Hualien County, the Councilor of the Hualien County Assembly, Yang Wen-Chih, appealed to the PRC government to stop its inhumane and unfounded persecution of Falun Gong Practitioners. He also wished that the millions of compassionate people in the world would be forever rooted in the beliefs of "Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance."
Full Text of the Hualien County Assembly Congratulatory Letter
Taiwan National Bar Association Expresses Support for the "Prosecution of Jiang"
On October 25, 2003, the Taiwan National Bar Association, the largest association in the Taiwanese legal arena, published a resolution to support Falun Gong practitioners' global lawsuits against Jiang Zemin, the leader of China's persecution of Falun Gong. The Taiwan National Bar Association also urged China to immediately release all illegally incarcerated Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioners back to Taiwan. This is the first bar association in the world that has openly expressed support for Falun Gong practitioners' lawsuits against Jiang Zemin.
The Taiwan National Bar Association (TNBA) has more than 4,000 members. On October 25, 2003, the board of directors at TNBA held a meeting to elect the new Chairman and the new Supervisor. After the election, they discussed a resolution that 18 members had proposed to support Falun Gong practitioners' global lawsuits against Jiang Zemin. After an enthusiastic discussion in support of human rights, they unanimously agreed to pass the resolution and made a public statement of their decision.
The following is the complete content of the resolution:
The Taiwan National Bar Association's resolution on October 25, 2003:
Whereas, human rights are values fundamental to all humankind and have no borders;
Whereas, practitioners of Falun Gong persevere in their belief in Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance and, for the purpose of protecting the fundamental human rights of freedom of speech, are against violations of individual liberty;
Whereas, we completely understand the intent of international condemnation of human rights abuses in China;
It is, hereby, resolved, by this Association,
That China is urged to abide by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights it signed;
That the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights will be used as the source of resolutions by associations and practitioners of Falun Gong;
That China is especially urged to immediately release any fellow citizens of Taiwan to avoid damage to the relationship among the citizens of the two areas.
8. Why is Falun Gong Booming in Taiwan?
i) Chinese traditional cultivation culture has been preserved in Taiwan.
The authentic culture of the Chinese nation started about 5,000 years ago with the legendary Emperor Huang, who is deemed to be the earliest ancestor of Chinese civilization. In fact, Emperor Huang was also credited with writing the ancient book Music, The Change of Spring and Autumn, which successfully established the base for Chinese culture. During later periods, various thoughts and theoretical systems including Taoism emerged, and later on, Buddhism was introduced into ancient China. Buddhism and Taoism were assimilated to Chinese culture during its development.
The essence of Chinese culture is its unique moral standard and philosophical ideology, which advocates that cultivating one's morality be the starting point for "making the whole kingdom tranquil and happy." Traditional Chinese culture is one of cultivation based on "the unity of heaven and humanity." Cultivation stories of successfully becoming a celestial being and returning to one's true self have been written down and handed down for thousands of years.
Falun Gong, which was made public in 1992, covered the essence of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and contained the core of the moral standard and philosophical ideology of Chinese culture. Turning the Law Wheel (Zhuan Falun) written by Master Li Hongzhi reveals countless celestial secrets and unravels the mysteries of this universe from the extreme microcosm to the extreme macrocosm.
It is believed that Falun Gong plays a very important role in preserving Chinese culture . The eighty-year history of the CCP is full of violence and the destruction of Chinese culture. Following the lead of Stalin's tyranny in Russia, the CCP ruined Chinese culture step by step under the catch phrase of "smash the old world." Even worse is that Chinese traditional culture experienced a holocaust during the great Cultural Revolution, with large numbers of ancient books burned, and many historic temples ruined. Schools started to use the textbooks of the Soviet Union, and millions of young people don't know what the Four Books and the Five Classics really were. The younger generation was trained to be rootless in culture. In some sense, the persecution of Falun Gong is a continuation of the destruction of traditional culture.
Fortunately, some essence of Chinese traditional culture has been preserved in Taiwan. "Respect for heaven and the earth and belief in deities and Buddha" is a prevailing tradition. Worshipping Buddhas in temples or worshipping Jesus in Churches are very popular in Taiwan. The general public believes that kindness will be rewarded and evil will be punished.
Under these circumstances, Taiwan society easily accepts Falun Gong because it is deeply rooted in Chinese traditional culture. After spreading for 10 years, it is estimated that Taiwan has at least 1,000 practice sites and more than 300,000 practitioners from all walks of society.
ii) Falun Gong practice shows prominent improvement in health and fitness.
Falun Gong practice has been shown to improve health and fitness. According to research conducted by assistant professor Ms. Hu Yu-Whuei at the Economics Department of National Taiwan University, Falun Gong helps to harmonize one's emotions. In his study, the degree of satisfaction with one's health increased from 24% to 78 0.000000or those who started practicing Falun Gong. The report pointed out that Falun Gong helps to get rid of unhealthy habits. For example, the study showed an 81% rate for quitting smoking and a 77% rate for abstaining from alcohol.
In the same study, Ms. Hu also found that the reason why Falun Gong practitioners are able to quite smoking so quickly is that some regard it as a bad habit, while others found smoking to be an attachment that had to be removed in the process of their cultivation. In this way, they developed the perseverance to abstain from nicotine and alcohol.
In another study, according to MunSang Poh, an independent Taiwan based newspaper, a survey on Falun Gong practitioners shows that Falun Gong significantly improves the health of its practitioners. Before practicing, the practitioners saw a doctor on an average of 12 times per year, similar to the general public. After they began practicing Falun Gong, however, they only visited the doctor an average of 6 times per year. The survey also pointed out that 79 0f the practitioners who had a craving for tobacco succeed in quitting smoking, and 790f the people who were addicted to drinking succeeded in abstaining from alcohol.
iii) The Taiwanese Community widely respects Falun Gong practitioners' excellent behavior
Many Falun Gong practitioners in Taiwan practice the exercises in parks and schools early every morning. As practitioners benefit from practicing Falun Gong, they keep practicing every day regardless of the weather. They are also members of society from all walks of life, including scholars, farmers, workers, businessmen, doctors, attorneys, teachers, officials, students, police, housewives, and so on. Falun Gong teaches practitioners to be good people in any environment, and it asks practitioners to do a good job at work and to always strive to improve themselves. Many practitioners, whether in their family, at work, or in society, are highly respected by those around them. The Taiwanese recognize their good deeds and conduct, and consider practitioners to be a stabilizing force in society. Out of many possible examples, three practitioners from Taipei, Kaohsiung and Hualien are profiled below.
Ms. Huang Li-hwi is the Vice-Group Leader of "The Multilateral Trade Group" at the International Trade Bureau in Taiwan's Department of Economics. She is responsible, handles matters efficiently, and is glad to help her colleagues and subordinates. In May 2003, Ms. Huang was recognized and honored as Model Governmental Worker of the Year. Huang Jyh-peng, Chief of the International Trade Bureau, stated in describing this outstanding subordinate, "I do not know what it is about Falun Gong, but I believe in Huang Li-hwi. She can accomplish her job well. So many people who believe in Falun Gong are so good. Falun Gong must be a good school of cultivation practice."
Biographical sketch describing Ms. Huang's achievements
Certificate for recognition as "model official"
Ms. Chang Su-shing is the Director of Wufwu Junior High School in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Ms. Chang teaches students earnestly and tirelessly, and has frequently been recognized by educational units. She was awarded first place in a teacher evaluation among junior high schools at Kaohsiung. The Ministry of Education also acknowledged her outstanding performance in researching and developing the nine-year curriculum. In September 2002, the Bureau of Education in Kaohsiung proclaimed Ms. Chang Su-shing to be an "Extraordinary Teacher."
Chang Su-shing Awarded Plaque
Certificate of Achievement
Ms. Lee Min-yu is a teacher at the MingYih Elementary School in Hualien County. In September 2003, Ms. Lee was honored as an "Extraordinary Teacher" in Hualien County. This is a major annual event organized by the Bureau of Education to encourage teachers' professionalism. She was elected to receive this honor with the highest score of all of the recommended teachers in the county. Each school could only recommend one or two teachers to participate.
Li Min-yu Awarded Plaque
Proclamation Document
(To be continued)
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