Humanity theme of exhibition
by Duncan Abey
Persecution,
courage and humanity will be the major themes of Falun Gong art exhibition to
be held this weekend at the Wollongong Old Courthouse.
Truth, Compassion
and Forbearance is a 40-piece art show depicting the trauman experienced by devotees
of the controversial Chinese meditation technique, now practised by 100 million
people worldwide.
Esther Wang, who founded the first Falun Gong community
in the Illawarra seven years ago, said the practice had been badly misrepresented
by the Chinese Government.
"Falun Gong is meditation practice. It’s
not religious and it’s not political," she said.
Also known as Falun
Dafa, Falun Gong advocates the three principles of Truth, Compassion and Tolerance,
as well as five different sets of physical exercises.
"It is similar
to tai chi, but we also practise the mind. We apply the principles in our daily
lives," Ms Wang said.
Admitting that simply hosting the art exhibition
involved risks for her family back in China, Ms Wang said she had no choice but
to defend Falun Gong.
"You have to fight for what is right. To stay
silent you are admitting that it is wrong," she said.
Falun Gong was
an apolitical practice, and demonstrations have only ever been held to draw attention
to persecution of the practice.
"We have no political agenda at all,"
Ms Wang said.
Truth, Compassion and Forbearance is open to the public until
Monday, and is free of charge.
Original article
date: 9/Jul/2005
Category: Media Report
