I have practised Falun Dafa for a few years and have discussed the persecution in China with many Australians. It surprises me that some people think the Chinese government does have some reason to worry about 70 to 100 million people practising Falun Gong.
What is the worry? What is the problem with so many people being good. Do they have to be controlled to be good? What is the worry with 100 million people taking responsibility for their own thoughts, actions and words and trying to be more truthful, compassionate and tolerant in every aspect of their life? Why would anyone think that this was a worry for any government – whether totalitarian or democratic?
Sometimes such an issue can seem so big that it clouds our perception of what is right. But isn’t it the same issue whether in the microcosm or the macrocosm? For example, the government performs the role of “parent” for the people of the nation, while we as individuals perform the role of parent to our children.
As a parent we generally would like our children to grow up to be honest, kind, and tolerant. How do we achieve that? We teach them principles that can guide their life. We accept that we can’t make decisions for them or control them as they grow into adults and why would we want to? Of course a young child needs controls, and needs a parent making certain decisions. But would it be acceptable to still control our children when they are adults, to make limiting decisions for them because we are afraid of the decisions they will make for themselves?
And why would we be afraid? If we have offered good guidance and good principles should we fear the outcome of our own parenting? Similarly, why should a government fear its own citizens expressing their personal responsibility to follow principles that make them better people? For the case of Falun Gong in China, why would the Chinese government fear people meditating and practicing truthfulness, compassion and tolerance? Is that rational or just?
For us in Australia to excuse the persecution in China because of notions or fears about “the number of people” is tragically misguided and also misses an essential point. While we all seek to live in peace, many seem to forget that true peace only comes from each one of us finding peace within ourselves. True peace is not something that can be imposed upon a people by force. The fact that 100 million people in a country such as China are seeking peace and harmony within themselves is something we should all support – but first we need to have a correct understanding of their hearts and of our own.
Posting date: 23/Sep/2002
Original article date: 21/Sep/2002
Category: Forum
