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Falun Dafa: "Law-Wheel Great-Way"
Falun Gong: "Law-Wheel Cultivation"
Both these names might sound strange to most people, and they may wonder, hmmm, is this a cult sort of thing? No, Falun Dafa (more popularly known as Falun Gong) is a Chinese cultivation system that is similar to qigong in that it has exercises for improving the health of the body.
But, Falun Dafa is a lot more than just the five simple and gentle exercises that most people see. It is a cultivation system of both mind and body, and it enables you to become much better both physically and mentally.
Most people have a good idea about what cultivation of body is - after all, Yoga, Tai Chi and other eastern practises have become very popular in the last few years.
Falun Dafa is similar to most popular systems. It consists of five slow and gentle exercises that open up your energy channels and leave you feeling refreshed. For more details about these exercises, go to http://www.falundafa.org/eng/exercises.htm.
What is cultivation of mind? Very few practises follow a cultivation of mind, which I think is as important as that of the body.
Falun Dafa requires us to be in harmony with the Cosmos, and it requires us to do so by following the law (the Fa) of the Cosmos: Zhen-Shan-Ren Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. It further teaches that all tribulations and suffering is brought about by our own karma, and a cultivator is one who overcomes his karma and transcends human limitations by following the Fa of the cosmos.
If this sounds like Buddhism and Taoism, you're right on. This practise combines ancient and time-tested faiths that have been popular through the ages.
Falun Dafa brings about enormous benefit for both oneself and society. For this, all one has to do is go to the Clearwisdom website (http://www.clearwisdom.net/), and read the numerous personal experiences and changes that people have seen since starting cultivation in Falun Dafa.
The benefits for society are tremondous, too. Think about it - if all Falun Dafa cultivators practise the righteous principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, what a better place this world will be for it! Also, Dafa also teaches us to give in our best now - no 'this-world-is-unimportant-the-next-world-is' beliefs. It asks us to become better individuals in work, study and play.
For me, personally, it has brought about a tremondous change in my beliefs and outlook. I have mentally become more focussed, confident, energetic. I am now more responsible, and put in more quality time at work and study. And while I haven't felt much different, some of my friends tell me that I walk with such light steps that it looks like I'm flying! My body feels much better, I sleep a whole lot better, and just today (April 4th), I slept for just 2 and a half hours and woke up feeling really refreshed! I also used to have problems with my digestion. I would have to visit the bathroom twice a day, and I would not feel comfortable at other times, too. This has gone away ever since I steadfastly started cultivating in Dafa.
If all this is true, then you may ask "Why does the Chinese government ban such a good practise"? For details, click here.