（明慧記者盧欣然編譯報導）二零零七年七月二十四日，美國拉斯維加斯的《觀點新聞》發表了記者蘿拉•凱羅（Laura Carroll）題為「心靈的修煉」的文章，介紹了在沙漠涼風公園的法輪大法煉功點。文章著重介紹了法輪功在中國遭受迫害的殘酷現實。
文章開門見山說，你能想像因打坐修煉及學習幫助人們過有意義人生的原則而被抓捕嗎？在當今的中國，這是法輪功學員面對的現實。
文章介紹說，法輪大法，亦稱法輪功，是一九九二年在中國公開傳出的一門性命雙修功法。學員學習其原理，打坐煉功，並免費義務教功。
在拉斯維加斯的學員每周七天在位於Spring Mountain街8275號的沙漠涼風公園集體煉功。周一到周六，從早上七點五十五分開始，在公園的兒童樂園旁；周日，從早上八點五十五分開始，在市池樓前。每次時間兩個小時，包括煉動功、靜功和學法。整個活動免費，並對公眾開放。
作者採訪了當地居民田波[音譯]。他來美前住在中國，過著平淡的生活，在一家旅館上班，喜歡讀書。有一年，還被其單位評為「最佳雇員」稱號。他也打坐並行使他信仰法輪功的權利，直到被中共警察抓走。
文中說，一九九九年在中國各地，煉法輪功被視為與中共對抗。學員被強迫簽字放棄信仰；如不服從，則被關入牢房。
田先生對記者說：「在中國，我會因和記者說話而被捕」。
自一九九九年起，四十四歲的田先生在中國被抓三次。他告訴記者：「一夜之間，我們被視為異類。政府不把我們當人對待」。
田先生第三次被關時，聽到受刑者的痛苦呻吟，非常真實恐怖。他說，有一次他連續二十四小時不能動。
他還回憶起一名五、六十歲的男子，冬天被押到戶外強迫脫掉鞋、襪，在雪中從半夜一直蹲到次日凌晨。當再次見到他時，他已沒法睜眼，看上去像凍僵了似的。
另一位本地法輪功學員Sandy St. John稱，中共曾想在法輪功內安插人員，但沒有成功。她對記者說，當中共對[法輪功]無法控制時，就視其為威脅。
另一位當地學員Magala Moa告訴記者：「中共認為它沒法控制煉法輪功的人的思想，所以感到很驚恐」。
據田先生說，在中國大陸，電視、廣播和所有的新聞都受中共控制。「到處都是秘密警察」。由於這個原因，人們都不敢說出自己的想法，怕家人受到威脅。
Magala說：「中共是凌駕於法律之上的。西方社會的民眾搞不懂是怎麼回事。我們是有信仰權利的。請給你們當地政府打電話，尋求幫助」。
她希望大家能上法輪功的網站www.falundafa.org了解，並簽名支持法輪功。
文章介紹，每年中國新年期間，在中國城廣場，法輪功學員都舉行「和平請願」。而且全國各地的學員也在公共場所舉辦活動，讓大眾了解他們的訴求。他們還散發傳單，上面印著學員被中共酷刑折磨致死的畫面。
文章在最後提到中共活摘法輪功學員器官。學員們告訴記者，他們在活人身上摘取器官。如果有人需做器官移植手術，中共就會將關押的人處死後出售其器官。人們真的不知道中共有多壞，對這個巨額貿易夥伴我們一無所知。
MIND EXERCISE
Falun Dafa participants practice in park
By LAURA CARROLL
VIEW STAFF WRITER
 Above, Tian Bo, left, Lisa Bao and Karen Carr practice the art of Falun Dafa in Desert Breeze Park on July 15. The group meets each morning for a free class. Right, Tian meditates as part of the philosophy of Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa, or Falun Gong, is a mind and body practice, combining Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism philosophies. Falun Dafa followers meet at Desert Breeze Park, located at 8275 Spring Mountain Road, seven days a week. Photos by louie traub/VIEW  Above, Tian Bo, left, Lisa Bao and Karen Carr practice the art of Falun Dafa in Desert Breeze Park on July 15. The group meets each morning for a free class. Right, Tian meditates as part of the philosophy of Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa, or Falun Gong, is a mind and body practice, combining Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism philosophies. Falun Dafa followers meet at Desert Breeze Park, located at 8275 Spring Mountain Road, seven days a week. Photos by louie traub/VIEW |
Imagine being arrested for meditating, learning principles to help you live a good life and exercising. In modern-day China, this is a reality for practitioners of Falun Dafa.
Las Vegas resident Tian Bo lived in China before moving to the United States. He lived an average, quiet lifestyle, worked at a hotel and read books. He was voted "Best Employee" at work one year. He also meditated and exercised his right to believe in the philosophy of Falun Dafa -- until he was arrested by Chinese police.
Falun Dafa, or Falun Gong, is a mind and body practice from China that was introduced publicly in 1992. Participants study principles, practice meditation and exercise, and all classes are free and taught by volunteers. It is a combination of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism philosophies.
In Las Vegas, Falun Dafa followers meet and practice at Desert Breeze Park, located at 8275 Spring Mountain Road, seven days a week. Practice starts on Monday through Saturday at 7:55 a.m., and meets between the children's playground and the public restrooms. Sunday sessions start at 8:55 a.m. and are held in front of the municipal pool building. The classes include movement exercises, philosophy readings and meditation. All meetings are free and open to the public.
In 1999, it was declared an act of war against the Chinese Communist Party to practice Falun Dafa anywhere in China. Practitioners were asked to sign forms renouncing their beliefs, and if they didn't, were jailed.
"For talking to a newspaper, I would be arrested," Tian said.
Since 1999, the 44-year-old has been arrested three times in his home country.
"In one night we are totally different," Tian continued. "The government treated us like animals."
Tian explained that after the law was proclaimed, police officers required all those who frequented the Falun Dafa meetings to register their identification with the police. It was the only group asked to register to practice in China's public parks, according to Tian.
According to Sandy St. John, a local Falun Dafa follower, the Chinese Communist Party wanted to place some of its members within the governing body of Falun Dafa. Because the religion has no hierarchy, the communist party could not do so.
"When they couldn't control it, they saw it as a threat," she said.
According to St. John, the goal of Falun Dafa is to bring the conscious mind into enlightenment, and practitioners work to be able to control their thoughts and minds.
"(The Chinese Communist Party) thinks they can't control people's minds who practice Falun Dafa. That's why they are so scared," said Las Vegas practitioner Magala Moa.
During Tian's third imprisonment in China, he heard the screams of people being tortured, and said that for 24 hours, he was not able to move. "When people are really being tortured, it sounds like a cow screaming. It's not like a movie. When people are really being tortured, it sounds different," he said.
Tian recalled one man, about 50 or 60 years old, who was taken outside during winter. He was ordered to take off his shoes and socks and squat outside in the snow from midnight to the next morning. When Tian saw him next, he could barely open his eyes and looked like he was frozen through.
"Billions of dollars are generated by trade with China, so the CCP can get away with anything -- just like the early Carnegies, but it's still happening in China," St. John said.
In mainland China, television, radio and the news are all controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, and, according to Tian, "there are a lot of secret police." Because of that, he said, people are afraid to speak their minds because they don't want their families to be threatened.
"The party is above the law," Magala said. "People in the Western world don't know what's going on. We do have a right to believe."
Magala also said she hopes people will sign the group's petition online.
"Help Chinese people have freedom like us. Stand up and say, 'I don't want to buy that,' " she said of Chinese goods. "It's the consumer that changes everything."
Falun Dafa practitioners host "peaceful appeals" at the Chinese New Year celebration in Chinatown Plaza every year, and practitioners all over the country stage them in public places where many people will see their cause. They also pass out graphic information documenting practitioners' deaths as a result of torture inflicted by the Chinese Communist Party.
"People just don't know how bad it is," Magala said. "They are taking organs from people while they are still alive."
"If someone needs an organ transplant, they'll condemn the person to death and sell their organs," St. John said.
More information about the philosophy or the situation in China can be found by visiting www.falundafa.org.
http://www.viewnews.com/2007/VIEW-Jul-24-Tue-2007/SpringValley/15537198.html
