In Prison

Music: Qi Hang
Chinese lyrics: Hong Shi
English lyrics: Sara and Randall Effner
Vocals: Sara Effner
Guitar : Randall Effner
Violin: Susanna Halden

In December of 1999, six months after the persecution of Falun Gong began, a young man in China found himself unexpectedly sentenced to prison. Here, while in deep despair over his fate, he met a number of Falun Gong practitioners who had also been sent to prison--not for committing a crime, but simply for not giving up their faith according to a dictator's decree. This is how he described his experience:

"Prison is pure hell. Everything, from daily life to people's thinking, is very different from the outside world. Inmates fight for food, spread gossip and mock each other. In prison, people do whatever they can to make themselves feel good at others' expense. The only exceptions were the Falun Gong practitioners. They never fought back when attacked, either physically or verbally. They cared for other people. They placed value on virtue and good deeds. They also clarified the truth about Falun Gong, patiently advising the criminal inmates to become good people.

In the seven months I spent in prison, all the practitioners I knew were the same way. Regardless of their education level, they all demonstrated a high moral standard. They had a great capacity to tolerate differences in people, and they all were able to endure tremendous hardships. Their sincere manner and compassion were most memorable. After spending time with Falun Gong practitioners, I was amazed that I could meet such good people in such a dark place."

The young man was so impressed with the practitioners' conduct in prison that when he got out, he too became a Falun Gong practitioner.

--from "Discovering Hope In the Sea of Misery--A Young Man Finds Falun Dafa In Prison," Hearts and Minds Uplifted: The Power of Falun Dafa

To view online: http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2006/7/26/75892.html