Upon reading the article, Domenic Savini, a governmental accountant, found an honest message that inspires people to do good and reminds them that the purpose of life is to return to the divine.
“I was gripped by the fact that he spoke with the divine. [Mr. Li] spoke of an experience outside of the worldly experience and reality that we think we live in. And immediately I began to understand that there’s a supreme being with a supreme purpose,” said Savini in a recent interview with NTD, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times.
“As I continued to read the article, [Mr. Li] was calling people of goodwill, regardless of what faith we may be following, to seek virtue, and in that virtue to treat one another with kindness and compassion. And that just resonated with me, to my very core,” he added.
Mr. Li introduced Falun Gong to the public in China in 1992. The spiritual practice, also known as Falun Dafa, is rooted in ancient Chinese traditions and teaches moral improvement—leading to spiritual enlightenment—by following three core tenets: truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.
As a Christian and a Catholic, what resounded with Savini in Mr. Li’s words is akin to what resounds with him in the Bible: “that we have to love one another, that we have to care for one another,” he said.
“We’re human beings. We’re each made in God’s image. And this is what… came alive for me [in the article] … that we have a piece of the divine within us, and that we need to return to the divine,” he stated.
“That’s the message of hope that we have to share with one another. Even if it’s a person who feels as though they’re just an outcast, we need to remind them: you’re made in the divine image to one day return to the divine,” he added.
Savini further mentioned that those who do not practice a religion can also benefit from reading Mr. Li’s article and find ideas that resonate with them.
Perseverance in the Face of Persecution
Falun Gong gained popularity in China during the 1990s, with estimates putting the number of adherents at 70 million to 100 million. The communist regime, fearing the number of practitioners posed a threat to its authoritarian control, initiated a sweeping campaign aimed at eradicating the practice starting on July 20, 1999, a program that continues today.Savini lamented the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners in China.
“I grieve for them. I cry for them to know that because of their belief in the divine, they’re being persecuted and treated so harshly, so brutally. And that very few people in the world are acknowledging that or trying to stop it,” he said.
He went on to acknowledge how commendable it is for Falun Gong adherents to persist in following their beliefs, and that this could have a positive influence in the world.
“I want to thank the Falun Gong for their faith. I want to thank them through their perseverance for their tolerance of pain. I want to thank them for their hope,” he said.
“Because they are going to help reignite a resurgence worldwide that will bring people back to the divine and to God, as their voices continue to be heard around the world,” he stated.
Navigating Life in a Difficult World
While reading “How Humankind Came To Be,” Thane Lawrie, a Buddhist for over two decades, focused on the parallels between his belief and Falun Gong’s teachings about how to navigate life in a troubled world.“What Mr. Li tried to do in his article was [to] offer hope to people… [Because], in this modern world, it’s easy to become lost or frustrated or unsure about how to live and live well,” Lawrie, author of The Buddhist CEO, said in a recent interview with NTD.
“[Mr. Li] suggests … that we can find peace and balance in [our] life … That’s an aspect of Buddhism I was drawn to as well,” stated Lawrie, former CEO of Scarf, a social enterprise dedicated to energy efficiency.
“There is a way to practice living… that can help you find enjoyment, peace and contentment,” he added.
Lawrie also pointed out that, just like Buddhism, Falun Gong features meditation practice, which is very helpful for people seeking peace in this difficult world.
