RICHARDSON CITY, Texas—Karyne Richardson had wanted to see the Shen Yun performance for more than 5 years. She was deeply in awe after seeing it in Richardson Texas on Sept. 5.
“It’s sacred, what you presented today, what everyone presented was sacred art. It’s been saved and now brings forth life to the world because it’s so beautiful,” said Richardson.
Richardson is the Director of Graduate Studies of the Institute for Sound Health & Integrative Medicine. She said that Shen Yun is more than just a performance.
“Shen Yun was so brave, to tell the truth through dance and music. Wow,” she added. “To tell the truth about what’s going on with the Falun Dafa, the Falun Gong, and the medical surgery that’s going on in China. … And [the Communist regime] harms people, it kills people.”
She continued, “I’ve known about this for years, because of my work. So I’m very happy that you’re brave enough, all of you, to tell the truth.”
China has a long history of spiritual cultivation, and it continues today with people who practice Falun Dafa.
However, under China’s communist regime, Falun Dafa cultivators are persecuted for their belief. Inspired by their courage and hope for their freedom, Shen Yun brings their story to the stage.
“The scene about the young lady whose organ was taken from her just for practicing Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa; that was really touching to me to see that that would happen to someone in today’s day and age. You wouldn’t think that someone would be persecuted for their beliefs,” said Laurie Williamson the owner of a graphic design company.
Jasmine Bayliss, the principal of Lucas Christian Academy expressed a similar idea.
“The part that has touched me the most is really just the awareness of the persecution that’s happening in China, and what people there are really experiencing right now,” she said. “And so that’s one of the things you know—as my kids are able to see this—I’m able to go and talk with them after about it.”
An Inner Difference
One of the unique characteristics of Shen Yun is that something else unites the artists beyond the performing arts.
Shen Yun artists are also spiritual seekers on a shared journey—they believe that cultivating the heart is the way to create beautifully sublime art.
“The feelings that they portray just from the heart, just out, I mean, you can feel what they’re saying,” said Peter A. Speen, a chief master sergeant of U.S. Airforce.
“It’s extremely positive,” said Don Bayliss, a senior manager of engineering at Capital One. “And it’s just, it’s very peaceful. And you can just kind of sense the happiness of the people.”
“When our minds and our bodies are in alignment with heaven, joy comes out of it. So the joy and the music and the dancing were all one. They bring happiness and joy to the heart because it’s so perfect,” said Richardson.
Shen Yun‘s next performance will be in Houston, Texas from Sept. 18 to 26.
NTD News, Richardson, Texas
