Understandings After Watching Shen Yun Performing Arts (Part I)

[PureInsight.org] Shen Yun Performing Arts is more than a world class cultural show, as it has very profound inner meanings. Here, I would like to share some understandings from watching a Shen Yun performance recently.

We know that Shen Yun is promoting 5,000 years of Chinese traditional culture. Then, what is the essence of this culture? In ancient China, people understood harmony between heaven and earth, and they knew of the Three Realms—heaven, earth, and humankind. Through 5,000 years of history, there were many manifestations on how to comply with the requirements of the Fa at certain levels. These provide a reference for people nowadays on how to live and how to behave. As society declines, people have become more and more degenerate. By taking the form of art, Shen Yun is rectifying people's thoughts and behavior so they can return to a path of traditional values.

From the Chinese classical and ethnic dances, what have we learned from Shen Yun? Colorful land, blue sky, high mountains, and clear rivers... all these are what the environment should be. In the meantime, people are upright and happy practicing kindness and freedom. With the characteristics of peace and calm, they are expressing kindness, as well as gratitude toward nature, the divine, and toward other people. Life is simple since people are selfless. This is how a human being should be. However, after the systematic propaganda and brainwashing by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the past 60 years, people have lost their kindness. Their minds have become distorted and degenerate, replaced with selfishness, fear, and impulsiveness. They are harming each other and have become self-defensive. In addition, the exploitation of nature has damaged and polluted the environment, which has resulted in many disasters. The beautiful mountains and rivers in a Shen Yun performance are rarely seen nowadays in China.

In Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing), Lao Zi talked about practicing cultivation in this human world. Confucius, on the other hand, discussed ethics in his teachings. Through its various programs, such as dances, stories, and legends, a Shen Yun performance gives vivid and insightful presentations of traditional values for the common good. From the performance, we know how people can live a happy and peaceful life by following the requirements of a divine culture.

Meanwhile, another theme that continues throughout history is the battle between righteousness and evil. It is clear that a sentient being has to meet the requirements at differing levels and has to be responsible for the Fa at that level. That is why there were many heroes in Chinese history that chose to sacrifice themselves for ethical standards, for the country, or for other people, regardless of whether they were successful or not. Their uprightness and perseverance were always remembered, which serves as a reference for people to make the correct choices at critical moments.

Many people in China nowadays have degenerate thoughts and are thus unable to understand the caliber of ancient people. They laugh at Confucius' persistence in spite of the difficulty, Yue Fei's loyalty, and Han Xin's courage and forgiveness. These people also take a similar approach to the persecution against Falun Gong over the past 12 years. They either follow the crowd to do bad deeds or ignore the atrocities in order to protect themselves. This is a sad and dangerous situation.

At this very moment, Shen Yun is reviving 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture and is helping people to return to an appropriate state for mankind's existence. The dynamic backdrops show celestial worlds, and the few sketches about Falun Gong tell what is happening in China today. All these are relaying an important message to the audience. Please do not be fearful since divine beings are with us. We will be blessed if we follow our consciences.

Each time after watching a Shen Yun performance, the body is cleansed and the mind and soul are uplifted, restoring one’s moral standards. As one audience member said, one can never watch Shen Yun enough. Have you seen a performance already?

Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2012/1/17/79962.html