Most weekdays at 12:15 p.m., Margaret Jiang and Laura Chen can be found on Central Campus practicing Falun Dafa, a Chinese exercise in meditation.

The noises from the Gerdin Business Building construction site, the Campanile and passing traffic don’t seem to disturb them. Their eyes are closed and their expressions are calm as they practice their exercises.

The exercise of Falun Dafa is similar to Yoga or Tai Chi meditation. Its goal is enlightenment.

Jiang and Chen usually place a framed poster and some pamphlets by the sidewalk to explain what they are doing.

The pamphlets explain that Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, “improves mental and physical wellness through a series of easy-to-learn exercises [and] meditation … based on the universal principles of Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance.”

It is a modern, accessible form of the ancient Chinese tradition of qigong (chee-gong), introduced in China by Li Hongzhi in 1992.

The worldwide practice of Falun Dafa is represented at Iowa State by an official student organization, the Falun Dafa Association. However, it is unlike other student organizations on campus.

“People are free to come and go,” Jiang said, president of the ISU Falun Dafa Association since its formation in 1998.

The association doesn’t keep a membership list. Instead, they try to have a few volunteers “so that anyone interested could find a place to start.”

Jiang said the organization participates in Veishea, ClubFest, parades and festivals because they hope more students will get involved.

“We hope more and more people get the chance to see Falun Dafa and know it is good. Then, they will want to learn it naturally,” she said.

Jiang said a good place for interested students to begin Falun Dafa is at the weekly Thursday night meetings, which include book readings in addition to group practice of their exercises.

It is also acceptable for students to practice Falun Dafa independently, Jiang said.

Students are welcome to practice Falun Dafa by the Campanile, she said.

Bad weather and other conflicts occasionally prevent the organization from practicing outside.

“Practicing outdoors makes me feel really different and refreshed,” she said. “In northern China, people used to practice outside every early morning throughout the cold winter.”

After developing a following of over 70 million people in China, Falun Dafa was declared illegal by China’s Communist leaders.

Adela Licona, graduate in English, said she looks with interest at Jiang’s meditation while walking to class because she used to practice Chikung, a spiritual martial art.

Like Falun Dafa, Chikung is about “harmonizing energy flow,” she said. “It’s a beautiful practice.”