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Falun Gong (Traditional Chinese: 法輪功, Simplified Chinese: 法轮功, lit. "Law of the Wheel Breathing Exercise") or Falun Dafa (Traditional Chinese: 法輪大法, Simplified Chinese: 法轮大法, lit. "Law of the Wheel Great Method") is a controversial Chinese Qigong practice with influences from Buddhism and Taoism, which purports to improve the mind, body and spirit. The government of the People's Republic of China, concerned by the group's ability to organize, claims it is an "evil" cult spreading superstition and malicious fallacies to deceive people. Whether Falun Gong is a harmless spiritual movement or an evil cult has been subject to much debate.

Origins and beliefs

Falun Dafa was introduced to the general public in 1992 by Li Hongzhi and grew very swiftly in popularity not only in China but worldwide. It was popularised widely under the PRC government's supervision for 7 years. An estimate of the PRC government presented in 1998 on the public television (state owned) in Shanghai mentioned that in mainland China alone the number of practitioners were approx. 70-100 million. The practice is present in more than 60 countries, mainly in those of North America and Europe.

The three basic moral principles of Falun Gong are: 'Zhen, Shan, Ren', which translate approximately as 'Truthfulness, Benevolence or Compassion, and Forbearance or Tolerance'. It is through focusing on these qualities that a Falun Gong practitioner is able to develop their Xinxing (moral character) which then gives them a greater potential to develop high levels of Gong ("energy", which is actually said to be essentialy different from "Qi") potency.

As well as a set of moral beliefs, there are five sets of exercises central to the Falun Gong system which are supposed to enhance the circulation of energy in the body. The final exercise, a sitting meditation, also helps to create a tranquil mind and, according to the teachings, strengthens 'Divine Powers' of the individual. All exercises are taught free of charge by other Falun Gong practitioners and are detailed in Li's books.

Along with the its basic spiritual principles, Falun Gong boasts a number of unconventional beliefs. In his dissertation, Zhuan Falun, Li writes he can personally heal disease and that the Falun Gong emblem exists in the bellies of practitioners, who can also see through the celestial eyes in their foreheads. In addition, he writes that his followers, using the powers of Falun Gong, can stop speeding cars. Li claims demons and extraterrestrials are everywhere and that Africa has a 2-billion-year-old nuclear reactor. Li also says he is able to fly with the help of Falun Gong.

Crackdown

Although the practice was spread widely in mainland China for 7 years, it has been persecuted in mainland China since July 1999. Some argue that this happened because the number of Falun Gong practitioners in China grew to a larger number than the membership of the Communist Party of China. However others argue that groups similar to Falun Gong have suffered less or little persecution (in mainland China there are 12 Christian churches currently banned and labeled as "evil sects"). However no evidence has shown that members of Falun Gong is more than the members of Chinese Communist Party, which is the largest political party in the world, consisting of 60 million people.

In April 1999, in Tianjin, as a result of an article in a local paper written by a member of Chinese Academy of Science, about a thousand Falun Gong practitioners surrounded the newspaper office. Some protesters were arrested and claimed that they were beaten by the police. Several days later, about 10,000 people gathered outside Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of Chinese Communist Party in a peaceful protest. Premier Zhu Rongji had met with them and promised to release the practitioners that were caught illegaly. He then received high and positive complements around the world. It is speculated that this had made Jiang jealous and this is believed that the government's efforts at crushing Falun Gong began after this demonstration.

This persecution is currently the subject of complaints by many worldwide human rights groups. In 2000, Ian Johnson of the Wall Street Journal investigated the reports of abuse, and published a series of investigative articles that won him the Pulitzer Prize the following year.

The PRC government claimed that Falun Gong is an evil cult. There are many disputed reports that some believers hurt or kill themselves after reading the books by Li Hongzhi. Even before the crackdown, many scientists in China have already warned that there was no scientific evidence to show Falun Gong is beneficial for health.

Some people also think that Li's purpose of introducing Falun Gong is just to earn money. There is no evidence that Li has ever tried to overthrow or oppose the government before 1999. Some report that Li did not even write the books himself. Many concepts of Falun Gong are taken directly from Buddhism, Taoism or other Qigong. The concept of "Falun" itself also long exists in Buddhism.

The campaign of government criticism started in 1999 was considered by most observers to be largely ineffectual until January 2001, when persons claiming to be Falun Gong members, among them a thirteen-year old child, allegedly doused themselves with gasoline and set themselves on fire in Tiananmen Square. However, Li Hongzhi strongly denied that the persons can have been actual Falun Gong members, since killing is strictly forbidden by the principles and precepts of the movement. Some strange inconsistencies present on the video footage of the incident released by Chinese Central Television (the main TV channel in China) call into question the integrity of the material. An independent, third-party, investigation by North American media was denied several times by the PRC government. Many now consider that the whole incident was a media hoax and was set up by/with the Chinese government's consent in its campaign to discredit Falun Gong.

Nevertheless, most observers believe that the incident helped turn public opinion in China against the group and has had the effect of helping the government in intensifying its crackdown.

Today Falun Gong is no longer influential in mainland China. However outside China there are still many believers.

References

• Li Hongzhi, Zhuan Falun: The Complete Teachings of Falun Gong (Yih Chyun, Fair Winds Press edition 2001) ISBN 1931412537
• Li Hongzhi, Falun Gong (Law Wheel Qigong) (Yih Chyun, 1993)
• Li Hongzhi, Essentials for Further Advancement (Yih Chyun, 2000?)
• Danny Schechter, Falun Gong's Challenge to China (Akashic Books, 2000) hardback ISBN 1888451130, paperback ISBN 1888451270
• Ji Shi, Li Hongzhi & His "Falun Gong": Deceiving the Public and Ruining Lives (New Star Publishers, 1999) ISBN 7801482387

External links

• Falun Dafa official website
• Ian Johnson's articles on the Falun Gong crisis
• Chinese Embassy in the USA section entitled "Outlawing Falun Gong Cult" (list of press releases and other info)
• TIMEasia.com feature on Falun Gong