Religious Movements Homepage: Falun Gong

Falun Gong

I. Group Profile

Name: Falun Gong (pronounced fah- luhn goong , and means "the Practice of the Wheel of the Dharma"). Falun Dafa originally refered to the movement that practices Falun Gong. Now the movement itself is being called by the name of its practice, Falun Gong. ¹
Founder: Li Hongzhi. Here is his photo on Falun Gong website . There are many other photograhs of Li Honhzhi linked at the Falun Gong homesite.
Date of Birth: Li Hongzhi says that his birthday is May 13, 1951. This is supposedly the exact birthday of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. Chinese government records contest this, they list his birthday as July 7, 1952. THe government claims that he changed hisbirthdate in order to assume relations to the Buddha. Li Hongzhi maintains that the government records are a misprint, and disavows the immportance of the Buddha's birthday. He is quoted as saying, "whats the big deal? Many criminals were also born on that date." ²
Birth Place: China, Changchun, Jilin, a northeastern province. ³
Year Founded: 1992
Sacred or Revered Texts: Zhuan Falun (Revolving the Law Wheel) , and China Falun Gong , both books written by Li Hongzhi. Although not required reading, nor used ritually or for any other purpose than discussion and delineation of Falun Gong's major teachings, beginning practicioners are encouraged to investigate the texts. The covers of these books and others by Li Hongzhi can be viewed here .
Cult or Sect: Negative sentiments are typically implied when the concepts "cult" and "sect" are employed in popular discourse. Since the Religious Movements Homepage seeks to promote religious tolerance and appreciation of the positive benefits of pluralism and religious diversity in human cultures, we encourage the use of alternative concepts that do not carry implicit negative stereotypes. For a more detailed discussion of both scholarly and popular usage of the concepts "cult" and "sect," please visit our Conceptualizing "Cult" and "Sect" page, where you will find additional links to related issues.
Size of Group: Li Hongzhi claims 100 million members worldwide, 80 million of which are in China. The Chinese government claims that the group has 2 million members. It is likely that both numbers are exagerated. The Falun Gong might be overestimating in an effort to maximze the group's power, while the government could be underestimating in order to minimize the group's success.

II. History of the Group

Chinese religion historically has focused on the rewards of physical health, longevity, and even immortality. This tradition gave rise to Chinese medicine, which concerns the manipulation of life's basic energy ( ch'i ) for increased health. Chinese medicineis most closely linked to the Chinese concepts of yin-yang , and the five phases . Permeating all of Chinese culture, the concepts appear to have pre-historic roots that may date back many millennia. The ideas and philosiphies of ch'i, yin-yang, and the five phases arose independantly of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, however are closely related to them. ⁴

Today this tradition is called Ch'i gong (pronounced chee-gong). Ch'i means universal life energy ; andGong means cultivation energy ⁵ . Ch'i gong consists of cultivation methods including physical stretches, meditation, and slow movements. It is common today to see large numbers of Chinese practicing these techniques early in the morning across public parks.

The Falun Gong movement is one practice within the ancient Chinese cultivation methods. A part of the this tradition, the Falun Gong alsoexeeds the scope of more common Ch'i gong forms that limit their focus to physical health. Onetime member of the national confederation ofdifferent Ch'i gong groups, Li Hongzhi and the Falun Gong left the Qigong Research Association of China in 1992. Apparently theassociations's emphasis conflicted with Falun Gong's emphasis on guiding people to higher dimensions. Over the Falun Gong's specificallyspiritual beliefs and practices, Li Hongzhi withdrew the movement from the Association. ⁶

Li Hongzhi (a.k.a. Master Li) has said that, in the past, the Falun Gong secrets were passed only from a master to select students. Theseused to be highly classified teachings once imparted exclusively from master to trusted disciples since antiquity in China. At theinstruction of his own teachers, Hongzhi made the teachings public in 1992, they have since been available to everyone. When questionedabout his desicion to reveal the previously classified information, Li Hongzhi has said that his teachers instructed him to doso. ⁷ Falun Gong rapidly grew in popularity throughout and beyond China. It currentlyhas member groups throughout the world. They are easily accesible via the Internet. Some of their sites are listed below in the Linkssection.

Today the Falun Gong exists in high tension with the Chinese government. This is explored in the Issues and Controversies section below.

III. Beliefs of the Group

Falun means law wheel , Gong means the cultivation of energy and capabilties . ⁸

The Falun Gong symbol consists of a spinning swastika surrounded by four smallerspinnig swastikas and four spinning yin-yang symbols. These are primarily Buddhist and Taoist symbols. The spinning swastika is seen as arotating wheel that represents a miniture of the universe. It operates as an energy vortex. The smaller surrounding yin-yangs representthe many galaxies in the universe. Several representations of the Falun Gong emblem are linked here . ⁹

Li Hongzhi's core teachings contain knowledge for the cultivation of oneself towards higher stages of energy attainment. Master Li'steachings are expounded in the Zhuan Falun (Revolving the Law Wheel) , and China Falun Gong . These are a summary of the principles and exercises, andare recommended for beginners. After reading the texts and making contact with local groups, beginners are encouraged to attend a freenine day seminar to familiarize themselves with the movements, group philosiphy and lifestyle. ¹⁰ .

Falun Dafa is a set of five exercises specially designed to complement one's cultivation of body, mind, and spirit. Three of the exercisesinvolve physical movements and maneuvers while the other two exercises require remaining still for extended periods of time. There aresymbolic representations of Li Hongzhi in his sitting practice linked here . The exercises are considered exceptionally powerful and effective even though they are simple and easy to learn ¹¹ .

The Falun, is located at the dan-tian (lower abdomen). As an intelligent spinning body of high-energy substance, the Falun automaticallyabsorbs energy from the universe and relieves the body of negative influences and elements. The rotation of Falun synchronizes with therotation of the universe. Possesing the same characteristics as the universe, it is the universe's miniature model. The Falun isconstantly rotating, making the cultivation state 24 hours a day. ¹² .

Falun Gong concentrates on the virtues of Zhen-Shan-Ren, or truthfulness, benevolence, and forbearance. ¹³ . These are historically Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist virtues. Practitioners are encouraged to conductthemselves with these three in all situations. The goal is to become enlightened to the truth of human life and to cultivate oneself tohigher levels of existence. Li Hongzhi proclaims there to be innumerable levels and dimensions of existence. Although there are somepoliticians who practice Falun Gong, the movement itself has not claimed affiliation to any political party or government. The focus is onan individual's self-examination and self-improvement rather than the development of an organization or a group ¹⁴

Falun Gong members have repeatedly claimed that Falun Gong is not a religion, but a cultivation discipline of a routine set of practices.Li Hongzhi has stated that Falun Gong members can be of many differnent faiths, as Falun Gong does not contradict nor preclude anyfaith. ¹⁵

Although the teachings of Falun Gong contain some phrases and many concepts similar to those used in Buddhism and Taoism, it is not abranch of the Buddhist religion, just as Tai ch'i is not a branch of the Taoist religion and Hatha Yoga is not a branch of Hinduism.

While practitioners show respect to Master Li Hongzhi, he does not encourage anyone to worship him. Master Li has maintained that he simplyteaches the principles of the universe and members should "take the Law as the teacher". ¹⁶

Li Hongzhi has also expressed some views not related to traditional Chinese religion. In several interviews he has explained that hebelieves in the presence of alien life on earth. He considers the aliens a menace, and describes their intent as to corrupt and eventuallyreplace humanity. He holds alien influence responsible for the rapid expansion of computers, machines, and for the advancement oftechnology in general. ¹⁷

Membership is free and open to everyone. There is no member list. There is no heirarchy of leaders or clergy. Falun Gong maintains thatthey are just a loose network of volunteers. People of many different backgrounds practice together. All students are regarded as equals,no matter how long they have practiced.

In Zhuan Falun , Master Li has said, "When you promote it [Falun Gong],you should not seek fame or profit. You should serve others voluntarily." ¹⁸

Master Li does not allow donations, fundraising activities, or money to be accumulated in the name of Falun Gong. If a person is inspiredto give a seminar or class, or print an information package such as this, then they find the money to pay for it themselves. These arespontaneous, individual actions rather than an organizational decision or requirement. The emphasis is supposed to rest upon personaldevelopment, not organizing events ²⁰ . This point has been examined in a the firstscholarly book written on the movement, The Mystery of China's Falun Gong: Its Rise and Its Sociological Implications , by National University of Singapore sociologists John Wong and William T. Liu.They examine the movement prior to the crackdown, and find an organization in China including 39 teaching centers, 1,900 instruction centers, and 28,000 practice sites, thus raising doubts to the group's claim of a fundamentally loose, non- structured, and unorganized nature.

IV. Issues and Controversies

Summary of Escalation and Conflict

Timeline of Events

South China Morning Post

CESNUR

In early 1999 the Chinese government launched a renewed effort against various spiritual movements. In response the Falun Gong held asilent, non-violent, mass protest. Over 10,000 people participated. The illegal protest occured outside the Communist Party headquartersin Beijing on April 25, 1999. ²¹ The government was frightened both by the size of theprotest and by the lack of fore- knowledge of Chinese intelligence. The government points to the size of the protest as an indication of ahigh level of the movements. Li Hongzhi and other Falun Gong members continue to claim that the demonstrations have always beenspontaneous. They argue that the lack of heirarchy and the loose nature of member networks prevent any such organization. ²²

In the following months, practitioners were harassed while performing their group exercises throughout China. Falun Gong members were told that their phones were being monitored and that their retirement pensions would be terminated. Police broke into practitioners' homes and confiscated Falun Gong materials. Some followers have been arrested and have disappeared. The movement claims that many of its incarcerated members have died while imprisoned. Thousands of members have continued to demonstrate peacefully in about 30 Chinese cities. ²³

The group was outlawed on July 22, 1999. The government accused it of lying, cheating, threatening the government, and harming Chinesesocial fabric. The Chinese government has an official anti-Falun Gong website wherethey seek to discredit Falun Gong members, beliefs, practices, and Li Hongzhi. They have many 'statements' by Li Hongzhi that are mostlikely Chinese propaganda. Falun Gong is defined by the government as a dangerous cult, and accused of the murders and destruction of manyChinese and their families. ²⁴

On July 29, Chinese authorities issued an arrest warrant for Master Li. The government claims that by manipulating others through theFalun Gong, Hongzhi is responsible for many deaths of members. He is also accused of organizing demonstrations without first applying forpermits.