Things about Li Hongzhi on his giving classes at Kenli in 1994

My name is Song Jianfeng and my hometown is Kenli County in Shandong Province. I once worked at Kenli County Development Area. At that time, the development area administrative committee had just founded and was eager to jump at any opportunities that could help it with its promotion campaign. They invited Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong who claimed to be able to help people build up physical health, to give lectures at Kenli. At the order of the leaders, when Li Hongzhi ran his classes at our county, I and another person were in charge of the reception and accounting work.

The class held at the county’s hostel started from the second to the ninth day of the first lunar month in 1994, lasting from 19:30 to 22:00 in the evenings. Li Hongzhi took the daytime to visit local units including Shengli Oilfield. There were 420 students and most of them came from Dongying City, Shengli Oilfield, and surrounding towns, with a few coming from other places. The tuition fee was 50 yuan each student. There was a family from Beijing, the parents and their 14-year-old daughter. I remembered it was at three o’clock early on the morning of the fifth or the sixth day of the first lunar month when a staff surnamed Liu on duty on the second floor woke me up and told me that someone jumped out of the building. I hurried out and have a look together with Liu. I saw the girl from Beijing lying on the ground crying. She didn’t answer our questions so I looked up to the third floor. The light of one room there was on and I knew it was the room of the family from Beijing. But the parents didn’t go downstairs. Later on, I learned that the family would discuss after attending each class given by Li Hongzhi. That day, they might disagree with each other during the discussion and the girl jumped out of the window. Some said it might be her parents who pushed her out. She landed on a tree before falling onto the ground; otherwise she would have been dead.

Then I went to talk to Liu Guirong, the accounting manager of Li Hongzhi and about 35 years old. I told her to ask Li Hongzhi to take a look at the family. Liu went into the room of Li Hongzhi and came back within two minutes. “Master Li said the three from Beijing were nuts and he could do nothing about lunatics,” she told me. “Refund their tuition and get a car to send them to the railway station. There’s a train to Beijing at 6:40.” We were outside the room of Li Hongzhi and heard him talking to Liu Guirong. “The three from Beijing are nuts and I can do nothing about lunatics,” he said. So I recommended Kenli Hospital to the parents but they didn’t take my advice. “No needle, no medicine, no hospital,” they said and refused to leave, insisting on attending the class. Liu Guirong was irritated and angry, and insisted on their leaving. In the end, they finally agreed to head back to Beijing.

During the training session, Li Hongzhi and his people also sold books, badges, and tapes. There were prices printed on the books and the price for badge and tape is five yuan each. They trusted us to sell these things, for they didn’t want the disciples to know they were making money. Liu Guirong kept all the money.

After Li Hongzhi left, the chief of local assistance center was in charge of selling the books, badges, and tapes. He would remit the money to Li Hongzhi regularly at his own expense.

text from: http://www.facts.org.cn/Data/03/201004/t108887.htm

The danger of promoting Falun Gong

Is Falun Gong a harmless crazy sect spreading meaningless spiritual gibberish and recommending slow motion exercises on which the repressive Chinese government cracks down brutally? Is the sort of pseudo-science it propagates tolerable nonsense only? The reports that appear in western media about the Falun Gong give the impression that the group is treated as a convenient political alternative fit to be promoted to tackle China and what China represents. For those who remember the days when progressive forces all over the world supported the movement of Ayatollah Khomeini against the repressive Shah of Iran, the present consensus of the west in its support of the Falun Gong movement is spine chilling. The outcome, if it finds its goals, may be disastrous in the history of human civilization.

Falun Gong has wider dimensions than the Jim Jones cult in Guyana, assorted bearded Indian gurus in the US with fleets of Rolls Royce or the Texas based Branch Davidians. Falun Gong claims about 100 million followers worldwide. It discourages modern medical treatment or consultation with physicians. If the figures provided by the Chinese government are to be believed, more than 1500 people have already died unnecessarily as a result of spurning proper medical treatment. The claims of Falun Gong to win the gullible are amazing. Magical cures from recovery from advanced terminal cancer to deferring menopause are claimed and believed. There are reports that Falun believers have been coerced into slitting open their stomachs to look for the ‘wheel of law’.

Falun Gong gets its name from Fa Lun Da Fa, which is the precise name of the sect meaning “Law Wheel Big Way”. The gullible falling in the trap of Falun Gong cut across several sections of Chinese population. The sect has long lunatic fringe and strange beliefs. The moon, for example, for the followers of Falun Gong, was constructed as an observation post for moon-making beings that live inside the moon closer to the back, and often fly out to watch earthings’ activities.

The leader of Falun Gong, Li Hongzhi, lives in New York. In 1992 Hongzhi developed a cosmic theory which reads like a fine blend of Book of Revelations and Star Wars. High level beings that represent the sinister are on one side. Dafa, the positive force is represented terrestrially by Hongzhi and his followers. Dafa has boundless inner meanings and has created everything at each level of the cosmos. Hongzhi periodically proclaims the imminence of the Consummation, an apocalypse that will cleanse the cosmos of vile forces and create a utopia for those who remain. He has also written about his ability to fly, powers of X-ray vision and other supernatural powers.

Falun Gong is much more than the crazy claims of a phony sect leader. Such movements can have more dangerous influence than one can imagine. China itself had the history of an apocalyptic cult taking millions of people for a ride. During the Qing dynasty in the 19 th century, Hong Xiuquan, a peasant, claimed that he was the younger brother of Jesus and gathered an army of god-worshipping faithful. The rebellion led by him swept northwards and established a base for its putative New Jerusalem in Nanjing. They remained in control from 1853 to 1864 until a combined force of Qing and foreign troops overthrew them. Till then, more than 20 million people had lost their lives through battle or starvation.

Despite the political differences with China, civilization demands that China be helped to handle the Falun Gong crisis. China too should understand that suppression, banning or brutality are not the ways to face the challenge of this dangerous sect. Scientific education and the promotion of scientific temper are the tools in this fight against spiritual craziness. China deserves the support of the progressive world in this endeavor. Falun Gong is a threat against common sense and the achievements of modern civilization.

text from: http://www.facts.org.cn/puop/201004/t108520.htm

The politics of dancing

Traditional Chinese cultural show has controversial ties to Falun Gong movement

It’s advertised as a cultural spectacular — a lavishly costumed revival of traditional dance and music from China’s pre-Communist past.

Shen Yun Performing Arts, founded in 2006 and based in New York City, promotes itself as “the world’s premier Chinese dance and music company.”

But when an 89-member Shen Yun troupe gives its first-ever performances in Winnipeg Wednesday and Thursday, audience members may enter the Centennial Concert Hall unaware of the show’s controversial ties to Falun Gong.

Falun Gong is a worldwide spiritual movement founded in 1992 and outlawed in the People’s Republic of China since 1999. Arts critics have varied in their opinions of Shen Yun productions, with some finding them dazzling and visually stunning, and others calling them cheesy and amateurish.

But virtually every critic agrees that there are political and religious messages in the two-hour-plus production. The show includes scenes depicting persecution and murder of Falun Gong practitioners in contemporary China.

“One dance (called Nothing Can Block the Divine Path) tells about a young mother being persecuted and beaten to death. Her spirit goes on,” Yanping Lu, the troupe’s production manager, said from Calgary this week.

Another dance called Astounding Conviction, Lu said, depicts a young man unfurling a Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) banner and being thrown in jail, where Buddhas show him magic power.

Lu said most of the show’s 16 dance numbers and four vocal solos don’t deal with persecution, but many have uplifting moral themes and extol virtues promoted by Falun Gong: truthfulness, compassion and forbearance.

Lu said it would be discriminatory to single out Falun Gong in the troupe’s advertising because Falun Gong is just one of many aspects of the show that reflect traditional Chinese values.

Most Shen Yun dancers and musicians are Falun Gong practitioners who are ethnically Chinese but grew up in the West, Lu said.

Several newspapers have described audience-member walkouts at Shen Yun performances and quoted ticket buyers saying they felt misled by advertising that did not mention the Falun Gong theme. In January, a reviewer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote that at times, the show’s political proselytizing “was as subtle as a Taser shot to the noggin.”

In the New York Times in 2008, Maria Hsia Chang, a professor emerita of political science and author of a book about Falun Gong, described the Shen Yun show as “kind of a PR front to try to normalize Falun Gong’s image.”

The troupe’s extensive website, shenyunperformingarts.org, makes no mention of Falun Gong. Nor does the glossy brochure distributed locally, except for a line in very small, pale type that names the local presenter, the Falun Dafa Association of Winnipeg. Falun Dafa is the formal name for Falun Gong.

text from: http://www.facts.org.cn/Reports/World/201004/t108463.htm

Ding Shumin dies for trusting in karma elimination instead of medical science

Ding Shumin, female, born in December 1950, used to be a resident at Yudong Street of Banan District in Chongqing City and work at Chongqing Liuzhen Photography Company. She started to practice Falun Gong in 1999 and became so obsessed with it that she refused to take medical treatment after having breast cancer. She died on May 31, 2008, at the age of 57.

Ding Shumin fell prey to Falun Gong in 1999 followering Li Wenxiu, a practitioner residing in the same district. She believed that to practice Falun Gong would help to build up and improve physical health, to “go up to a higher level”, and to “achieve consummation”. As a result, she became a practitioner.

Since 2007, Ding had been sick and felt breast pain. Then she learned from the “scriptures” of Falun Gong that “when your body shows the symptoms of illness karma, it’s disease for ordinary people and they need to go to hospital; as for practitioners, it’s the process of eliminating karma.” She believed that “Master” Li Hongzhi and Falun Dafa were eliminating her karma and the rotating “Wheel of Fa” was rooting out her illness karma to reward her practicing. As a result, she stuck to the principles of not going to hospital, not seeing doctor, no needle, and no medicine.

Ding tolerated the pains and kept practicing at home. She would sit cross-legged and read scriptures. But what she got in turn by devoting to practicing were increasingly thin body and unbearable pains. In the end, she couldn’t bear it any longer, let alone practicing Falun Gong. When her family finally sent her to hospital for a body check, she was almost unconscious.

The medical examination showed that she had terminal breast cancer.

On May 31, 2008, having suffered great pains caused by breast cancer, Ding Shumin died of metastatic-related multiple organ failure at the age of 57.

text from: http://www.facts.org.cn/Data/02/201004/t108276.htm

Shen Yun

Last week my lady (Dominique) and I went to see a show called Shen Yun. I had been really looking forward to it, and then during the show—it became very obvious that it was a pro-Falun Dafa group. Although I certainly don’t harbor any ill will towards any people practicing their own spiritual practices, I felt like I had been swindled–paying $70 per ticket–to contribute to a group that I don’t know anything about.

The imagery and performances were beautiful and amazing, and anti Communist China propaganda plagued the show. Dancers in black with a red scepter on the back of their jackets entered the stage with billy clubs in hand, and beat a woman and daughter and took them away from each other. The blue sky that had made up the background turned dark and stormy–the graphics were really quite good from a designer stand-point.

I’ve read up on Falun Dafa and all their sites proclaim good will and happiness for the planet, however, upon reading interviews with the CREATOR of Falun Dafa–I found myself disturbed.

Like I said, the imagery and performances were quite captivating and aesthetically very pleasing, however, the propaganda behind it all—fell on deaf ears. I don’t take well to propaganda even if I know it to be true as it has fueled a lot of unnecessary tensions and anger in our past history. Take Disney with their propaganda films to stay afloat during the World War II all about Germany being the ultimate evil. Forget the fact we have wonderful working relationships in our globalized economy with the Japanese now—Bugs Bunny was killing off “Japs” “slant eyes” and other names he called the Japs in these propanda cartoon shorts with grenades in ice cream bars. My point being: Did these help the Japanese people residing in the US? Or did it just fuel the fire and put them in internment camps quicker for “our safety and their safety.”

For information regarding Falun Dafa–look up Falun Dafa or Falun Gong.

Here is a site I went to that provided a lot of sources of information that I found good: http://www.apologeticsindex.org/f02.html

Like I said before, people should have the right to practice their own beliefs and I certainly do not condone any violence towards anyone for practicing their spiritual beliefs.

I do not believe Falun Dafa is an organization I would partake in nor would I suggest anyone to take that step without seriously researching the topic first. For some–the cult ideals may work, but not for me.

I should be writing more on this topic later. There is a Professor Charles Wu that Dominique will be calling once Spring Break is over who has written an article concerning the Falun Dafa, and we are going to listen to what he has to say, although he is a non-believer as well.

The founder of Falun Dafa would say, “They’re the public, it’s too deep for them to understand.” Well, bring it on Li Hongzhi!

text from: http://www.facts.org.cn/puop/201003/t108064.htm

Falun Gong asylum-seeker loses appeal to stay in UK

A FOLLOWER of the Falun Gong spiritual movement has been refused permission to remain in Scotland, and will be returned to China.

Qu Wen Cai had said he faced persecution in China because of his beliefs, but appeal judges at the Court of Session in Edinburgh backed a decision to refuse his claim for asylum.

The court heard that Qu Wen Cai fled his homeland in 1999, after the authorities banned Falun Gong and arrested many adherents following a demonstration in Beijing.

He arrived illegally in the United Kingdom, via Mongolia and Russia, early in 2000, and has lived in Glasgow while seeking asylum.

Falun Gong, which has a mixture of Buddhist and Taoist beliefs, is said to have originated in prehistoric times, but came to public notice only in the 1990s. According to China, it poses a threat to social stability.

Qu Wen Cai’s application for asylum was rejected by the Home Office, and he lost an appeal to an immigration judge.

The judge, Hugh Macleman, said there was evidence many adherents of Falun Gong had been persecuted in China, but “low-level” practitioners were not generally at risk.

Qu Wen Cai’s final appeal was to the Court of Session. In its judgment, Lord Kingarth, sitting with Lords Philip and Eassie, said he had failed to meet the required test, that the immigration judge’s decision could be described as perverse, and his appeal must be refused.

text from: http://www.facts.org.cn/Reports/World/201003/t108001.htm

Indonesia shuts down Falun Gong radio station

On Tuesday (March 23, 2010) morning, local police and officials from the Riau Islands Radio Frequency Monitoring Body (Balmon) confiscated the equipment after warning the station to stop broadcasting without a valid license, sources from the Jakarta Post.

Waving banners, about 20 members of the station’s supporters held a rally outside the government monitoring office, protesting the closure of the station.

The station has an appeal working through the Supreme Court after two lower courts threw out a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s 2008 denial of its license.

Tifatul Sembiring, the minister of communications and information technology, reasserted his support of press freedom in the country in a March 18 discussion with journalists and media activists.

Gatot Dewa Broto, a spokesman for the Ministry of Communication and Information, confirmed the station was shut down but denied any Chinese role. Instead, he said the radio station did not have the correct permit to broadcast.

“Such a measure of restoring law and order is a normal thing,” he said.

text from: http://www.facts.org.cn/Reports/World/201003/t107890.htm

Voice of Buddhism: Uncovering the true face of Falun Gong

Falun Gong -Falun Da

Falun Gong is based upon the belief that the universe consists of magical energies that can be tapped into by certain practices and which can eliminate the need for medicine, bringing one to a state of enlightenment and physical immortality.

Its popularity seems directly related to its claim to bring health and relieve stress while providing enlightenment. It is anti-science, anti-medical establishment, and anti-materialism; thus, Falun Gong is attractive to many people who are fed up with the world as it is and their position in it.

Li Hongzhi, a former trumpet-player from north-east China, is known as “Living Buddha” to his devotees. The authorities in Beijing also have a few other names for Mr Li. They have branded him the leader of an “evil cult” and a dangerous charlatan and have ordered his arrest.

He believes aliens walk the Earth and he has reportedly said he can walk through walls and make himself invisible. Mr Li, a tallish, thickset man, was born in Jilin province, north-east China, but his date of birth is somewhat controversial. The authorities have accused him of backdating it from 7 July 1952 to 13 May 1951 so he could share the birthday of Buddhism’s founder, Sakyamuni. He said that it was mis-recorded in the first place and points out that millions of other people must share the same birthday as the Buddha. He claimed that he is a very ordinary man but in another interview with TIME magazine he implied that he was anything but ordinary.

Mr Li says that he is a being from a higher level who has come to help humankind from the destruction it could face as the result of rampant evil.

Asked if he was a human being from earth, he replied, “I don’t wish to talk about myself at a higher level. People wouldn’t understand it.” He claims to possess a Dharmakaya body and says in his book that the followers are not to practice recitation for the name of the Buddha. While he keeps on claiming that he does not teach a religion, actually does incorporate Buddhist elements in his teaching. For example, he tells people to visualize his Fa Shen (Dharmakaya-body) if they experience trouble. He talks about white and black karmic drops. He said that a serious student of Falun Gong should be committed and therefore cannot do other practices like reciting the Buddha’s or Avalokiteshvara’s name. Falun Gong practitioners, before commencing exercises, all sit down and recite his book called “Zhuan Falun” (Turning the Dharma wheel) like a scripture. This is borrowing concepts from Buddhism and confusing people about it.

But while his ideas may be bizarre, his followers claim to uphold high moral standards. Falun Gong’s three guiding principles are Truthfulness, Benevolence and Forbearance. Western cult investigators appear uncertain as to whether Mr Li is the benign leader of a quasi-religious martial art or the figurehead of a far more sinister organisation.

Uncovering the true face of Falun Gong and disclosing why the Buddhist communities are opposed to Falun Gong

By: J.F Hong, Malaysia (Originally published in the ‘Voice of Buddhism’, Buddhist Missionary Society)

Li Hongzhi – Founder of Falun Gong

Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong was born into an ordinary family in Gongzhuling City, Jilin province, China. According to the Chinese official records, he was born on July 7,1952, but Li Hongzhi claims that his birth date was on May 13th which is April 8″ according to the lunar calendar, coinciding with the anniversary of the Buddha’s birthday. These different disclosures arouse questions as to Li’s trustworthiness.

Li Hongzhi seldom mentions his own personal background. According to the Chinese official record, he was a junior high school graduate and had worked as a staff member at a grocery supply company in the city of Zhangchun, Jilin province.

Li claimed that, at age four, he inherited the lineage and become the tenth successor of “Fo Jia Du Chuan Dafa” from a prominent Buddhist venerable Chuen-jue, who specialized in the practice of truth, humanity and endurance. He claimed, at the age of eight, he attained the great Mahayana and had achieved the power of the supermundane. At the age of twelve, he inherited the lineage from an eighth-grade master of Taoism, which specialized in inner and outer practices engaging in the practice of martial arts and the use of weapons. At the age of twenty-two, Li joined the work force. At the same time he said that he acquired a new skill from “Zen Tao Zi” of Zhangbai-shan specializing in both the inner and outer practices of martial arts. At the age of twenty-three, he received the teachings of ‘gong li and gong~fa’ from a Buddhist nun. According to the Chinese Buddhist and Taoist associations, they know none of the instructors Li has mentioned. The Chinese official stressed that the claims by Li were all illusory and resembled another cult of Lu Sheng Yen of the “True Buddha Sect” (See “True Buddha Order – Sheng-yen Lu” below), who stated that he had received his ordination and power from dreams.

In the early 80s, Chinese society indulged in the practice of Qigong. Fa Lun Gong has also been established since then. After an official tour southward by Chairman Deng Xiao Ping, of the communist government, in May 1992, Lee made his first appearance and began to spread his teaching around the country. At that time, Li stressed that Falun Gong was not a religion nor was it involved in politics. These were also notions being used at the time by many local Chinese organizations in order to pursue their missions, but there was no assurance that the true intention of their undertakings was not to engaged in religious belief or politics.

The booming of Qigong brought along the development of super natural powers and exploration into the studies of the human body and life sciences, which at time also engendered many social problems within the community. Some with negative motives exaggerated the power of Qigong trying to convince people to refrain from the use of conventional medicines, thus costing many lives. Some even used faked scientific evidence to indulge but actually had very little knowledge in science, thus creating fanaticism within the Chinese community. Still others intermingle Buddhist Dharma with Qigong exercises to promote their visions, thus negating their principle of non-relation to religious beliefs. Some tried to fulfill their personal egocentric, power to control, to fulfill their fancy of being a famous leader, while others anticipated becoming wealthy.

In 1995, social problems emerged from the popularity of Qigong and the Chinese government intervened and suspended the operation of some leading Qigong organizations and arrested numerous Quigong masters. With the existence of many thousands of practitioners and organizations, the actual numbers of those suspended was considered small. Many of the Qigong groups broke up after their detention, but Falun Gong has retained its exposure in the news. This is said to be Li’s long-term goal.

In 1996, Falun Gong was expelled from the Qigong Science Research by the Chinese officials. Li began to apply for a visa to visit the United States. In 1998, he arrived in the United States with his wife and daughter and obtained resident green cards, bought a house in Atlanta, and has resided in Long Island, New York ever since.

In April 25, 1999, members of Falun Gong surrounded Zhongnanhai, a governmental compound in Beijing (remarks by the Chinese officials) asking for a peaceful settlement (remarks by Falun Gong). Consequently, Falun Gong achieved instant worldwide recognition. Li achieved his publicity; at the same time gaining support from many who are in opposition to the Chinese government.

Falun Dafa

The founding of Falun Dafa by Li Hongzhii has reference to a collection of cassettes and a few books written by him. Nothing noteworthy is to be found in his writings and he has admitted that some of his writings exclude the use of modern language. In reference to the interpretation from “Falun Dafa”, Li’s comments that the language glossary being used today cannot express the level and teachings of Falun.

Li noted, “Falun Dafa is considered the most supreme practice among Buddhists with its fundamental base corresponding to the ultimate cosmos of truth, benevolence and endurance. Falun’s practice in accordance with the principle of the cosmos is considered one of the ultimate Dharmas”. In corresponding to Li’s explanation, a more profound explanation should be given for his principals of truth, benevolence and endurance, however, he could plainly provide deficient explanations on the three key words. Mr. P.C.Zhao, former president of the Chinese Buddhist Association once made a judgment on Li, “Li’s Falun Gong did not make any distinction in its benevolent spirit but rather in its plain, forceful, fearless speech. Fearless on execution and fearless in commitments, thus attracting some highly educated scholars to believe his statements”.

According to Li, the practice of Falun Fofa (the Buddhist Dharma) is centralised on the Dharma wheel, which is a revolving spiritual object. As he stated, “the Dharma wheel set in the practitioner’s stomach will continue to revolve twenty four hours a day. (Real practitioners who learned and practiced through reading my books, listening to my teachings through audiovisuals or practice together with other members of Dafa may obtain the Dharma wheel)”.

That is to say that once a practitioner has obtained the Dharma wheel when he is not exercising, the Dharma wheel will still operate on a continual basis. This is the only practice in the world where Dharma is practice without putting in human effort. According to his book “Turning the Dharma Wheel”, Li mentioned, that “The main exercise in our practice is to work and practice on the Dharma wheel within the stomach. During the class when giving lectures, I will personally put into work and monitor the Dharma wheel for the practitioner. Some will perceive or feel it and some will not.”

“Our Dharma wheel will protect you.. My root is cored around the cosmos. Whoever agitates you will agitate me and will agitate the cosmos”. Li also said that even a “thousand-year practitioner” will desire to obtain such a Dharma wheel and so many have been enticed by the Dharma wheel.”

Li claims that he has numerous Dharma bodies (spiritual bodies) and “with the protection of my spiritual body, there will be no invasion from any outward evil “. Li illustrated his points in numerous stories, (refer to page 150 in “Turning the Dharma wheel”). He declared, “as my spirit sits for one round, its vestige will appear on the practice field on top the big Dharma wheel and will emerge to observe the field, illuminated in red “. Li also said, my spiritual body will know everything, whatever you are thinking thus anything can be done”.

There are five main exercises in the practice of Falun Gong and these are the fundamental steps being practiced in Qigong, prolonging life and maintaining good health. This is one of the reasons why it lured many practitioners into the practice of Falun Gong. But with Li’s emphasis on the Dharma wheel that will work for itself for the practitioner and protection of his spiritual bodies, etc., hid his true intentions. If Falun Gong only taught five exercises, it would be considered a member of Qigong and would have no relation whatsoever to Buddhism, and the. Buddhist community would not be opposed to its practice. Unfortunately, Li’s interpretation of Buddhist terms in his practice is misleading and an offence to Buddhist communities and caused repercussions.

As Li stated, it not required to pay a fee to learn Falun Gong, but in another instant he said, ” Our fee is one of the lowest in the country,” this is, in fact, very contradictory.

Misinterpretation of Buddhism:

Li emphasized that Falun Gong is not a religion, but his constant misleading and misinterpretation of Buddhist terms is in fact a mis-usage of Buddhism to attract members. Li said, “We are practicing the Dafa (great dharam) of the Buddhist sect, therefore this is Buddha-Dharma”. This has led to a total misunderstanding of many who think that Falun Gong is Buddhism. In his speech, Li often uses two terms intentionally to confuse people, “Fo Jiao” (Buddhism) and “Fo Jia” (Buddhist sect). He normally emphasizes that Falun Gong is “Fo Jia” but has never clearly provided an explanation referring to the terms he uses,’ creating a paradox.

Another significance in the practice of Falun Gong is the term, used by Li wheel “sia-sang” (downward-upward). The wheel was designed containing five characters of the svasti symbol “wan”. In Buddhism the svasti symbol stands for the number 10,000, the element of limitlessness, that is revealed in the teachings of the Buddha. The wheel with eight points is the symbol of the Eightfold Noble Path, but Li misuses the original term and representation in Buddhism, by saying that the Dharma wheel can be worked in the human body during practice. Li also claimed that “I, with the countless Body of Law (Dhammakaya in Buddhism), can exert super power to generate miracles to protect you from dangers.” Li made up lots of stories to support this saying.

Buddhism talks about the law of Karma, “As you sow, so shall you reap “. However Li alleged your master, have super powers to eliminate your Kamma, which apparently distorts the definition and essence within Buddhism. He further persuaded people to avoiding taking medication when they get sick (detailed in “Turn the Dharma Wheel”). A Chinese official report shows more than one thousand people died from their blind belief in Falun Gong and leaving their ailments untreated.

” I am not a Buddhist ” Li claimed, yet he poses in a monk’s robe sitting on a lotus pedestal with a painted halo overhead, which reminds one of the radiant (artificial) photo of Sung Ji-li (his counterpart in Taiwan). Since he has repeatedly claimed he is a not Buddhist, then why is he disguised in such a way? Although Li alleged Falun Gong is not a religion, members in Singapore consider Falun Gong a Buddhist group, and have requested to register it in the name of “Buddhist Falun Gong Association “. A leading Buddhist elder in Malaysia said, “An organization claiming to be non-religious should not register as a religion.”

Li openly despises Buddhism and other religions. He was quoted as saying “The Zen School is to get into a dead end “, “And the Dhamma which Sakyamuni Buddha had preached 2500 years ago was for the simple- minded people from the lowest-class in a primitive society.” Li’s articles are full of absurd, groundless remarks, such as “Sakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree still failed to make him a Tathagata (the perfect one) at that moment. By preaching for 49 years, he continuously tried to enhance himself. Every time he reached a higher level, he negated his earlier teachings. Finally, he confessed he had not ever preached any Dharma and still not yet found the ultimate truth and law of the universe”.

Li dissuaded people from taking refuge in the Triple Gem. Disguised as Buddhism, Falun Gong does not just promote Qi Gong exercises as it did in the beginning. It has also adopted doctrines of Taoism. Falun Gong has exploited Buddhism in order to lure followers.

Primarily Falun Gong has advocated management at ease. One of its beliefs is “management with neither an economic entity nor administrative institution “. Later, it abandoned this belief and strives for registration worldwide. Since Falun Gong has been suspected of undermining orthodox Buddhism by abusing Buddhist terminology, statues, and symbolic objects to spread its own goals, so arousing protests from the Buddhist community, wishing to prevent the infringement of orthodox Buddhism.

In March, 2001, the Buddhist community in Malaysia unanimously indicated their opposition to Falun Gong’s attempt for registration to the Ministry of the Interior. The Buddhist community’s opposing Falun Gong’s attempt at registration received unanimous support from all parties concerned.

Some questioned whether Falun Gong could seek registration under another name, or still under the name Falun (Dharma wheel) but focus on Qigong exercises only and not spread paradoxes distorting Buddhism. Feelings are that no matter what it is dubbed e.g. vehicle wheel or anything else, no one can assure it would stop undermining Buddhism.

Some asserted Buddhists should try to communicate rather than conflict with Falun Gong. Indeed, the Buddhist community does not usually conflict with others. Even on the Sangha Day Celebration, the offering for monks was ridiculed as offering for “monkeys”. The Buddhist Community kept calm and tried to settle through negotiation rather than fighting with the offender. However having dialogue does not imply one can’t express otherwise, or can’t have one’s own viewpoint. Magnanimity does not suggest one’s right viewpoint can be given up to concede to wrong and evil.

Absurdly, some counted freedom of abuse as a human right, so as to justify Falun Gong, who disguises itself as Buddhist, has distorted the doctrine of Buddhism. The Buddhist community who opposed Falun Gong’s registration, so as to clarify and defend orthodox Buddhism, was accused of disregarding human rights. Who on earth infringes human rights, the one undermining the other religion or the one defending orthodox religion ?

The Buddhists who stood out to stop someone’s insulting Buddhism was condemned for disrespecting freedom of speech. What a confusion of right and wrong! Whose freedom of speech should be respected, the abuser or the victim struggling to stop the oral attacks?

Some, who are concerned about freedom of association, suggested accepting the registration of Falun Gong. Thus there would be grounds to punish it once it violates either the law of the nation or the law of Buddhism. This viewpoint ignores the fact of Falun Gong’s continuously undermining and trespassing on Buddhism. Why can’t orthodox Buddhism resort to law for suspending Falun Gong rather than ethical persuasion? When a faked product appears on market, why can’t the authentic producer call for the authorities to crack down on it, rather than instruct consumers how to discern the genuine from the fake?

In the commercial field, if a fabricator was found counterfeiting an other product’s brand or description, they will be branded as a dishonest and tricky businessman. The authentic producer would certainly point out the flaws in the imitated product and instruct consumers how to distinguish the genuine from the fake and also request the government for a crackdown. Is it possible to request the brand owner to “respect freedom”, “respect human rights”, “be open hearted” and take no any legal action to let the faked goods be rampant on the market?

At present, the Buddhist communities in Malaysia, on one hand, call for the authorities to reject the registration of Falun Gong, on the other hand, to conduct education on Buddhism. For example, the Malaysian Buddhist community held a joint seminar on the subject “Falun Gong & Qigong & Evil Religion” to directly educate people. In fact, opposing to Falun Gong’s bid for registration is substantially a mission of education, which not only fosters people’s ability of discerning good from evil, but also to develop their courage of denouncing vicious power and influence.

Hao Xianzhong:obsessed with Falun Gong and torturing his parents to death

Hao Xianzhong, male, born in 1982, villager of Xindong Village, Zhangqiao Town, Yanling County, Henan Province. He used to have a happy family; his father was a carpenter and his mother was gentle and nice. They once lived happily together. But all had changed and the family had fallen apart ever since Hao Xianzhong became a prey of Falun Gong. In three months from April to June 1999, his parents and paternal grandmother passed away in succession for his practice.

In autumn of 1997 when he was a junior high school student, in order to build up health, Hao started to practice Falun Gong. Being obsessed with the cult, he began to lose interest in study and his academic performance declined rapidly as a result. To make things worse, he turned a deaf ear to teachers and parents and kept practicing it behind their back. In the end, he dropped out of school and said to his parents: “I’ll become a Buddha if I keep practicing and work hard on it.”

Hao Ping’an, the father of Hao Xianzhong, was extremely painful at seeing the son be obsessed with Falun Gong and drop out of school. On the afternoon of April 16, 1999, the father was so angry that he slapped the son. In stead of being irritated, the son stayed calm and told his father: “That’s good and the effect is better than my two-week practicing. I should thank you for that.” Being enraged by these words, the father grabbed a stick and waved it at the son. With the help of neighbors, the boy got rid of his father and ran away. Late that night, the father had to go out to look for the son. The wind was strong and it rained heavily. The father stepped by accident on a high-voltage power line dropped onto the ground and died immediately. The family collapsed at the news except for Hao Xianzhong, who looked at the cold body of his father like a stranger. Finally, he said: “He’s lucky and it must be because of the good deeds he has done in his previous life.”

Sun Erni, the mother of Hao Xianzhong, was hurt by her son’s practicing the cult and dropping out of school and became heartbroken at the death of her husband, who had accompanied her and supported the family for two decades and passed away like this at his middle age. She held the hands of her son and begged him to go back to school. Looking at his mother who was in tears, Hao Xianzhong grabbed his schoolbag and left home. The mother was happy and thought the son would go back to study. But then she learned from a neighbor that her son went to one of his fellow practitioners and practiced Falun Gong there. She almost fainted at the news and rushed to drag her son out of the practicing group. She burst into tears and felt desperate. The son was stubborn and refused to listen to her, the husband had gone forever, the mother-in-law had been sick and bed-ridden for years, the rural housewife saw no hope in future. Late at night on May 12, 1999, it rained heavily and the mother, who hadn’t eaten anything in past two days, swallowed a bottle of pesticide and died in great pains. When she was dying, her son sat cross-legged practicing Falun Gong at his own room.

Witnessing the death of the son and the daughter-in-law, the bed-ridden grandmother couldn’t stand it any longer. Early on the morning of June 20, 1999, she sent for the grandson to her bedside and told him to go back to school. At her words, Hao Xianzhong said: “Don’t worry，Grandma,  I will keep practicing till I reach the highest level.” In despair, the old woman finally closed her eyes forever.

The way how a 75-year-old woman grows new teeth

Minghui Net is a media manipulated by Falun Gong organization and the source publishing and distributing most of the “scriptures” and “lectures teaching Fa” by Li Hongzhi. But it does more than this and fabricates numerous claimed “first-hand” materials about miracle and karma stories. Li asked the disciples to visit the website frequently and to learn more stories published on it. At his Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Minghui Net held on September 4, 2009, he eulogized the website by defining it as a “crucial website” and “a window of cultivation and exchanges for Dafa disciples”, where they can “have direct access to the first-hand materials” and people can “see the true state of cultivation of Dafa disciples on a timely basis”.

I want to tell you a story about the creation of a fabricated miracle story on how “my mother-in-law grew new teeth” so that you’ll see for yourselves whether the articles published on Minghui are facts and “first-hand materials”.

I’m a volunteer of helping Falun Gong addicts recovery. Three Falun Gong practitioners refused to listen to me and insisted that the “Master” was telling the truth and what published on Minghui were facts. So they kept visiting Minghui behind our back.

In early April 2009, in order to smash their belief in Minghui and their worship of Li Hongzhi, several volunteers of us decided to expose the lies told by Minghui. On April 8, I composed a miracle story at their presence about how my mother-in-law grew new teeth.

After the article was done, at their witness, I sent it to Minghui, which was published on the website on April 11. (The screenshot of the article on Minghui is attached behind.)

They were astonished and speechless at reading the article online, for they knew there was no such a village and no such a town named Chenxiang Town in Anhui City; I had no such a “mother-in-law” and created those diseases “she suffered” as well as the “miracle” of her growing the new teeth. The article is created out of my imagination from beginning to end and cannot fool even a three-year-old. But there it was and Minghui published it on its website.

That’s the way how a 75-year-old woman grew her new teeth. As a result, the three former practitioners grew out of the belief in and the worship of Li Hongzhi and Minghui as well. They finally woke up from the nightmare.

text from: http://www.facts.org.cn/Facts/201003/t107566.htm