Falun Gong

Falun Gong ("Practice of the Wheel of Law") is also known as Falun Dafa ("Great Law of the Wheel of Law") is a system of qigong introduced by Li Hongzhi in 1992. Falun is also sometimes translated as dharma wheel or chakra. Central to Falun Gong is five sets of meditation exercises (four standing, and one sitting). A few years after its public introduction in 1992, Falun Gong quickly grew to become one of the most popular forms of qigong in Chinese history, and has been growing in popularity around the world. Falun Gong has been described as both a form of medicine and a religion. In the study of Chinese traditions it is not uncommon to have debates as to whether a particular tradition is a religion or something else - for instance, the debate whether Confucianism is a religion or philosophy.

The Falun emblem is the symbol of the Falun Dafa. The central character is the Chinese "wan", also known as manji. To western eyes it resembles the swastika used by Nazi Germany (except that it faced right and was rotated 45 degrees). In fact, the swastika is one of the oldest known symbols dating back 10,000 years, and it's frequently found on Hindu Iconography and ancient statues of the Buddha [1]. There is no connection between Nazism and Falun Gong whatsoever.

Falun Gong has been the focus of international controversy since the government of the People's Republic of China began a nationwide suppression of Falun Gong on July 20, 1999. Concerns were triggered especially when 10,000 practitioners assembled in peaceful protest at the Central Appeal Office at Foyou street, outside Zhongnanhai. The assembly was prompted by reports of violence and harassment inflicted upon practitioners by Chinese police in the city of Tianjin, as well as a ban on publishing Falun Dafa materials. Not since the Tiananmen Incident in 1989 had so many people gathered together to protest the government, and the government's reaction to that particular incident was not sympathetic.

Origins and Beliefs

File:LittingGirlMeditatingFG.jpg

One of the slow-moving hand gestures of Falun Dafa's fifth exercise.

Falun Gong was introduced to the public by Li Hongzhi, a former soldier in the People's Liberation Army, on 13 May 1992, at the Fifth Middle School, Changchun, China. In China he taught the practice for only three years. Falun Gong was nominated twice as the "Star Qigong School" in the 1992 and 1993 Asian Health Expo in Beijing. As Falun Dafa practitioners themselves started promoting the system, Li stipulated that it could never be done for fame or profit and that cultivation practice always had to be voluntary. He emphasized that practitioners may only spread the system voluntarily and must not accept any fee, donation or gift in return. Li's insistence that the practice be offered free of charge caused a rift with the China Qigong Research Society, the state administrative body under which Falun Dafa was initially introduced, and Li withdrew from the organization. Falun Gong quickly grew in popularity to become one of the most popular qigong systems in Chinese history. As of 1996, Li Hongzhi took up invitations to teach the practice in numerous countries in Europe and Asia. Falun Gong is an intriguing case study for those interested in contemporary religious movements, in that a major driving force for its proliferation has been the Internet.

Theoretical Background

The content of Li Hongzhi's books include commentaries on questions that have been raised in China's qigong community. Falun Gong originally surfaced in the institutional field of alternative Chinese science, not religion. The debate between what can be called "naturalist" and "supernaturalist" schools of qigong theory has produced a considerable amount of literature. Xu Jian stated in The Journal of Asian Studies 58 (4 November 1999):

"Situated both in scientific researches on qigong and in the prevailing nationalistic revival of traditional beliefs and values, this discursive struggle has articulated itself as an intellectual debate and enlisted on both sides a host of well-known writers and scientists — so much so that a veritable corpus of literature on qigong resulted. In it, two conflicting discourses became identifiable. Taking “discourse” in its contemporary sense as referring to forms of representation that generate specific cultural and historical fields of meaning, we can describe one such discourse as rational and scientific and the other as psychosomatic and metaphysical. Each strives to establish its own order of power and knowledge, its own “truth” about the “reality” of qigong, although they differ drastically in their explanation of many of its phenomena. The controversy centers on the question of whether and how qigong can induce “supranormal abilities” (teyi gongneng). The psychosomatic discourse emphasizes the inexplicable power of qigong and relishes its occult workings, whereas the rational discourse strives to demystify many of its phenomena and to situate it strictly in the knowledge of modern science."

The Chinese government has generally tried to encourage qigong as a science and discourage religious or supernatural elements. However, the category of science in China tends to include things that are generally not considered scientific in the West, including qigong and traditional Chinese medicine.

Theories about the cultivation of elixir (dan), "placement of the mysterious pass" (xuanguan shewei), among others, are also found in ancient Chinese texts such as The Book of Elixir (Dan Jing), Daoist Canon (Tao Zang) and Guide to Nature and Longevity (Xingming Guizhi). Falun Gong's teachings tap into a wide array of phenomena and cultural heritage that has been debated for ages. It is noteworthy that the definitions of many terms usually differ somewhat from Buddhist and Daoist traditions.

Noah Porter (2003) quotes Andrew P. Kipnis (2001) and states: "Thus, to the Western layperson, qigong of all sorts may seem to be religious because it deals with spiritual matters. Because Li Hongzhi makes use of many concepts from Buddhism and Taoism in his writings, this may make Falun Gong seem even more like a religion to the outsider; Falun Gong grew initially into a space termed scientific [in China], but was insulated from the spaces formally acknowledged as institutionalized science in Western countries" ([2], p38-39)

Beliefs and Teachings

Holistic Argument

It is generally believed by its followers that Falun Gong requires intensive and in-depth study in order to attain a competent understanding of its content. Over 2000 pages of Li Hongzhi's published lectures are available online. [3] The major text of Falun Gong is the Zhuan Falun. [4] Practitioners generally view Falun Gong in terms of an alternative ontology and epistemology, not religious practice. They disagree with quoting Li out of context and encourage a coherent insight into his teachings as a whole. Practitioners point out that their own understanding has developed over a repeated and careful study, as well personally experiencing the "miraculous" effects of Falun Gong practice. Critics tend to highlight particularily controversial issues and statements, frequently in an attempt to provide striking examples of the incredulousness of Li's cosmology. His position as the only teacher-master of Falun Gong has also been disputed, and some opine that his apparent power over the practitioners' worldview is suspect.

The Central Place of Practice

Central to Falun Gong is the traditional concept of "cultivation practice" (xiulian) in which the practitioner's goal is said to be elevating their mind nature (xinxing) and gradually letting go of attachments such as selfishness, jealousy, pursuit, lust, zealotry and greed.

Fa

The foundation of Falun Dafa are teachings known in traditional Chinese culture as the "Fa" (Dharma), or "law and principles" – that are set forth in the book Zhuan Falun. Falun Gong teaches that the "Buddha Law", in its highest manifestation, can be summarized in three words – Zhen 真, Shan 善 and Ren 忍, which translate approximately as 'Truthfulness (or Truth), Benevolence (or Compassion), and Forbearance (or Endurance)'. The process of cultivation is thought of to be one in which the practitioner assimilates himself or herself to Zhen 真, Shan 善 and Ren 忍. Li Hongzhi points out that Buddhism teaches "Shan" (Compassion) and Taoism lays emphasis on "Zhen" (Truth).

Qigong and Gong

Li Hongzhi states that the term "qigong" is of recent origin; originally, such disciplines had names like "The Dhyana of Vajra", "Ninefold Immortality Elixir method", "Dafa of Cultivating Dao", "Dafa of Cultivating Buddha", et cetera, and that the lowest level things of some cultivation practices, the things for healing and fitness, were brought out to the general public under the name "qigong" to better suit the modern mindset and the ultra-leftist (Maoist) thinking of this time period. According to the QiJournal, it wasn't until 1953, when Liu Guizheng published a paper entitled "Practice On Qigong Therapy", that the term qigong (ch'i kung) was adopted as the popular name for this type of exercise system.

Falun Gong practitioners believe that through the gradual improvement of their xinxing they develop 功 (gōng), which they use to mean "cultivation energy" (this is an unconventional use of the word, which in Mandarin Chinese means "merit" or "achievement" and by extension is part of compound terms describing a disciplined regimen). However, rather than denying the more commonly accepted definition of the word, Falun Gong broadens its semantic meaning.

Qi

According to Falun Gong, 氣, qi (which means "breath"), is a low level and natural form of energy possessed by all, and it can only be employed to improve one's health - while gōng, unlike qi, can purify one's body, suppress illnesses, transforms the human body from the most microcosmic level (in systems that cultivate longevity), grows upward in the shape of a column above one's head, and is considered necessary in practicing towards enlightenment (or kaigong, "the unlocking of gong"). Qigong systems usually teach breathing techniques coordinated with meditative imagery and are often associated with traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese martial arts. Falun Gong teaches that in what they call "high-level cultivation practice", one must be in ''wuwei'', and any form of mind activity or imagination during meditation is considered an omission. However, a clear state of awareness must be retained: one is not allowed to slip into a state of trance.

Li as a Saviour

Another feature of Falun Dafa is promotion of Li’s role as the exclusive savior of mankind in this "Dharma ending" period; In Zhuan Falun [5] he states "If I cannot save you, nobody else can do it." If a Falun Gong practitioner were only to do the exercises, but fail to follow the requirements of the Fa, that person would not be considered a Dafa disciple. Falun Gong practitioners are promised the possibility of becoming "Gods" as long as they safeguard and uphold the Dafa. In 2003, Li Hongzhi said: [6]

"I have truly borne for you the sins you committed over hundreds and thousands of years. And it doesn't stop at just that. Because of this, I will also save you and turn you into Gods. I have spared no effort for you in this process. Along with this, since you'll become Gods at levels that high, I have to give you the honors of Gods at levels that high and all the blessings that you need to have at levels that high."

Enlightenment

If practitioners follow the requirements of the Fa and can meet the moral standard of higher realms, which, by definition, are more assimilated to Zhen-Shan-Ren, they are said to attain Consummation (or Enlightenment). In Li Hongzhi's earlier teachings the focus was on an individual practitioner reaching Consummation. In 1999, Li Hongzhi stated that "The vows of Gods in history are being fulfilled. The Dafa is judging all beings.” Underlying this prediction is the teaching that the entire cosmos is undergoing a process called “Fa-rectification” – a kind of renewal of the cosmos into the most original, purest state of being. This concept surfaced even before the persecution: "The purpose of my doing this is Fa-rectification. All of the cosmos’ beings have strayed from the Fa, so they have to be rectified with Fa", stated Li in Switzerland (1998). This process is said to affect all sentient beings (as well as matter) in the universe: they are being repositioned according to their moral goodness or xinxing. Those who have taken the side of the Chinese Communist Party in persecuting the Buddha Law are said to perish by the natural force of this process "when the Fa rectifies the human world", meaning, when this process breaks through from the microcosm, while all others will be provided benevolent resolutions. In 2001 [7] Li Hongzhi made clear that this Fa-rectification would target people based on their moral qualities:

“Moreover, when an Enlightened Being descends to the world, it is usually at a time when people’s morals are declining day by day, when people’s sins and karma are enormous, or when people’s morality is degenerate. Once the saved ones have attained the Fa and left, the dregs of humanity and the degenerate world that are left behind will be weeded out.”

There is controversy over what Li means by the "dregs of humanity and the degenerate world", but in his more recent lectures and writing he has generally referred to people who have given up their human nature in perpetrating the persecution against Falun Gong:

“In the Fa-rectification, Master is actually saving all beings, not just the good ones; evil ones are of course included as well. I have often said that during the Fa-rectification I don't hold the past faults of any sentient being against him, and that I look only at a sentient being's attitude toward Dafa during the Fa-rectification. In other words, no matter which beings they are or how huge the mistakes and sins they committed in history, as long as they do not play a negative role with regard to the Fa-rectification, I can give them benevolent solutions and eliminate their sins and karma.”

In Philadelphia (2002), Li said:

"What I wanted was to have no sentient being interfere with the Fa-rectification, or even participate in it. With the Fa-rectification, when it proceeds from the most basic point, from the lowest point, and goes all the way up, for all beings, no matter how bad you are or how much you may have sinned in history, I don’t hold your past faults against you, and I purify you from the most microcosmic point to the surface of your being, and this even includes any thoughts a being may have. I rectify from the bottom up, all the way through. That would have been the best kind of benevolent solution, and not a single being would have fallen, not a single being would have sinned against Dafa and this Fa-rectification. Wouldn’t that have been wonderful? But no, they insisted on doing this, and it’s brought on this disaster in human society."

Cultivation of Mind and Body

Falun Gong has five sets of basic exercises (including meditation, four standing, and one sitting). The exercises are said to strengthen energy mechanisms that continually transform one’s benti (a term referring to "one’s physical body and the bodies in other dimensions").

Disease

The true cause of disease is considered karmic. Li does not claim that viruses and bacteria are not behind people's illnesses, but he professes that they are not the root cause. Karma is thought to be of material existence in higher (more microcosmic) dimensions and is said to be intertwined with previous misdeeds as well as bad emotions and attachments like jealousy, greed, anger and hatred - all kinds of things that are not in tune with Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, the so-called "characteristic of the universe." Thus, according to Li, only by letting go of these attachments and bearing hardships can one eliminate karma and have the root of their illnesses removed.

Healing

Master Li claims to possess the supernatural power to heal illnesses. Most notable were his treatments at the Asian Health Fair in 1992 and 1993, which were performed to "promote Falun Gong." According to Li, the purpose of cultivation practice is not to heal illness, and people should not hold such attachments if they decide to cultivate Falun Gong. Li says that the illnesses of "true practitioners" are directly cured by his fashen ("law bodies"). These bodies, independent entities who share the main person's thoughts and intentions, are said to be born in the dantian when one reaches a very high level in cultivation practice. "Your illnesses will be cured directly by me. Those who practice at exercise sites will have my fashen to cure their illnesses. Those who study Dafa by reading the book on their own will also have my fashen to cure their illnesses." [8]

Li Hongzhi teaches that though the purpose of cultivation practice is not healing and fitness, an illness free state can manifest even from the beginning stages of cultivation practice of mind and body, and that this has directly to do with him. At the beginning of Zhuan Falun, Li states “We will push you beyond it, making your body reach a state free of any illness.” [9]

Li Hongzhi states that he installs a falun in the elixir field of the lower abdomen (dantian) of practioners. Falun means "Wheel of Law" in the Chinese language, which appears similar to the Dharma wheel or Chakra. The falun in Falun Gong is depicted as a wheel consisting of five srivatsas and four taijitu. The Falun is said to be a miniature of the universe, and once it is installed into the abdomen, it turns continuously. When the Falun turns clockwise, it absorbs energy from the universe into the body; when it turns counter-clockwise it eliminates waste from the body. Li Hongzhi also points out that the falun in Falun Gong is different from the falun or chakras cultivated in Tantric Tibetan Buddhism.

Ethics

Falun Gong lays emphasis on its interpretation of good moral nature. Practitioners are required to emphasize virtue (de), be a good person in all environments, and always think of others before doing things.

In discussing principles of moral conduct, Li Hongzhi often criticizes the state of modern society’s supposed moral degeneration. The Falun Gong movement recognizes the existence of karma as well as heaven for those who cultivate themselves properly.

Falun Gong also believes in the act of retribution, and all good and evil deeds will be paid in return in the due time. Because of this, they see the Chinese government crackdown as an act of "evil", and some pro-Falun Gong groups have reported claims of a number of people dying or suffering spontaneously after their alleged involvement in the crackdown of Falun Gong.

Li Hongzhi points out that according to Buddhism, this is the "Dharma Ending Period"; that during this period mankind has undergone great moral degradation and that this has to do with vast cosmic changes. The book Zhuan Falun says "Nobody should blame others for it, as everyone has added fuel to the flame" (Zhuan Falun, 134).

Membership

As there is no concept of membership or organization in Falun Gong practice, the actual number of practitioners is unknown. After the persecution began, the number of Falun Gong practitioners in China was estimated by the government at 1-2 million or even less; however, according to a state-conducted survey in 1998, there were several tens of millions of practitioners in China. Falun Gong sources claim that there were at least 70-100 million practitioners. Some believe that after the July 1999 crackdown, the Chinese government began publishing what is claimed to be a lower number to downplay Falun Gong's presence in Chinese society. The New York Times mentioned a figure of 70 million in at least two articles, both released 27th of April, 1999 - one of them written by Seth Faison and another by Joseph Kahn, who professed that "Beijing puts the tally of ... followers at 70 million". Renee Schoof, writing for the Associated Press (26th of April, 1999), mentioned a figure of "at least 70 million, according to the State Sports Administration".

International Recognition

File:HonoraryCitizenAtlantaAward.JPG

Mayor of Atlanta proclaims Li Hongzhi "An Honorary Citizen"

For the first few years after introducing Falun Gong, Li Hongzhi was granted several awards by Chinese governmental organizations. At the Asian health expo of 1992 and 1993 in Beijing, Falun Gong was successively nominated as the "star qigong".

Falun Gong has been honored with over 900 proclamations and awards[10] from Australia, Canada, China (before the persecution), Japan, Russia, the United States and other countries. Especially in the United States, Falun Dafa has received much praise and acclamation.

How meaningful these municipal awards are and how they are used to promote the Falun Gong are matters of some controversy. Falun Gong expert Patsy Rahn [11] (2002), states they “are documents routinely obtained by groups from public officials in the US for public relations purposes” and may be used to mislead people in China into believing “that the American government supports Master Li and his Falun Gong practitioners.” Noah Porter [12] (2003) argues that these awards are not always easy to get, citing one example from Tampa, Florida. As well, Falun Gong is also criticized internationally for its controversial stances on sexual and racial ethics.

Suppression in the People's Republic of China

File:Arrest of Falun Gong Practitioners.jpg

Arrest of People practicing the 5th. exercise in China

Falun Gong was renowned throughout China in its early phase, promoted as a form of qigong exercise in tune with the politics of the state. However, as the movement gained momentum Li and the followers of Falun Gong grew bolder in their criticisms of the government and held large but peaceful protests. As well, Falun Gong grew to be understood as a blossoming religious tradition - a problem for the Chinese government, which only recognizes five official religions (Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Catholocism and Protestant Christianity). Beginning in 1999 there have been moves made by the government of China to suppress Falun Gong activities, beginning with the dissolution of a large protest in Beijing. Accusations of unethical and subversive behavior have been made against Li and his followers, including describing Falun Gong as a dangerous personality cult. In January 2001 a group of people performed suicide by immolation in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. The Chinese government insisted these individuals were members of the Falun Gong movement; Falun Gong members deny any involvement or knowledge of these acts. However, the act was reported by the government news agency as Falun Gong activity, and public reaction was strong against the movement.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• 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
• Barend ter Haar, Falun Gong - Evaluation and Further References (incl. extensive bibliography)
• Noah Porter, Falun Gong in the U.S.: An Ethnographic Study (Dissertation.com, 2003) paperback ISBN 1-58112-190-3

External links

• Falun Dafa official website
• Falun Dafa Information Center
• Falun Dafa Minghui Net
• Time Asia's article on Falun Gong (May 10, 1999)
• Falun Gong Info: The True Nature of the Falun Gong by Samuel Luo, a Falun Gong critic.
• Critics and followers of Falun Gong: Adherents find fulfillment, but detractors call movement a cult (Secember 18,2005) A San Francisco Chronicle report
• People's Daily excoriates Falun Gong
• FLG article and discussion from bi-racial website
• The Two Tales of Falun Gong: Radicalism in a traditional form
• Falun Gong in the U.S.: An Ethnographic Study - a Master's Thesis by Noah Porter, also available in print
• Falun Gong - Evaluation and Further References (Prof. Barend ter Haar, Leiden Univ.) An introductory analysis of the Falun Gong movement in Chinese society and culture from the perspective of the scholar of traditional Chinese religious culture.

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

• Falun Gong  ^history

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

• History of "Falun Gong"

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.