The McGill Tribune: Features - Understanding the universe

Issue: 11/19/01

The world first became aware of Falun Gong in July 22, 1999 when the [Jiang Zemin] government, concerned about its growing popularity, outlawed its practice. Since then the world media has directed its attentions at the many documented cases of human rights violations where Falun Gong practitioners have been beaten and tortured while in government detention. Yet with this constant media attention focused on the issue of human rights little has been said of the actual practice and practitioners of Falun Gong.

Definitions

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a form of Qi-Gong practice (energy cultivation) that aims to cultivate the body and mind through meditation and special exercises that resemble Tai Chi. Where Falun Gong differs from other forms of Qi-Gong practices is in the emphasis not just on the physical but also on the spiritual and moral character of the individual, the Fa (laws and principles).

Translated, Falun Gong literally means "Law-wheel Practice", or "cultivation energy", meaning a type of energy developed and cultivated through practice. Practitioners are guided on their path by several texts written by Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi, the Zhuan Falun (Turning the Law-Wheel) and many other lectures and articles. The goal is to apply these laws and principles to daily life in pursuit of a personal form of 'enlightenment.' Dan Sky, who organizes group meetings on the McGill campus, says that for him Falun Gong, "is a comprehensive and very personal journey that is based on as Master Li Hongzhi says 'elevation through reason and application.'"

With a critical eye

However, with its recent surge in popularity comes the obvious increase in scrutiny and criticism of its practices. Falun Gong's biggest opposition has come directly from the [Jiang Zemin] government [...].

One of China's main concerns about Falun Gong has been the increasing list of members that could, in their view, pose a risk to the security of all Chinese citizens. They point to the mass demonstration that took place in Beijing at a government compound of around ten thousand Falun Gong supporters who they claim have their eyes on some political objective. To this both Sky and K.W (a Falun Gong student who wishes to remain anonymous) agree that such demonstrations are only a fight for individual human rights. Falun Gong as a political force can never exist because "we have no specific goal to achieve some type of change in society or government."

What most practitioners point to is the strange fact that the Chinese government has yet to provide any evidence of these claims against what they call an "[Jiang Zemin government's slanderous term omitted]". Sky says such misconceptions arise from a lack of understanding of Falun Gong. The key is "to try and learn, otherwise how could one know what it is all about."

One of the most popular impressions that K.W wishes to dispel is that the group has the beliefs and structures of a religion. "The purpose is to cultivate the inner self. We don't rely on any outside messages. It is not religion because there is no ritual, no worship, and nobody preaches."

According to Sky, the problem with such practices is that in the West people have never been exposed to concepts like Falun Gong. In the east, there has been a long history of exposure to forms of cultivation practice schools such as other Qi gong forms and various styles of Kung Fu that have a more developed spiritual element to them. Sky says in defense that "the priciples taught in Falun Dafa are definitely spiritual in nature, but not exactly based on a belief system."

The struggle continues

With all these issues facing Falun Gong their resolve and commitment toward its cultivation remains strong.

KW says that, "The key is to cultivate the heart. To get rid of all desire and attachments and be a better person." The hope is for people to look at Falun Gong with an open mind and see it for what it really is and not what others claim it to be. Whether this can be done or not remains to be seen. Sky says that what they do, "is for validating and verifying the principles of our practice and for letting people know the facts of the (Chinese) [suppression]."