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THE
MOVEMENT CHINA WANTS HALTED
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By Anupama Bhattacharya A controversial but hugely popular Chinese system of meditative movements teaches how to bring the body, mind and spirit in harmony, thus living in sync with the laws of the universe  Fluid
motions. Seeping deep within the body. Embracing the mind.
Rising with the spirit. Sowing seeds of truth (Zhen), compassion
(Shan) and forbearance (Ren). Moving as one towards wisdom
and enlightenment. Therein lies the essence of Falun Gong, an advanced
system of 'cultivation' and practice designed to improve a practitioner's
life, physically, mentally and spiritually. However, this essentially peaceful spiritual exercise has been mired in controversy almost from the very beginning. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, grew out of Chinese Qigong practices with a history stretching back thousands of years. Its new avatar was first introduced by Master Li Hongzhi in 1992 in China to make it more accessible to the public, and was registered with the Qigong Research Association there. However, the two systems did not always see eye to eye. Unlike Qigong, Falun Gong's focus was not on healing or displaying supernatural powers. Instead, it concentrated on creating a complete body-mind-spirit harmony to help its students get in sync with the evolution principle of the universe. But when, in 1996, Master Li withdrew from that society, it was the beginning of a long and arduous journey that was to lead to the banning of Falun Gong in China and to test the faith of every practitioner of this system. But first things first. |
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| This Falun enters the person after the practice of Falun Gong. When energy is emitted through these exercises, a string of Falun is released, though the key Falun remains at the abdomen. With continuous practice, this Falun is strengthened. There is, however, a catch. If you practice the exercises but harbor ill thoughts, the result will be negative, harming you rather than helping. Falun Gong aims at developing the Xinxing or heart/mind nature. The cultivation or xulian of Xinxing includes giving up negative behaviors, dealing with losses and pains and letting go. Here, cultivation stands for tending the body-mind-spirit like a garden. Its practitioners say that it's also good for stress relief, body cleansing and health improvement, as well as for enhanced moral sensibilities. "An illness," explains Hongzhi, "is a type of black energy cluster. After we break it into pieces during the early stage of the class, you will feel that spot is swollen. However, it has already lost its roots, and has started discharging outward. It will be expelled very quickly. The disease will no longer exist."  In
fact, according to Yuhua Cheng, a Beijing-based physician, Falun Gong's
therapeutic effects are many. "From my experience, I can say that allopathy
is too superficial. But Falun Gong can even cure some diseases
considered incurable by modern science." The practitioners begin to realize the health benefits pretty soon. "Ever since I started practicing cultivation," says P. Zhang, an Atlanta-based practitioner, "I've lost 15 pounds, my blood pressure is normal, and my recurring headaches are gone." Glenda McNiece from Sunshine Coast, Australia, has another story to tell: "About 20 years ago, I was involved in an accident, which left me with a broken collarbone and back injuries, including bruising around the vertebrae and a misaligned pelvis. From this I suffered severe nerve and sciatic pain. When I first started practicing Falun Gong a year ago, I felt immediate relief from the neck and shoulder tension. As I continued, my overall health improved." That, however, is only part of the story. Though Falun Gong is beneficial for health, these are only side effects. The focus, throughout, is on cleansing the body and preparing it for higher states of awareness. | ||
 "I
did not come to the public to treat illnesses. Where there are people,
there will be illnesses," says Hongzhi. "It is acceptable to treat illnesses.
But it is not permissible to use powerful Gong to treat illnesses
professionally, nor is it allowed to replace the laws of this world with
laws that surpass this world. Otherwise, the results of curing illnesses
would not be good." And most often, even the practitioners begin to see beyond the healing properties of Falun Gong. "I often used to worry about things I could not change," says Adam Gerard, from Sydney. "But now, whenever I find myself in trying circumstances, I simply recall Master Li's words and the principles of Zhen-Shan-Ren. My mind is considerably calmer now." The system comprises five sets of cultivation exercises. Most of these exercises are easy to learn and can be practiced anytime, anywhere. And they are taught absolutely free. They are also largely simple and smooth, without any strenuous motions, and can be learnt from the main books of Falun Gong teachings written by Hongzhi, around which the system revolves, and from videotapes. "Without the guidance of the book Zhuan Falun," says Anders Eriksson, a Sweden-based practitioner, "it is difficult to practice cultivation. I've read and reread it, and every time I get a higher understanding. But the main idea is to let go of your attachments and desires." For Eriksson, Falun Gong was the culmination of a lifelong search that began when he was 13. "I had been trying to understand the meaning of life through different religions, New Age systems and therapies. But when I found Falun Gong, I knew that I didn't need to search anymore. For me and 100 million other people, Falun Gong is the greatest thing." A. Adler, a New Jersey-based practitioner, agrees: "I had looked into different philosophies and religions… but when I found Falun Gong, I knew I had finally stumbled onto something unique and powerful. I knew I had found the Tao, the Way, and answers to the most fundamental questions in life." In fact, for most people, Falun Gong seems to fill the spiritual and existential void that stems from increasing disillusionment with the modern world. The purpose of Falun Gong is to return to the original self. But unlike most other systems, it does not demand any perceptible change in a person's life. According to its practitioners, Falun Gong is not a religion, cult or sect. There is no organization as such, nor any priests, temples or churches. Or any rituals or worship services. What people have, instead, is ample freedom to do what they like. There are no restrictions on timings or any obligation to volunteer for activities. It also does not have a rigid structure, and all members are considered students, without any difference. In fact, Hongzhi encourages normal family life and stresses that letting go of attachments does not mean asceticism. The idea is to live in this world, but understand that it is all maya. | ||
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For
most people, Falun Gong is still a comparatively new system and,
on the face of it, not much different from various other healing and
relaxation exercises. The difference lies, primarily, in its philosophy
depicted through its emblem, the Falun, representing the wheel
of dharma. The Taoist yin-yang and the Buddha's dharma-chakra are both
reflected in the Falun emblem. 
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