Zhuan Falun, Falun Gong, Li Hongzhi?

[J.W.]

Hello all,

A coincidental encounter recently brought these interesting folks into my life. I attended a few of their "cultivation" meetups, and it feels like a mix of yoga and tai chi.

I am curious about your guys' take on it, let me know if you have tried it, or know about their "ways."

Of course not on a judgement level, but more of their "path" and ways, positive or negative. From a philosophical stand point and basis of the Law of One.

The followers that I spoke to gave off very positive vibe except one of them really, reeeaaallly into it and pushes me to read the book in a single sitting.
Also their leader is a millionaire that lives in a high value compound in secret, at the same time, having a hidden war with the communist party of china.

We can chop this up to the wildest imagination, or a simple vibe check of "meh" would be insightful.

https://www.google.com/search?q=falun+da...e&ie=UTF-8

https://www.businessinsider.com/dragon-s...tos-2019-9

https://www.google.com/search?q=li+hongz...nt=gws-wiz

Thank you!

with L/L

[jafar]

Tai chi as a practice is rooted in ancient Taoist tradition.
Yoga as a practice is rooted in ancient Yogic tradition.
Buddhism for example is a branch of Yogic tradition, Siddharta Gautama can be considered as a "Yogi master".

Taoist and Yogic tradition was based on very similar conception.
(contrasting) balance and unity.
In many facets it's very very similar to the fundamental conception of Ra's Law of One.

While Tai chi and Yoga as a practice both focused on similar aspect as well.
Prana energy in Yoga and Chi/Qi energy in Tai chi.
Both are merely different names of the same thing.
Whila Ra uses the term 'energy' for the same thing, and uses the word "energy center" for chakras

The same form of living energy which inspired George Lucas to introduce the conception of "Force" in Star Wars saga.

After settling that, now let's focus on Falun Gong movement.

Started in around 80's-90's in PRC, it was initially named as "Qi/Chi - Gong" by a dude named Li Hongzhi.
He claimed that he received trainings from Taoist and Buddhist master.
Thus no wonder one will easily find a mixture of Yogic and Taoism tradition inside "Qi/Chi Gong".

The PRC society has just coming out from one of it's terrible period, dubbed "Cultural Revolution" initiated by uncle Mao.
Introduction of the event: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution

Within "cultural revolution", anything that's related to religion (ie: Buddhism) or ancient traditions (ie: Taoism) was considered as 'evil' and a 'hindrance' for Mao's "great leap forwards".

Thus Mr Li is basically re-introducing a pre-cultural revolution elements which was actually rooted for many centuries within China.

This put him at odds with the PRC government.
Although uncle Mao's has long gone when Li started his movement, but the PRC leader of that time, Deng Xiaoping was a loyal follower to uncle Mao's teachings. And any popular movement within PRC are considered as 'dangerous' to the stability of the country. Thus Mr Deng started a systematic actions to suppress Mr Li's movement, in the name of national security.

The 'fear' of PRC regime on Li's movement is understandable as anyone can read throughout Chinese history, a popular religious / spiritual movement within the society usually resulted in rebellion and civil war. The last of such big occurrence was actually related to Christianity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiping_Heavenly_Kingdom

Thus the case of "Li's Chi Gong" movement is now has become a sensitive political issues. To make matter worse many of Li's followers has also exalted Li Hongzhi to a 'cult leader' status.

But today's PRC government does not restrict any Tai Chi / Chi Gong practices, one can easily find people practicing Tai Chi / Chi Gong on public places throughout China. The PRC only restrict and oppressed the supporter of Mr Li's Chi Gong movement dubbed "Falun Gong".

Joining Falun Gong movement or following Li Hongzhi is not a requirement to practice or learn Tai Chi / Chi Gong.
And the political conflict between PRC's government vs Li Hongzhi's followers is a totally different issue, so better not mixing it up altogether.

[Dtris]

Qigong pre-dates Taiji Gong. Li Hongzi may have called what he does Qigong, but there are literally hundreds of schools of Qigong in China, some of which can be reliably dated to the 3-7th century CE. There are Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian Qigongs, and ones which do not attach themselves to any religion. Many of the types of Qigong all have their own name for their system. Qigong is a generic term in a sense. Taiji Qong in contrast is a martial art. Which there are Qigongs which are taught together with martial arts and Taiji combines Qigong aspects to the martial art practice.

Falun Gong is a persecuted group by the PRC because they began to have political aspirations. The PRC cracked down on the practice and its followers and many fled to different countries. The newspaper Epoch Times was started by displaced Falun Gong practitioners. I don't know enough about their beliefs to say much but what little I have heard about their cultivation is pretty normal Qigong meditation.

[J.W.]

I see, thank you very much both, Jafar and Dtris for your responses and insights.

a curious question that came to mind after reading your responses is that I wonder if this is one of the way of the "Adept"

The term "spiritual adept" was mentioned a few times in Li's book and he consistently reiterate that his teachings are for those who wants to go further with spiritual energy and their "cosmic journey."

So my question, is the "adept" terminology that Li uses is the same as Ra's definition for the word "adept" in the Ra's Materials?

l/l

[Dtris]

I see, thank you very much both, Jafar and Dtris for your responses and insights.

a curious question that came to mind after reading your responses is that I wonder if this is one of the way of the "Adept"

The term "spiritual adept" was mentioned a few times in Li's book and he consistently reiterate that his teachings are for those who wants to go further with spiritual energy and their "cosmic journey."

So my question, is the "adept" terminology that Li uses is the same as Ra's definition for the word "adept" in the Ra's Materials?

l/l

I haven't read any of Li's books. But Qigong is one of the many methods of training in the path of the adept. How effective or good the Falun Gong qigong system is I cannot say without doing more research.

[jafar]

I see, thank you very much both, Jafar and Dtris for your responses and insights.

a curious question that came to mind after reading your responses is that I wonder if this is one of the way of the "Adept"

The term "spiritual adept" was mentioned a few times in Li's book and he consistently reiterate that his teachings are for those who wants to go further with spiritual energy and their "cosmic journey."

So my question, is the "adept" terminology that Li uses is the same as Ra's definition for the word "adept" in the Ra's Materials?

I don't know much about Li Hongzhi's teachings, the way to know is to join them and study it yourself.
But be wary when you encounter a 'teaching' which claimed that only those who follow this specific teaching are adept, others are non adept, or we are 'more adept' than the other 'adept', as this kind of 'exclusivity' / 'superiority' mindset is the key characteristic of 'you know who'.

Anyone who started to practice and nurture their Qi / Prana energy can be labeled as on it's way to become "adept".
Everyone (and everything) has this Qi / Prana energy, some are aware of it and nurturing it some are not.
Yet both ways are valid on it's own case.

Thus there are many ways to become "adept" as there are many ways to realization of unity (sanskrit: Yoga).
Every individual will have their own unique path, as that's the reason why an 'identity' or 'karmic construct' was being created anyway, in order for the infinite consciousness to have variety of unique experiences.

[J.W.]

Thank you for your insights and time.

l/l

[Ming the Merciful]

Out of curiosity, (I am always curious of newly discovered religion or philosophies), so I followed the link, and continued the search for a "PDF" file. The core of Li Hongzhi teachings. We can base our discussion if we know the pretense of what it is. Be careful of "Wolves in Sheep Clothing". it was not so long ago there was "Mister Moon" from South Korea and mass indoctrination, and many others from India. Anyhow, here is the link to the PDF file. There is also a "Word" document. Be careful downloading Word documents. My antivirus software warned me of potential viruses. PDFs are safer

The link:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication..._Salvation

[Ming the Merciful]

Hello all,

A coincidental encounter recently brought these interesting folks into my life. I attended a few of their "cultivation" meetups, and it feels like a mix of yoga and tai chi.

I am curious about your guys' take on it, let me know if you have tried it, or know about their "ways."

Of course not on a judgement level, but more of their "path" and ways, positive or negative. From a philosophical stand point and basis of the Law of One.

The followers that I spoke to gave off very positive vibe except one of them really, reeeaaallly into it and pushes me to read the book in a single sitting.
Also their leader is a millionaire that lives in a high value compound in secret, at the same time, having a hidden war with the communist party of china.

We can chop this up to the wildest imagination, or a simple vibe check of "meh" would be insightful.

https://www.google.com/search?q=falun+da...e&ie=UTF-8

https://www.businessinsider.com/dragon-s...tos-2019-9

https://www.google.com/search?q=li+hongz...nt=gws-wiz

Thank you!

with L/L

Do I not have a curious nature and does not any philosophical discourses from the East intrigue me? So I went, (forthwith), and did a search on Google, finding the related PDF book below. Yet, another can of worms that must be opened and devoured. There are many empty cans in the pile. I shall investigate it further, is it not my destiny? Yet, I also discovered that the gong cannot be sounded in Singapore. Why, (prey tell), is this, does it offend their God(s)? Such pathetic God(s) in Singapore. It appears to be Tai Chi in a new set of clothes?

https://falundafa.org/book/eng/pdf/flg_en.pdf

[jafar]

Yet, I also discovered that the gong cannot be sounded in Singapore. Why, (prey tell), is this, does it offend their God(s)? Such pathetic God(s) in Singapore. It appears to be Tai Chi in a new set of clothes?

https://falundafa.org/book/eng/pdf/flg_en.pdf

Falun Dafa is not banned in Singapore, they have an official site:
http://falundafa.org.sg/2006/eng/index.htm

Feel free to contact them and ask about how's life in SG.
Or here's the list of their contacts around the world.
https://en.falundafa.org/falun-dafa-glob...tacts.html