01-30-2006, 01:12 PM
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#11 (permalink)
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Deja Moo
Location: Olympic Peninsula, WA
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falun_Gong
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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Falun Gong (法輪功 — literally Practice of the Wheel of Law) is a controversial Chinese spiritual movement which was started in 1992 by Li Hongzhi. Central to Falun Gong are five sets of exercises (four standing, and one sitting) that involve meditation and are claimed to help in the "purification" of mind and the body. Employing many routines reminiscent of qigong breathing exercises, and theoretical language containing elements of Buddhism and Taoism, it adds also New Age and apocalyptic beliefs. Also known as Falun Dafa, the practice has grown swiftly in popularity around the world.
The government of the People's Republic of China began a nation-wide suppression of Falun Gong on July 20, 1999. Concerns were triggered especially when 10,000 practitioners gathered at the Central Appeal Office at Foyou street, outside Zhongnanhai. According to government sources, this event demonstrated that practitioners could gather in large demonstrations. Additionally, reports confirmed that significant numbers of Chinese officials (including military and police personnel) were practicing. After the persecution began, the actual number of Falun Gong practitioners in China was estimated by the government at less than 2 million; 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 70-100 million practitioners - which would exceed the estimated membership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP has burned and destroyed books and other materials about Falun Gong, and blocked access to internet resources about the topic.
Treatment of Falun Gong members has been regarded in the West as a major international human rights issue affecting freedom of religion and freedom of speech. The Chinese government justifies its actions by denouncing the group as an "evil cult" that spreads superstition and discourages the use of medical treatment for serious illnesses. Falun Gong adherents point out the non-violent nature of the teachings, and that practitioners are free to enter or leave the group as they please, and that this distinguishes Falun Gong from many tightly controlled religious cults. However, Li Hongzhi uses overtly religious language to describe himself and his mission.
Contents [hide]
1 Origins and beliefs
1.1 Beliefs
1.2 Purifying the body
1.3 Morality
2 Government crackdown
2.1 The media war
2.2 The Tiananmen Square self-immolation incident
2.3 Foreign views on Falun Gong
2.4 24-hour continuous protests
2.5 Falun Gong presence overseas
3 References
4 External links
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