delete me
History/Founder: Founded in 1992 in China by former schooltecher Li Hongzhi as Falun Dafa, the Falun Gong are already numbered in the millions. Falun Gong means “Practice of the wheel,” referring to the Buddhist wheel of Dharma Followers of Hongzhi practice Chi-gong (literally, “life-energy”), a practice that includes a practice similar to Tai Chi exercise, healthful living, and other elements of traditional Chinese spiritual practice.
Current leader/governing body: None, although organized groups have staged peaceful protests in China. Most of Falun Dafa’s activist members in China have been imprisoned, along with hundreds of thousands of followers. Practitioners outside of China are very vocal about conditions in China, and stage frequent peaceful protests.
Number of Adherents: Between eighty and one hundred million, mainly in China. Clergy: None. Requirements to join: None, Falun Dafa is available to anyone.
Church/temple: None. Scripture: The Zhuan Falun, and other writings by Li, are considered helpful but not neccessary. Required observances, dietary restrictions: Killing and jealousy are forbidden, and meat eating is discouraged but not forbidden. Code of Conduct: Varies.
Basic teachings and Beliefs of Falun: Li, Known as Master Li, teaches followers that practicing Falun Gong leads to spiritual transcendence. The Falun, or wheel, is believed to have a physical presence in the body, in the navel, giving off and absorbing energy. The five exercises practiced by adherents are meant to strengthen the Falun. Falun is not meant to be a religion, according to Li, but a practice complimentary to religious practice. Symbols: The Falun Gong symbol is a glyph consisting of a rotating manji (swastika) surrounded by four smaller manji and four yin-yang symbols, symbolizing energy forces in the universe. For more information on this and other symbols, please see Religious symbols.
Related Links:
Number of Adherents: Between eighty and one hundred million, mainly in China. Clergy: None. Requirements to join: None, Falun Dafa is available to anyone.
Church/temple: None. Scripture: The Zhuan Falun, and other writings by Li, are considered helpful but not neccessary. Required observances, dietary restrictions: Killing and jealousy are forbidden, and meat eating is discouraged but not forbidden. Code of Conduct: Varies.
Basic teachings and Beliefs of Falun: Li, Known as Master Li, teaches followers that practicing Falun Gong leads to spiritual transcendence. The Falun, or wheel, is believed to have a physical presence in the body, in the navel, giving off and absorbing energy. The five exercises practiced by adherents are meant to strengthen the Falun. Falun is not meant to be a religion, according to Li, but a practice complimentary to religious practice. Symbols: The Falun Gong symbol is a glyph consisting of a rotating manji (swastika) surrounded by four smaller manji and four yin-yang symbols, symbolizing energy forces in the universe. For more information on this and other symbols, please see Religious symbols.
Related Links:
{ 2 trackbacks }
{ 0 comments… add one now }