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'''Falun Gong''' or ''Falun Dafa'' ([[literally]] means "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma_Wheel Dharma Wheel Practice]" or "Law Wheel Practice") is a [[spiritual]] [[discipline]] first introduced in China in 1992 through public lectures by its founder, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Hongzhi Li Hongzhi]. It combines the practice of [[meditation]] and slow-moving [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong qigong] exercises with a moral philosophy. Falun Gong emphasizes [[morality]] and the cultivation of [[virtue]] in its central tenets of [[Truthfulness]], [[Compassion]], and [[Forbearance]] (Chinese: 真、善、忍), and identifies as a qigong practice of the Buddhist school, though its teachings also incorporate elements drawn from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoist Taoist] traditions. Through moral rectitude and the practice of meditation, practitioners of Falun Gong aspire to better [[health]] and, ultimately, spiritual [[enlightenment]].

'''Falun Gong''' or ''Falun Dafa'' ([[literally]] means "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma_Wheel Dharma Wheel Practice]" or "Law Wheel Practice") is a [[spiritual]] [[discipline]] first introduced in China in 1992 through public lectures by its founder, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Hongzhi Li Hongzhi]. It combines the practice of [[meditation]] and slow-moving [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong qigong] exercises with a moral philosophy. Falun Gong emphasizes [[morality]] and the cultivation of [[virtue]] in its central tenets of [[Truthfulness]], [[Compassion]], and [[Forbearance]] (Chinese: 真、善、忍), and identifies as a qigong practice of the Buddhist school, though its teachings also incorporate elements drawn from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoist Taoist] traditions. Through moral rectitude and the practice of meditation, practitioners of Falun Gong aspire to better [[health]] and, ultimately, spiritual [[enlightenment]].

''Falun Gong'' emerged at the end of China's "qigong boom"—a period which saw the proliferation of similar [[practices]] of [[meditation]], slow-moving exercises and regulated [[breathing]]. It differs from other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong qigong] schools in its absence of fees or formal membership, lack of daily [[rituals]] of [[worship]], its greater emphasis on morality, and the theological nature of its teachings. Western academics have described Falun Gong as a qigong discipline, a "spiritual [[movement]]" based on the teachings of its founder, a "cultivation system" in the [[tradition]] of Chinese antiquity, and sometimes a religion or [[new religious movement]].

''Falun Gong'' emerged at the end of China's "qigong boom"—a period which saw the proliferation of similar [[practices]] of [[meditation]], slow-moving exercises and regulated [[breathing]]. It differs from other [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong qigong] schools in its absence of fees or formal membership, lack of daily [[rituals]] of [[worship]], its greater emphasis on morality, and the theological nature of its teachings. Western academics have described Falun Gong as a qigong discipline, a "spiritual [[movement]]" based on the teachings of its founder, a "cultivation system" in the [[tradition]] of Chinese antiquity, and sometimes a religion or [[new religious movement]].

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Falun Gong''''', follow [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Falun_Gong '''''this link'''''].</center>

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Falun Gong''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Falun_Gong '''''this link'''''].</center>

Although the [[practice]] initially enjoyed considerable support from Chinese officialdom, by the mid- to late-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990's 1990]s, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Communist_Party Communist Party] and public security organs increasingly viewed Falun Gong as a potential threat due to its size, independence from the [[state]], and spiritual teachings. By 1999, some estimates placed the number of Falun Gong adherents in the tens of millions. Tensions culminated in April 1999, when over 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered peacefully near the central government compound in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing Beijing] to request legal recognition and [[freedom]] from state [[interference]]. This [[demonstration]] is widely seen as catalyzing the [[suppression]] that followed.

Although the [[practice]] initially enjoyed considerable support from Chinese officialdom, by the mid- to late-[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990's 1990]s, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Communist_Party Communist Party] and public security organs increasingly viewed Falun Gong as a potential threat due to its size, independence from the [[state]], and spiritual teachings. By 1999, some estimates placed the number of Falun Gong adherents in the tens of millions. Tensions culminated in April 1999, when over 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered peacefully near the central government compound in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing Beijing] to request legal recognition and [[freedom]] from state [[interference]]. This [[demonstration]] is widely seen as catalyzing the [[suppression]] that followed.

On 20 July 1999, the Communist Party leadership initiated a nationwide crackdown and multifaceted [[propaganda]] campaign intended to eradicate the practice. In October 1999 it declared Falun Gong a "[[heretical]] [[organization]]" that threatened social [[stability]], and blocked [[Internet]] access to websites that mention Falun Gong. Human rights groups report that Falun Gong practitioners in China are subject to a wide range of human rights [[abuses]]; hundreds of thousands are believed to have been imprisoned extrajudicially, and practitioners in detention are subject to forced labor, psychiatric abuse, [[torture]], and other [[coercive]] [[methods]] of thought reform at the hands of Chinese authorities. In the years since the suppression campaign began, Falun Gong adherents have emerged as a prominent voice in the Chinese [[dissident]] community, advocating for greater human rights and an end to Communist Party rule.

On 20 July 1999, the Communist Party leadership initiated a nationwide crackdown and multifaceted [[propaganda]] campaign intended to eradicate the practice. In October 1999 it declared Falun Gong a "[[heretical]] [[organization]]" that threatened social [[stability]], and blocked [[Internet]] access to websites that mention Falun Gong. Human rights groups report that Falun Gong practitioners in China are subject to a wide range of human rights [[abuses]]; hundreds of thousands are believed to have been imprisoned extrajudicially, and practitioners in detention are subject to forced labor, psychiatric abuse, [[torture]], and other [[coercive]] [[methods]] of thought reform at the hands of Chinese authorities. In the years since the suppression campaign began, Falun Gong adherents have emerged as a prominent voice in the Chinese [[dissident]] community, advocating for greater human rights and an end to Communist Party rule.

Falun Gong founder [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Hongzhi Li Hongzhi] has lived in the [[United States]] since 1996, and Falun Gong has a sizable global constituency; inside China, some sources estimate that millions may continue to practice Falun Gong in spite of [[suppression]]. Hundreds of thousands are believed to practice Falun Gong outside China across some 70 countries worldwide.

Falun Gong founder [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Hongzhi Li Hongzhi] has lived in the [[United States]] since 1996, and Falun Gong has a sizable global constituency; inside China, some sources estimate that millions may continue to practice Falun Gong in spite of [[suppression]]. Hundreds of thousands are believed to practice Falun Gong outside China across some 70 countries worldwide.

The first book of Falun Gong teachings was published in April 1993. Called ''China Falun Gong'', or simply ''Falun Gong'', is an introductory [[text]] that discusses [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong qigong], Falun Gong's relationship to [[Buddhism]], the principles of cultivation [[practice]] and the improvement of moral character (xinxing). The book also provides illustrations and explanations of the exercises and [[meditation]].

The first book of Falun Gong teachings was published in April 1993. Called ''China Falun Gong'', or simply ''Falun Gong'', is an introductory [[text]] that discusses [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong qigong], Falun Gong's relationship to [[Buddhism]], the principles of cultivation [[practice]] and the improvement of moral character (xinxing). The book also provides illustrations and explanations of the exercises and [[meditation]].

The main body of teachings is articulated in the core book ''Zhuan Falun'', published in Chinese in January 1995. The book is divided into nine "[[lectures]]", and was based on edited [[transcriptions]] of the talks Li gave throughout China in the preceding three years. Falun Gong texts have since been translated into an additional 38 languages. In addition to these central texts, Li has published several [[books]], lectures, articles, books of [[poetry]], which are made available on Falun Gong websites.

The main body of teachings is articulated in the core book ''Zhuan Falun'', published in Chinese in January 1995. The book is divided into nine "[[lectures]]", and was based on edited [[transcriptions]] of the talks Li gave throughout China in the preceding three years. Falun Gong texts have since been translated into an additional 38 languages. In addition to these central texts, Li has published several [[books]], lectures, articles, books of [[poetry]], which are made available on Falun Gong websites.

The Falun Gong teachings use numerous untranslated Chinese religious and philosophical terms, and make frequent allusion to characters and incidents in Chinese folk literature and concepts drawn from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_religion Chinese popular religion]. This, coupled with the [[literal]] [[translation]] style of the texts, which imitate the [[colloquial]] style of Li’s [[speeches]], can make Falun Gong scriptures difficult to approach for Westerners.

The Falun Gong teachings use numerous untranslated Chinese religious and philosophical terms, and make frequent allusion to characters and incidents in Chinese folk literature and concepts drawn from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_religion Chinese popular religion]. This, coupled with the [[literal]] [[translation]] style of the texts, which imitate the [[colloquial]] style of Li’s [[speeches]], can make Falun Gong scriptures difficult to approach for Westerners.

The main [[symbol]] of the practice is the Falun ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmacakra Dharma wheel, or Dharmacakra] in Sanskrit). In Buddhism, the Dharmacakra represents the completeness of the [[doctrine]]. To "turn the wheel of dharma" (Zhuan Falun) means to [[preach]] the Buddhist doctrine, and is the title of Falun Gong's main text. Despite the [[invocation]] of Buddhist [[language]] and symbols, the law wheel as understood in Falun Gong has distinct connotations, and is held to represent the [[universe]]. It is conceptualized by an emblem consisting of one large and four small Swastika symbols, representing the [[Buddha]], and four small [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiji_(philosophy) Taiji] ([[yin-yang]]) symbols of the Daoist tradition.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falun_gong]

The main [[symbol]] of the practice is the Falun ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmacakra Dharma wheel, or Dharmacakra] in Sanskrit). In Buddhism, the Dharmacakra represents the completeness of the [[doctrine]]. To "turn the wheel of dharma" (Zhuan Falun) means to [[preach]] the Buddhist doctrine, and is the title of Falun Gong's main text. Despite the [[invocation]] of Buddhist [[language]] and symbols, the law wheel as understood in Falun Gong has distinct connotations, and is held to represent the [[universe]]. It is conceptualized by an emblem consisting of one large and four small Swastika symbols, representing the [[Buddha]], and four small [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiji_(philosophy) Taiji] ([[yin-yang]]) symbols of the Daoist tradition.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falun_gong]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]