Li Hongzhi

Infobox Person
name = Li Hongzhi
zh-c|c=李洪志


image_size = 180px
caption = Li Hongzhi
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birth_date = Birth year and age|1951|
birth_place = Gongzhuling, China
death_date =
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residence = United States
nationality =
other_names =
known_for = Founding of Falun Gong
education =
employer =
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Li Hongzhi (zh-cp|c=李洪志|p=Lǐ Hóngzhì) (born in Gongzhuling city, Jilin, China) is the founder of Falun Gong (or Falun Dafa), a system of "mind-body cultivation" related to the "qigong" tradition.

Li Hongzhi introduced Falun Dafa on May 13, 1992 at the fifth middle school in Changchun, Jilin. From 1992 to 1994 he traveled throughout China, giving lectures and teaching Falun Gong exercises. In 1999 the Chinese government estimated the number of Falun Gong practitioners to be approximately 70 million. [Faison, Seth (April 27, 1999) [http://partners.nytimes.com/library/world/asia/042799china-protest.html "In Beijing: A Roar of Silent Protesters"] "New York Times", retrieved June 10, 2006] Since July 1999, the Chinese government has conducted a widespread persecution of Falun Gong. Today, he lives in the United States.

Biography

Life in China

According to the biography of Li Hongzhi that appeared as an appendix to the Falun Dafa text "Zhuan Falun", Li Hongzhi had been taught ways of "cultivation practice" ("xiulian") by several Masters of the Dao and the Buddhist schools of thought from a very young age. This biography stated that he was trained by "Quan Jue", the 10th Heir to the Great Law of the Buddha School, at four years of age. [http://www.trinity.edu/rnadeau/Chinese%20Religions/Li%20Hongzhi.htm Brief biography of Li Hongzhi: founder of Falun Gong and president of the Falun Gong Research Society] , Chinese Law and Government v.32 #6 (Nov./Dec. 1999) p. 14-23 ISSN: 0009-4609] Li was then trained by a Taoist master at age eight, by which time he had acquired "supernatural powers". Master Quan left him at age twelve, and he was then trained by a master of the Great Way School with the Taoist (alias of "True Taoist"), who had come from the Changbai Mountains.

Li Hongzhi founded Falun Gong, and introduced Falun Dafa on May 13, 1992 at the fifth middle school in Changchun, Jilin. From 1992 to 1994 he traveled throughout China, giving lectures and teaching Falun Gong exercises. University of Montreal scholar David Ownby notes that for the first few years of spreading Falun Gong, Li Hongzhi was granted several awards by Chinese governmental organizations to encourage him to continue promoting the practice of Falun Gong.David Ownby, "The Falun Gong in the New World," European Journal of East Asian Studies, Sep2003, Vol. 2 Issue 2, p 306] He also notes that Li had become an "instant star of the qigong movement," with his practice method celebrated at the Beijing Oriental Health Expos of both 1992 and 1993. Falun Gong was also welcomed into the Scientific Qigong Research Association, which sponsored and helped organise many of Li's lectures between 1992 and 1994, including the 54 large-scale lectures given throughout China in most major cities to a total audience of 20,000. On May 6, 1994, Li Hongzhi was declared a “Grandmaster of Qigong” by the Jilin Province Qigong Science Research Association [http://www.faluninfo.net/article/213/ Falun Gong Timeline, Falun Dafa Information Center] ]

Works authored by Li Hongzhi during this period of time include "Falun Gong" [http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/flg_2006.htm] and "Zhuan Falun". "Falun Gong" is an introductory book that discusses qigong, introduces the principles of Falun Gong and provides illustrations and explanations of the exercises. "Zhuan Falun", first published in 1994, is the central text of Falun Dafa practice and is considered a comprehensive exposition of the teachings of Falun Dafa. In 1996, Zhuan Falun was listed among the best selling books in China by the Beijing Daily. [ [http://www.pureinsight.org/pi/index.php?news=2097 Pureinsight.org] , Chronicle of Major Events] The World Book encyclopedia describes the contents of "Zhuan Falun" as examining "evolution, the meaning of space and time, and the mysteries of the universe." [Falun Gong, The World Book Encyclopaedia, 2002]

Falun Gong is now practiced in over 80 countries and Li Hongzhi's writings have been translated into over 40 languages. [ [http://www.falundafa.org Falun Dafa Website] ]

Life outside China

On March, 1995, Li Hongzhi first taught Falun Gong abroad starting with a seven day lecture given in Paris, initiated at the invitation of China’s ambassador to France. This was followed, shortly, by a second series in May in Sweden.Li Hongzhi delivered [http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/lectures/19961005L.html his first lecture in the United States] on October 5, 1996. [ [http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/lectures/19961005L.html First Fa Teaching Given in the United States] , Li Hongzhi, October 5, 1996. ] Li has lived in the United States since 1998.

Academic perspectives

Li Hongzhi's teachings echo traditional Chinese beliefs that humans are connected to the universe through mind and body, according to Danny Schechter.Danny Schechter, Falun Gong's Challenge to China: Spiritual Practice or Evil Cult?, Akashic books: New York, 2001] In his work, "Zhuan Falun", Li challenges "conventional mentalities", and sets out to unveil myths of the universe, time-space, and the human body. The opening statement of "Zhuan Falun" includes the phrase "If human beings are able to take a fresh look at themselves as well as the universe and change their rigid mentalities, humankind will make a leap forward."

Leading Falun Gong scholar David Ownby sees Li's teachings as first and foremost "concerned with moral purpose and the ultimate meaning of life and death."David Ownby, Falun Gong and the Future of China (2008) Oxford University Press] Falun Gong understands itself as "profoundly moral," according to Ownby, where "the very structure of the universe, according to Li Hongzhi, is made up of the moral qualities cultivators are enjoined to practice in their own lives: truth, compassion and forbearance. The goal of cultivation, and hence of life itself, is spiritual elevation, achieved by eliminating karma—the built-up sins of past and present lives which often manifest themselves in individuals as illness—and accumulating virtue." Through cultivation, Falun Gong promises "personal harmony with the very substance of the universe." Ownby says that Li's teachings do not focus on "lists of dos and don'ts or 'sophisticated ethical discussions.'" Falun Gong teaches instead that followers should "rid themselves of unnecessary ‘attachments’, to do what they know is right and hence to return to ‘the origin’, to their ‘original self.’"

Li Hongzhi's Works

* [http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/pdf/flg_2006.pdf Falun Gong] . Considered an introductory exposition of the principles of Falun Gong and the concept of 'cultivation practice' along with descriptions of the exercises of Falun Gong. First published in April, 1993.

* [http://www.falundafa.org/eng/howtolearn.html#listenlectures Nine Day Lectures on Falun Dafa] . From 1992 to 1994, Li Hongzhi presented his teachings across China, the contents of which were ultimately edited and compiled into the book "Zhuan Falun". The teachings entailed a one to two hour lecture on each of 8 to 10 consecutive days. Exercise instruction was offered thereafter. The final of these lecture series, delivered in Guangzhou, China, in 1994, were recorded live and they form a central part of Falun Gong's teachings.

* [http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/pdf/zfl_new.pdf Zhuan Falun] -"Turning the Law Wheel". Considered the central and most comprehensive exposition of the teachings of Falun Gong. First published in January, 1995.

* [http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/hongyin/v1/hy.htm Hong Yin] "- Grand Verses". A collection of short poems written by Li, often touching upon issues pertinent to the traditional Chinese concept of cultivation practice.

* [http://www.falundafa.org/eng/books.html Lectures and Writings] . Transcripts of Lectures delivered by Li and articles periodically published by him also form a central part of Falun Gong's teachings.

The content of Li Hongzhi's works include commentaries on questions discussed in China's qigong community for ages. According to David Ownby, Li saw the qigong movement as "rife with false teachings and greedy and fraudulent 'masters'" and set out to rectify it. Li understood himself and Falun Gong as part of a "centuries-old tradition of cultivation," and in his texts would often attack those who taught "incorrect, deviant, or heterodox ways."Ownby, David, "A History for Falun Gong: Popular Religion and the Chinese State Since the Ming Dynasty", Nova Religio, Vol. ,pp. 223-243] Qigong scholar David Palmer says Li "redefined his method as having entirely different objectives from qigong: the purpose of practice should neither be physical health nor the development of extraordinary powers, but to purify one's heart and attain spiritual salvation."David Palmer, Qigong Fever: Body, Science, and Utopia in China (2007), Columbia University Press] .

In his teachings Li Hongzhi draws on oriental traditions, sometimes criticizes the self-imposed limits of modern science, and views traditional Chinese science as an entirely different, yet equally valid knowledge system. Concomitantly, says Yuezhi Zhao, professor in the University of California, it borrows the language of modern science in representing its cosmic laws. "Falun gong is not conceptualized as a religious faith; on the contrary, its practitioners, which include doctorate holders from prestigious American universities, see it as 'a new form of science.'"Zhao, Yuezhi, "Falun Gong, Identity, and the Struggle over Meaning Inside and Outside China", pp209-223 in Contesting Media Power: Alternative Media in a Networked World, ed. Nick Couldry and James Curran, Rowman & Littlefield publishers, inc.: 2003.]

In a seminar paper presented at the annual meeting of American Sociological Association, Kai-Ti Chou states: "Li [...] does not deny the existence of mystery, which just exists in another realm, he claims. He does not want his followers to think about this limitedly with scientific thinking and thus close any possibility to view other possibilities. On the contrary, he encourages a radical rational and open way of thinking; namely, [going] beyond the common scientific logic, which can not only help them to know the scientific world but also a world beyond science." [http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/0/7/3/8/p107389_index.html Chou, Kai-Ti. "Cultivation and Religion: The Case of Taiwan Falun Gong"] . Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Atlanta Hilton Hotel, Atlanta, GA, Aug 16, 2003]

Awards and recognition

In China Li Hongzhi had been granted many awards by state run Qi Gong organizations, including the awards for "“Advancing Frontier Science”" and "“Most Acclaimed Qigong Master”" award granted at the 1993 Oriental Health Expo [ [http://minghui.org/mh/article_images/2004-8-4-award93_expo.jpgImages of Awards Granted to Li Hongzhi at the 1993 Oriental Expo in Beijing] ] and recognition as a “Grandmaster of Qigong” by the Jilin Province Qigong Science Research Association.. The first award from outside China was granted on August 3rd, 1994 when The City of Houston, Texas declared Li Hongzhi an "Honorary Citizen" and a "Goodwill Ambassador" in recognition of "the outstanding success" achieved in his "worthy vocation and in appreciation of the unselfish contributions" he had made and was making "through unselfish public service for the benefit of mankind." [ [http://www.clearwisdom.net/eng/awards/houston_citizen.jpgHonorary Citizenship Award from Houston, Texas] ] Subsequently Li Hongzhi and Falun Gong have received hundreds of awards and proclamations from Australia, Canada, Japan, Russia, and the U.S. in recognition of his contributions. [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/committees/afet/20011002/444750EN.pdf Report of Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy] , European Parliament] [http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/special_column/recognition.html List of awards. Clearwisdom] ]

In the United States, Li Hongzhi has received several awards and certificates of recognition from several governmental bodies - including Honorary Citizenship awarded by The State of Georgia [Clearwisdom.net, [http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2000/12/12/4109.html Secretary of State of the State of Georgia Proclaims Mr. Li Hongzhi as an Honorary Georgia Citizen and Goodwill Ambassador] ] and City of Atlanta [Clearwisdom.net, [http://www.clearwisdom.net/eng/awards/atlanta.jpgCity of Atlanta Proclaims Mr. Li Hongzhi an Honorary Citizen] ] . Several resolutions honoring Li Hongzhi has been issued by governmental bodies in the United States [Clearwisdom.net, [http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/special_column/recognition.html Awards and Recognitions] ] Many Cities in The United States including Chicago, Toronto, and Houston, Texas, have honored Li Hongzhi by proclaiming “Master Li Hongzhi Days” in recognition of the positive contributions Falun Dafa has brought to their communities. [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/338603/Li-Hongzhi Li Hongzhi] , Encyclopaedia Britannica]

In 2001, Li Hongzhi was nominated by 28 members of the European Parliament for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. According to a CNN report Mr Li was a front-runner for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. [http://www.faluninfo.net/article/5/ Overview of Falun Gong,] Falun Dafa Information Center.] Schechter notes that Li Hongzhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the "second year in a row" in February, 2001. In March 14, 2001, The Freedom House honored Li Hongzhi and Falun Gong with an International Religious Freedom Award for the advancement of religious and spiritual freedom at a ceremony in US Senate. In the same year, Li was ranked the most powerful communicator in Asia by "Asiaweek" magazine, for his ability to "mobilize millions of followers", ahead of Keiji Tachikawa, Ang Lee, and Jiang Zemin. "Asiaweek" editor Dorinda Elliott said in a statement: " [I] t is for his power to inspire, to mobilize people and to spook Beijing that we select Li as Asia's most influential communicator."Asian Political News, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDQ/is_2001_May_28/ai_75259079 Asiaweek names Falun Gong founder top communicator] , May 28, 2001, accessed 22/5/08] The Telegraph reported that in 2007 that Li was ranked joint 12th in a list of the world's top 100 living geniuses compiled by a panel of six unnamed experts in creativity and innovation assembled by [http://www.synecticsworld.com/index.html a global consultants firm] . The Telegraph reported that "Each genius was... awarded scores out of ten against criteria which included: paradigm shifting; popular acclaim; intellectual power; achievement and cultural importance." [Telegraph.co.uk, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/28/geniustable128.xml Top 100 living geniuses] , accessed 19/3/08] The descriptions of the individuals in the panel's report were largely based on Wikipedia. [ [http://www.synecticsworld.com/documents/Synectics%20Survey%20of%20Contemporary%20Genius%202007.pdf Synectics Survey of Contemporary Genius 2007] "All description of the above individuals are taken from public sources and are based, primarily, on entries available on Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com)"]

The Persecution of Falun Gong and relations with the Chinese government

Montreal Scholar "David Ownby" notes that for the first few years of spreading Falun Gong, Li Hongzhi was granted several awards by Chinese governmental organizations to encourage him to continue promoting the practice . Falun Gong was often promoted outside of China under the auspices of Chinese governmental bodies. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2007/2024152.htm Media and Internet Censorship in China] ]

Since 1999, the Chinese government has conducted a wide-spread persecution of Falun Gong. This is considered to be politically motivated and a major violation of human rights [ [http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA17/011/2000/en/dom-ASA170112000en.html Amnesty International, Document - China: The crackdown on Falun Gong and other so-called "heretical organizations"] ] . On July 29, 1999, after the onset of the persecution, the Chinese government had a series of charges leveled against him, including a catch-all "disturbing public order." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/410779.stm Interpol will not arrest sect leader] , BBC News, August 3, 1999] At that time, Li Hongzhi was living in the United States. The Chinese government sent a request for arrest to Interpol which was rejected on the grounds of absence of charges and that Interpol would not become involved in matters "of a political or religious character."The Chinese government also revoked his passport , preventing him from traveling internationally.

In 1999, in response to Chinese government's attempts to 'extradite' him to China, Li Hongzhi wrote "I only teach people to be good. At the same time, I unconditionally help people get rid of their diseases and health problems, and I enable them to reach higher realms of mind. I don’t charge any money or ask for material things as reward. All of this has had a positive impact on the society and its people, and it has, on a large scale, turned people’s hearts towards goodness and made their moral level high. I wonder if that is why they seek to extradite me. Do they want me to return to China so that more people can obtain the Fa and cultivate their hearts? If that’s the case, please don’t let the country lose USD$500 million to strike a deal—I can go back myself... In fact, I keep teaching people to conduct themselves with Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance as their guiding principles. So naturally, I have also been setting an example. When Falun Gong disciples and I have been criticized for no reason and treated unfairly, we have always displayed breadth of mind with great benevolence and great forbearance, and have silently endured everything in order to give the government sufficient time to find out what we are about... If with my, Li Hongzhi’s, life I can dispel their fears of these good people, I will immediately go back and let them do what they will." [ [http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/jjyz2_02.htm Some thoughts of Mine, Li Hongzhi] ]

Personal controversies

Birth date

Li Hongzhi states that he was born on May 13, 1951. The Chinese government, after onset of the persecution of Falun Gong, claimed that he "changed his date of birth [to the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar] , in order to coincide with the birthday of Sakyamuni".cite news| url = http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/99/0802/li1.html | title = I am just a very ordinary man |date=August 2, 1999 | publisher = Time Magazine ] Li Hongzhi states that he merely corrected his birth date, which was mistakenly recorded as July 7, 1952, due to a bureaucratic error made during the Cultural Revolution. Addressing the issue, in an interview with "Time", Li Hongzhi stated: "During the Cultural Revolution, the government misprinted my birthdate. I just corrected it. During the Cultural Revolution, there were lots of misprints on identity. A man could become a woman, and a woman could become a man. It's natural that when people want to smear you, they will dig out whatever they can to destroy you. What's the big deal about having the same birthday as Sakyamuni? Many criminals were also born on that date. I have never said that I am Sakyamuni. I am just a very ordinary man."

Financial position

In May of 1999 Li rebuked claims by some critics that he was angling for money. He said: "Why would I put forth so much effort just to make money? All I would need would be to tell all of you to give me ten dollars, then I would be a billionaire. What a fast and easy way that would be! You all would be happy to give it to me and I could receive it openly. Why would I resort to putting forth so much effort? I think that sometimes people have impure intentions. They take things in a very narrow-minded and stupid way." [Li Hongzhi, [http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/lectures/19990523L.html Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Canada] , 1999, accessed 19/3/08]

In an interview in Sydney on May 2, 1999, mentioning his financial status, Li said : "In mainland China I published so many books, but added together, they haven't exceeded twenty thousand Renminbi (equivalent to US $ 2,469). This is what the publishing company gave me. When publishing books in other countries of the world, you know there is a rule, which pays 5 or 6% royalties to the author, so each time I can only get a little bit, a few hundred, or a few thousand dollars." [Li Hongzhi, Lecture in Sydney, 1999, [http://www.falundafa.ca/library/english/sydney/xini_e.html] , accessed 21 July 2007]

Ian Johnson points out that during the greatest period of Falun Gong book sales in China, Li Hongzhi never received any royalties because all publications were bootleg.Johnson, Ian. "Wild Grass: three stories of change in modern China". Pantheon books. 2004. pp 23-229] Danny Schechter states that, as Falun Gong's popularity grew, "Li Hongzhi made it clear that his mission was to bring the practice to everybody because it is beneficial, and that he was not in it for the money. After this investigation, I found the group to be very anti-materialist in its orientation--spiritualist not materialist." [ [http://www.asiasource.org/news/falun.cfm Falun Gong's Challenge to China, An Interview with Danny Schechter] ]

References

External links

;Li Hongzhi's teachings
* [http://www.falundafa.org/bul/audio-video/audiovideo_9video.html Videos of Li Hongzhi's nine day lecture in Guangzhou, China] (With English overlay) at falundafa.org
* [http://www.falundafa.org/book/eng/jjyz2_02.htm "Some Thoughts of Mine"] , June 1999 at falundafa.org
* [http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2006/5/13/73224.html Book: Practitioners recollection about their Teacher] at clearwisdom.net
* [http://www.falundafa.org/eng/books.htm The actual teachings of Li Hongzhi] at falundafa.org

;Interviews
*cite web | title=Interview with Li Hongzhi | url = http://www.time.com/time/asia/asia/magazine/1999/990510/interview1.html | publisher = TIMEasia.com | author = William Dowell |date=May 10, 1999
*cite web | title=Interview with Li Hongzhi in Sydney, Australia | url = http://www.zhuichaguoji.org/en/upload/docs/ThirdPartyDoc/G_3.doc |date=May 2, 1999
*cite web | title=Interview: Li Hongzhi "I am just a very ordinary man" | url = http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/99/0802/li1.html | publisher = TIMEasia.com | author = Anthony Spaeth |date=August 2, 1999
*cite web | title=Eye of the Storm | url = http://www.cesnur.org/testi/falun_020.htm | publisher = New York Times Magazine | author = Jonathan S. Landreth and J.S. Greenberg |date=August 8, 1999
*cite web | title=NTDTV Press Release: Summary of the Exclusive Interview with Mr. Li Hongzhi, Founder of Falun Gong | url = http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200401/17455.html | publisher = clearharmony.net | author = |date=January 25, 2004