This "Teacher" is Absurd

By Pi Fu

"Falun Gong" practitioners call Li Hongzhi "Teacher." They do it with devout, respectful and faithful feelings, because he is not an ordinary "teacher," but a ``god."

Let's see how Li Hongzhi has described himself:

He regards himself as the supreme savior of the whole world. At the beginning of the first lecture of his Zhuan Falun he says that he is the one who "really leads practitioners to the higher level of cultivation." Up to now, according to him, there has been no one but he who has passed on the higher level of gong (merit, or energy) either in China or abroad. He has said that his power is "several dozen times or several ten-thousand times" greater than Sakyamuni's and that he can solve all the problems of modern society, including those which cannot be solved by any political party or government; he can even delay the destruction of the earth. See what tremendous power he has! No wonder petty, ordinary people have to worship him!

Of course, a god has to act like a god. For instance, he must be able to cure fatal illnesses, correct deformities and protect all living creatures from torment. The protecting of all living creatures is certainly a mysterious function. But he claims that he has numerous law-bodies, which can protect those who believe in him and are faithful to him, and which can even protect mankind as a whole. He has boasted that, "there is only one person--I--who has law-bodies in the world." And, "I have countless law-bodies. The wisdom of my law-bodies is open, and their power of law is like that of Buddha." Again, "I can look after as many people as I want, maybe the entire human race." He has also claimed, "My law- bodies can know all your thoughts whenever you are practicing 'Falun Gong.'" Besides, a god must have other mysterious powers, so Li Hongzhi has claimed that he can summon wind and rain, eliminate demons and disasters, and deliver ordinary people to the heavenly paradise.

All the above powers are not enough; a god must also have an auspicious birthday. Though Li's power is "several dozen times or several ten-thousand times" greater than Sakyamuni's, yet he had to change his birthday to the same month and day as Sakyamuni's, in order to make him self seem more like a god. In addition, he has put a halo over his life's experiences. For instance, he said that he attained the Way at the age of four, passed on gong at six, obtained supernatural powers ....

But what about the facts?

Li Hongzhi is nothing more than an ordinary person: he has parents, brothers and a wife; he went to primary and middle schools, joined the army and worked as a clerk. He has had schoolmates, colleagues, teachers and superiors. All these facts contradict his claims. He has said that he wants to lead people to a higher level of cultivation, but in fact he leads them to break the law. He has said that he wants to make things better for people and to save them. But, in fact, he has caused the deaths of more than 1,000 ``Falun Gong" practitioners.

Lies can deceive people for a while, but they cannot deceive them forever. Everyone in his or her normal senses can see clearly that this "teacher," Li Hongzhi, is absurd.

(Compiled by New Star Publishers, Dec., 1999)