How Li Hongzhi Is Disgraced in the United States?

By Jia Fang

Can ``Master'' Li Hongzhi concentrate on ``cultivating the Buddhist law'' in the United States now? As a ``superman,'' he says in his Zhuan Falun that he is the only one in the world preaching at a higher level; his magic power is ``several dozens times and several ten thousand times'' higher than that of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. He can solve any problem in modern society, even if it cannot be solved by any party or any government. He can even postpone the doomsday of the earth. A ``master'' like Li Hongzhi should not have any ``common'' ambitions or worries.

Li Hongzhi was not satisfied with being only a ``master.'' In China, he amassed a large amount of money from ``Falun Gong'' practitioners. However he, who is not satisfied with being ``rich in material objects,'' is very greedy for ``honor.'' In the United States, instead of devoting himself to studying and practicing ``Falun Gong, he let others regard him as a ``god,'' and like an ordinary vulgar person did his best to win ``honorific titles'' in many cities.

However, he was very unlucky because:

1. The municipal government of Baltimore proclaimed that August 13 would be ``Xiamen Sister City Day'' to replace the so-called ``Li Hongzhi Day.'' The mayor of Baltimore presented a ``Xiamen Sister City Day'' certificate to an official of the Chinese embassy in the United States, and said he hoped that the relations and cooperation between Xiamen and Baltimore would constantly develop.

2. San Francisco canceled a plan for issuing a certificate of merit to Li Hongzhi and proclaiming ``Li Hongzhi Day" in San Francisco.

3. Los Angeles also declared that the ``congratulation certificates'' issued to ``Falun Gong'' practitioners would be withdrawn.

It is a routine matter for the local governments of the United States to issue certificates of merit or bestow ``honorary citizen'' titles. So long as one submits an application, and proves that he or she is a well-known person, his or her application will be approved soon. So it is not always something to be taken seriously.

Li Hongzhi has said time and time again that he is a ``master,'' ``the only Savior,'' ``a good man,'' and ``a superman.'' So why is he so interested in gaining an undeserved honor that usually only ordinary people aspire to?

Some cities and states in the United States issued certificates of merit to Li Hongzhi and his ``Falun Gong'' without knowing the facts. Later, when they discovered that it was highly inappropriate to have done so, they rescinded the honors. Indeed it seems that Li Hongzhi and his ``Falun Gong'' have ``gone to collect wool and come back shorn."

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