Confusing Science with Ethics

By Pi Fu

``Truthfulness, benevolence and tolerance'' is a beautiful banner held high by Li Hongzhi. On this banner he has drawn various kinds of signs, such as ``science,'' ``orthodox law'' ``Buddhist law'' and ``great law.'' Though these signs do not have any relationship with each other, and there is no causality among them, he still promotes them as an ``extraordinary science.''

Let's take a look at how he describes this ``extraordinary science.''

```(The wheel of the) Buddhist law' is the most mysterious and extraordinary science in the world.'' ```Buddhist law' includes everything, ranging from the smallest particles and molecules to the very universe itself, as well as all mysteries, without exception. Its universal `truthfulness, benevolence and tolerance' have different meanings at different levels, like the `Way' advocated by Taoists and the `law' by Buddhists.''

In light of this theory, Li Hongzhi proclaims that ``only `Buddhist law' can reveal the secrets of the universe, space and the human body, and can distinguish good from evil, eradicate all wrong theories and uphold right opinions.'' He also says: ```Buddhist law' can illuminate the boundless world for mankind. Since ancient times, it has been only `Buddhist law' that can clearly explain mankind, all spaces where materials exist, life and the whole universe.''

What are the contents of Li Hongzhi's ``Buddhist law''? Li Hongzhi declares, ``The most fundamental characteristic of the universe is truthfulness, benevolence and tolerance, which are the highest embodiment of the `Buddhist law,' or the most fundamental Buddhist law.'' In light of Li Hongzhi's explanations, if people in modern society stopped doing research on space, aeronautics and astronautics, materials, hereditary genes, electronic information and bio-engineering, and followed Li Hongzhi heart and soul, all problems, involving both social sciences and natural sciences, in this world would be easily solved.

Every educated person knows well that ``truthfulness, benevolence and tolerance'' is a concept belonging to human ethics and morals. In accordance with the concepts of kindness and evil, justice and injustice, honesty and dishonesty, morals evaluate people's actions, and readjust and standardize the relations among people. However, ethics is only a part of the social sciences, which include many branches, such as politics, economics, military affairs, law, education, literature and arts, history, language, etc. Expanding ``truthfulness, benevolence and tolerance'' beyond ethics to all fields of the social sciences is absolutely ridiculous.

Li Hongzhi's ``truthfulness, benevolence and tolerance'' has nothing to do with the natural sciences. However, Li Hongzhi insists on saying, ``Buddhist law includes everything, ranging from the smallest particles and molecules to the very universe itself, as well as all mysteries, without exception. It can illuminate the boundless world for mankind. Since ancient times, it has been only `Buddhist law' that can clearly explain mankind, all spaces where materials exist, life and the whole universe.'' Modern natural sciences are divided into more and more specific fields, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, biology, materials, agriculture, energy, medical sciences, etc. Numerous outstanding scientists are working hard to discover the truths in their special fields, and have made remarkable contributions, which should not be attributed to Li Hongzhi's ``Falun Gong.'' In fact, Li Hongzhi has never been able to explain how ``Buddhist law illuminates the boundless world,'' which is simply fantastic illusion.

Confusing science with ethics in such a ridiculous way proves that Li Hongzhi is ignorant and that he has ulterior motives. It is even more ridiculous that some people should play up such a chaotic ``theory.'' It is really black humor at the end of the century.

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