We would like to comment on a slanderous article about Falun Gong that appeared in the May 7th issue of One Week Journal (vol. 478), in which the author tried to defame Master Li and mislead the readers using pure rumors and make-believes. As disciples of Master Li, we would like to share with the readers our understanding of Falun Gong in order to clarify any rumors.

Master Li has been living in New York City in recent years. In April 1999, Master Li received an invitation from Australian practitioners to attend an experience sharing convention. He was on his way to Australia when the Zhong-nai-hai incident happened in Beijing. The fact is Master Li did not know anything about the incident, contrary to the article's claim that he secretly organized it.

The article also fabricated rumors such as Jiang Zemin and Li Peng met with me (Master Li) and asked me not to do anything else, My responsibility is to delay the explosion of the earth, Even with my best effort, I could only postpone the explosion by 30 years. You will never find such statements in any of Master Li's works, as they are contradictory to the teachings of Falun Dafa. Falun Dafa has expounded the principles of cultivation and has taught us to become good people. We were simply shocked by how someone can come up with such despicable rumors to serve his ulterior purpose.

Mr. Li Hongzhi was born on May 13th, 1951. During the chaotic years of the Cultural Revolution, his working unit incorrectly recorded his birthday. When Resident Identification Card system started, the wrong birth date was used to print his card. Later it was corrected according to the original birth record. The date of birth in personal documents is not based on the lunar calendar. The fact that Master Li's birthday on lunar calendar is the same as Buddha Sakyamuni's is pure coincidence. Everyone is aware that the principles of Falun Dafa are comprehensive yet straightforward. In all these years that Master Li has taught Falun Dafa, he has never tried to associate himself with Buddhism based on his birth date, much less deliberately impersonating himself as the modern Buddha. On the contrary, he has emphasized on many occasions that Falun Dafa is fundamentally different from Buddhism; Falun Dafa is the Da Fa (Great Laws) of the universe. Certainly he never "intentionally indicated he is modern Buddha Sakyamuni".

The article's claim that Master Li is suspected of tax evasion and misrepresentation is nothing but a delusion. When Master Li was teaching Falun Gong in China in 1993 and 1994, all seminars were organized by the Qigong Association of China rather than by Master Li himself. Meanwhile, the instructional material China Falun Gong was published by Military and Recreational Publishing of China and was distributed by Xinhua Bookstore. Master Li received only royalties from these organizations. The article's accusations that Master Li "reaped a fortune from his seminars and book" is totally unfounded, even the figures in that report are fabricated.

On the issue of the relationship with the Qigong Science and Research Association of China, Master Li proposed to leave the association as early as March of 1996. By mid 1996, Qigong Science and Research Association still continued contacting Master Li and dissuade him from leaving the association. Only after the News and Publication Department banned the books on Falun Gong did the Qigong Association change its attitude. Falun Gong was not kicked out of the Qigong Science and Research Association of China; documents from the association clearly state that Falun Gong voluntarily withdrew' from the association effective November 1996.

We should also point out that Master Li's mother and all other family members are also Falun Dafa practitioners. Yet the slanderer claimed that he has made an investigation on Master Li's background and even quoted Master Li's mother saying that he is making it all up and swindling people! Anyone who has tried to understand the situation rationally or has some understanding of Falun Dafa can tell that the article is nothing but a vicious slander.

The author's derogatory remarks about Master Li in his article clearly demonstrate his prejudice against Falun Gong and its practitioners. We sincerely hope that One-Week Journal will make a conscientious effort to correct the mistakes in the article in order to undo the damages it has caused to the society. We hope that One-Week Journal will be responsible to the public and the society. 

Falun Dafa practitioners in Hong Kong

May 21st, 1999

Original text from: http://falundafa.org/fldfbb/to_rumor_eng.doc