Li Hongzhi, the leader of Falun Gong, was afraid of internal disorder and division. He mentioned in his book Forever Pure Dafa that external factors could only confuse few people, what should be paid attention to was the internal interference with Dafa. Zhuan Falun recorded his words that followed the Fa was the only way rather than following someone who had supernatural power. He said in Conclusion that no matter who attempted to divide Dafa at any time anywhere was violator. He also stressed in Requirements of the Falun Dafa counseling stations that preachers violated the rule if they relied on their own feelings. All the citation of his words must be followed by “as Mater Li Hongzhi said”. So that Falun Gong regards all the division, variations and behaviors that violate his words as acts of sabotage.
Li Hongzhi said with great certainty that as long as he was alive, Falun Gong could not be confused and divided. In Forever Pure Dafa, Li Hongzhi said, “our Fa won’t change forever.” In his North American publicity tour, Li Hongzhi stressed that no chaos would happen in Fa as he was alive. He mentioned in his Preaching in Florida that disorder in Fa and new universe would never happen. Preaching in San Francisco in 2005 argued that ordinary people could not break the Fa.
However, variations split from the Falun Gong are countless, including “Master with true Buddha body” Peng Shanshan, “ Mahayana Flower Adornment Dharma”, “Saint Falun Buddha”, “New Buddha in Changchun”, “Karmamudrā”, “Muti-level marketing”, “Golden Fa” and “Overall Fa”(Lecture 10 in Zhuanfa Lun). These new variations which originated from and attach to Falun Gong all ridiculous cults which confuse and poison people’s minds. They will seriously endanger people's lives and property safety, undermine social stability and corrupt social morals, which should raise our awareness.
All the Falun Gong variations are derived from the same origin. They are all absurd but with unique features:
Ⅰ. The variation of Mercy Gong
“Mercy Gong” was founded by Xiao Yun from Wuhan. Xiao Yun was formerly a worker who practiced Falun Gong with his wife. He founded “Mercy Gong” in 1997 and imitated Falun Gong to establish guidance stations with a strict organization. Followers expanded to over 900 people in Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi and other places. Xiao confessed to the police that his motivation was to have sexual relations with female followers.
According to the investigation, from June 1998, Xiao Yun was suspected to have raped at least 4 female followers in the name of practicing “Mercy Gong”. He glossed over his crime by claiming that having sexual relations with him could turn all the karma to merits. He claimed to be “saint Buddha” and females who had sexual relations with him as “minghuimu(goddess of Buddhist wisdom)”. He explained that these females came from other space to protect him and help him save people. 4 female victims finally suffered from broken families or serious physical and mental traumas.
As “Mercy Gong” posed great threat to social stability by deluding people, gathering wealth illegally and raping women, the Wuhan police identified as a cult and arrested its leader Xiao Yun by the end of 1999. Xiao Xun was punished according to the law.
Ⅱ. The variation of Saint Falun Buddha
“Saint Falun Buddha” began in 2001 and became mature in 2004. it originated from Jilin, Changchun Province, and its founder is an middle-aged woman named Pang Lihua in Changchun. Its activities have developed from the Northeast China to the whole country, and followers are mainly former Falun Gong practitioners.
Leader: “Saint Falun Buddha”(a former Falun Gong follower enlightened). Followers call Li Hongzhi as “Teacher Li” rather than “Mater Li”.
The doctrine can be summed up as: “three kinds of people and three things”. “Three kinds of people” refer to people emancipated by Falun Gong, people relieved by Falun Gong and others (84,000 Buddha positions remained for them); “three things” refer to universe rules, all kinds of human sources and the existence forms of life.
Brief introduction of the basic theory: “Saint Falun Buddha” claims that Li Hongzhi’s words were false, only “Saint Falun Buddha” is orthodox, so that followers should get rid of Falun Gong as soon as possible. “Saint Falun Buddha” is the master of all the followers including Li Hongzhi. Li Hongzhi is a predecessor who led followers for 10 years to eliminate karma, and he developed into a new stage. According to their words, only follower who eradicates all the karma can meet “Saint Falun Buddha”. Only by this can followers get real essence and back to Buddha position with 2-2.5 years. The urgent priority is to find these 84,000 followers.
Features: followers will no longer practice Falun Gong or read Falun Gong books. They just need to use remaining content of Falun Gong to serve new doctrine of “Saint Falun Buddha”. In order to 84,000 followers early, “the three kinds of people” are connected.
They pay great attention to the “mode” and “method” of preaching. They are very deceptive as they are good at telling stories, draw an analogies and creating suspense to attract audience.
Ⅲ. The variation of Buddha positioning
It is said that “Buddha positioning” was originally spread by a mother and her daughter whose surname was Wang in Harbin City and then spread to Mudanjiang, Qigihar, Jiamusi, Daqing in Northeast China to the whole country.
“Buddha positioning” developed only in former Falun Gong followers. The so-called “positioning” means “identification”, which claims that Falun Gong is of low level, but once identified, followers of “Buddha positioning” will remain as Buddha regardless of practice or not. They will not stick to practicing Falun Gong, and they can change forms of practice. They encourage former Falun Gong follower to stand against the wall or on the mountain to shout “I am the Buddha”. That’s the positioning they advocate. They also deliberately mystify that whether a follower can be positioned should be identified by sainted one. After shouting “I am the Buddha” for three times, followers will become real Buddha and they only need to read Ksitigarbhasutra every day.
“Buddha positioning” was spread to many places and has accepted lots of former Falun Gong followers.
Ⅳ. The variation of Getting rid of material world to be Buddha
Variation of “Getting rid of material world to be Buddha” originated from Shengli Oilfield in Shandong province. It was founded in September 2004, and its leader is a retired teacher named Sun Yuhua (female) in solitary island community, whose religious name is “wood”. It developed and became mature at the beginning of 2005
Features:
The variation of “Getting rid of material world to be Buddha” mainly instigated former Falun Gong followers. Backbone members had their own offices and liaison personnel. Their activities were semi-public with alluring claim of “becoming Buddha with once practice”.
It is said that in March 22rd, 2004, CCTV reported that astronomers had discovered a new galaxy. So that former Falun Gong practitioners fabricated a fallacy that a new universe had formed according to the news. By mid September, they claimed that old universe has collapsed. The new variation evolved from these two fallacies.
The variation believes that old rules told by Li Hongzhi was out of date, which was the equivalent of primary school textbooks, thus practicing Falun Gong can not become Buddha. So that followers need new master and new rules to guide followers. Evils, Buddhas, Taoist gods and gods will hinder followers from becoming Buddha, so that they need a master to help them get rid of material world to be Buddha. So the variation is called “Getting rid of material world to be Buddha”
The variation believes that the original “positioning” only has voice but not go to inner heart. “Getting rid of material world” means the main soul should go to heaven to find its own position with master’s help. Sun Yuhua claimed that she was possessed by true body of the master and went to preach every afternoon on Monday and Friday at Huang Sumei’s house in solitary island community. She also claimed that only she could help former Falun Gong followers go to heaven.
Specific approach was to recognize Sun Yuhua as the “master” to kowtow for 9 times. During “pass through difficulties”, Sun Yuhua would stand in font of the follower, and Huang Sumei stand behind. As the follower got out of a door, he or she should read “expel whatever I met” and walked on the middle yellow lines on road. The follower should chant incantations when he or she met a car and let the car to hit him or her. After that, he or she should find a crowded “destination” and run forward with crying out “I am the Buddha”. Then he or she was ought to come back in original route, and shout that “rushing to Heaven”. After coming home and kowtowing for 3 more times, the follower should burn all the Falun Gong materials and read that “I have become Buddha, so I returned all the books to you, Mater Li.” So that he or she would break up with Falun Gong and save people in own world.
Judging from words and deeds, the variation still belongs to Falun Gong and worships Li Hongzhi. Burning books seems to break up Falun Gong, but they still use fallacies in these books and fabricated extreme ideas to cheat people.
Ⅴ. The variation of “physical and mental practice”
The variation was spread by retired teacher of Forestry Bureau of Qingyun County in Shandong Province Mr. Liu and his wife Mrs. Huang at the end of 2004. It has not yet fully developed. It mainly develops slowly in Qingyun area, Boshan, Zibo and Dongying in Shandong province, together with part of Hebei province and Tianjin.
Features:
The variation mainly spread in relatives and friends. Members were all introduced by relatives and friends and contacted after being identified as reliable. Their contact is in secret way and by single line for fear of revealing identity. Followers believe that the variation is the best practice in the universe which can upgrade both physically and mentally.
Founders believed that they had become Buddha before the banning of Falun Gong in 1999. Current practices were meant for physical body, and immortality was the result for a certain period. Li Hongzhi has been to Shifo Temple in Qingyun County Shifosi and asked two followers to take charge of this area. They bore the duty to help followers in Qingyun to become Buddhas.
Practices can be divided into 3 phases:
Phase 1 (1992-2002). This first phase can only keep people from being destroyed, so as to move into the next new human race;
Phase 2 (2002-2004) can deal with physical body. In order to enter the third phase, followers should finish this phase ahead with no enemies as well as no good or evil thoughts.
Phase 3 (after 2005) have both physical and mental practices and will preach the highest rules. Recruiting followers through telephone is very strict. They claim that Li Hongzhi will directly call Huang Sumei(a family member of Shengli Oilfield)’s sister (Qingyun county in Shandong province).
Main contents are “one mental cultivation method, two standards and three issues”.
“One mental cultivation method” is that an ordinary people should be told that Falun Gong is evil, but truth, kindness and tolerance are virtuous. And then ask him “Will you think so?” If his answer is “yes”, he has been redeemed. The variation believes that time is limited to stick to certain forms of practice, so purifying themselves in their hearts is enough.
“Two standards”refer to that firstly, being confidential. Preaching at a low voice is a must. If gods around hear about preaching, phase 2 will certainly fail. Secondly, followers should strive for high levels with no enemies or even higher.
“Three issues” means that firstly, followers should tell the mental cultivation method to Falun Gong followers who have been to Shifo Temple (Qingyun county in Shandong province). Secondly, Chen Yuzhen has been reeducated though labor by the government and Wang Guirong has failed because she still sticks to “Buddha positioning”. Thirdly, sister and brother in law of Huang Sumei are appointed to choose 2 followers every time as they picked the phone call.
The variation believed that Qingyun County is a piece of auspicious cloud beyond three realms. The most important prophecy read as 356720. “3” refers to the period from 2005 to 2008. For the three years, potential followers would become immortal; “5” means that until 2010, the second round of followers would get rid of physical bodies; and “6” says that until 2011, the remaining follower would still be ordinary people. “7” indicates that until 2012, the practice would finish; “20” refers to that the practice took 20 years (from 1992 to 2012). Followers could not reveal this prophecy even to relatives, otherwise they would never be redeemed.
Ⅵ. The variation of Karmamudrā
Karmamudrā was first spread by Falun Gong followers Renlian (Zou Mulian) and others practiced in Shifo Temple in Qinyun county, Shandong province to neighboring Henan province, Hebei province, Beijing and other places, then to original Falun Gong followers all around the country in a secret way.
Li Hongzhi repeated Karmamudrā for many times in his Zhuan Falunthat male and female should practice together and complement with each other for a balance and creation of new lives. “We find that nowadays many males have femaleness while females have male characteristics. However, males and females will have symbols on different hands after finish practicing. So that they should practice to reach a balance.” he also mentioned that “Buddhas are all naked without gender concept”. Karmamudrā means having sexual relationships between males and females. They recognize new lives as demonstration of Li Hongzhi’s dharma body and reincarnated soul boys.
These followers were divided into three in one team and ten teams as a group. They would practice and have sexual relations together.
The Karmamudrā variation involves old men and women at a wide range of ages and in all walks of life, including researchers in universities and illiterate framers. The practice forms vary from gay and lesbian practices to relations between mother and daughter, elder brother and younger sister, sisters together with oral sex and masturbation. They also practice it by two people, 3-5 people or with couples of people. Some follower even encouraged their spouses to have sexual relationships with others.
The Karmamudrā variation together with American cults “Son of God”, “David’s Church”, “The Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ” and “The Church of Mormon eschatology ”, whose leader is newly listed as top 10 wanted men of FBI will pose great threat to social stability. The cult essence of Falun Gong is exposed completely.
Ⅶ. The variation of “Overall Fa”
This variation released as Lecture 10 in Zhuanfa Lun or Overall Fa before 1999, which is known as the higher rule that Falun Gong. It is still confusing that Lecture 10 was fabricated by Li Hongzhi or someone else as it has several versions. Main version are listed as follows:
First version is from Falun Gong followers Renlian (Zou Mulian) and others practiced in Shifo Temple in Qinyun county. Minghui. org released an article Exposure of lies of followers in Qingyun base on August 28th, 2004. it said that Renlian made an effort to collect preaching videos, recordings and copies done by Li Hongzhi. She also invited others by phone call. Cult followers all around the country appeared and fabricated so-called “scriptures” including Lecture 10. And the so-called “big handprint” would flow from Shifo Temple to the whole country. Tianjin, Beijing, Shenyang, Harbin, Qingyun county in Shandong province, Lingxian county, Dezhou, Hengshui in Hebei province, Jingxian county, Jiangxi province and other provinces and cities were influenced to different degrees. Minghui.org released another article Rome wasn’t built in a day-from Renlian’s changes on published in September 22rd, 2004. This article said that Renlian’s monk husband had a stronger background that Renlian. Shifo Temple had become a cradle of evils with publicity booklets such as Lecture 10.
The second version was fabricated by Liu Qing etc. In Changchun. Minghui.org offered another version that Liu Qing etc. in Changchun wrote Lecture 10 in Comprehensive news of China’s mainland on July 5th, 2005.
The third version is that Lecture 10 was made up by retired old doctor Chen Zhonghai of People’s Hospital in Yingshan County, Sichuan province. Minhui.org released an article that Lecture 10 author died of retribution on August 13th, 2005. It said that retired old doctor Chen Zhonghai practiced Falu Gong from 1997. He had influenced by inner evils and wrote a so-called Lecture 10 to complement Zhuanfa Lun. He made over 200 copies and sent them to other followers, resulting in extremely negative influence. He even didn’t regret and died of colon cancer.
The fourth version is Lecture 10, it was written by Li Hongzhi himself. According to Minghui.org’s article “Special followers” and violators, followers in Dalian said that a booklet named Overall Fa was popular among followers in small scale for 2-3 years. The booklet advocates claimed that the content of this booklet came from preaching of Li Hongzhi in San Francisco in 2000. They also claimed that Mater Li Hongzhi sent them to find pious followers.
Overall Fa advocates claimed that Overall Fa was the key to Zhuanfa Lun, no one could understand real meaning of Zhunfa Lun without Overall Fa. They were responsible to find potential pious followers. If refused, they would regard it as destined time had not yet come. They persuaded followers that Li Hongzhi was the disciple of Sakyamuni and Master would choose some followers as his successors.
Overall Fa gives an instruction on meditation time and orientation: three sets of handprint during meditation; a false self and a false dharmakaya; self-practice, etc..
In addition, Huang Li’an in Yichun, Jiangxi province created Harmony Dharma and Wang Yu founded “Lei Feng Cult” in Tieling, Liaoning province. Besides, variations such as “Amitabha Dharma” and “Dharma of higher morals” also exist. These Falun Gong variations all struggle to hide their cult essence to cheat, tempt, exploit and ruin followers. The related departments of government and people concerned about this issue should be alert to Falun Gong and take measures to prevent and eliminate it.
