Many of Li Hongzhi’s distorted teachings are already widely known. For example, he claims that humanity has been destroyed 81 times and that the Earth is on the verge of exploding again, which only he can prevent. He asserts that all other religions are misleading and that only Falun Gong can offer “salvation” to humanity. He maintains that everything in the world is arranged by him, even claiming that Hitler’s massacre of the Jews was a result of cosmic forces. He denies the reality of illness, forbidding medical treatment or medication. He teaches that practicing Falun Gong requires giving up everything, including familial love and even one’s own life. He promotes Falun Dafa as supreme, above all else, including human laws. He also threatens his followers, insisting that they must memorize his teachings and obey his instructions, warning that failure to do so will result in retribution or even death.
Specifically, these can be summarized in the following areas:
Li Hongzhi claimed himself to be “the greatest God in the entire universe.” Moreover, he asserted that by the age of eight he had mastered an advanced form of Falun Dafa, and that this granted him abilities such as moving objects, controlling matter, influencing thoughts, and becoming invisible. Furthermore, he claimed that his spiritual insight had reached a level that allowed him to comprehend the origin, development, and future of humanity (Zhuan Falun).
Li Hongzhi asserted that only Falun Gong can offer salvation to humanity. He declared, “I am the only one in the world openly imparting the True Law, doing what no one before me has ever dared to do” and “If I cannot save you, no one else can” (Zhuan Falun). Moreover, Li Hongzhi claims that Falun Dafa is the only True Law capable of guiding people to heaven, offering humanity “a ladder to the celestial realm.” He also asserts that he has the power to recreate all species on Earth and even“bring into existence a new Earth,” portraying himself as having godlike control over life, death, and the natural world.
Li Hongzhi promotes an apocalyptic worldview. Falun Gong teaches that the Earth is destined to explode and the world will be destroyed, but that Li Hongzhi has the power to delay this catastrophe—and that only Falun Gong followers will be spared. He also claims that human beings were originally advanced life forms in the universe who, due to their transgressions, fell into the “cosmic garbage dump” of Earth. According to his teachings, as humanity approaches an extremely perilous moment, practicing Falun Gong is said to enable individuals to escape the Earth and reach a state of “consummation,” ultimately ascending to what he describes as a heavenly or divine realm.
Li Hongzhi claims to possess countless “Dharma bodies” capable of protecting his followers. In his lectures at the Sydney Falun Dafa Lecture Tour, he asserted, “I possess countless Dharma bodies, all exactly like me.” He boasted, “I can rule as many people as I wish, indeed, all of humanity is under my authority.” He further claimed to have installed a “Falun” in each follower’s lower abdomen, rotating continuously 24 hours a day to automatically assist them in their cultivation.
Falun Gong requires its followers to focus exclusively on its teachings, insisting that they repeatedly read and memorize its “scriptures” while strictly forbidding exposure to any information outside the group. As a result, followers spend excessive amounts of time practicing Falun Gong, their minds saturated with its doctrines. The group also enforces the principle of the “One True Path,” prohibiting members from reading other religious texts or following any other faith. In essence, Falun Gong imposes an information blockade that isolates followers from normal social life and deprives them of the freedom of independent thought and religious belief. Consequently, many become deeply trapped within the cult, unable to free themselves.
Li Hongzhi emphasizes that practicing Falun Gong requires abandoning all human emotions and desires, breaking away from normal daily life, and severing connections with family and society. Li Hongzhi asserts that “only by relinquishing all worldly attachments and desires can a person surpass ordinary existence and achieve the so-called ultimate state.” (Zhuan Falun) He further stated, “Family love, friendship, romantic attachment, even the bond between parents and children must all be regarded as insignificant, because true cultivation demands detachment from everything that ordinary people cherish.” (Speech at the Beijing launch of Zhuan Falun).
