Opinion Piece I: Falun Gong Emerged at a Time When China Faced a Crisis of Morality in Society
Author: Dr. Wenyi Wang
Human society stands on the brink of a moral crisis. After reading the recent series of articles about Shen Yun and Falun Gong published by The New York Times in August, I cannot help but question the motives of the editors, writers, and publishers involved. The New York Times’ reporters appear to misunderstand the Chinese culture and traditional practice.
When Falun Gong first gained popularity in China, over 100 million people embraced the practice within just seven years, including many senior officials of the Chinese government and their family members. This is a remarkable fact considering that Falun Gong spread solely by word of mouth without any official marketing promotion. People saw hope in Falun Gong for humanity, society, and the entire world.
Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took control of China in 1949, the Chinese people have endured countless purges, political movements, and man-made disasters, resulting in the deaths of more than 80 million people. To tighten its grip on power, CCP leader Mao Zedong declared that everything from China's traditional culture was worthless. The CCP imported the doctrine of communism, which promotes violence and brutality. Yet, this 5,000-year-old culture and wisdom are considered divinely inspired, promoting virtues such as kindness, truth, respect, inclusivity, tolerance, and moral integrity. It was one of the earliest cultures that contributed to the foundation of human civilization.
During the devastating decade of the Cultural Revolution, historic temples were burned down, ancient teachings and books were reduced to ashes, and traditional values were nearly erased. China, once a beacon of a divinely inspired civilization—where people believed in a mighty divine force creating everything, had faith in reincarnation, and believed in karmic retribution—was reduced to a society devoid of higher beliefs. Twenty-five hundred years ago, the famous sage Lao Zi wrote the "Scripture of the Virtue," which laid the foundation of the Chinese belief system, known as the Tao School. His famous saying, “Tao generates one, one generates two, two generate three, and the three create the universe,” has been recited for generations. Around the same period, the Buddha School teachings spread to China. Together with Confucianism, these belief systems became the pillars of Chinese society, where Tao or Fa refers to principles taught by divine beings or the Creator. However, after the CCP took over China 75 years ago, it openly declared itself atheist and rejected all notions of a higher power or independent ideology. This erosion of moral values and suppression of traditional beliefs in Tao, Buddha, and Confucius led to widespread corruption and the collapse of societal wisdom.
The 75-year rule of the Chinese Communist regime has been marked by deceit, hostility, brutality against its own people, and a significant moral decline. Under repression, people felt hopeless and yearned for a renaissance of culture and values. When Falun Gong was introduced to the public in 1992, it was like a bright light breaking through the darkness, shaking the entire country. Chinese people felt blessed by heaven, as Falun Gong offered a beacon of hope and an inspiring future.
Combining modern scientific knowledge with ancient wisdom, Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong, explained that the purpose of human life is not to pursue fame or material wealth but to elevate one's moral character and transcend to a higher realm. He emphasized that we must strive to transcend ourselves because we possess divine qualities—kindness, truthfulness, and tolerance—that are innate in all beings.
Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, provides a pathway for human beings to transcend themselves to a higher spiritual realm and even achieve consummation, returning to their divine nature by assimilating the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance (Zhen, Shan, Ren). This pathway or practice is not something unattainable. China's 5,000-year-old civilization is famous for countless stories of successful cultivation in either the Tao or Buddha School, where practitioners transcended to Buddhahood or Taoist immortality. The first emperor, Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor), is documented to have been an accomplished Taoist. Temples or architectural heritages located in Tibet, Shaolin, or Wudang Mountain throughout China have documented many monks or Taoists who achieved Buddhahood or Taoist immortality, leaving behind amazing legendary tales. Their success in cultivation is a testament to the human potential to possess divinity and successfully transcend to reach consummation.
When Falun Dafa was made public, it immediately captured the attention of society. Its remarkable ability to improve moral character, its powerful healing effects, and the significant attainment of cultivation energy in a very short time attracted people from all walks of life in China. Because of its righteous teachings, people saw hope for a better tomorrow.
Attacking goodness is inherently evil. The CCP, under the leadership of former head Jiang Zemin, began persecuting Falun Gong practitioners 25 years ago due to its inherently malevolent nature and his personal jealousy of the practice's growing popularity." There is no middle ground when it comes to persecution versus moral teachings; it is clear who is right and who is wrong.
So, a question for The New York Times: Which side are you supporting?
Dr. Wenyi Wang, Ph.D. & M.D.
Middletown, NY
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