What are Falun Gong's teachings and beliefs?

At the core of Falun Gong are the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance (or in Chinese, Zhen 真, Shan 善, and Ren 忍). Falun Dafa teaches that these are the most fundamental qualities of the universe. Practitioners strive to adopt these principles into their daily life through meditation, Tai-chi-like exercises, and the study of Buddhist-based moral principles.

Is Falun Gong a religion?

Qigong practices like Falun Gong are part of a broader tradition of 'cultivation practice' that has existed throughout Asia for millennia. In the West, Falun Gong is classified as a religion on the basis of its theological and moral teachings, its focus on spiritual development as well as its extensive body of scripture.

Who practices Falun Gong?

Although Falun Gong was first made public in China in 1992 and became widely popular there, the practice has also been adopted by people around the world. Today, Falun Gong is practiced in over 80 countries across the globe. Falun Gong books have been translated into 40 languages.

How many people practice Falun Gong?

By early 1999, Chinese government officials and state-run media said there were 70-100 million people practicing Falun Gong in China , making it the fastest growing religion in the world at that time. Although the Chinese Communist Party launched a persecution campaign to 'stamp out' Falun Gong, human rights organizations estimate that tens of millions continue to practice throughout China. Falun Gong practitioners are also found in 80 countries around the world, but because there is no membership, it is difficult to give precise numbers.

Who started Falun Gong?

Falun Gong was first made public by Mr. Li Hongzhi. A native of Changchun, China and now living in the U.S., Mr. Li is a five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and was nominated by the European Parliament for the Sakharov Prize For Freedom of Thought. He is also the recipient of Freedom House’s International Religious Freedom Award.