Chapter 26
FALUN DAFA
Falun Dafa is a practice that has brought better health and inner peace to millions around the world. It is a cultivation practice: “cultivation” refers to the improvement of one’s heart and mind through the careful study of universal principles based on truthfulness, benevolence, and forbearance; “practice” means doing exercises and meditation to energize the body. Learning Falun Dafa is easy; the practice is simple, powerful, and absolutely free. The main principles are explained in their entirety in the book Zhuan Falun, and in the beginner’s text, Falun Gong, both written by Falun Dafa’s founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi. Also essential are the five gentle exercises, including a seated meditation, which you can learn quickly and easily at any of the thousands of practice locations around the world.
Falun Gong (fah-lun gong): “Law Wheel Qigong.” The names Falun Gong and Falun Dafa are both used to refer to this practice. Falun: “Law Wheel.” Gong: “cultivation energy.” Dafa (dah-fah): “The Great Way,” or “The Great Law” — short for Falun Dafa, “The Great (Cultivation) Way of the Law Wheel.”
Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) is an ancient form of qigong: the practice of refining the body and mind through special exercises and meditation. Like tai chi, qigong is a vital part of many people’s lives in Asia; almost every Chinese park is brimming, by the break of dawn, with people practicing these arts. In just eight years since its public introduction, Falun Dafa has grown to become the most popular form of qigong in Chinese history. The major reason is that Falun Dafa distinguishes itself from other qigong practices by emphasizing not only physical cultivation, but also cultivation of one’s moral character in daily life, according to higher principles taught by Mr. Li Hongzhi.
Falun Dafa’s effectiveness in improving health, and its profound principles, have quickly made the practice immensely popular throughout the world. Since being introduced to the general public in 1992 by Mr. Li, it has attracted tens of millions of people in over 40 countries. Most major cities and universities in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe have English-speaking Falun Dafa practice groups. Practitioners come from every imaginable walk of life, as Falun Dafa transcends cultural, social, economic, and national boundaries. The practice has spread largely by word of mouth, as those who learn it usually find the benefits simply too good to keep to themselves.
The practice of Falun Dafa is simple, yet profound and effective. It consists primarily of two components: self-improvement through studying Mr. Li’s teachings, and performing the five gentle exercises. The exercises, which include a meditation, are easy to learn, enjoyable, and both relaxing and energizing; many students enjoy doing them together as a group outdoors. The teachings are articulated in two books, Falun Gong (Law Wheel Qigong) and Zhuan Falun (Turning the Law Wheel), available in over a dozen languages, including English. The benefits are numerous and varied, ranging from improved health and newfound energy to mental clarity, stress relief, and peace of mind. Yet Falun Dafa is different from most other qigong practices in that it goes beyond the pursuit of health and fitness, toward the goal of wisdom and enlightenment. At the heart of the practice are the supreme principles of the universe: Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance. Through a combination of studying the books and performing the exercises, practitioners strive to become better people by embodying these principles in everything they do.
Millions of people all over the world have chosen to make Falun Dafa a part of their daily lives; simply put, they find it a worthy and enjoyable investment of their time toward health, happiness, and meaningful living. All that’s required is an open mind and a willing heart. Everyone is welcome, as Falun Dafa is apolitical, informal, and completely free of charge, obligation, and membership. For my part, Falun Dafa can be divided in two: the exercises, which I highly recommend, and the philosophy.
All books are available free at www.falundafa.org/eng/books.htm. To learn how to begin, go to www.falundafa.org/eng/start.htm (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20120314154915/http://www.falundafa.org:80/eng/start.htm); for a discussion of frequently asked questions, see www.falundafa.org/eng/faq.htm (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20120205112833/http://www.falundafa.org/eng/faq.htm).