Initially, superstition was just an ordinary term. It was hyped up into a term with deadly power by some people in politics in China. Actually, superstition as publicized by those in politics is not superstition, but a political label as well as a political slogan; and it is a political term used specifically when attacking others. Once something is slapped with this label, it is made antithetical to science and can therefore be blatantly attacked.
In fact, those who have gone through different kinds of political movements possess very strong analytical abilities. In the past, they had beliefs, disappointments, blind worship, and they learned their lessons from these experiences. In particular, they endured an unforgettable blow to their souls during the Cultural Revolution. How can it be possible for these people to casually believe in anything? People today are the most capable of distinguishing clearly whether something is the truth or the so-called superstition cooked up by people in politics.
Whether something is science or superstition is not to be decided by people in politics. Instead, it should be appraised by scientists. However, those so-called scientists being used by politics are actually also political figures. It is impossible for this kind of people to genuinely draw a fair and scientific conclusion from an objective and scientific standpoint. In that case, fundamentally, they cannot be called scientists. At most, they can only serve to be a club held in the hands of politicians to strike at people.
The understanding of the cosmic truth by practitioners in Dafa cultivation is the elevation of reason and practice. It is futile for man, regardless of what perspective he takes, to negate the Fa and the principles of the universe that are beyond all the theories of human society. Especially when the morality of human society is on the verge of total collapse, it is the mighty universe that has once again shown benevolent compassion and given mankind this final chance. This is the hope that mankind should treasure and cherish above all. However, out of selfish desires, man is undermining this last hope the universe has accorded to him, thereby incurring the wrath of Heaven and Earth. Nevertheless, ignorant people take various catastrophes as natural phenomena. The universe does not exist for mankind. Man is only a form of expression for the existence of lives at the lowest level. If mankind has lost the standard for existence at this level of the universe, it can only be eliminated by the history of the universe.
Mankind! Wake up! The vows of gods in history are being fulfilled. Dafa is evaluating all lives. The path of life is under oneís own feet. A single thought of his own will also decide his own future.
Treasure and cherish it. The Fa and the principles of the universe are right in front of you.
Li Hongzhi
July 13, 1999
Recently, the media reported the news that Mainland China seeks a reduction of US$500 million worth of trade surplus (with the U.S.) in exchange for my extradition back to China. With regard to this issue, I would like to make some comments. I only teach people to be benevolent. At the same time, I unconditionally help people eliminate their illnesses and enable them to reach higher realms of mind. I do not accept any monetary or material reward. All of these have had a positive impact on society and mankind, bringing goodness to people's hearts and nobleness to human morality. Are those the reasons for them to seek my extradition? Do they intend to have me return to China to let more people attain the Fa and cultivate their hearts? If that is the case, please do not let the country lose US$500 million to strike a deal. I can go back myself.
However, I heard that normally the people who are extradited are all war criminals, public enemies, or criminal offenders. If so, I do not know which of the above categories I would fall into.
As a matter of fact, I keep teaching people to conduct themselves according to the guiding principles of Zhen (truth, truthfulness), Shan (compassion, kindness, benevolence), Ren (tolerance, forbearance); so naturally, I have also been setting an example. In times when Falun Gong disciples and I myself were being discredited for no reason and being treated unfairly, we always exhibited the heart of great compassion and tolerance to give the government sufficient time to understand us, and we have been enduring all of it silently. Nevertheless, such endurance is absolutely not because Falun Gong practitioners and I fear anything. It should be known that, once a person learns the truth and the genuine meaning of the existence of life, he would not regret giving up his life for them. Do not take our heart of compassion and great tolerance as fear so as to double the efforts in doing anything at will. In fact, those are enlightened practitioners, and they are cultivators who have learned the genuine meaning of life. Also, do not label Falun Gong practitioners as people who engage in so-called superstition. There are too many things that mankind and science have not yet come to understand. As far as religions are concerned, don't they also exist as a result of the faith in the gods? In reality, it is only because of the true religions and ancient beliefs in the gods that has enabled the morality of human society to be maintained for several thousand years, and that has made it possible for the existence of today's mankind, which includes you, me, and him. If this were not the case, mankind would have committed sins long ago, which would have led to disasters. Human ancestors probably would have become extinct long ago, and today's events would never have occurred. Human morality is, in fact, extremely important. If people do not value virtue, they can commit all kinds of wrongdoing, which would be extremely dangerous to mankind. This is what I can tell people. Actually, I have no intention of doing anything for society, nor do I wish to involve in issues of ordinary people at all, let alone taking power away from anybody. Not everyone takes power to be so important. Isn't there a saying in mankind that "everyone has his own will"? I only hope to let those who can practice cultivation to attain the Fa and to teach them how to genuinely improve Xinxing (mind-nature), namely, to elevate moral standards. In addition, not everyone will come to learn Falun Gong. And what I am doing is also destined to have no relationship with politics. But, to any country or any nationality, it is a good thing to have cultivators whose hearts have been brought into goodness and whose moral levels have been upgraded. How can it be labeled an evil religion to help people heal illnesses and keep fit as well as to raise human moral standards? Every Falun Gong practitioner is a member of society, and each has his own job and career. They simply go to parks to practice Falun Gong exercises for half an hour or an hour every morning, and then go to work. There are neither any kinds of required religious regulations to observe, nor are there any temples, churches, or religious rituals. People can come to learn it or go as they please. There is no binding membership. In what way does it have anything to do with religion? As for the label "evil", how can it fall into the category of "evil" to teach people to be benevolent without accepting money as well as to heal people's illnesses and keep them fit? Or should it be considered evil if something is not within the category of communist theories? Besides, I know that an evil religion is an evil religion, and that is not up to a government to decide. Should an evil religion be called orthodox if it conforms to the views of some people in the government? On the other hand, should an orthodox one be defined as evil if it does not conform to their views?
As a matter of fact, I know very clearly why some people insist on opposing Falun Gong. Just as reported in the media, there are too many people practicing Falun Gong. A hundred million people is indeed not a small number. Yet, why should it be feared that there are too many good people? Isn't it true that the more good people there are, the better and the fewer bad people, the better? I, Li Hongzhi, unconditionally help practitioners improve their moral quality and keep people healthy, which in turn stabilizes society; and with their healthy bodies, people can better serve society. Isn't this bringing good fortune to the people in power? In reality, that has been truly achieved. Instead of recognizing it and showing me appreciation, why do they want to push more than 100 million people to the side in opposition to the government? What kind of government would be so inconceivable? Still, among these 100 million people, who does not have a family and children, relatives and friends? Is it merely an issue of 100 million people? Then, the number of the people being put in opposition could be even more. What has actually happened to "the leadership of my beloved country"? If I, with the life of Li Hongzhi, can dispel their fear of these good people, I will go back at once and leave everything to their disposal. Why bother with going against "the will of the law under heaven", wasting manpower and capital, and using politics and money to seek a deal that violates human rights? However, the United States has been a leader in respecting human rights. In that case, how would the U.S. government be willing to betray human rights for such a deal? In addition, I am a U.S. permanent resident that lives under the jurisdiction of U.S. law.
I do not intend to condemn any particular person. It is just that I do not understand the way things are being handled. Why miss a good opportunity to appeal to the hearts of the people, and instead put more than 100 million people on the opposing side?
It was reported that many people went to Zhongnanhai and some people were outraged by it. In fact, the number of people who went there was not large at all. Think about it, everyone. There are over 100 million people practicing Falun Gong, and only over 10,000 people showed up. How could that be considered a large number? There was no need to mobilize the practitioners. Among 100 million practitioners, since you wanted to go and I wanted to go, in a short while, over 10,000 people would be there. They did not have any slogans or any signs, nor was there any improper conduct. Furthermore, they were not against the government. They merely wished to present the facts to the government. What was wrong with that? Please allow me to ask &endash; has there ever been such well-behaved demonstrators? Shouldn't one be moved by such a sight? Why do some people keep trying to find fault with Falun Gong? Besides, the approach of resorting to any means to eliminate Falun Gong is really outdated. Falun Gong is not as terrible as some people might have imagined. Instead, it is a great thing. Any society would have everything to gain from it and nothing to lose. On the contrary, losing the hearts of people would be the most formidable thing. To be frank, the practitioners of Falun Gong are also human beings, who are in the process of practicing cultivation; so they still have human mentalities. As they are being treated unjustly, I am not sure how much longer they can endure it. That is also what I am most concerned about.
Li Hongzhi
June 2, 1999
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