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merely hope to introduce this wonderful practice to you, and we hope you will
take some time to explore it for yourself!
Falun Dafa is a self-cultivation practice that has brought better health and inner
peace to millions around the world. We call it a cultivation practice: "cultivation"
refers to the improvement of one's heart and mind through the study of universal
principles based on Truthfulness, Benevolence, and Forbearance; "practice"
means doing exercises and meditation to energise the body.
Learning
Falun Dafa is easy. The practice is simple, powerful, and absolutely free. The
main principles of Falun Dafa 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 to the practice
are the five gentle exercises, including a sitting meditation, which you can learn
quickly and easily at any of the thousands of practice locations around the world.
We invite you to discover the extraordinary practice of Falun Dafa for
yourself. You can start by learning the exercises at your local practice site,
and start learning the principles by downloading one of the books for free from
this Web Site, or pick one up at your local library. What
is Falun Dafa? 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 ever in Chinese history. The major reason for this is that Falun
Dafa distinguishes itself from other qigong practices by emphasising 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 founder. Falun
Dafa's effectiveness in improving health and its profound principles have quickly
made the practice immensely popular throughout the entire world. Since being introduced
to the general public in 1992 by Mr. Li, Falun Dafa has attracted tens of millions
of people in over 60 countries. Most major cities and universities in the United
States, Canada, Australia, and Europe have English-speaking Falun Dafa practice
groups.
The people who practise Falun Dafa 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. Is
Falun Dafa a religion? Falun Gong is not
an institutional religion, as it does not have a professional and lay distinction;
formal means of initiation; a formal creed; a religious calendar of observation;
or devotional practices of worship, etc. The practice does, however, have a deeply
spiritual doctrine and set of beliefs, and it does share in the same aspirations
as groups more formally identified as religions, i.e., the cultivation of one’s
moral self, the impulse to do good, a deepening of one’s understanding of
a greater order in the universe, the will to spiritual perfection, etc. Falun
Gong does have a set, standardized textual body of teachings. In this sense, as
“religion” or “spiritual practice” is understood as a broader
category in the West, Falun Gong qualifies. In China, Falun
Gong did not identify itself as a form of religious practice, owing to different
associations with the term in the context of China. Furthermore, to be identified
as such would have been to incur government monitoring, increased regulation,
and risk of disbandment. (“House Church” Protestants in China who do
not join official, state-run “Patriotic Churches” are subjected to persecution
for their religiosity, for example.) In the democratic West, however, where religions
and religious beliefs are protected by law and carefully enshrined rights, the
matter is of course different, and Falun Gong does not object to identification
as a religious entity.
1.
The Books and the Exercises
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 Falun Dafa's five gentle exercises.
The exercises, which include meditation, are easy to learn, enjoyable, and at
the same time both relaxing and energising. Many students of Falun Dafa 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),
which are available in over twenty-five languages, including English.
2.
The Principles of the Practice
The
benefits of practising Falun Dafa 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 to 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.
3.
Is This for Me?
Millions of people
all over the world have chosen to make the practice of Falun Dafa a part of their
daily lives. Simply put, they find it a worthy and enjoyable investment of their
time towards health, happiness, and meaningful living. All that's required is
an open mind and a willing heart. Everyone is welcome, as Falun Dafa is non-political,
informal, and completely free of charge, obligation, and membership. All books
are even available for free download. We invite you to give this wonderful practice
a try and discover it for yourself. To learn about ways to begin, click
here. If you have further questions about the practice in general, click
here to view a discussion of frequently asked questions.
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