Is Falun Gong Political? A Clear Explanation

In short the answer is no, but after Falun Gong was banned in China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began harassing, imprisoning and torturing Falun Gong practitioners, many practitioners inside and outside of China have appealed to government officials and politicians to end the persecution. This has resulted in a misunderstanding that Falun Gong is involved in politics.

No political power or leadership

While people who seek political power generally want a position of leadership, Falun Gong has no political motivations.

Falun Gong practitioners from Singapore commemorate the 25th anniversary of the April 25 peaceful protest in Beijing, at Hong Lim Park, Singapore, in 2017. (Credit: Epochtimes.com)

In fact, the founder of Falun Dafa (Falun Gong), Mr Li Hongzhi, said in his teachings:

“Students of Falun Dafa should take cultivation of character as the essence of our practice. They are absolutely not allowed to intervene in a country’s political affairs, and moreover, they are prohibited from getting involved in any kind of political disputes or activities. Those who violate this rule are no longer Falun Dafa disciples. The individual concerned should be responsible for all consequences. A cultivator’s fundamental aspiration is to progress with diligence in real cultivation and to reach Perfection as soon as possible.” (Li Hongzhi, 1996, The Great Way of Spiritual Perfection)

The teachings make it clear that Falun Gong and its practitioners have no intention of replacing the CCP, nor any plans for political activities if the CCP were to fall or collapse – and that Mr Li Hongzhi’s original intention of coming to the public is to teach cultivation, which remains the same to this day. (“Cultivation” is a traditional Chinese concept that involves the process of perfecting and refining one’s mind and body.)

Mr Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa, corrects the movements of a practitioner during a group exercise session in Chicago. (Credit: Faluninfo.net)

Uplifting society in China and the world

Since being introduced to the public in 1992, Falun Gong has had a profound effect on increasing the moral standard of practitioners. This has uplifted society, both in China and abroad.

The health benefits from the practice also saved China from significant medical costs.

For example, one official from China’s National Sports Commission told U.S. News & World Report that Falun Dafa “can save each person 1,000 yuan in annual medical fees. If 100 million people are practicing it, that’s 100 billion yuan saved per year in medical fees.” The same official went on to note that, “Premier Zhu Rongji [equivalent to the office of Vice President in the US executive branch] is very happy about that.”

In addition, several health studies conducted in China, the United States, Russia, and Australia, including clinically controlled, peer-reviewed research at leading medical facilities, have begun to explore and confirm the positive health benefits that so many people attribute to their practice of Falun Gong.

Practitioners generally work to improve their own character, go about their everyday business in peace, work hard and contribute to society – without any political motivations. 

This is still the case today, except that practitioners in China cannot practice openly and freely like in Australia or any other democratic country. 

Most practitioners who have experienced positive changes in both mind and body from practising Falun Dafa want to clarify the facts about the practice and the persecution in China. This is not for political reasons, but so that their fellow practitioners in China can once again go about practicing their faith freely and without fear of persecution.

A woman holds a photo of a man killed by the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, during a parade in Washington on July 17, 2014. (Credit: Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

Be sure to stay tuned for more posts. 

Falun Dafa volunteers are currently holding free online classes where you can learn the exercises from the comfort of your own home. Feel free register your interest here.

‘Learn Falun Gong—Australia’ is a website run by Australian Falun Dafa volunteers for the benefit of the general public.

References: Falun Dafa Information Center