Falun gong and its ban in China
Falun gong or Falun Dafa is a religious practice in china that gained a lot of momentum around the mid-1990s. It was estimated to have over 70 million followers. However, a lot of negative press started to appear regarding it which eventually in October 1999 let to the Chinese government declaring Falun Gong a "heretical organization" that threatened social stability. The government blocked all internet access and information access associated with Falun gong.
Falun gong is a practice based on meditation, qigong exercises, and a strong moral philosophy. The believers are asked to always observe truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. I was first introduced to this religion in my time at Boston. On a weekend taking the Train to downtown I found myself sharing my seat with an Asian- American Professor from MIT. The gentleman must have been in late 60's and had the loveliest smile I had seen.
We got talking and he told me a little about how his wife who was terminally ill recovered by meditation and exercises. I said how is that possible? He told me they follow a belief system called falun gong and that it is now banned in China but they still practice it here in the United States.
I read a lot of case studies online about the lifestyle being so holistic that a lot of female followers in their 50's reported getting their period back. Some reported reverse aging and other miraculous health benefits. This popularised the practice as satan worship in China. A lot of people started believing it was a practice against nature.
A lot of government efforts were initiated to ensure the followers were "rehabilitated" that is accepted in the society once they renounce their current beliefs. Human Rights in china intervened when torture against the believers was implemented.
Needless to say, it garnered Cult status.
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