Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 202
ending period‖10. In Zhuan Falun, the Bible of the group, he states simply: ―If I cannot save
you, nobody else can do it‖11.
But when the press interviews Li, he tends to hide his importance. In one interview he said:
―Every time I see practitioners I tell them sitting before you is just a normal person. Don‘t
make me into a god‖12. This statement contradicts what he teaches his practitioners: ―If
you are a genuine practitioner, our Falun [the law wheel Li installs in his practitioners‘
abdomens] will safeguard you,‖ he writes in Zhuan Falun. ―I am rooted in the universe. If
anyone could harm you, he would be able to harm me. To make it plainly, he would be able
to harm the universe‖13.
Oddly enough, since the Chinese Government‘s crackdown of the group in July 1999, Li has
offered the least support of all to his practitioners. While he urges his practitioners to fight
for him regardless of their own life14, he is enjoying a safe and presumably luxurious life in
the United States. It‘s painful to see innocent people putting themselves at risk and getting
hurt while chasing a delusion.
A group leader claiming that he is the only one who knows the truth of the universe or that
he is the only savior of the world, a group using deception to recruit new members and not
allowing room for questions or alternative viewpoints—these are some of the characteristics
of a cult. Cults also use mind control techniques to manipulate their followers. This
manipulation is designed to disrupt a person‘s authentic identity and replace it with a new
identity. Individuals are deceptively and aggressively recruited, and through socialization
new members learn to follow what other members do slowly, they are influenced to think
as the others do. Dependence, conformity, and obedience to the leader‘s absolute authority
are encouraged constantly. Looking at Falun Gong from the outside, one might think these
practitioners have made their own choice. But would anyone join the Falun Gong if they
knew that they were going to be taught that Li is the personal savior of the world? No, they
all think that they are just joining a healthy exercise group.
One of the most important and common methods that cults use to control their followers
can be called ―exclusion of the outside world.‖ Cult members are taught not to trust people
outside of the group, including family members. This component of mind control is
definitely found in the Falun Gong teachings. Falun Gong practitioners are made to distrust
the moral thinking of non-practitioners who are called ―ordinary people.‖ This is done
intentionally by master Li, who repeatedly teaches: ―As a practitioner you cannot act
according to the ordinary people‘s standards‖15. This manipulation technique not only
isolates practitioners from non-practitioners, including family members and friends, but also
creates a system where practitioners only share information with other practitioners. As a
result, practitioners mutually reinforce each other‘s belief in the teachings, thereby
eliminating any conflicting or alternative views.
By reading Cults in Our Midst, written by the leading cult expert Dr. Margaret Singer, I
came to recognize that all these mind control techniques have been used on my parents.
Since the beginning of 1999, they have practiced the exercises two hours a day and studied
Li‘s books every day. They have hung Li‘s portrait in our living room, and have gotten rid of
all religion and exercise books except those of Falun Gong. After the crackdown on the
group, my mother not only donated money to the Falun Gong, but was also asked by the
organization to distribute flyers and other materials on the streets and protest in front of the
Chinese embassy. I estimate that she spent at least nine hours a day, almost seven days a
week, doing Falun-Gong-related activities until January 2002, when her husband had a
stroke. Falun Gong has become her life. This is also true for other devoted Falun Gong
practitioners.
What worries me the most is that ever since my parents became Falun Gong practitioners
they have abandoned seeking medical treatment when needed. In Zhuan Falun, Li claims
ending period‖10. In Zhuan Falun, the Bible of the group, he states simply: ―If I cannot save
you, nobody else can do it‖11.
But when the press interviews Li, he tends to hide his importance. In one interview he said:
―Every time I see practitioners I tell them sitting before you is just a normal person. Don‘t
make me into a god‖12. This statement contradicts what he teaches his practitioners: ―If
you are a genuine practitioner, our Falun [the law wheel Li installs in his practitioners‘
abdomens] will safeguard you,‖ he writes in Zhuan Falun. ―I am rooted in the universe. If
anyone could harm you, he would be able to harm me. To make it plainly, he would be able
to harm the universe‖13.
Oddly enough, since the Chinese Government‘s crackdown of the group in July 1999, Li has
offered the least support of all to his practitioners. While he urges his practitioners to fight
for him regardless of their own life14, he is enjoying a safe and presumably luxurious life in
the United States. It‘s painful to see innocent people putting themselves at risk and getting
hurt while chasing a delusion.
A group leader claiming that he is the only one who knows the truth of the universe or that
he is the only savior of the world, a group using deception to recruit new members and not
allowing room for questions or alternative viewpoints—these are some of the characteristics
of a cult. Cults also use mind control techniques to manipulate their followers. This
manipulation is designed to disrupt a person‘s authentic identity and replace it with a new
identity. Individuals are deceptively and aggressively recruited, and through socialization
new members learn to follow what other members do slowly, they are influenced to think
as the others do. Dependence, conformity, and obedience to the leader‘s absolute authority
are encouraged constantly. Looking at Falun Gong from the outside, one might think these
practitioners have made their own choice. But would anyone join the Falun Gong if they
knew that they were going to be taught that Li is the personal savior of the world? No, they
all think that they are just joining a healthy exercise group.
One of the most important and common methods that cults use to control their followers
can be called ―exclusion of the outside world.‖ Cult members are taught not to trust people
outside of the group, including family members. This component of mind control is
definitely found in the Falun Gong teachings. Falun Gong practitioners are made to distrust
the moral thinking of non-practitioners who are called ―ordinary people.‖ This is done
intentionally by master Li, who repeatedly teaches: ―As a practitioner you cannot act
according to the ordinary people‘s standards‖15. This manipulation technique not only
isolates practitioners from non-practitioners, including family members and friends, but also
creates a system where practitioners only share information with other practitioners. As a
result, practitioners mutually reinforce each other‘s belief in the teachings, thereby
eliminating any conflicting or alternative views.
By reading Cults in Our Midst, written by the leading cult expert Dr. Margaret Singer, I
came to recognize that all these mind control techniques have been used on my parents.
Since the beginning of 1999, they have practiced the exercises two hours a day and studied
Li‘s books every day. They have hung Li‘s portrait in our living room, and have gotten rid of
all religion and exercise books except those of Falun Gong. After the crackdown on the
group, my mother not only donated money to the Falun Gong, but was also asked by the
organization to distribute flyers and other materials on the streets and protest in front of the
Chinese embassy. I estimate that she spent at least nine hours a day, almost seven days a
week, doing Falun-Gong-related activities until January 2002, when her husband had a
stroke. Falun Gong has become her life. This is also true for other devoted Falun Gong
practitioners.
What worries me the most is that ever since my parents became Falun Gong practitioners
they have abandoned seeking medical treatment when needed. In Zhuan Falun, Li claims
