External Commentary: Probing the Relationship Between Falun Gong and Chinese Culture

(Clearwisdom.net) (Note: The reference materials re-published on this website are written by non-Falun Gong practitioners. They don't necessarily have the same understanding as Falun Gong practitioners.)

Mingsi Forum on November 3, 2002, published an article by Buyi (pen name) discussing the relationship between Falun Gong and Chinese culture.

The writer asserted that the rise of Falun Gong is playing a significant role in protecting and maintaining Chinese culture.

The article stated that since the time of the Yellow Emperor (the first ancestor of the Chinese people), the foundation of China's 5,000-year culture was established by the ancient wise emperors -- such as Rao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen Zougong and Wu Zougong -- and Confucius, who established standards of courtesy, composed music and changed the Spring and Autumn Period. The Spring and Autumn and Warring States period was a time when many schools of thought were competing for attention, with the theories of Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism and Legalism each prevailing for a time. Buddhism was later introduced to China [from India around the first century]. All these schools of thought have long had an influence on Chinese culture. The core of Chinese culture includes its unique system of thought on morality, ethics and philosophy. It advocates the cultivation of one's body as the starting point for world peace and the complete understanding of one's own nature, in order to understand heaven's principles and morality.

The article also reviewed the 80-year history of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and demonstrated that it is a history of the bloody elimination of Chinese culture. The CCP has followed the pattern of Stalin's tyrannical rule in Russia, using the doctrine of so-called "smashing the old world," to eliminate Chinese culture step by step. In the 20^th century, Mao Zedong employed people to kill the landlords, until the "Great Cultural Revolution" when he brought an unprecedented catastrophe to Chinese culture. A great treasure trove of Chinese cultural documents was destroyed, as were historical sites and temples.

The writer expressed concern that the formal textbooks in China's colleges and middle schools are from Russia, so tens of millions of young people are not exposed to the gems of Chinese culture: "The Four Books" and "The Five Classics." (See footnote) Young Chinese people have grown up without learning the basics of Chinese culture. The Chinese culture, in a pure sense, is disappearing.

The article pointed out that Falun Gong, which arose in China in the 1990s, is the standard-bearer of China's thousands of years of culture. It doesn't matter whether Falun Gong has millions, tens of millions or more than 100 million followers. It brings a warning from heaven about saving Chinese culture. Falun Gong combines aspects of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, as well as the essence of Chinese culture. It contains the core of Chinese morality and philosophical thought, and works diligently toward recovering and maintaining human dignity. It advocates self-examination. The article stated that Falun Gong proves that the sage from Confucianism, the true person from Taoism and the Buddha from Buddhism, all share one belief: that human beings have the potential, granted by the universe, to fulfill one's purpose in nature and to perfect oneself. This thought has run through the 5,000 years of Chinese culture and history.

The article pointed out that Falun Gong followers fearlessly pursue "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance." They risk their lives to protect this Fa, or Law. If one falls, others continue. The worse the persecution, the stronger, broader and more extensive Falun Gong becomes. From this, we can see that Falun Gong practitioners are role models as advocates for cultural, intellectual and religious freedom, none of which are confined by political ideology.

The article warned readers that the policy of the CCP leader Jiang's regime to eliminate Falun Gong and Falun Gong followers is a continuation of the party's effort to stamp out Chinese culture. Facing this test, every Chinese person should think deeply.

Note: "The Four Books" is the general title for the four works, The Analects of Confucius, The Mencius, The Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean. "The Five Classics" is the general title for the five works, The Book of Songs, the Book of History compiled by Confucius, The Book of Rites, I Ching, or the Book of Changes, and The Spring and Autumn Annals.

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2002/11/7/39208.html

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