Letter to Editorial Board of the National Post in Canada (Response to an Article)

Editorial Board

National Post
300 - 1450 Don Mills Road,
Don Mills, Ontario, Canada
M3B 3R5

Re: "Master Li's Disciples"

Dear Members of the Editorial Board:

As Falun Gong practitioners we deeply appreciate your effort in exposing the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, which has been going on for 3 years too long. We feel that bringing the truth to people is the only way to uphold justice and to put an end to this unconscionable persecution.

We recognize the good intentions by the National Post and the author, Brian Hutchinson in the feature article "Master Li's Disciples" published on July 6, 2002, in which Mr. Hutchinson gave a moving account of the persecution of Toronto practitioner Zhang Li and her husband and condemned the brutality and injustice of the persecution.

However, we have also found 18 severe errors that exist in this article which have put the author and the National Post, as well as Falun Gong's teachings and teacher, in a very bad light and may serve, contrary to your good intentions, as fuel to assist the persecution of innocent people. This will be explained later.

We bring this issue to your attention with the sincere trust that the National Post editorial board and Mr. Hutchinson will see that the situation must be corrected with adequate measures.

Due to the complexity and size of the article this correction letter is long and we appreciate your patience in reading it in its entirety. In order to help clarify the reading, we have categorized our thoughts into the following two sections:

1. We will address what is wrong/in-accurate in the article and why these inaccuracies and errors serve to fuel and assist the persecution, inadvertently causing harm to innocent and respectable people. Because of the length of this section, we will include the point-by-point explanations at the end of the letter in a separate section.
2. We will explain why we feel that the specific mistakes in the article would put the author as well as National Post in a bad light.

We hope it will be clear after reading this letter why the National Post owes itself, millions of Falun Gong practitioners around the world (particularly those currently being persecuted in China), the founder of Falun Gong, many kind-hearted people who have supported Falun Gong and millions of your readers the responsibility of rectifying the situation.

We feel it was our responsibility as local Falun Gong practitioners who are keenly aware of the truth of the persecution and who have studied the teachings in depth, to have shared with you our understandings of Falun Gong. We apologize for our lack of initiative to clarify the true situation to you earlier. As such, we sincerely offer all our help in your effort to rectify the situation. We welcome the opportunity to meet with your editors and to speak openly and answer any questions you may have and to provide information and discuss with you anything not yet included or fully explained in this letter. As a respected national newspaper, the National Post has the potential of playing a significant role in helping to bring an end to this vicious persecution by providing accurate and insightful reporting of Falun Gong. We feel that this would have an extensive impact and would gain the heartfelt respect of Canadians as well as people around the world.

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I. What is incorrect in the article and why these errors would serve to fuel and assist the persecution.

You may be aware that one of the first things the Chinese communist regime did in their persecution of Falun Gong, which officially began July 20^th 1999, was to collect and burn every Falun Gong book they could find (numbering in the tens of millions) and close access to all Falun Gong web sites, so as to prevent the Chinese people from seeing that their propaganda campaign was based on lies. The regime then began a relentless high volume defamation campaign throughout the state-controlled media.

In August 2001 an investigative report in the Washington Post revealed that there are three crucial ingredients in the persecution of Falun Gong. The first is state-sanctioned violence, the second is brainwashing, and the third and most important is propaganda to turn public opinion against Falun Gong. A government official stated in the report, "None of it would be working if the propaganda hadn't started to change the way the public thinks..."

With uncanny similarity to the propaganda put forth by Hitler against the Jewish people, this multi-million dollar defamation campaign has played an instrumental role in the persecution of Falun Gong. The purpose of the defamation campaign has been very clear: to portray Falun Gong as an evil teaching that deserves to be destroyed in whatever (inhuman) way the persecutors choose. One of the main strategic tactics used in the defamation campaign is the demonizing of the teachings and the teacher of Falun Gong through fabrications, distortions, lies, and quotes taken out of context to mislead the public. (Some examples will be given later)

For three years we have witnessed a thorough blockage of all information from outside China and the high-pressure propaganda campaign within China. Many Chinese citizens have gradually been deceived by the vicious defamation and over time have become indifferent to the killing of possibly thousands and the persecution of millions. Some in China have even assisted in the persecution - oftentimes against their own neighbors, colleagues.

On the other hand, over the past three years, more and more people outside of China have become aware of the true situation through practitioners' peaceful appeals and have gradually come to know Falun Gong's teachings, which are centered on following the principle of "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance" and on living a clean and moral life. More and more people have thus stepped forward and voiced their support for Falun Gong and joined the effort in stopping the persecution and the defamation. Such international support, whether expressed in responsible media reports, various proclamations, congratulatory letters and resolutions, or human rights campaigns, petitions and lawsuits, has been instrumental in providing hope to those who are suffering and in preventing the persecutors from going completely rampant in their persecution without any restraint.

Because of the international support for justice from outside China, the persecutors have invested more and more resources in exporting their persecution overseas. In addition to interference in overseas Falun Gong practitioners' activities and personal lives, large amounts of defamation propaganda has found its way, sometimes through force and coercion, into various communities, schools, media, and government offices. Various means have been utilized, from hate rallies to wining-and-dining that are organized by Chinese embassies and consulates. While doing all they can to block the international voice of support from being heard by people in China, they have also been making use of all possible overseas news and media coverage and utilizing it in ways that further deceive Chinese people into believing that "Falun Gong is evil and is forbidden in Western countries just as it is in China" (specific info is available if you are interested)

The July 6^th National Post article carried 18 serious misrepresentations of Falun Gong, many of which are strikingly similar to or clearly rooted in the persecutor's propaganda. The article has portrayed Master Li Hongzhi as professing a "doomsday" scenario, as corralling na ve people to worship him, as proclaiming himself a "living savior" and as misleading people into believing that he holds spiritual significance through means such as changing his birth date. The article portrays Master Li's teachings as being against or even hateful to those who have mixed marriages and it claims that Master Li punishes those who oppose him or that they somehow meet with retribution. All of these claims are distortions of the teachings, blatant and damaging misrepresentations or outright false. These misrepresentations severely distort the image of Falun Gong's teachings and teacher, have misled millions of your readers and have unjustly damaged Falun Gong practitioners' reputation in society. At this critical and difficult time during a severe persecution and defamation campaign, repetition of the persecutor's propaganda is in effect adding fuel to the persecution and salt to the wounds of those being persecuted.

II. Why such misrepresentations would put the author as well as the National Post in a bad light.

We don't believe that the misrepresentations were intentionally made by the author. Unfortunately he had compiled his information from unqualified third party books and his interpretation of certain hand picked quotes taken out of context. The main teachings of Falun Gong are found in the book Zhuan Falun. We feel Mr. Hutchinson did not bother to find out the real facts from the main teachings before writing his lengthy article. As a result the following facts reflect badly on the author and National Post:

• Having stated their intent to "terminate Falun Gong", China's Jiang Zemin regime has deliberately fabricated, distorted and quoted out of context many things, attempting to demonize Falun Gong's teacher and his teaching. They have intentionally mislead the public on the issues of how the teacher of Falun Gong portrays himself to the disciples, the teacher/student relationship, Falun Gong's view on religion and worship, life and death, family and marriage, doomsday scenarios, retribution and supernormal capabilities, etc. for the purpose of causing people to dislike or hate Falun Gong.

The author essentially repeats the persecutor's propaganda and their intentional misrepresentation of Falun Gong regarding many of the above issues. This reflects a lack of understanding and knowledge of the situation as he has clearly jumped to conclusions on numerous occasions.

• International support is instrumental in restraining the persecutors and their brutal and vicious actions, and is critical in providing hope and encouragement to the innocent people who are suffering under the persecution.

The article also takes the extra step to discredit and discourage government officials' support of Falun Gong practitioners in Canada, without taking into account the above mentioned positive effects of such support. This reflects the lack of knowledge of the author and the National Post on issues that affect the lives of millions of innocent people.

• The campaign by Chinese embassies and consulates to manipulate the thoughts and perceptions of Canadians on issues relating to Falun Gong has become more intensive over the past three years. Hate inciting propaganda regarding Falun Gong that is spread from Chinese embassies and consulates in Canada, has made its way, through various means and individuals, into our communities, schools, media, and government officials' offices.

These actions are breaching the sovereignty of Canada, and the incitement of hatred is causing disharmony in Canadian society, which is of concern to all Canadian people.

CSIS and the RCMP are fully aware of the seriousness of this attack on a group of established people here in Canada and the attack on our Canadian sovereignty by a foreign government on Canadian soil. Instead of understanding the seriousness behind CSIS's motivation, the author instead painted the "victim" as the perpetrator, undeserving of any protection or support.

• Before the persecution, within a 7-year period (1992-1999) and almost entirely through word of mouth, over 70 million people in China alone had taken up the practice of Falun Gong and it had spread to over 20 countries. In the last three years, despite the defamation campaign, Falun Gong has continued to grow and is now practiced in almost 60 countries around the world. Millions of people have found health, peace, happiness, and harmony in their lives after learning the practice and have benefited physically, mentally and spiritually. Because of the benefits they have experienced, practitioners feel genuinely grateful to Falun Gong's founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi.

However, Mr. Li has not asked for anything in return from the students and insists that all Falun Gong teaching materials (books, audio, video files) be offered free of charge on the internet. He has required that the exercises be taught for free by volunteers to anyone who wants to learn and that no name lists of practitioners be kept so that people who come to learn Falun Gong will feel free to come and go as they please. He stresses that people do not have to meet and learn from him personally in order to benefit, and that people should take the principles taught in the book Zhuan Falun as the teacher.

Even while undergoing the unjust, brutal persecution and facing extremely slanderous defamation targeted directly at him and his family, Mr. Li has continued to teach his millions of students "not to treat any person as an enemy", and that "other people may treat us badly, but we do not treat others badly", and has advised his students to "never adopt any extreme words or actions".

People around the world have witnessed the peacefulness and forbearance of practitioners during three years of persistent extreme persecution. Their non-violent appeals and determination to uphold the principle of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance has touched the hearts of many.

These qualities and actions exhibited by millions of people around the world from many backgrounds and all walks of life who practice Falun Gong are a direct reflection of the teachings of Falun Gong and Mr. Li himself.

To choose not to see the larger picture of what is presently occurring and to focus on tangential issues which misrepresent and even slander the teachings and the teacher, to attack a man who has selflessly and compassionately brought a teaching to the world that has benefited so many and to do so at a time when the teacher and the teachings are undergoing an unconscionable and internationally condemned persecution and defamation campaign, in effect supports the persecution itself and reflects very badly on the National Post.

These damaging and negative misrepresentations are unfortunate aspects of the article as they overshadow the moving account of the suffering of practitioner Zhang Li and her husband. However, even though Falun Gong and Mr. Li have been unjustly and inappropriately misrepresented in the article, we genuinely feel that this can be rectified with the printing in the National Post of an accurate representation of the teachings and the founder.

Point by point explanation of what specifically is incorrect and misrepresentative

The article's misrepresentation of Falun Gong mainly revolves around the following issues of how Mr. Li portrays himself to practitioners, the teacher/practitioner relationship, and Falun Gong's views on religion/worship, life and death, family and marriage, disaster/doomsday scenarios, retribution and supernormal capabilities.

In order to explain these subjects it is necessary to first give a brief description of Falun Gong's basic, essential concepts. Without at least a basic, rudimentary understanding of Falun Gong, it is difficult to discuss and clarify the provocative subjects raised in the article.

• Central to Falun Gong's teaching is that the combined principle of "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance" is the most basic principle and essential quality of the universe and that it is also the ultimate criteria with which to judge good and bad. This essential quality exists inside every single one of us, and is considered to be an individual's true self or 'good side.'

• Falun Gong is a complete set of principles, including exercise and meditation for cultivating (upgrading) one's body, mind and spirit. It teaches people to consider others first when doing anything and to search internally in all situations when encountering any conflict so as to understand where one may have personally contributed to the conflict and how one may improve based on the principle of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance.

It holds that through continuous effort and determined practice, one's body, mind and spirit will be purified, leading to the opening of one's wisdom. This opening of one's wisdom is the reaching of enlightenment or "consummation". The "consummation" in Falun Gong's practice does not mean death or the flying away of the body. It is simply a state of great wisdom, capability and enlightenment.

• Falun Gong also teaches the principle of retribution: good will be rewarded with good and evil will be met with evil (what comes around goes around). This principle is similar to teachings in many orthodox beliefs which teach people that doing good will bring them happiness and that doing wrong will bring them suffering. This principle applies to all individuals and societies. This principle of retribution is unwavering, yet it is fair and just as it is judged by peoples' own conduct based on the principle of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance.

Considering this principle of retribution, it is compassionate to tell someone who is committing a wrongdoing against another that their actions will ultimately and unavoidably lead to retribution and their own suffering. Furthermore Master Li states, "Always treat others with kindness and compassion and think of others before doing anything."

• Cultivation is a serious and difficult process whereby one is constantly improving one's heart/mind nature. Thinking of others before oneself and relinquishing anger, hate, jealousy, and other negative emotions is not easy in difficult circumstances. No one can be forced to practice cultivation. Master Li has said that as the teacher he can only teach the principles on the surface and offer his unconditional help, and that the cultivation practice itself must be done by each individual practitioner. Making improvement is accomplished by elevating one's own moral standard and by truly practicing Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, even under the most difficult circumstances.

There is no worship in Falun Gong's teaching and it is made very clear that worshipping is pointless, as it will not aid in one's cultivation practice. Cultivation is simply the desire to improve your heart/mind nature. It is totally up to the individual.

In light of the above, we hope that the distortions in some of the views presented in the article will be more clearly seen:

Type 1. Recapping the Chinese persecution regime's fabrications:

NP 1.1. The article states, "Fifteen years ago, few had ever heard of Li Hongzhi. According to China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, he was born in China on July 7, 1952. Years later, Li managed to have his birthrate changed, to May 13, the same day that Siddhartha Gautama, the Indian Brahmin who established Buddhism, is said to have been born."

This is a propaganda piece taken directly from the Chinese persecutor's defamation campaign.

1. The only "proof" the regime provided was "evidence" reported on the front page of the July 27, 1999 issue of People's Daily (the communist party's largest newspaper). This report said that Madame Yufang Pan, then 80 years old, administered the birth of Li Hongzhi 50 years ago. She remembered clearly that he was a normal baby with no unusual traits. She said she recalled using Picotin (a form of medicine used to induce labor) and that she used this for Master Li's birth in July 1952.

However, according to the Columbia Encyclopedia (5th Edition) scientists did not discover the molecular structure of Picotin until 1953, and it was not even synthesized in the laboratory until later the same year. Also it is strange that an 80-year-old professional midwife could remember the birth of one normal baby over 50 years ago after thousands of deliveries.

2. Master Li has long ago responded to the accusation that during the time of the Cultural Revolution, enormous numbers of people including himself found their birth dates misprinted. Mr. Li corrected the date that had erroneously been attributed to him.
3. This propaganda attempts to discredit Master Li's personal integrity. However it does not make any sense: Master Li has never claimed to be Buddha.

There are countless people in the world, even criminals, born on the same date as Siddhartha Gautama. Master Li has also pointed out many limitations of Buddhism in his teaching of Falun Gong, so there is no advantage or rationale in claiming the same birth date as the founder of Buddhism.

NP 1.2. The article says, "Master Li Hongzhi claims to live outside the universe with other spiritual masters," "As he portrays himself, 'Master' Li is no mere mortal." It says sarcastically "A greater power exists outside of this universe, where Master Li flies with other enlightened beings, other gods, forever."

1. These statements cannot be found anywhere in Master's Li's teachings. We have never read or heard of these claims by Master Li.
2. Master Li lives in New York.
3. These statements are strikingly similar to the Chinese persecutor's ill-intended fabrications. They attempt to ridicule, through fabrications, both Mr. Li and the practice of Falun Gong and by extension all practitioners of Falun Gong, including those currently undergoing severe persecution in China. These statements are false and unwarranted and start to show the bias views of the author.

NP 1.3. The article says: "We can either remain in this unwholesome place, or ascend to a much better state when our bodies wear out. This 'consummation' can be attained almost immediately, Li promises, but only if one adheres to three universal truths: truth, compassion and forbearance."

1. These statements cannot be found the teachings Falun Gong.
2. Contrary to the statement, "...ascend to a much better state when our bodies wear out," one of the major differences between Falun Gong's cultivation and those of other cultivation systems is that Falun Gong treasures the human body and stresses keeping the body even at the time of "consummation" (spiritual enlightenment). Cultivation of Falun Gong also strives to renew and improve the condition of the body, hence the 5 sets of exercises. This is contradictory to the stated "wearing out" process.
3. Contrary to the statement, "This 'consummation' can be attained almost immediately, Li promises...", is the fact that Master Li clearly points out in his teaching of Falun Gong that cultivation is a long and difficult process of gradually and holistically improving oneself, and that attaining 'consummation' (spiritual enlightenment) takes continuous, determined and steadfast effort.
4. This is another statement that strongly resembles the Chinese persecutor's ill-intended fabrications. Specifically, this statement sounds alarmingly similar to China's specific propaganda created to demonize Falun Gong in connection with the staged Tiananmen Square immolation incident. (we will provide video evidence of the staging of the event)

These almost direct repetitions of the Chinese government's propaganda reflect the author's lack of research on the subject and his use of unqualified third party information, as well as his lack of judiciousness in trusting the propaganda from a persecutory regime that is internationally known for its fabrications and distortions.

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Type 2. Statements with significant errors about Falun Gong - out of misinterpretation of the teaching, or by having been influenced by the propaganda created in China for use in the persecution

NP 2.1. The article says, "The obvious difference from mainstream religions is that the way to a happy afterlife lies through a living savior. 'Not acknowledging the Master in the human world is not acknowledging oneself as a disciple,' says Master Li

1. It is commonly accepted that not acknowledging any teacher is not acknowledging oneself as a student of that teacher. This quote does not validate nor is it's actual meaning relevant to the article's misleading claim of an afterlife through a living savior.
2. The claim of a "living savior" is very similar to the Chinese propaganda.
3. For Falun Gong practitioners, there does not exist the concept of afterlife because it does not have the concept of going somewhere after death.
4. The good future of a Falun Gong practitioner does not depend upon a "living savior." People generations from now will continue to cultivate themselves and benefit from the teachings of Falun Gong.
5. Master Li has made it clear that as the teacher, he can only explain the principles and offer his help. Whether a student is able to make any progress depends entirely upon whether the student genuinely wants to follow the principles to improve himself. Master Li said that if you truly want to cultivate, there is no need to meet or worship him. If you don't genuinely follow the principles to cultivate yourself on your own, following the teacher on the surface won't do you any good.

NP 2.2. The article says, "Central to the Falun Gong philosophy is an idea that life on Earth is doomed, that it is rotting and that it needs to be "rectified" in order to proceed to the next stage of existence."

1. This statement is the very idea that the Chinese regime wants people to believe in their propaganda. However, it is again a very misleading statement.
2. Central to Falun Gong's teaching is the idea that "Truth-Compassion-Forbearance" is the essential quality of the universe and is the ultimate criteria for judging good and bad, and that there is also the principle of retribution - good will be rewarded with good and evil will be met with evil. Hence the teaching encourages people to pay attention to and conform oneself to this essential quality of the universe to create a better life both for now and in the future.
3. Master Li teaches that life on Earth is extremely precious and should be treasured.
4. As a compassionate person who genuinely cares about the overall well being of people and the Earth, Master Li has expressed his great concern regarding the moral corruption that exists in today's society and has said that people should learn to value virtue and awaken the goodness in their hearts. Otherwise, if social morality continues to degenerate unceasingly, human beings may end up destroying themselves through consequent environmental problems, wars, etc. Many good people in society share these same concerns and are doing all they can to encourage positive changes in our world. It has nothing to do with a "doomsday philosophy."

There are very strong resemblances to the propaganda of the Chinese regime in these statements from the article, showing that without careful research and/or consultation with actual Falun Gong practitioners, the article has misinterpreted the teachings of Falun Gong.

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Type 3. Significant errors and harmful misrepresentation of Falun Gong - resulting from having been strongly influenced by the propaganda from the Chinese regime, irresponsible quotations taken out-of-context and/or misinterpretation.

NP 3.1. "He has declared that 'the cultures of humankind are in a muddle -- they are messy combinations of all sorts, and human races are becoming more and more mixed. These have indeed driven humankind to slide to a very dangerous stage -- this is certain. As I said, catastrophes happen because humankind is depraved.'

We again see strong influence from the propaganda by the Chinese regime as they have tried very hard from the beginning of the persecution to portray Falun Gong as a doomsday teaching.

However, we mainly question how such misrepresentation could even occur, since simply reading the above quote in its proper context makes the meaning very clear. This is taken from "Lecture at the First Conference in North America":

"There are also some cults that are spreading. All of them teach about the end of the world-they all talk about these things. Of course, I've said that catastrophes do exist. Buddhism also believes in them, and Christianity, Catholicism, and Daoism share the same viewpoint. This is the law of the cosmos' evolution, but it's absolutely not like what the cults have professed. Moreover, I've also observed that such an event might indeed exist at a certain period in time, but it's not unsolvable. I can proclaim here to everyone in all earnestness that all of those alleged catastrophes on earth, the doom of the universe, and things of this sort in the year 1999 are absolutely nonexistent. Why would there be catastrophes? Let me tell you a principle. Suppose that as humankind's morality decays, all matter is rotting. In other words, it has become tainted. At present, the cultures of humankind are in a muddle-they are messy combinations of all sorts, and human races are becoming more and more mixed. These have indeed driven humankind to slide to a very dangerous stage-this is certain. As I said, catastrophes happen because humankind is depraved.

Why are those so-called "catastrophes" non-existent, then? I said that there are now 100 million people in China studying our Dafa. We also have many disciples everywhere throughout the world studying this Dafa. The number has become quite sizable. If all of them are trying to be kindhearted, are cultivating, and are behaving as good people, what would happen to all these good people if the universe or Earth were destroyed? Isn't this the principle? Destruction is only carried out when the planet is no longer good. With so many good people around, how could it be destroyed? In other words, such danger no longer exists. (Applause) I've told you this because everyone sitting here came to study the Fa."

NP 3.2. Regarding the Canadian Governor General's greetings and kind support of Falun Gong, the author wrote, "I wondered what she really knew about the movement, and the bizarre ramblings of Master Li...", "Ms. Clarkson is of Asian decent. Her husband is white. They are, it is understood, a 'mixed' couple."

1. It seems that the author went an extra mile to undermine the support of Ms. Clarkson, and we wonder what purpose this serves.
2. It reflected admirable judgment and insight that Ms. Clarkson said what she did about Falun Gong's teaching; and it was courageous of her to offer precious support to Falun Gong at this time when the vicious persecution and defamation of Falun Gong practitioners is ongoing. Further, her support happened during a period of high pressure from the Chinese regime on the Canadian government.
3. We have explained in an earlier part of the letter that such an attack upon Canadian leaders, who have supported Falun Gong during the persecution, reflects very badly on the author and upon the National Post.
4. The article refers to Master Li's writings as 'bizarre ramblings', and in another place as "voluminous ramblings". To speak in such a disparaging fashion of someone whose teachings have brought great benefit to millions of people around the world, without asking for anything in return is wrong and unwarranted.
5. In regards to the issue of "mixed race," by doing just a little bit of research or by checking with a few Falun Gong practitioners, it would been easily discovered that when Master Li talks about "mixed races," he does not mean the races as we see them on the surface but in its spiritual sense - so a white person on the surface can in fact be a yellow or black person at their origin, while a person of yellow race can be in fact white or brown. In actuality, there are many sincere Falun Gong practitioners who have married partners of different cultures and races in recent years. Just last week a veteran Caucasian practitioner became engaged to an Asian practitioner right here in Toronto.

NP 3.3. The article claimed: "he would attribute to himself abilities that are positively god-like."

The propaganda by the Chinese regime has tried very hard to portray Master Li as a self-proclaimed "God". We are wondering what the author is referring to as "abilities that are positively god-like".

Falun Gong teaches that so-called "supernormal" capabilities are in fact human instinctual capabilities: everyone originally and naturally had them. Most people in modem times have lost such capabilities because they are too preoccupied with selfish thoughts, attachments, and interests. Through cultivation - following the principle of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance to improve one's body and mind spiritually - one can become purer and eventually return to one's original state, where "supernormal" capabilities are simply a natural part of existence.

That is to say, everyone has the potential to be "god-like" if they wish. However, Master Li has also stated numerous times that a person should not begin a cultivation practice with the intent of gaining supernormal capabilities which are simply a by-product of genuine cultivation practice. In his teachings Master Li states that compassion is the most powerful of all supernormal capabilities.

One can again see striking similarities to the propaganda fabricated by the Chinese regime, as well as quoting out-of-context and misinterpretation of the teachings of Falun Gong. Making misleading statements regarding these important issues reflects poorly on the author, and can be very harmful to innocent Falun Gong practitioners who are suffering under the persecution.

Type 4. Misrepresentation due to the author's misunderstanding of Falun Gong.

NP 4.1. The article says: "Dire forms of 'retribution' that have supposedly befallen Master Li's opponents...."

1. Master Li does not oppose anyone and he has also taught Falun Gong practitioners not to oppose anyone. In the face of the severe persecution, he has told practitioners: "not to treat any person as an enemy" and has said that even though "other people may treat us badly, we do not treat others badly".
2. Doing evil things such as torturing and murdering innocent people who practice Falun Gong, will bring retribution. This is the principle that good is rewarded with good and evil with evil, which is actually a common belief in many upright faiths.
3. The articles on the web that are referred to and attributed to Mr. Li regarding the above statement were not even posted by Mr. Li. They were posted by practitioners in order to compassionately encourage people to stop doing things that will ultimately lead to their own suffering. This has nothing to do with Mr. Li threatening "opponents".

NP 4.2. The article says, "We've been able to come through the most evil, most malicious and most indecent persecution in human history," he said. I wondered if he really meant to compare what his followers have endured to the fate of six million of Jews, or generations of African slaves, or countless other groups."

1. The millions of Falun Gong practitioners and their families and friends in China are not the only ones who are victims of this brutal persecution. A society of more than a billion people has been deeply deceived through misinformation, slander, and gross lies to despise, hate and participate in a persecution against millions of their innocent countrymen who are good people, who value virtue, and who cultivate compassion. Those people who are deceived into committing these bad deeds or assisting in the persecution of innocent people are also victims of this persecution. According to the universal principle of retribution they will all have to suffer retribution according to the severity of their actions, regardless of whether or not they have been deceived. This is a universal principle and it is unwavering in its execution. This is one of the main reasons why Falun Gong practitioners worldwide are trying to let people know the truth of the persecution, so that they will not be deceived into unwittingly aiding in wrongdoing against innocent people.
2. As the Chinese government seeks to influence governments, businesses, and media around the world, and deceives these people into believing that Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is something to be shunned and to peripherally assist in persecuting innocent people, they become victims of the persecution as well.
3. The Chinese regime has been using the cumulative methodology of torture, throughout history up until now, to torture Falun Gong practitioners. This includes modern methods of torture that were not available in the past, such as advanced electronic and pharmacological techniques. These unimaginable tactics are being used to force innocent people to denounce a spiritual belief that they treasure dearly in their hearts; The tactics the Chinese regime has been using to fabricate the defamation campaign is extremely malicious, evil and indecent (e.g. the staged "self" immolation, and fabricated murders of mothers, wives, and children);

The tactics the Chinese regime has been using to deceive innocent people into participating in the persecution of their own family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues are also extremely malicious, evil and indecent;

Finally, the tactics the Chinese regime has been using to export the persecution into overseas countries and to block international support for persecuted Falun Gong practitioners are also extremely malicious, evil and indecent.

4. The modern methods of mass communication did not exist in the past and the extent of the deception and therefore the range of victims in this persecution is beyond the scope of possibilities that existed in the past. People are deceived into condemning benevolent universal principles because many are not inclined to accept certain concepts of spiritual existence and have not taken it upon themselves to explore the true nature of the teaching of Falun Gong.

The modern methods of transportation and monitoring facilities also did not exist in the past, hence the intensity, swiftness and high pressure of the persecution is beyond the scope of possibility that existed in the past.

Through avenues such as the UN, Chinese Embassies and Consulates and media all around the world, the Chinese regime is extending its influence, as well as through the use of modern international media, to deceive people around the world into committing wrongdoing against Falun Gong.

With these various aspects added together, this persecution of Falun Gong is a persecution that affects people worldwide. The scope and scale of the persecution exceeds previous persecutions, and is indeed the most evil, most malicious and most indecent persecution in human history.

This misrepresentation has resulted because of the author's own misunderstanding and wrong notions of Falun Gong, and these have confused readers into thinking negatively about Falun Gong and Mr. Li.

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Type 5. Straight misrepresentation

NP5.1 The article says, "Last week, a Toronto practitioner referred me to a new book, written by an anonymous Falun Gong follower whose prose style is remarkably similar to Master Li's. The book calls China's President, Jiang Zemin, among other things, 'an unconscionable pedophile.' It can be downloaded, free of charge, from the same Falun Gong website."

1. The book in question was not written by an anonymous Falun Gong follower, but by a third party author who claims to be a high level Chinese official. We have no way of verifying this.
2. It was not a book endorsed by Falun Gong, hence Falun Gong is not responsible for its style, language or claims.
3. A news release from Falun Dafa Information Center mentioned this book, and said that the book seems to be consistent with what we have heard from sources in China, yet we have no way to verify it. Falun Gong took no position for or against the book. The news release listed a website for free download of the book, which is not a Falun Gong website but the book publisher's website and it was very clearly stated as that.

The conversation was clear and the statement on the website was clear, yet the information presented in the National post's article is quite different.

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What we suggest needs to be done to clarify this issue

We know we are touching on quite complicated issues here, and one letter may not be enough to clarify all issues/doubts in your minds regarding Falun Gong. We would be happy to meet with you at your convenience to discuss any questions you may have and to provide you with any information and clarification of issues related to Falun Gong.

While the damage done by incorrect information presented in the media can be extensive, proper information presented in the media can be extremely powerful as well in serving goodness in the world.

The National Post has the potential of playing a significant role in ending this internationally condemned persecution with proper and insightful reporting on Falun Gong, and this in turn would gain the heartfelt respect from people around the world.

Sincerely,

A practitioner (Name Omitted)