At the core of Falun Dafa are the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance (or in Chinese, Zhen 真, Shan 善, and Ren 忍). Falun Dafa teaches that these are the most fundamental qualities of the universe. Practitioners strive to adopt these qualities in their daily life through meditation, Qigong-like exercises, and the study of moral principles.

Qigong practices like Falun Gong are part of a broader tradition of “cultivation practice” that has existed throughout Asia for millennia. In the West, Falun Dafa is often classified as a religion on the basis of its theological and moral teachings. However, Falun Dafa differs greatly from religions in the conventional sense in that it does not involve worship, rituals, or the collection of money. People are free to come and go and everyone is welcome regardless of background.

Over 25 years ago, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched an illegal persecution of Falun Gong, using a massive propaganda campaign to vilify the practice, as documented by Amnesty International. The CCP pressured international media to adopt its narrative, with some complying and others spreading misinformation due to poor fact-checking, aiding the persecution. Despite this, Falun Gong practitioners have responded peacefully, sharing the truth to save lives. Learn more at FalunInfo.net.

Falun Dafa was first made public by Mr. Li Hongzhi, a native of Changchun, China. Now living in the United States, Mr. Li is a four-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and was nominated by the European Parliament for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. He is also the recipient of U.S.-based Freedom House’s International Religious Freedom Award.