China’s Economic and Social Renaissance: Falun Gong and The Rise Of Truth Compassion Forbearance Part 1

Abstract

This paper explores how the China of today is facing an economic and social crisis. Afflicted by rampant corruption and eroding values, even government officials are beginning to question whether this socialist regime can be smoothly transformed into a market economy. Moreover, the disruptive forces of globalization and technological change have added a further element of instability. It is also in this complex environment that the Falun Gong phenomenon emerged; a highly effective Qigong exercise practice rich in ancient Chinese culture and spiritual thought. Very quickly, this practice and its teachings began to profoundly affect all areas of society and in a few years became the fastest growing Qigong meditation movement in China’s five thousand year history.

But as a consequence of this popularity it soon incurred the wrath of President Jiang Zemin’s totalitarian rule. No longer seen as just a “China issue”, the brutal persecution of millions of Falun Gong practitioners over the last three years now threatens an already fragile nation. Similar to the way Europe entered its Renaissance, the overwhelming forces of technological and spiritual change will also liberate China. Ultimately, Falun Gong’s timeless principles of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance will prevail and usher in the Age of Wisdom.

Introduction

After the tragic events of “September 11th”, the 2002 World Economic Forum was for the first time held in New York. The city symbolized a rallying point for the 2700 executives and leaders of the international community. This year, the theme for the Forum was “Leadership in Fragile Times: A Vision for a shared future”1 . Many questions were raised yet the concerns were similar – for the sake of long-term peace and economic prosperity, what values should be universally embraced?

Today in the East, China is facing an economic and social crisis. Afflicted by rampant corruption and eroding values, even government officials are beginning to question whether their socialist regime can smoothly transition into a market economy. Moreover, the disruptive forces of globalisation and technological change have added a further element of instability. It is also in this complex environment that the Falun Gong phenomena emerged; a highly effective Qigong practice rich in ancient Chinese culture and spiritual thought. Based on rapidly spreading principles of Truth-Compassion-Forbearance, its popularity soon incurred the wrath of President Jiang Zemin’s totalitarian rule. The brutal persecution of millions of Falun Gong practitioners over the last three years is no longer seen as just a “China issue” and now threatens an already fragile nation. But similar to the way Europe experienced a Renaissance after overcoming the devastation of the Black Death in the Middle Ages, China too is on the verge of a new era.

China: The Next Economic Super Power?

China has been somewhat of an economic mystery over the last 20 years. Regardless of the validity of the official growth rates, it wasn’t long before China was proclaimed as an economic miracle2. However, the market-oriented reforms that raised 270 million people out of poverty since 1978 have mainly benefited a small elite. Even though there are now 1 million millionaires, 70% of China’s 1.3 billion people are still living in the agricultural age, surviving off the equivalent of a few dollars a day3. The disparity is enormous and potentially destabilizing. Appropriately, the Chinese term for crisis - "wei ji" is comprised of two characters "danger" and "opportunity".

One of the biggest challenges facing China is the structural change to its economy as they enter the information age and open up to world markets. After the WTO regulation takes effect, China’s 350 million farmers will stand to lose longstanding protective price controls on a whole range of produce, as global commodity markets become the determinant of crop values4. The government already estimates unemployment at 120 million and it expects that number to increase by more than 40 percent as China faces heightened competition. In the rural regions, the situation is far worse. Between 80 and 120 million surplus workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time low-paying jobs5.

Outwardly however, the economy does appear strong. Anyone who’s been to Shanghai recently can see the skyscrapers and the amazing transformations. But under the surface, the problem of corruption is more than evident. Even the officially published figures are frightening: 50% of 4 billion contracts signed each year are fraudulent in some respect and 13-17% of the country’s annual GDP (or close to three quarters of a trillion US dollars) is lost in economic crimes. What’s more, two thirds of the biggest state-run enterprises produce false accounts6. With the State employing 70% of all urban workers, the pressure to keep these firms afloat via state ordered loans from Chinese banks has been enormous.

Consequently, China’s financial system has become its "Achilles heel". The country’s ill-served savers have been forced to entrust over 90% of their 1 trillion plus personal savings with many state banks that are hopelessly insolvent7. Incredibly, non-performing loans are estimated to account for half to two-thirds of all loans. But the truth is surfacing. A US investigation into corruption at the Bank of China recently toppled a leading banker and exposed the extent to which the banking system is smothered by politics8. As it turns out, executives are expected to lend money to support an array of Communist Party state objectives and for other "private" purposes.

To date, large capital flows from foreign investment and the sustained growth of the economy have masked much of these troubles9. Even in the year 2000, according to official statistics, China' exports increased by almost 28 percent, impressive by any standard. However, the trend line is definitely pointing downwards with last year’s export growth in single digits, officially 6.8 percent10. This year could even see a decline in exports, which would be the first in about three decades. With a synchronized global recession looming, the analysts are worried. If the economy does slows dramatically for whatever reason, a financial crisis could break out at any moment.

Yin And Yang Of Cultural Change

The underlying causes of economic distress, as always, are deeply rooted at the societal level. For centuries China stood as a leading civilization. With a recorded history of 5000 years, she outpaced the rest of the world in the arts and sciences. Buddhist and Taoist beliefs as well as Confucian ethics played a vital role in shaping her unique cultural heritage. But in the first half of the 20th century, China was plagued by major famines, civil unrest and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under Mao Zedong formed a dictatorship that, while ensuring her sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life, which cost the lives of tens of millions of people.

Many blame the current degradation of the moral fabric on the scars of the Cultural Revolution. It was only 30 years ago when friends and families were insanely set against each other. The side effects of the ‘one child policy’, in effect since the late 70s, are another factor. The magnitude of this social experiment is hard to fathom; approximately 330 million births have been prevented to date11. It is little wonder extreme pragmatism has now become embedded in the national psyche. And when Mao’s successor Deng Xiaoping famously proclaimed ‘To be rich is glorious!’ no sooner had greed become good. Largely devoid - ever since Communist rule - of their rich cultural and spiritual traditions , the nation today is at a crossroads, struggling to recover its lost identity.

The Falun Gong Phenomenon

It was specifically under these circumstances that Falun Gong rose to prominence in China. In 1992, Mr. Li Hongzhi reintroduced the ancient concept of cultivation practice, a system that refined the mind, body and spirit. Based on the universal principles of Truth, Compassion and Forbearance the spiritual practice also incorporated five gentle Qigong and meditation exercises.

For these practitioners of Falun Gong who came from all social classes and age groups, "Zhen" or Truth meant assimilating to honesty and sincerity. The concept of "Shan" or Compassion was more than just kindness and benevolence. It involved sacrifice, thinking of others first and looking within oneself for faults when conflicts arose. And with "Ren" or Forbearance, practitioners cultivated the qualities of patience, tolerance and enduring difficulties peacefully. Through the Qigong exercises and the application of Mr. Li’s profound teachings, practitioners began to observe a radiant and energetic resurgence of their health and mental well-being.

Within the space of 7 years Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) became the fastest growing Qigong practice in the history of China. From the beginning, Mr. Li Hongzhi required that the exercises be taught only by volunteers and entirely for free. Additionally, the teachings clearly stated that there was to be no official membership list, organisational hierarchy or donation facilities. Nor was there to be any religious form or interest in obtaining political power. Never before in China had tens of millions of people experienced such an effective and holistic practice that so unconditionally brought health and meaning to their lives.

Transcending cultural and racial boundaries, Mr. Li’s teachings and exercises also became freely available through the Internet and the numerous public lectures he gave around the world12. Very quickly, Falun Gong spread to more than 50 countries and gained worldwide appreciation by promoting virtuous principles that could be universally accepted. In recognition of this, the practice has received over 700 awards internationally and for the last two years Mr. Li Hongzhi was also nominated and short-listed for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize13.

[Article continued tomorrow in Part 2]

Source: Full article can be found at http://www.pureinsight.org/sci/sci/eng/newscontent.asp?ID=14376