




Falun Gong protesters (seen here outside the Chinese consulate) came to town for the RNC and never left. Meanwhile, the pizzeria-surrounded-by-nothing is mentioned in this somewhat unsatisfying article about the far West Side (near the end).
i thought they were there even before the convention.
silly cults...or whatever it is.
Totally L&O
Are they the Y2K answer to Hare Krishnas? I walk by them in rock center everyday and I have to wonder, do y'all have, like, jobs or lives and stuff?
That Falun cult is creepy and they are much creepier here than they are in Hong Kong... They don't do those crazy reenactments there.
FWIW, we have a sign here in the art dept at the U of South Carolina that says: "To Hell With New York City"
So now I guess we're even.
Kidding. :) Really, It's a comment on not following art trends and making up your own style.
That is all.
Poor religious fools...
It's like the new Moonies or something!
The Fuck the South article was great. I'm disgusted with their foolishness and hypocrisy. The girls are cute, though, with that accent. They can come up to my place and watch the next plane crash in person.
I love your site. I used to live in Manhattan and I enjoy seeing pictures of New York. I used to walk around town with my wife just taking in the sites and you seem to capture so many things very well. Keep up the good work.
~Robb
Here in San Francisco, when you face the PRC Consulate, Falun Gong is to the left of the doorway and the Free Tibet people are to the right. I'll say that I did pause a moment before going in to get a tourist visa.
I've seen them outside the Cologne Cathedral, too, where their sign was in Chinese, English and German.
Falun Dafa is all over Europe. I saw them going through rituals in front of the Cologne Cathedral back in October.
via London,
Brody
Like your Blog, your pictures are real life, not what is inside magazines. They everyday urban life. Will come back for your work in progress!
Astalavista mista
I'm taking the liberty, check this out if you want, yesterday in Rome:
http://www.utterweb.com/index.php?id=187
i don't see them as cult as they are just trying to stop the persecuation, for whatever reasons the CCP decided to ban it and using such cruel method against them.
i gree with ck, Falun Gong is not a cult, i have friends who practice Falun Gong and i understand how they feel, if you lived in china during the years the persecution first started and saw the shocking propaganda the Communist Party put all over media (like i did) then you would understand why they are persisting to let their voice be heard over the propaganda CCP put out all over the world. i respect them for their perseverence.
look what i found about this cult.
http://www.randi.org/jr/08-03-01.html
Falun Gong is not a cult; its a peaceful spiritual practice that is practiced in over 50 countries in the world. Only in China is it outlawed. If practicing truthfulness, compassion and tolerance is defined as creepy and cultish behaviour, what then is good?
Falun Dafa is good. The persecution must end.
I just wanted to point out an important fact. Falun Gong is being perseucted very severly in China. The largest weapon The Chinese Communist Party has used in perseuction of Falun Gong is slander and propaganda. Falun Gong was actually nationally acclaimed in China before the perseuction was launched. It is not a cult, that is for sure. It is closer to Qigong, or buddhism. Though it is not a practice specifically for healing, it's practice does have that effect and many people bcamse healthy in China. The governemnt gave awards to people who practiced for improving thier health and spending less on healthcare. It was announced the star Qigong at a national Qigong convention. The teacher was given awards, since where ever there were high concentration of practitoners, there was less crime. The Teacher was even nominated for the nobel peace prize some years ago.
However, once the number of practitoners reached over the numnber of communist party members, a few, high in power becamse nervous and illeagally launched a perseuction against the group. In fact, many governemnt officials were against this action but didnt want to lose thier jobs so eventually succumbed. How they started to persecute Falun Gong was through propaganda and slander. They systematically changed public opinoin about the group with the use of thier controlled media. The wrote slander like, practitoners killing thier parents and all that, however, right in the main teachings of Falun Gong, it states that killing is completely forbidden. It is completely against the core teachings of Falun Gong. The government wrote stuff saying Falun Dafa was against China, which is also silly considering Falun Gong has many ancient Chinese aspects within it. They said Falun Gogng was trying to over through the governemnt, even though the teachings say that practitoners are not to get involved in politics. However, to people who dont know much about Falun Gong, when they read this stuff they may beleive it. After beleiving it they will stand aside and let the Chinese Comunist party murder, torture, rape and harrass thousands of innocent people. However, in China, the perseuction was hidden from the people. The CCP puts alot of effort in to hiding thier crimes.
If you want to understand the teachings I suggest you read the actual book rather than take some stuff of the internet. You can find information and the book online at www.falundafa.org. You must be careful about what you read on the net on this topic since the CCP has published this stuff every where and then other comes along, not knowing much about Falun Gong, spread that stuff too, thinking that is it true.
The main teaching of Falun Dafa is Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance. Practitioners try to harmonize thier hearts and actions with these prinicpals in thier daily lives. They meditate and do qigong excersises. It is a peaceful practice, that is for sure.
I like the fala gogo!
They are cute! I hate the ccp they is a poo poo
And I like china to it is a love of me
Never mind the Chinese Government....I would persecute these goddamn weirdo falun gongs too! Where ever they're at...bunch of weirdos!
PS: I found this webpage by typing in "fuck falun gong" in google
Ya, I agree with Stephanie and other's that Falun Gong is good. The CCP persecution is very cruel. Man, you who say bad about Falun Gong, should take a look from another person look. If your family being persecuted like that, can you say the same. I think you say like that because you feel it's all doesn't have relationship with you. The fact is, it has. If you really say Falun Gong is good from your heart, you will feel like a different person. I said it. And, this true man. Just throw away your bad thoughts man! That's will bring you fortune and happines. So, the truth is Falun Gong is good, and CCP destiny is ruin. Remember it man!!
Give me a break. FLG is the biggest lie on earth. They set themselves on fire, blieve that they will go to heaven. Of course with video proove they still deny that they set themselves on fire.
They spent more time denouncing the CCP then they pratice Fa Lung Gong. Yet they claim they are not political.
Read teh Epoch times, and that is even a bigger propoganda newspaper than the ones runned byt he chinese state control media. Most over seas chinese treat them as nubs anway. they claim millions of chinese have resign the CCP, yet no other organization can verify that but themselves. They believe that their gay ass nine dragon commentaries are the reason.
I find it awfuly funny, wondering where all the money comes from. They have all the financial backing needed to print all sorts of junks in different kinds of langauage not to mention they are spreading like rats all over the world. Its a free newspaper, they barely have any advertisiing, because its all exaggerrated china bashing. Yes they are cult, try talking to them, if you dare to question them, it will be like , "we are the truth, dont you accept my truth, we are the only truth, etc.... yes they are a cult. They claim that the CCP is going to kill themselves. But to be honest i thinjk the FLG is going to end themselves before the CCP does. They are pissing off locals, becaus they freak tourist away in New Zealand, by constantly freaking them out.
Holy shit, and yet we have idiots who sympathise these cary lunatics, just like how wehad communist sympathiers back in the cold wars.
FLG is fuckn retarded.. i used to see them sitting around school campus for hours. make me wanna throw a rock at them or something.. plus, if FLG is real, where's their leader? hiding in NJ? I dont see him speaking out for his people
Mmm, Falun, makes me think of shit everytime
http://peopleperception.com/20050204_falun.html
Yes, it's wrong that Falun Gong practitioners are being presecuted in China.
However:
1) This doesn't alone mean that Falun Gong is good. Actually, it's quite stupid. The Falun Gong founder is on record stating that homosexualism is wrong and that no homosexual can hope to rise to the "level above human". He is also on record saying that no children of mixed-race descent are pure enough to attain the same. This is not "CCP Propaganda", this is information straight from the horses's mouth. What was that about "compassion"?
2) The furor is mostly self-serving BS. There are millions of people being persecuted in China, many of whom are non Falun Gong practitioners. At these FG protests, you hardly EVER hear "Stop the persecution in China". What you DO hear is "Stop perecuting FALUN GONG in China." Well, gee whiz, isn't that peachy? They don't care about wrongs being done, so long as it's not done to THEM. More of that compassion for you. This selfish whining tells us an important fact about Falun Gong practitioners: they are no better and no worse than everyone else, although they certainly like to think they are.
3) I encourage everyone to read the "Falun Gobg Bible", I think it's called Zhuan Falun. Don't buy it, just borrow it or something. You'll see this is an entire pseudo-religion based on the insane and incoherent ramblings of one arrogant, delusional jackass. Highlight? He implores people to avoid seeking medical attention for afflictions as it shows a lack of faith in Li Hongzhi's ability to heal everyone, which he claims to do. Take a gander at this book, it's a pretty interesting BS story, much like the Koran and Bible.
Then again, at least Li Hongzhi hasn't killed off every living thing that wasn't on a boat, so he's still got God beat on the Goodness Scale.
Falun is just group of assholes causing riots and attentions in China. What a worthless thing. They should all go home and fuck themselves with Li Hongzhi's fake penis.
Actually, Falun Gong is a traditional cultivation practice within the Buddha School. I have practiced it for more thank 1.5 years and since then I have understood why I shouldn't hurt others just for personal gain. Since I began practicing Falun Gong, I stopped drinking, smoking cigarettes and using drugs in a very short time. I stopped fighting and using bad words whenever I became angry. Who can say that Falun Gong is not good? Falun Gong helps people to reach a high spiritual realm and it teaches people how to be a good person. You should not believe in all the lies that the Chinese Communist Party is spreading. I say: "Falun Dafa is Good, Truth-Compassion-Forbearence is Good".
ps. You can download the main book Zhuan Falun from www.falundafa.org and read for yourself. Don't go and make up lies and saying bad things about Teacher Li and Falun Dafa!
To omid, I'd suggest you try to read the original Chinese version of Zhuan Falun. You can find all the allegations by Bob.
Li HongZhi even claims that everybody that uses computer is controlled by ET's, only following his teaching will escape that.
Well, I've read alot of things on this post and I must say I am surprised. On the one hand people seem to be preaching freedom of expression, yet on the other they are bashing these Falun Gong Practitioners. I am almost positive that Falun Gong has not impeded your liberty in any way, nor done any arm to you, yet many people really seem to be angry and durogatory. You may not believe the same thing but you must agree to let people believe what they will. On the issue of homosexuality, I don't believe any Hate of homosexuality is taught or condoned. Furthermore Falun Gong practitioners in no way constrain or protest the rights of homosexuals. You don't see Falun Gong practitioners preaching hate at Gay rights parades, or invovling themselves in that debate. Many people are slanderous to homosexuals and actively take up arms against them, Falun Gong has no record of this. As far as the self immolation is concerned I will say that China has reported many instances of this, yet in the entire world where millions practice Falun Gong there is no such incidence reported anywhere but in China.
Also, keep in mind that China has also incarcerated Christians for their beliefs and have illegally detained and tortured many, go to the amnesty International website.
Also I agree with one writer who asked "what would you do if you family and freinds were being systematically detained and tortured".
People, this is serious stuff. If ANYONE is being tortured in this world I think that is a cause for all humanity. If you disagree with Falun Gong, fine, that is your choice, but you really should consider the larger issues in this world. Steven Speilberg is filming the Chinese Olympics, despite their numerous civil rights abuses. Also China has failed to intervene in DArfur where it has a 40billion dollar oil relationship withe the Sudanese government.
Leni Reifenstall sound familiar? She made a film of the Arian Olympics. Really, we need to become more globally aware in this day and age. Some of these writers talk as though China is this great place with all sorts of freedoms. I went to China once and watched, in broad daylight, four Chinese police beating up an old woman for selling on the street without a permit. You want to side with those people, okay, I wouldn't want you on my side.
All these people do is sit on the street and tell you whats going on, so you can't avoid it. Its passive resistance. And this inconviences your daily lives so much? give me a break. You all sound like cowards to me.
FREE the World. End Torture. Thanks for reading.
It's hard for me to believe there are so many people here bashing Falun Gong with unbelievably hostile comments just because they don't agree with what Falun Gong believes and how the practitioners act. As awkward as they may seen, I haven't seen Falun Gong breaking any law or causing any trouble except trying to stick to what they believe and rescue their family members whom are tortured in China.
My aunt started practicing Falun after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She passed away from cancer overgrown into her gaster. After I watched her died and how her illness was commented on by my other relatives, also Falun practitioners, I am convinced : it is a cult.
It creates a world that is very removed from reality for the practitioners of Falun. Their belief in this teaching is so strong that it borders with mental illness. To her last minute they were saying that she is fine. Her death did not slow them down. They explained it away according to the their Master's theories. She went thru it without any medication. I can't even imagine the level of pain. Falun as appetizer is very attractive: truthfulness, kindness and tolerance.
The main course that I have seen : it turns people into fanatics, rejecting modern science and reality completely. To her last days they were telling her to look inside and find the root of the illness in her bad thoughts and her bad dead. When she was finally was taken to a hospital ( her last 24 hours) , they were trying to put earphones on her to listen to Master's lectures. The doctor said that in his years of medical career it is second time that he saw a patient in such neglected state. And it is not in China where medical system is not readily available but in US where my aunt had health care coverage. And what is interesting that we are not Chinese, we are Russian Jews.
I used to sympathize Falun practioners and admire them for their persistance to pursue their religion.
When the earthquake hit China last week, I saw them are out on the street celebrating with drums and horns! They call the earthquake which has killed thousands of people an act of condenmation from the heaven! They also suggest people not to donate money to the earthquake relief, hinting the money will be pocketed by the ChineseCommunistParty.
Fuck you Falun Gong! I fucking hate you!
Same here. I used to stay neutural toward those Falun practioners until recently they celebrated for the big earthquake in China - bunch of bastards!
I met a few of them here in America. Some were cool, but some were just not. It didn't bother me until my stupid cousin turned a Falun Gong practioner, and she's never for a day practiced it! All she does is to go protesting in her stupid yellow shirt whenever there is an assembly. My whole family has been tired of hearing her preaching insanity. The most absurd thing is when she tried to convert grandma who's been a Christian for dozens of years. She refuses to resume her medication or complete her college education because Falon Gong just "works" for her, and call bad names to whoever tries persuading her to quit. Fucking bastard! she was a member of Communist Youth League - I'm not!
I am just tired of it - will NEVER call her again.
I felt very sorry about bad comments. Falun Dafa is not a cult. İt is a very good and peaceful cultivation method. CCP is killing these people. I know what Falun Dafa is, because I read Zhuan Falun too many times.
Nowadays people are talking carelessly and say whatever they want to say. CCP slandering and killing Falun Dafa and its practitioners, and all of you believe their propaganda. It is really terrible. Falun Dafa is not a cult or a religion. It is only a good practice and believe Truth, Compassion, Tolerance. Why are you afraid so much? Virtue is a good thing. I exactly learned that people"s mind and moral standard is declining each day. I hope everything will be good for them.
FALUNDAFA is a disgrace!!
cult-evil-disgusting
practicing dark magic is going to stuff up your brain.
Ya'll wanna know exactly what Falun Dafa advocates?
Li Hongzhi gained his followers by telling them that they do NOT need medicine or doctors for treatment of diseases. That's all he said, and the poor uneducated farmers believed in this and neglected their families.
After he gained sufficient followers, he began jotting down basic believes that were from various religions. He put down whatever sounds "good" to Westerners who he knows will "support" a group of "refugees" escaping from the Communists.
Like all religions, this one is BullShit
Before July 1999 when the first bout of arrests, torture and killing of Falun Gong practitioners began, the Chinese Communist Party counted seventy to one hundred million practitioners in China.
Despite the persecution, the number of practitioners inside and outside China has grown. There are practice sites in over eighty countries.
Being of the Buddha school, Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) accepts people of all types, abilities and demeanours.
Even though some people, practitioners and non-practitioners, do or say things which cause harm to Falun Dafa or others, they are looked at compassionately by core of Falun Dafa.
Falun Dafa is good. Falun Dafa practitioners are good. And their attitudes to others is good.
Before July 1999 when the first bout of arrests, torture and killing of Falun Gong practitioners began, the Chinese Communist Party counted seventy to one hundred million practitioners in China.
Despite the persecution, the number of practitioners inside and outside China has grown. There are practice sites in over eighty countries.
Being of the Buddha school, Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) accepts people of all types, abilities and demeanours.
Even though some people, practitioners and non-practitioners, do or say things which cause harm to Falun Dafa or others, they are looked at compassionately by core of Falun Dafa.
Falun Dafa is good. Falun Dafa practitioners are good. And their attitudes to others is good.
In 1999 when the first bout of arrests, torture and killing of Falun Gong practitioners began, the Chinese Communist Party counted seventy to one hundred million practitioners in Chiona.
Despite the persecution, the number of practitioners inside and outside China has grown. There are exercise sites in ove eighty cities.
Being of the Buddha School, Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) accepts people af all demeaners.
Even though many practitioners and non-practitioners do things which harm Falun Dafa and others, no-one is vilified by the core of Falun Dafa.
Falun Dafa is good. Falun Dafa practitioners are good. And their attitude to others is good.
In 1999 when the first arrests, torture and killings of Falun Gong began, the Chinese Communist Party counted seventy to one hundred million practitioners in China alone.
Despite the persecution, the number of practitioners inside and outside China has grown. There are exercise sites in over eighty countries.
Being of the Buddha School, Falun Gong (also know as Falun Dafa) accepts people of all types and demeaner.
Even though people do things to harm Falun Dafa and others they are not vilified by the core of Falun Gong.
Falun Dafa is Good. Falun Dafa practitioners are good. And their attitude to orthers is good.
In 1999 when the first arrests, torture and killings of Falun Gong began, the Chinese Communist Party counted seventy to one hundred million practitioners in China alone.
Despite the persecution, the number of practitioners inside and outside China has grown. There are exercise sites in over eighty countries.
Being of the Buddha School, Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) accepts people of all types and demeaner.
Even though people do things to harm Falun Dafa and others, they are accepted by the core of Falun Gong.
Falun Dafa is Good. Falun Dafa practitioners are good. And their attitude to orthers is good.
Screw you Falun...Damian...what's the point of spamming the comment? Are you trying to be nut?
I am a Chinese and I hate Falun Gong...it is not Qigong...it is not even ancient!!!...it is bull shit...it's only worship of the "Teacher" and anti-social...if you join Falun, u must be out of your mind...there are loads of way to live healthy...why choose a religion that worship a man?
I truly believe that Falun Gong is Good and Mr Li hongzhi is good !!!
i agree with polina. falun gong is EVIL, and it ultimately killed my father.
Nobody should be persecuted for their beliefs. There exists something called HUMAN RIGHTS that we're all supposed to be allowed to have, and that includes the FLG people as well.
Now to quote some bigots:
"I am a Chinese and I hate Falun Gong"
"Like all religions, this one is BullShit"
"until recently they 'celebrated' for the big earthquake in China - bunch of bastards!"
"FALUNDAFA is a disgrace!!
cult-evil-disgusting"
Nice job, you guys would make perfect supporters of Hitler. You wouldn't even care that millions of people were being killed like animals by your own government. The accusations that you people have made are EXACTLY like what people back then were saying about Jewish people. What you guys are doing is buying into the lies made by the world's largest dictatorship, China.
"we are Russian Jews."
As a jew, you should definitely understand what the millions of FLG followers in China are undergoing. They are being tortured, raped, and even executed just for their beliefs. The government of China is trying to convince everyone that these people are not human and should be killed.
Don't advocate genocide. Understand the facts.
I am an educated Maori female from Aotearoa, New Zealand. Who had tried everything in my culture as well as other spiritual healing I came across to heal my cancer, but nothing was more devine than this beautiful regime of cultivating to higher levels.I was on my deathbed before I stumbled upon Falun Dafa & within 3 days I was totally cured. I felt devine intervention from Li Hong Zi who had rid an 'alien entity' that had violated my body building cancerous components. My doctor was mystified because he could see I was in so much pain, that I couldve gladly died, but there was nothing the Medical profession could do & he was impresed with my recovery that he asked me to tell my story to our community. After my recovery, I was asked to appear on National Television & speak at a National conference on Falun Dafa because of what Local Health professionals were learning about Falun Dafa 'being good' & curing some 'well known' celebrities as well. I have had some Chinese in my class of Occupational Therapy & other Health related issues. They are bewildered at how strong a people we are, when we stand up to promote the 'wellbeing' of Falun Dafa & how it has helped to improve our society as maori & other New Zealanders. We have stood up to so called Chinese Officials here who have tried to 'harass our Chinese friends'. We have told them that we are the Native people here & Falun Dafa is being taught on our Marae because it 'raises ones moral standing'.It is not a religion or a cult. It is a Cultivation practise & we thank Master Li Hong Zi.
I witness the rise and fall of Falun Gong in China...and I've gotta say, good riddence!
For those of you who believe those lunatics are being "killed by the millions" in China, get a grip.
I just want to say "Falun Dafa is Good" :-)
Some people here are assuming that the Falun people are persecuted for religious reasons, and hence see it as a problem of religious freedom. It's not. All religious traditions, official or not, are basically tolerated by the Chinese government. She particularly targeted some Falun practitioners only because they had once organised a huge protest against the Party which ended up in thousands of people surrounding the Party's headquarter. This, the government cannot tolerate. She'd do the same to the secular protesters too (e.g. June 4th massacre,) so it's really not a religious matter. Some Catholic and Christian leaders are kissing the government's ass, so they're fine.
And please don't speak for the Chinese. I'm a Chinese. I think the Falun's bible is probably the stupidest religious book on earth. But I will risk my live to fight for their rights to practice and protest.
And in response to the comments that it is merely a good self-cultivating practice, I hope you did not actually read their bible. Otherwise, I'll feel sorry for your inability to think straight. It is the most anti-human, exclusivistic and stupid religion in human history. Allow me to quote a few statements claimed by Li Hong Zi himself:
----
1) All the other chi-gong sects are evil... if you read their books, there will be wolves jumping out and attack you.
2) It's true that I'm more powerful than Buddha.
3) One practitioner comes to see me and right away her cancer is cured... just put my picture on your wall, your illness will be cured.
4) I can guarantee you, you won't encounter any danger if you practice Falun Gong... there's a practitioner walking down the street, only to realise that there's a giant steel bar falling onto his head. Then he saw a Falun turning in the sky and blocked away the bar... I guarantee you your life will be safe if you follow me.
5) Another day my student practiced Falun Dafa and flied out of the galaxy. It's true.
6) Do not practice other Buddhist sects, it will endanger your life. Do not, do not, do not go to the other chi-gong masters. They're all cheaters.
7) When I was small I thought it'd be fun to 'go into' the glass, so I did. I found myself physically trapped between the glass, it's so funny... I kept thinking I'll turn invisible, and then I turned invisible. No one could see me... I was not surprised, because I thought everybody can do that.
8) I'm doing something nobody has ever done before. The practice I invented is the first genuine practice on earth... My practice is a very old Buddhist practice, it's already existed for thousands of years.
----
I don't think I should be put into the 'Hitler supporter' category just because I hate the people who consider the above statements true. I hate it more when there're Westerners who argue that it is secular or good without actually reading what Li has written.
So many lies about FG... and so much intolerance about spirituality... I'm Swedish and I have been doing different spiritual cultivation methods since the 80's. I must say that this method is the deepest I have done, and still there is not much in it that haven't been teached by other high-level spriritual techers as well. I have been practising Falun Gong for 12 years now and it has brought many positive changes to me.
If it's true what you have been writing that people were celebrating the earthquake, then I really feel sad about such low understanding. But I just can't beleive it. It must have been CCP people that did that. Or some misunderstanding about the subject, perhaps it wasn't a celebration but something else? No one here in Sweden ever said something like that. We all felt sorrow for the chinese people and the suffering they went through.
no it's NOT good, it break's up marriage's and familie's. it is an extremest cult
also, it is giving up emotion's, to those you love.... bunch of bullshit for the one's who love you....npt good
Falun Dafa is Good! Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance is Good! If people are still unsure what Falun Gong is about because of what other people say then they should read the book Zhuan Falun - the main teachings.